IP Library Granted Patent US 10,911,380
Granted Patent B2
US 10,911,380 · App. 14/536,062 · Granted Feb 2, 2021

Automated large attachment processing during migration

Inventors: Chad Lindley (Mount Horeb, WI); Stewart Nutter (Mount Horeb, WI); Jason Coyne (Middleton, WI)
Assignee: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
H04L51/08H04L67/1095
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,911,380
App. No.
14/536,062
Granted
Feb 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A network-based solution for automatically processing large email attachments or other files during migration between email platforms or other platforms, as may be embodied by various systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media, may involve downloading mailboxes from a source email platform and inspecting the mailboxes for emails containing attachment files. The solution may involve determining a file size of any detected attachment, comparing the file size of the detected attachment file to a predetermined attachment size limit, and uploading a copy of the detected attachment to a storage server for storage when the comparison determines that the file size of the detected attachment file exceeds the predetermined attachment size limit. The solution may further include modifying the email by replacing the detected attachment with a link to the copy of the detected attachment stored at the storage server and then migrating the modified email to the target email platform.

Claims (62)

1. A system for automatically processing large email attachments during migration, the system comprising:

a source email platform hosted by a first computing device, the source email platform storing a plurality of mailboxes, each mailbox including a plurality of emails, and the source email platform including a first attachment size limit stored in a first memory;

a target email platform hosted by a second computing device;

a storage server; and

an application server communicatively coupled to the source email platform, the target email platform, and the storage server by a network, the application server having stored in a second memory a second attachment size limit and an executable application that, when executed by a processor of the application server:

receives a first identification of a first server type characterizing the source email platform and a second identification of a second server type characterizing the target email platform;

downloads the mailboxes from the source email platform;

inspects each downloaded mailbox for an email containing an email attachment file, wherein the application server downloads and inspects the mailboxes on a rolling basis as the mailboxes are received from the source email platform;

identifies a file size of a detected email attachment file;

compares the file size of the detected email attachment file to the second attachment size limit stored in the second memory;

determines whether a link has previously been generated for a copy of the detected email attachment file,

wherein responsive to a determination that the link has previously been generated, no copy of the detected email attachment file is uploaded to the storage server, and

wherein responsive to a determination that the link has not previously been generated and responsive to the comparison identifying that the file size of the detected email attachment file exceeds the second attachment size limit stored in the second memory, the application server generates the link, wherein the link permits read access of the detected email attachment file without write or edit permissions, wherein a copy of the detected email attachment file is uploaded to the storage server to be stored, wherein the link includes an HTML link containing a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path that points to a location of the uploaded copy of the detected email attachment file stored in the storage server;

modifies the email by replacing the detected email attachment file in the email with the link to the copy of the detected email attachment file stored at the storage server, wherein an activation of the link provides access to a read-only version of the detected email attachment file; and

migrates the modified email to the target email platform, wherein the read-only version of the detected email attachment file retains an association to the detected email attachment file.

2. The system of claim 1 , further including a database associated with the storage server, wherein the copy of the detected email attachment file is stored at the database.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the storage server provisions a user account for each user associated with one of the mailboxes stored in the source email platform.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein an address list of the migrated email includes a plurality of recipients, and the upload of the copy of the detected email attachment file attached by the application server includes uploading a plurality of copies of the detected email attachment file to the storage server for each of the recipients listed in the address list of the migrated email.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein an address list of the migrated email includes a plurality of recipients, the application server uploads a single copy of the detected email attachment file to the storage server, and the storage server grants access to the plurality of recipients listed in an address list of the migrated email in accordance with certain predetermined permission information.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the application server identifies the file size of the detected email attachment file by reading metadata associated with the email attachment file.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the application server inspects the mailboxes after all of the mailboxes designated for download have been successfully received from the source email platform.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment size limit is automatically determined by an attachment size limit built into the target email platform.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second attachment size limit is custom determined by an administrator.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the application server replaces the detected email attachment file in the email with the link to the copy of the detected email attachment file stored at the storage server by authenticating the detected email attachment file.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the application server replaces the detected email attachment file in the email with the link to the copy of the detected email attachment file stored at the storage server by further inserting the link into a stub file, removing the detected email attachment file, and attaching the stub file in place of the removed email attachment file.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the stub file is a word processing document.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the stub file further includes the link.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the link is a view link that permits a user to read the uploaded copy of the detected email attachment file without permitting the user to write to or edit the copy of the detected email attachment file.

15. A method to process large email attachments during migration, the method comprising:

downloading from a source email platform a plurality of mailboxes, each mailbox including a plurality of emails, and the source email platform including a first attachment size limit stored in a first memory; and

executing instructions that are stored, wherein execution of the instructions:

receives a first identification of a first server type characterizing the source email platform and a second identification of a second server type characterizing the target email platform;

inspects each downloaded mailbox for an email containing an email attachment file, wherein the mailboxes are inspected on a rolling basis as the mailboxes are downloaded from the source email platform;

identifies a file size of a detected email attachment file;

compares the file size of the detected email attachment file to a second attachment size limit;

determines whether a link has previously been generated for a copy of the detected email attachment file,

wherein responsive to a determination that the link has previously been generated, no copy of the detected email attachment file is uploaded to a storage server, and

wherein execution of the instructions responsive to a determination that the link has not previously been generated and responsive to the comparison identifying that the file size of the detected email attachment file exceeds the second attachment size limit stored in a second memory, generates the link, wherein the link permits read access of the detected email attachment file without write or edit permissions, wherein a copy of the detected email attachment file is uploaded to the storage server to be stored, wherein the link includes an HTML link containing a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path that points to a location of the uploaded copy of the detected email attachment file stored in the storage server;

modifies the email by replacing the detected email attachment file in the email with the link to the copy of the detected email attachment file stored at the storage server, wherein the link provides access to a read-only version of the detected email attachment file; and

migrates the modified email to a target email platform, wherein the read-only version of the detected email attachment file retains an association to the detected email attachment file.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein an address list of the migrated email includes a plurality of recipients and the uploading of the copy of the detected email attachment file to the storage server includes a plurality of copies of the detected email attachment file to the storage server for each of the recipients listed in the address list of the migrated email.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein an address list of the migrated email includes a plurality of recipients, and the uploading of the copy of the detected email attachment file to the storage server includes uploading a single copy of the detected email attachment file to the storage server to be rights managed by the storage server with respect to access by the plurality of recipients according to predetermined permission information.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein identifying the file size of the detected email attachment file includes reading metadata associated with the email attachment file.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mailboxes are inspected after all of the mailboxes designated for download have been successfully received from the source email platform.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second attachment size limit is automatically determined by an attachment size limit built into the target email platform.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second attachment size limit is custom determined by an administrator.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the replacing of the detected email attachment file in the email with the link to the copy of the detected email attachment file stored at the storage server includes generating a stub file.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein replacing the detected email attachment file in the email with the link to the copy of the detected email attachment file stored at the storage server further includes inserting the link into the stub file, removing the detected email attachment file, and attaching the stub file in place of the removed email attachment file.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the stub file is a word processing document.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the stub file further includes the link.

26. The method of claim 15 , wherein the link is a view link that permits a user to read the uploaded copy of the detected email attachment file without permitting the user to write to or edit the copy of the detected email attachment file.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a computer program executable by a processor to perform a method to process large email attachments during migration, the method comprising:

receiving a first identification of a first server type characterizing a source email platform and a second identification of a second server type characterizing a target email platform;

identifying from the source email platform a plurality of mailboxes, each mailbox including a plurality of emails, and the source email platform including a first attachment size limit stored in a first memory;

inspecting each downloaded mailbox for an email containing an email attachment file, wherein the mailboxes are inspected on a rolling basis as the mailboxes are downloaded from the source email platform;

determining a file size of a detected email attachment file;

comparing the file size of the detected email attachment file to a second attachment size limit;

determining whether a link has previously been generated for a copy of the detected email attachment file, wherein responsive to a determination that the link has previously been generated, no copy of the detected email attachment file is uploaded to a storage server, and

wherein responsive to a determination that the link has not previously been generated and responsive to the comparison identifying that the file size of the detected email attachment file exceeds the second attachment size limit stored in a second memory, generating the link, wherein the link permits read access of the detected email attachment file without write or edit permissions, wherein a copy of the detected email attachment file is uploaded to the storage server to be stored, wherein the link includes an HTML link containing a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path that points to a location of the uploaded copy of the detected email attachment file stored in the storage server;

modifying the email by replacing the detected email attachment file in the email with the link to the copy of the detected email attachment file stored at the storage server, wherein the link provides access to either a read-only version of the detected email attachment file; and

migrating the modified email to the target email platform, wherein the read-only version of the detected email attachment file retains an association to the detected email attachment file.

28. The system of claim 1 , wherein the link to the copy of the detected email attachment file is encrypted.

Assignments (27)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073606/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2025
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073613/0326 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0649 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0001 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058952/0279 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 058945/0778 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059096/0683 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059105/0479 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0347 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0486 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 040581/0850 Recorded May 22, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 046211/0735 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040587 FRAME: 0624. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0598 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 20, 2017
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 043269/0808 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 034129 FRAME: 0305. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 13, 2017
From: LINDLEY, CHAD; NUTTER, STEWART; COYNE, JASON
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 043192/0565 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 10, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040587/0624 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 9, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040581/0850 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040039/0642) Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0016 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0467 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035103 FRAME 0809 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0934 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040030/0187 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040039/0642 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035104 FRAME 0043 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0123 →
RELEASE OF REEL 035103 FRAME 0536 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040016/0864 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Feb 26, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035103/0809 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Feb 26, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035103/0536 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Feb 26, 2015
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 035104/0043 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: LINDLEY, CHAD; NUTTER, STEWART; COYNE, JASON
To: DELL SOFTWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 034129/0305 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160134571A1 · May 12, 2016