Replacing an email attachment with an address specifying where the attachment is stored

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for replacing an attachment to an email message with a reference to a location of the attachment, the method comprising:

• receiving the email message;
• examining the email message to determine if the email message includes an attachment;
• and
• if the email message includes the attachment, asking a sender of the email message whether to replace the attachment with a reference specifying the location of the attachment;
• if the sender agrees to replace the attachment,
• storing the attachment at a location on a communication network from which the attachment can be retrieved,
• modifying the email message by replacing the attachment with a reference specifying the location of the attachment on the communication network,
• sending the modified email message to a recipient of the email message,
• providing proof of receipt of the contents of the attachment, wherein providing proof of receipt involves:
• delivering an encrypted version of the attachment,
• receiving a receipt for the encrypted version of the attachment, wherein the receipt includes a hash of the encrypted attachment, and
• in response to receiving the receipt for the encrypted version, sending the decryption key for the attachment, wherein sending the decryption key for the attachment in response to receiving the receipt for the encrypted version proves reception of the exact contents of the attachment, and
• deleting the attachment from the location on the communication network after one of:
• receiving a notification that all recipients of the email message have retrieved the attachment, and
• receiving a notification that all recipients of the email message have deleted the email message.

An apparatus that replaces an attachment to an email message with a reference to a location of the attachment, comprising:

• an examination mechanism that examines the email message to determine if the email message includes an attachment;
• a replacement mechanism, wherein if the email message includes the attachment the replacement mechanism is configured to, ask a sender of the email message whether to replace the attachment with a reference specifying the location of the attachment;
• if the sender agrees to replace the attachment the replacement mechanism is further configured to,
• store the attachment at a location on a communication network from which the attachment can be retrieved,
• modify the email message by replacing the attachment with a reference specifying the location of the attachment on the communication network,
• provide proof of receipt of the contents of the attachment, wherein providing proof of receipt involves:
• delivering an encrypted version of the attachment,
• receiving a receipt for the encrypted version of the attachment, wherein the receipt includes a hash of the encrypted attachment, and
• in response to receiving the receipt for the encrypted version, sending the decryption key for the attachment, wherein sending the decryption key for the attachment in response to receiving the receipt for the encrypted version proves reception of the exact contents of the attachment, and
• send the modified email message to a recipient of the email message;
• and
• a deletion mechanism that is configured to delete the attachment from the location on the communication network after one of:
• receiving a notification that all recipients of the email message have retrieved the attachment, and
• receiving a notification that all recipients of the email message have deleted the email message.