Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products For Processing a Request For a Resource in a Communication

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for processing a request for a resource in a communication. In an aspect, a criterion is received, by a second node, for requesting a resource via a first communication addressed to a first node. The first communication is sent, to the first node, including an attachment request based on the criterion. A second communication is received, by the second node, including the resource as an attachment. In another aspect a first communication is received by a first node representing a first user. The first communication includes a first message addressed to the first user. An attachment request is detected in the first communication. A resource is located based on the attachment request. A second communication is sent, to a second node representing a second user. The second communication includes the resource, as an attachment, and a second message addressed to the second user.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a resource criterion to request a resource;   sending, via a network by a second communications agent representing a second user to a first communications agent, a first communication that includes an attachment request based on the resource criterion; and   receiving, by the second communications agent, a second communication addressed to the second user including, in response to the attachment request, the resource, as an attachment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the resource criterion is restricted by a condition identified, via the network by a first execution environment, of a first node, that hosts the first communications agent to a second execution environment, of a second node, that hosts the second communications agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first communication agent operates in a first execution environment of a first node and the attachment request includes information for the first execution environment for at least one of generating and modifying the resource. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sending the first communication includes storing, in the first communication, a content type identifier defined to indicate that the first communication includes the attachment request. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the attachment request identifies the resource based on at least one of a name of the resource, a location of the resource in a data store, a date associated with the resource, a time associated with the resource, a content type of the resource, a length of time, a file type, a size of the resource, a task, a transaction, a keyword, and a tag. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the attachment request is based on a capability of the first communications agent identified via a previous communication between a first node of a first execution environment that hosts the first communications agent and a second node of a second execution environment that hosts the second communications agent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the attachment request is included in the first communication as an attachment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first communication and the second communication includes at least one of a text message, an email, audio data, an instant message, and image data. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 receiving, via a network by a first communications agent, a first communication addressed to a first user;   detecting, by the first communications agent, an attachment request included in the first communication;   identifying, based on the attachment request, a resource; and   sending, by the first communications agent, a second communication addressed to the second user and including the identified resource as an attachment, in response to detecting the attachment request.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the first communication and the second communication includes at least one of a text message, an email, audio data, an instant message, and image data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the attachment request is based on a resource criterion for locating the resource. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the resource is located automatically in response to detecting the attachment request. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein locating the resource comprises:
 presenting a locator user interface element based on the attachment request; 
 detecting a user input corresponding to the locator user interface element; and 
 locating the resource based on the attachment request in response to detecting the user input. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further includes:
 receiving criterion information identifying an additional resource criterion in response to detecting an input from the first user; and 
 locating the resource based on the additional resource criterion. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein detecting the attachment request includes detecting a content type identifier, in the first communication, that is defined to indicate that the second communication includes the attachment request. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further includes:
 detecting a correlator in the attachment request; and 
 sending the correlator in the second communication to identify the attachment as a response to the attachment request. 
 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a computer program, executable by a machine, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:
 receiving a resource criterion to request a resource;   sending, via a network by a second communications agent representing a second user to a first communications agent, a first communication that includes an attachment request based on the resource criterion; and   receiving, by the second communications agent, a second communication addressed to the second user including, in response to the attachment request, the resource, as an attachment.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying a computer program, executable by a machine, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:
 receiving, via a network by a first communications agent, a first communication addressed to a first user;   detecting, by the first communications agent, an attachment request included in the first communication;   identifying, based on the attachment request, a resource; and   sending, by the first communications agent, a second communication addressed to the second user and including the identified resource as an attachment, in response to detecting the attachment request.   
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a processor that executes an instruction included in at least one of a criterion handler component, a query generator component, and a content manager component during operation of the system;   the criterion handler component that during operation of the system is included in receiving a resource criterion to request a resource;   the query generator component that during operation of the system is included in sending, via a network by a second communications agent representing a second user to a first communications agent, a first communication that includes an attachment request based on the resource criterion; and   the content manager component that during operation of the system is included in receiving, by the second communications agent, a second communication addressed to the second user including, in response to the attachment request, the resource, as an attachment.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a processor that executes an instruction included in at least one of a com-in component, a query content handler component, a resource location component, and an access director component during operation of the system;   the com-in component that during operation of the system is included in receiving, via a network by a first communications agent, a first communication addressed to a first user;   the query content handler component that during operation of the system is included in detecting, by the first communications agent, an attachment request included in the first communication;   the resource location component that during operation of the system is included in identifying, based on the attachment request, a resource; and   the access director component that during operation of the system is included in sending, by the first communications agent, a second communication addressed to the second user and including the identified resource as an attachment, in response to detecting the attachment request;