JP2003157220A - Device, method, program and system for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of shortening the total connected time because it is improved in on-line use convenience remarkably and able to acquire required information in a lump. SOLUTION: In receiving mail, a mail agent 52 decodes additional information attached to the mail by its transmitting side. The mail agent 52 converts the decoded additional information into data that can be decoded by mail software 51 and adds the converted data to its header. Then, the mail is transferred to the mail software 51. In transmitting mail, the mail agent 52 converts additional information added by the mail software 51 into a control signal that instructs how a receiving side should process the mail for addition. The mail software 51 reads the additional information added to its header by the mail agent 52 and analyzes thread information. Control information is also analyzed and then displayed as a list in a displaying part. In transmitting the mail, additional information for preparing a thread on the receiving side is added.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, an information processing program, and an information processing system for transmitting and receiving electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, mailing lists (Mailing Lis
In t), the setting on the mail server side was required, and it was impossible to register other than the members set on the mail server by the operation from the client terminal side. In addition, the mailing list is a registration of only specified members, and entertainment communication (Ente
It was difficult to use as a means of rtaimant communication) although there was a problem with the function of the mail software.

On the other hand, the bulletin board system (BBS) provided on the Web and bulletin board services similar to the bulletin board system are simpler than the case of a mailing list because the use of the bundle name is based on HTML. It is suitable for various uses, but since posted information must be stored and managed collectively on the server side, the load on the server increases for services with many accesses. In addition, since it is assumed that the user will use online, it is not suitable for mobile users such as personal digital assistants.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the usability by offline use is significantly improved, and necessary information can be collectively obtained, so that the total connection time can be improved. An object is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, an information processing program, and an information processing system that can reduce the time.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, decodes additional information when an electronic mail is received, and outputs a decoding result. Corresponds to information exchange between the mail agent means, which is added to the header part and attaches control information for instructing processing on the receiving side when sending an email, and the mail agent when receiving an email. The thread information is analyzed from the additional information added to the header part, and the control information attached to the email sent from others is analyzed and displayed in a list on the display part. And a mail processing unit for adding additional information for creating.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information processing method according to the present invention comprises a mail agent step and a mail processing step, and in the information processing method for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, the above-mentioned method is provided when the electronic mail is received. The mail agent process decodes the additional information and adds the result of the decoding to the header part, and the mail processing process analyzes the thread information from the additional information added to the header part by the mail agent and has been sent from others. The control information attached to the e-mail is analyzed and displayed in a list on the display unit, and when the e-mail is sent, the mail processing step adds additional information for creating a thread on the receiving side, and the mail agent step. Attaches control information for instructing processing on the receiving side.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information processing program according to the present invention is an information processing program which comprises a mail agent process and a mail processing process and is executed by an information processing device for transmitting and receiving electronic mail,
Upon receiving an electronic mail, the mail agent process decodes the additional information and adds the result of the decoding to the header part, and the mail processing process analyzes the thread information from the additional information added to the header part by the mail agent. , The control information attached to the electronic mail sent from others is analyzed and displayed in a list on the display unit, and when the electronic mail is sent, the mail processing step includes additional information for creating a thread on the receiving side. In addition, the mail agent process attaches control information instructing the processing on the receiving side.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the information processing system according to the present invention is an information processing system comprising an information processing device for transmitting and receiving electronic mail through a mail server connected to a network, wherein the information processing device is an electronic device. Information of the mail agent means and the mail agent means for decoding the additional information when receiving the mail and adding the decoding result to the header part, and attaching the control information for instructing the processing at the receiving side when transmitting the electronic mail Corresponding to the exchange, when the e-mail is received, the thread information is analyzed from the additional information added to the header part by the mail agent, and the control information attached to the e-mail sent from others is analyzed and displayed on the display part. For displaying a list and creating a thread on the receiving side when sending an e-mail And a mail processing means for adding the pressure data.

The present invention relates to a mail agent (Mail Age
nt) function to send and receive normal mail (Mail) with BB
S or bulletin board-like communication service (Communic
ation service). Although the system framework is like a mailing list (Mailing List), it is linked with the subject (Subject) and other additional information to simplify the display mode like a thread on the mailer (Mailer) and simplify it. Web-based online (OnLin
e) Enables communication (Communication) that can be enjoyed offline from the display.

Specifically, MIME (Multipurpose Int
E-mail compatible with ernet Mail Extension) and a mail agent (Scrept operation) that can be linked to it, filter each mail sent from a normal mailing list by subject or other additional information, and group by each title (Title) (Grouping) WEB
Use it like the bulletin board and BBS service above.

A thread can be freely created from a compatible mailer (Mailer) that allows the mail agent function to be plugged in, and at the time of creation, it should be a mailing list for members only, or a thread that can be opened to the public and anyone can participate. It is something that can be selected.

[0012] Regarding the thread that is open to the public, the center server receives the mail and publishes it on the WEB. Regarding the thread of limited members, mail is sent only to the members who have been set as default.

A dedicated mailer incorporating a mail agent in advance filters ordinary mail and mail with an agent, and displays BBS / bulletin board mode for mail with an agent. Further, it is possible to set a function of adding a sender to a new member when a mail is sent to a mailing list address from an external member with respect to the mailing list set once.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an electronic mail transmission / reception system as shown in FIG.

This electronic mail transmission / reception system uses a personal digital assistant (Personal Digital Assess) which is a client terminal.
istants: PDA) 10, a telephone line 20, a center server 31 connected to an access point 30,
It consists of a mailbox 32 and the Internet 40.

The PDA 10 has a general PIM (Personal Information Management) function, such as electronic schedule management, electronic address book, electronic memo pad, and action list management, in addition to the electronic mail function. Also,
A display unit such as a liquid crystal panel (LCD) is formed on the PDA 10, and images associated with activation of application software and various processes, images and characters as data, voices to be reproduced, information accompanying music, and operation guides. A message, a menu screen for reproduction and editing operations, etc. are displayed. In addition, various operators for the user's operation are provided on the PDA 10. For example,
An operation key as hardware, a handwritten character input area with a pen, and the like are provided in the operation unit below the display unit. Of course, a touch panel operator such as a button, which is a drawing object drawn as software, is displayed on the display unit and operated by a pressing operation with a pen or a finger.

The access point 30 is a connection point at which a user can connect to the internet 40. May be a provider.

The center server 31 is a mail server, receives mails from networks and clients, and stores the mails in the mail box 32. The center server 31 is a simple mail transfer protocol (SMT) used for transferring electronic mail in a TCP / IP network which is one of computer network communication methods.
P) function, Post Office Protocol (POP) function used for transfer from server to client, and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)
It has a function. In particular, the center server 31 also functions as a public server for receiving a mail that can be disclosed to the general public and cutting out and displaying necessary information. Therefore, the electronic mail transmission / reception system of the present embodiment can provide a new communication service that can be freely set and can be viewed offline in an environment having a public server. The public server function has a function of adding a new user to the public mailing list when a mail is sent from a user who is not on the existing mailing list.

The internal structure of the PDA 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The PDA 10 has a configuration using a microprocessor. That is, in the PDA 10, the CPU 101 and R are connected to the system bus 102.
The OM 103, the work area RAM 104, the display controller 105, and the operation unit compatible I / F 106
, Sound controller 108, input / output port 11
1 and 1 are connected.

The display controller 105
The disc play (display unit) 10a is connected to the I / F
An operation unit 107 such as a key switch or a touch panel switch is connected to 106. Sound controller 10
A speaker 109 and a microphone 110 are connected to 8.

A modem 112 is connected to the port 111. The modem 112 is connected to a telephone line by inserting a modular plug into a modular jack (not shown).

The ROM 103 stores an electronic mail transmission / reception program which is a specific example of an information processing program created based on the information processing method of the present invention. CPU 101 RAM for this e-mail transmission / reception program
The CPU 10 functions as a mail agent unit and a mail processing unit by taking out to 104 and executing it.

The mail agent unit decodes the additional information when the electronic mail is received and adds the decoding result to the header part, and attaches the control information for instructing the processing on the receiving side when the electronic mail is transmitted. The mail agent unit also decodes the additional information and determines whether the received e-mail is an e-mail with an agent.

The mail processing unit corresponds to the information exchange with the mail agent unit, analyzes the thread information from the additional information added to the header by the mail agent at the time of receiving the E-mail, and analyzes the E-mail sent from others. The display unit 10 analyzes the attached control information.
A list is displayed on a and additional information for creating a thread on the receiving side is added when sending an electronic mail. That is, the mail processing unit has a function of adding additional information for creating a unique thread and a function of sorting received mails and displaying them like an electronic bulletin board.

In FIG. 3, the PDA 10 is the center server 3
1 shows a configuration when connected to 1 to function as a mail client. The mail function unit 50 includes mail software 51 and a mail agent 52.

The processing when the mail agent 52 receives the mail and the processing when the mail is transmitted are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
First, at the time of receiving a mail, the mail agent 52 decodes the additional information attached to the mail on the sending side in step S1. Next, the additional information decrypted in step S2 is converted into data that can be decrypted by the mail software 51 and added to the header. Then, it is delivered to the mail software 51 (step S3). Also, when sending an email, the email agent 52
Converts the additional information added by the mail software 51 into a control signal for instructing how the receiving side should process it and attaches it (step S11).

The processing when the mail software 51 receives a mail and the processing when a mail is sent are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The mail software 51 reads the additional information added to the header by the mail agent 52 and analyzes the thread information (step S21). Further, the control information is analyzed (step S22). Then, the list is displayed on the display unit (step S23). When sending a mail, add additional information for creating a thread on the receiving side (step S
31).

Therefore, the electronic mail transmission / reception system of the present embodiment can further improve the usability of offline use by proposing a service based on the mail function, and can obtain necessary information collectively. Therefore, the total connection time can be shortened.

Further, since the users can create their own BBS, more free communication service can be realized. In addition, since the server side does not store more data than necessary and the access as a whole can be suppressed, the performance limit can be relaxed and the operating cost can be reduced.

Further, by expanding the mail agent, various services can be realized only by upgrading the version of the client.

[0031]

According to the present invention, the information processing apparatus, the information processing method, and the information processing method, which can greatly improve the usability by using offline and can reduce the total connection time because necessary information can be collectively obtained, can be obtained. A processing program and an information processing system can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic mail transmission / reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a PDA that is a client terminal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration when a PDA functions as a mail client.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a mail agent process when receiving a mail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a mail agent process when sending a mail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a process in a mail software unit when receiving a mail.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a process in a mail software unit when sending a mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 PDA (mail client), 31 center server, 32 mailbox, 40 internet

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for transmitting and receiving an electronic mail, which controls decoding of additional information when an electronic mail is received, adds the decoding result to a header portion, and instructs processing on the receiving side when the electronic mail is transmitted. Corresponding to the information exchange between the mail agent means for attaching information and the mail agent means, when the e-mail is received, the thread information is analyzed from the additional information added to the header part by the mail agent means and transmitted from the other. The control information attached to the e-mail is analyzed and displayed in a list on the display,
An information processing apparatus, comprising: mail processing means for adding additional information for creating a thread on the receiving side when sending an electronic mail. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mail agent means decodes the additional information and determines whether the received electronic mail is an electronic mail with an agent. . 3. An information processing method for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, comprising a mail agent process and a mail processing process, wherein the mail agent process decodes the additional information when the electronic mail is received, and the decoding result is a header part. In addition, in the mail processing step, the thread information is analyzed from the additional information added to the header part by the mail agent, and the control information attached to the electronic mail transmitted from another is analyzed and displayed on the display unit. When sending an email, the mail processing step adds additional information for creating a thread on the receiving side, and the mail agent step attaches control information for instructing processing on the receiving side. An information processing method characterized by: 4. The information processing method according to claim 3, wherein the mail agent step decodes the additional information to determine whether the received electronic mail is an electronic mail with an agent. . 5. An information processing program comprising a mail agent process and a mail processing process and executed by an information processing device for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, wherein the mail agent process decodes additional information when receiving the electronic mail. The decryption result is added to the header part, and the mail processing step analyzes the thread information from the additional information added to the header part by the mail agent, and at the same time, the control information attached to the e-mail sent from the other side is analyzed. The mail analysis process adds the additional information for creating a thread on the receiving side when the electronic mail is sent, and displays the list on the display unit, and the mail agent process controls the processing on the receiving side. An information processing program characterized by attaching information. 6. The information processing program according to claim 5, wherein the mail agent step decodes the additional information to determine whether the received electronic mail is an electronic mail with an agent. . 7. An information processing system comprising an information processing device for transmitting and receiving electronic mail through a mail server connected to a network, wherein the information processing device decodes the additional information when the electronic mail is received and the decoding result is a header part. In addition to the above, it corresponds to the information exchange between the mail agent means and the mail agent means that attaches the control information for instructing the processing at the receiving side at the time of sending the electronic mail, and the header part by the mail agent at the time of receiving the email. The thread information is analyzed from the additional information added to, and the control information attached to the email sent from others is analyzed and displayed in the list on the display unit, and the thread is created on the receiving side when sending the email. Mail processing means for adding additional information for Information processing system.