E-Mail Proxy

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for processing an e-mail message addressed to an e-mail client is disclosed. The method comprises receiving at a mail server an e-mail message addressed to the e-mail client, the e-mail message including an attachment which is characterized by a size; reducing the size of the attachment to create a reduced size attachment; preparing a formatted message, which includes the reduced size attachment and a link to the attachment, wherein the attachment is downloadable from the mail server using the link; and delivering the formatted message to the e-mail client for display on a computational device.

1 . A method for processing an e-mail message addressed to an e-mail client, the method comprising:
 receiving at a mail server an e-mail message addressed to the e-mail client, the e-mail message including an attachment, the attachment characterized by a size;   reducing the size of the attachment to create a reduced size attachment;   preparing a formatted message, the formatted message including the reduced size attachment and a link to the attachment, wherein the attachment is downloadable from the mail server using the link; and   delivering the formatted message to the e-mail client for display on a computational device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising apportioning the e-mail message into two or more portions, wherein at least a first portion comprises text-only from the e-mail message and a second portion comprises the at least one attachment. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising receiving user preferences from the e-mail client and apportioning the e-mail message according to the received user preferences. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the formatted message further comprises the first portion comprising text-only from the e-mail message. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the formatted message is delivered to the e-mail client in a streamed manner. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising providing a Web browser for interacting with the e-mail client. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  further comprising displaying the at least one attachment by the Web browser, such that downloading the at least one attachment by the e-mail client is performed according to HTTP. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the e-mail server has an e-mail proxy associated therewith. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reduced size attachment is selectable to engage the link. 
     
     
         10 . An e-mail server for processing an e-mail message addressed to an e-mail client, the server comprising:
 logic structure for receiving at the e-mail server an e-mail message addressed to the e-mail client, the e-mail message comprising an attachment, the attachment characterized by a size;   logic structure for reducing the size of the attachment to create a reduced size attachment;   logic structure for preparing a formatted message, the formatted message comprising the reduced size attachment and a link to the attachment, wherein the attachment is downloadable from the mail server using the link; and   logic structure for delivering the formatted message to the e-mail client for display on a computational device;   wherein the logic structures are stored on a tangible computer-readable medium.   
     
     
         11 . The e-mail server according to  claim 10  further comprising logic structure for apportioning the e-mail message into two or more portions, wherein at least a first portion comprises text-only from the e-mail message and a second portion comprises the at least one attachment. 
     
     
         12 . The e-mail server according to  claim 11  further comprising logic structure for receiving user preferences from the e-mail client and apportioning the e-mail message according to the received user preferences. 
     
     
         13 . The e-mail server according to  claim 11  wherein the formatted message further comprises the first portion comprising text-only from the e-mail message. 
     
     
         14 . The e-mail server according to  claim 10  wherein the formatted message is delivered to the e-mail client in a streamed manner. 
     
     
         15 . The e-mail server according to  claim 10  further comprising a Web browser for interacting with the e-mail client. 
     
     
         16 . The e-mail server according to  claim 15  wherein the at least one attachment by the Web browser is displayable on the Web browser, such that downloading the at least one attachment by the e-mail client is performed according to HTTP. 
     
     
         17 . The e-mail server according to  claim 10  further comprising an e-mail proxy associated therewith. 
     
     
         18 . The e-mail server according to  claim 10 , wherein the reduced size attachment is selectable to engage the link.