Method and system for improving email traffic using a digital imaging device

A method for allowing a portable digital imaging device to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the method comprising:

• (a) determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device;
• (b) providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type;
• wherein the first type further includes a first preference and wherein the attachment providing step (b) further includes:
• (b1) determining whether a second preference of the attachment is the same as the first preference if the first type is the same as the second type;
• (b2) modifying the attachment to provide a modified attachment having a third preference if the first type is the same as the second type and if the first preference is different from the second preference, the third preference being provided from the first preference and being the same as the second preference;
• (b3) providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first preference is the same as the second preference;
• and
• (b4) providing the modified attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first preference is not the same as the second preference;
• (c) refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type;
• and
• (d) establishing communication to the portable imaging device prior to the determining step (a).

A server for communicating with and allowing a portable digital imaging device to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the server comprising:

• at least a first server module for receiving a plurality of email messages, the plurality of email messages capable of including the email message;
• and
• a screening unit, communicatively coupled with the at least the first server process, for managing the email message, the screening unit for determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device, providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type and refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type;
• wherein the screening unit determines whether the first type is the same as the second type after the server establishes communication with the portable digital imaging device and the server receives the first type from the portable digital imaging device.

A server for communicating with and allowing a portable digital imaging device to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the server comprising:

• at least a first server process for receiving a plurality of email messages, the plurality of email messages capable of including the email message;
• and
• a screening unit, communicatively coupled with the at least the first server process, for managing the email message, the screening unit for determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device, providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type and refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type;
• wherein the screening unit determines whether the first type is the same as the second type after the server establishes communication with the portable digital imaging device;
• wherein the first type further includes a first preference and wherein the screening unit further determines whether a second preference of the attachment is the same as the first preference if the first type is the same as second type, modifies the attachment to provide a modified attachment having a third preference if the first type is the same as the second type and if the first preference is different from the second preference, the third preference being provided from the first preference and being the same as the second preference, provides the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first preference is the same as the second preference and provides the modified attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first preference is not the same as the second preference.

A server for communicating with and allowing a portable digital imaging to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the server comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of email messages, the plurality of email messages capable of including the email message;
• and
• means for managing the email message, the managing means further including means for determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device, means for providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type and means for refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type
• wherein the managing means determines whether the first type is the same as the second type after the server establishes communication with the portable digital imaging device and the server receives the first type from the portable digital imaging device.

A computer-readable medium including a program for allowing a portable digital imaging to receive an attachment associated with an email message, a first type of attachment being allowed by the portable digital imaging device, the attachment being described a second type, the program including instructions for:

• (a) receiving the attachment and the email message from a sender;
• (b) receiving the first type from the digital imaging device;
• (c) determining whether the first type is the same as the second type prior to sending the attachment to the portable digital imaging device;
• (d) providing the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is the same as the second type;
• and
• (e) refusing to provide the attachment to the portable digital imaging device if the first type is not the same as the second type;
• (f) establishing communication to the portable imaging device prior to the determining instructions (c) being performed.