Patent ID: 7409424

Claim:
A method for managing file access via an electronic message, the method comprising: (a) displaying an electronic message window that includes a plurality of fields including a first field, a second field, and a third field; (b) creating an electronic message containing indicia of addresses and a reference to an electronic file, and generating file access authorization data, by: (1) accepting, in the first field, indicia identifying one or more addresses to which the electronic message is to be transmitted; and (2) either or both: (i) accepting, in the second field, indicia identifying one or more addresses of viewers authorized to view the file and generating associated file authorization data; or (ii) accepting, in the third field, indicia identifying one or more addresses of editors authorized to modify the file and generating associated file authorization data; (c) transmitting the electronic message to the addresses identified by the indicia in the first field; and (d) in response to a request for access to the file referenced in the electronic message by a viewer identified in the file access authorization data as authorized to view or modify the file, transmitting data of the file, separately from the electronic message, to the address associated with the requesting viewer.