USER PROMPTED METADATA REMOVAL
Methods and apparatuses for the removal of metadata include the removal of metadata from an artifact accompanying a message. In a mobile communication device, a method for removing metadata from an artifact accompanying a message includes displaying at least one prompt via a user interface of the mobile communication device. Further, the method includes receiving, from a user of the mobile communication device via the user interface in response to the at least one prompt, metadata removal preference data. Cleansing instructions based on the metadata removal preference data are created and the message, the cleansing instructions, and the artifact are sent to a delivery system. The delivery system removes metadata from the artifact based on the cleansing instructions.
1 . In a mobile communication device, a method for removing metadata from an artifact accompanying a message, the method comprising:
displaying at least one prompt via a user interface of the mobile communication device;
receiving, from a user of the mobile communication device via the user interface in response to the at least one prompt, metadata removal preference data;
creating cleansing instructions based on the metadata removal preference data; and
sending the message, the cleansing instructions, and the artifact to a delivery system;
wherein the delivery system removes metadata from the artifact based on the cleansing instructions.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile communication device is a wireless telephone or a portable computer.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove all metadata from the artifact.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove a portion of the metadata from the artifact.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove none of the metadata from the artifact.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the message is an email or an instant message.
7 . A computer-readable medium operatively connected to at least one processing device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to:
display at least one prompt via a user interface on a mobile communication device;
receive, from a user of the mobile communication device via the user interface in response to the at least one prompt, metadata removal preference data;
create cleansing instructions based on the metadata removal preference data; and
send a message, the cleansing instructions, and an artifact to a delivery system;
wherein the delivery system removes metadata from the artifact based on the cleansing instructions.
8 . The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the mobile communication device is a wireless telephone or a portable computer.
9 . The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove all metadata from the artifact.
10 . The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove a portion of the metadata from the artifact.
11 . The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove none of the metadata from the artifact.
12 . The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the message is an email or an instant message.
13 . A mobile communication device comprising:
a mobile transmitter;
a user interface;
at least one processing device operatively connected to the mobile transmitter and the user interface; and
memory operatively connected to the at least one processing device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to:
display at least one prompt via the user interface on the mobile communication device;
receive, from a user of the mobile communication device via the user interface in response to the at least one prompt, metadata removal preference data;
create cleansing instructions based on the metadata removal preference data; and
send the message, the cleansing instructions, and an artifact to a delivery system;
wherein the delivery system removes metadata from the artifact based on the cleansing instructions.
14 . The device of claim 13 wherein the mobile communication device is a wireless telephone or a portable computer.
15 . The device of claim 13 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove all metadata from the artifact.
16 . The device of claim 13 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove a portion of the metadata from the artifact.
17 . The device of claim 13 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove none of the metadata from the artifact.
18 . The device of claim 13 wherein the message is an email or an instant message.
19 . A method for removing metadata from an artifact accompanying a message, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processing device, the message, the artifact, and cleansing instructions from a mobile communication device, wherein the cleansing instructions were created based on metadata removal preference data, the metadata removal preference data obtained via a user interface on the mobile communication device in response to at least one prompt displayed to a user of the mobile communication device;
removing, by the processing device, metadata from the artifact based on the cleansing instructions to create a cleansed artifact; and
sending the message and the cleansed artifact from the processing device to a destination.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the mobile communication device is a wireless telephone or a portable computer.
21 . The method of claim 19 wherein substantially all metadata is removed from the artifact in accordance with the cleansing instructions.
22 . The method of claim 19 wherein a portion of metadata is removed from the artifact in accordance with the cleansing instructions.
23 . The method of claim 19 wherein substantially none of the metadata is removed from the artifact in accordance with the cleansing instructions.
24 . The method of claim 19 wherein the message is an email or an instant message.
25 . A computer-readable medium operatively connected to at least one processing device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by at the least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to:
receive a message, an artifact, and cleansing instructions from a mobile communication device, wherein the cleansing instructions were created based on metadata removal preference data, the metadata removal preference data obtained via a user interface on the mobile communication device in response to at least one prompt displayed to a user of the mobile communication device;
remove metadata from the artifact based on the cleansing instructions to create a cleansed artifact; and
send the message and the cleansed artifact from the processing device to a destination.
26 . The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the mobile communication device is a wireless telephone or a portable computer.
27 . The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove all metadata from the artifact.
28 . The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove a portion of the metadata from the artifact.
29 . The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove none of the metadata from the artifact.
30 . The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the message is an email or an instant message.
31 . An apparatus for removing metadata from an artifact accompanying a message, the apparatus comprising:
a receiver and a transmitter;
at least one processing device operatively connected to the receiver and the transmitter; and
memory operatively connected to the at least one processing device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to:
receive a message, an artifact, and cleansing instructions from a mobile communication device via the receiver, wherein the cleansing instructions were created based on metadata removal preference data, the metadata removal preference data obtained via a user interface on the mobile communication device in response to at least one prompt displayed to a user of the mobile communication device;
remove metadata from the artifact based on the cleansing instructions to create a cleansed artifact; and
send the message and the cleansed artifact from the processing device to a destination via the transmitter.
32 . The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the mobile communication device is a wireless telephone or a portable computer.
33 . The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove all metadata from the artifact.
34 . The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove a portion of the metadata from the artifact.
35 . The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the at least one prompt comprises an indication to remove none of the metadata from the artifact.
36 . The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the message is an email or an instant message.