System and method for image inclusion in e-mail messages

Abstract

While populating an e-mail message with, among other details, an e-mail address for a receiver, an image of the sender is included as part of the e-mail message. Advantageously, at a device in use to execute an e-mail client application on behalf of the receiver, the e-mail client application may automatically add the included image to an address book entry associated with the identity of the sender. Alternatively, the user may be prompted to allow the association of the image with the address book entry of the sender of the message. Later, upon receiving an incoming call from the sender with corresponding CLID information, the call display application may perform a lookup of the CLID information and display the image associated, in the address book, with the sender.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of enhancing an electronic message, said method comprising:
 receiving an electronic message composed by a sending party;   determining that said electronic message includes a data-inclusion indicator, said indicator specifying that a message attachment specific to said sending party is to be included in said electronic message;   responsive to said determining that said electronic message includes a data-inclusion indicator, including said message attachment specific to said sending party in said electronic message; and   transmitting said electronic message, with said message attachment specific to said sending party included in said electronic message.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said message attachment specific to said sending party comprises a digital image. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said message attachment specific to said sending party comprises an electronic business card. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said electronic business card is formatted according to a vCard standard. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said electronic business card includes a digital image. 
     
     
         6 . A mobile device server comprising:
 a processor adapted to:
 receive an electronic message composed by a sending party; 
 determine that said electronic message includes a data-inclusion indicator, said indicator specifying that a message attachment specific to said sending party is to be included in said electronic message; 
 include said message attachment specific to said sending party in said electronic message if said electronic message includes a data-inclusion indicator; and 
 transmit said electronic message, with said message attachment specific to said sending party included in said electronic message. 
   
     
     
         7 . The mobile device server of  claim 6  wherein said message attachment specific to said sending party comprises a digital image. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device server of  claim 6  wherein said message attachment specific to said sending party comprises an electronic business card. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device server of  claim 8  wherein said electronic business card is formatted according to a vCard standard. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device server of  claim 8  wherein said electronic business card includes a digital image. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a processor, cause said processor to:
 receive an electronic message composed by a sending party;   determine that said electronic message includes a data-inclusion indicator, said indicator specifying that a message attachment specific to said sending party is to be included in said electronic message;   include said message attachment specific to said sending party in said electronic message if said electronic message includes a data-inclusion indicator; and   transmit said electronic message, with said message attachment specific to said sending party included in said electronic message.   
     
     
         12 . A method of handling an enhanced electronic message, said method comprising:
 receiving an electronic message composed by a sending party, said electronic message specifying a destination address for a receiving party and including a message attachment specific to said sending party;   determining that said message attachment specific to said sending party has previously been transmitted to said destination address for said receiving party;   responsive to determining that said message attachment specific to said sending party has previously been transmitted to said destination address for said receiving party, amending said electronic message to remove said message attachment specific to said sending party, thereby creating an amended electronic message; and   transmitting said amended electronic message toward said destination address for said receiving party.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said message attachment specific to said sending party comprises a digital image. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said message attachment specific to said sending party comprises an electronic business card. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said electronic business card is formatted according to a vCard standard. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said electronic business card includes a digital image. 
     
     
         17 . A mobile device server comprising:
 a processor adapted to:
 receive an electronic message composed by a sending party, said electronic message specifying a destination address for a receiving party and including a message attachment specific to said sending party; 
 determine that said message attachment specific to said sending party has previously been transmitted to said destination address for said receiving party; 
 amend said electronic message to remove said message attachment specific to said sending party, thereby creating an amended electronic message; and 
 transmit said amended electronic message toward said destination address for said receiving party. 
   
     
     
         18 . The mobile device server of  claim 17  wherein said message attachment specific to said sending party comprises a digital image. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device server of  claim 17  wherein said message attachment specific to said sending party comprises an electronic business card. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile device server of  claim 19  wherein said electronic business card is formatted according to a vCard standard. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile device server of  claim 19  wherein said electronic business card includes a digital image. 
     
     
         22 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a processor, cause said processor to:
 receive an electronic message composed by a sending party, said electronic message specifying a destination address for a receiving party and including a message attachment specific to said sending party;   determine that said message attachment specific to said sending party has previously been transmitted to said destination address for said receiving party;   amend said electronic message to remove said message attachment specific to said sending party, thereby creating an amended electronic message; and   transmit said amended electronic message toward said destination address for said receiving party.