WO2007007536A1

WO2007007536A1 - Electronic mail system

Info

Publication number: WO2007007536A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/312695
Authority: WO
Inventors: Akira Nomura; Yoshiko Ishiwa; Kenji Tamura; Keisuke Takana
Original assignee: Adagio Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-07-14
Filing date: 2006-06-26
Publication date: 2007-01-18
Also published as: JP2007028025A

Abstract

An electronic mail system comprising a message searching/retrieving means (9) that searches a database (6) and retrieves therefrom the data related to messages for which the user is designated as a receiver; a list display means (10) that displays a list window of the messages; a message display means (11) that displays a message window including the messages; an opinion entering window display means (12) that displays a window into which opinions are entered for the messages; and an opinion storage means (13) that stores, in the database, the opinions entered into the opinion entrance window and associated with the messages; wherein the data related to the messages includes the opinions associated with the messages and wherein when displaying the message window on the user terminal, the message display means (11) displays, together with the messages, the opinions associated therewith.

Description

Specification

E-mail system Technical field

The present invention relates to an electronic mail system for transmitting and receiving electronic mail in an environment where a user terminal and an electronic mail server are mutually connected via an information communication network.

Background art

A conventional electronic mail system is configured by mutually connecting a plurality of user terminals and a mail server via an information communication network such as the Internet. Then, the mail sent by the sender specifying the user terminal power receiver is sent to the mail server via the information communication network, and the mail server sorts the mail in a dedicated mail box prepared for each receiver in advance. Saved. On the other hand, when the receiver accesses the mail server via the user terminal information communication network, the mail server extracts the mailbox power e-mail dedicated to the receiver and sends the e-mail to the receiver's user terminal. (See, for example, JP-A-2001-244960).

However, in the above-described conventional electronic mail system, since information transmission is performed between the sender and the receiver via electronic mail, retransmission and reply are repeatedly performed. In the meantime, there have been problems that several revised messages have been derived, and the history management becomes immediately complicated.

Further, in the above-described conventional electronic mail system, information can be shared between a sender and a plurality of recipients by transmitting a message by designating a plurality of recipients. Because two or more parties communicate information only side by side, if transmission and reply are repeated among multiple parties, multiple revisions of the first message will be derived, and the history of There was a problem when management became more complicated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a plurality of parties grouped together including a sender and a receiver can always share the same message and opinion, Provide an email system that can manage history easily and reliably And it is.

Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The present invention is an electronic mail system for transmitting and receiving electronic mail in an environment where a user terminal and a mail server are mutually connected via an information communication network. Terminal power In response to a message browsing request, a message search extraction means for searching and extracting data concerning a message designated as a receiver by the user who made the browsing request as a receiver and a message extracted by the message search extraction means List display means for displaying a list screen on the user terminal based on data relating to a message, message display means for causing the user terminal to display a message screen including the message in response to a request to select a message of the list screen power; , The message displayed on the user terminal by the message display means The opinion input screen display means for displaying the opinion input screen on the user terminal according to the request for making the opinion to be sent, and the message selected as the opinion input from the opinion input screen displayed on the user terminal And the opinion storage means for storing in the database in association with the message, the data relating to the message which the message search and extraction means searches and extracts from the database includes the opinion associated with the message. The message display means is configured to display an opinion associated with the message as well as the message when the message screen is displayed on the user terminal!

Further, in response to a new message creation request from the user terminal, a new message input screen display means for displaying the new message input screen on the user terminal, and an input screen strength receiver of the new message are specified. The system may further comprise new message storage means for associating the new message input with the receiver and storing the new message in a database.

Furthermore, the new message input screen display means is configured to be able to display a predetermined, formatted new message input screen on the user terminal based on a request from the user terminal. ,.

Furthermore, a message is input on the predetermined new message input screen. It may further comprise document conversion means capable of converting the structured document into another type of stylized document.

Furthermore, the document processing apparatus may further include a document dividing unit capable of dividing a document configured by inputting a message on the new message input screen into a plurality of stylized documents.

Furthermore, based on the presence or absence of the message selection operation from the list screen, it is determined whether the message is read or not read, and status management means for displaying the determination result on the user terminal is provided. Even though.

Further, the status management means is configured to approve the message based on the presence or absence of the approval operation of the receiver based on the message screen power displayed on the user terminal of the receiver of the message. Even if configured to make a determination of whether or not force! / ,.

The information processing apparatus may further include a message transmission determination unit that determines whether to transmit the message to persons other than the sender and the receiver based on the determination result of the status management unit.

[0014] Furthermore, the apparatus further comprises message disclosure restriction means capable of designating, in the message, a range for restricting disclosure to persons other than the sender and the receiver based on the request of the sender and the receiver of the message. It may be

Furthermore, unread message extraction means for extracting only data related to messages determined to be unread by the status management means is provided, and the list display means is configured to, based on a request from the user terminal, The unread message list screen may be configured to be displayed on the user terminal based on the data related to the unread message extracted by the unread message extraction means.

Furthermore, based on a request from the user terminal, a file stored in the user terminal may be selected, and file attachment processing means capable of attaching the file to the message may be provided.

Furthermore, in response to a request to create a reply opinion for the opinion displayed on the user terminal by the message display means, a reply opinion input screen display means for displaying an input screen of a reply opinion on the user terminal; The reply opinion input from the reply opinion input screen displayed on the user terminal is associated with the opinion and stored in the database. The message search and extraction means searches the database for data, and the data related to the message includes the reply opinion associated with the opinion. The message display means may be configured to display a reply opinion associated with the opinion together with the opinion when the message screen is displayed on the user terminal.

Furthermore, a new version message input screen display means for displaying a new version message input screen on the user terminal in response to a request for creating a new version message for a message already input, and the user terminal And a new version message storage unit for storing a new version of the message input from the displayed new version of the message input screen on the database in association with the already input message, and the message search extraction unit And, in response to the user terminal's ability to browse the message, the user who made the browsing request searches and extracts data related to the latest version of the message from among the messages designated as the receiver from the database, and displays the list The means The list screen is displayed on the user terminal based on the data related to the message of the latest version extracted by the page search extraction means, and the message display means responds to the selection request of the message from the list screen. The latest version of the message may be configured to be displayed on the user terminal.

Furthermore, the message display means may be configured to be able to display an old version of the message in response to a request from the user terminal.

[0020] Furthermore, a tag setting means capable of arbitrarily setting a tag for classifying the message to the user terminal power for the message and data concerning a message in which the same tag is set by the tag setting means A tag setting message extracting means for extracting only the database data, and the list display means, in response to a request from the user terminal, data relating to the message extracted by the tag setting message extracting means The list screen of the messages set with the same tag can be displayed on the user terminal on the basis of,, or.

[0021] Furthermore, the tag setting means may be configured to input an input screen of the new message. It may be configured to be able to set a tag for the new message based on the data on the note.

Furthermore, a sticky note editing screen capable of setting addition, change and deletion of the sticky note may be displayed on the user terminal based on a request from the list screen of the messages.

[0023] Furthermore, the tag set with the user terminal power may be configured to be displayed only on the user terminal for which the tag is set.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an entire configuration of an electronic mail system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a user power message is received in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a list screen of messages in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a message screen in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an opinion input screen in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an opinion screen in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an input screen of a reply opinion in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure when a user creates a new message in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a new message input screen in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a user creates a new version of a message in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a view showing a display screen of a message that has already been input in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an input screen of a new version message in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when an unread message is displayed in the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing an entire configuration of an electronic mail system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the user transmits a new message in the electronic mail system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a display screen of an order form displayed on the terminal of the orderer in the electronic mail system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the user receives a new message in the electronic mail system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a view showing a screen of an order form displayed on the terminal of the customer in the electronic mail system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a view showing another example of a message list screen in the electronic mail system according to the first or second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a view showing another example of a new message input screen in the electronic mail system according to the first or second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a view showing an example of a tag editing screen in the electronic mail system according to the first or second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a view showing another example of the message display screen in the electronic mail system according to the first or second embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the case where the Internet is used as an information communication network will be described as an example. First, the configuration of an electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an entire configuration of an electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the electronic mail system according to the present embodiment, a plurality of (three in FIG. 1) user terminals 1, 2 and 3 and mail servers are mutually connected via the Internet 30. The mail server 4 is composed of a control unit 5 that controls each component of this system, and a database 6 that stores various data on messages and opinions.

The control unit 5 of the mail server operates in response to a request to create a new message from the user terminals 1, 2, 3 to display a new message input screen on the user terminals 1, 2, 3. A screen display unit 7; a new message storage unit 8 for associating a new message inputted by designating a new message input screen receiver with the receiver and storing the new message in the database 6; user terminals 1, 2, 3 The message search and extraction unit 9 searches the database 6 for data related to the message specified as the receiver by the user who has made the browsing request according to the message browse request and the message search and extraction unit 9. List display unit 10 for displaying the list screen on user terminals 1, 2, 3 based on the data related to the message extracted by the user, and responding to the selection request of the list screen strength message. The message display unit 11 causes the user terminals 1, 2, 3 to display a message screen including the message, and the user terminal 1, 2, 3 displays an opinion input screen in response to a request to create an opinion for this message. The opinion input screen display unit 12 to be displayed, the opinion storage unit 13 that associates the opinion input from the opinion input screen with the selected message and stores it in the database 6, and the message selection request operation from the list screen Based on the presence or absence, it is determined whether the message is already unread or not, and the status management unit 14 displays the determination result on the user terminals 1, 2, 3 and data on the message determined as unread by the status management unit 14 Select the unread message extraction unit 15 that extracts only the files stored in the user terminal 1, 2, 3 and attach the file to the message In response to a request to create a reply to the opinion displayed on the file attachment processing unit 16 and the terminals 1, 2 and 3, a reply opinion input image which causes the user terminal 1, 2, 3 to display a reply opinion input screen Input from the input screen of the reply opinion displayed on the surface display unit 17 and the user terminals 1, 2 and 3 A reply opinion storage unit 18 for associating the reply opinion with the opinion and storing it in the database 6 and a message input screen of a new version in response to a request for creating a new version of the message for the message already inputted. , 2 and 3 New version message input screen display section 19 and the new version message input screen power is also related to the already input message and the new version message is stored in database 6 It is configured to include a message storage unit 20.

Next, the operation of the electronic mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 to 13.

[0030] First, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 to FIG. 7, an operation when receiving a user power message will be described. Here, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure when receiving a user catalog, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a message list screen, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a message screen, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an opinion input screen. Fig. 6 shows an opinion screen, and Fig. 7 shows a reply opinion input screen.

First, when the user inputs authentication data such as ID and password on the login screen of the user terminal 1 and selects the login button, for example, the authentication data is transmitted to the mail server 4 via the Internet 30. (S201). In the mail server 4, based on the authentication data transmitted from the user terminal 1, the user authentication operation is performed (S202). If the user authentication is successful, the process proceeds to the next step 204, and the authentication can not be performed. In this case, the user is continuously prompted to input authentication data until the user can be authenticated (S203).

In step 204! /, The message search and extraction unit 9 searches the database 6 for data regarding messages in which the user authenticated in step 203 is specified as a sender and a receiver. The list display unit 10 causes the user terminal 1 to display a list screen 41 of the messages extracted by the message search and extraction unit 9 (S205).

On this list screen 41, as shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the message subject list 42, an unread display field 43 of a message indicating whether the message is unread or read, and whether the opinion on the message is unread Unread display field 44, Sender's Name field 45, Date field 46, Receipt to show whether it has been read The followers' name column 47, etc. is displayed, and it is possible to determine whether the recipient's power S message is unread, read, or approved by the character color of each recipient's name.

Next, when the user selects a specific message from this list screen 41, for example, the message No. 129 in FIG. 3 (S206), it is sent to this mail server 4 and the mail server 4 The message search and extraction unit 9 searches and extracts the data of the message of NO. 129 from the database 6 (S207), and the message display unit 11 uses the message screen 51 of Nol 29 as the user based on the data of this message. Display on terminal 1 (S2 08). At this time, the status management unit 15 determines that the message of No. 129 has been read based on the message selection request at step 206, and the list screen 41 displays the unread message of this message. Delete the circle from the display column 43.

As shown in FIG. 4, the message screen 51 includes a message display unit 52 for displaying information on a message, and an opinion display unit 53 for displaying information on an opinion on the message. The message display unit 52 displays the message content display field 54, the message version information 55, the sender name field 56, and a field for displaying whether the recipient name is unread or approved together with the recipient name. The opinion display unit 53 has a field 58 for displaying the beginning of the opinion, an opinion unread display field 59 for indicating whether the opinion is unread or read, and the sender. Name field 60, writing date field 61, and recipient name field 62 are displayed, and it is possible to determine whether the recipient has not read the opinion or has read it by the character color of each recipient name. There is.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the message screen 51 is provided with an approval button, and when the “Approve” button is selected, a field for displaying the name of the recipient who selected the message, etc. (FIG. In 4), the display in the “Nakamura” column changes to readiness approval, and it is notified to other recipients whether the recipient has accepted this message or not. Note that when the message has been approved, the “Approve” button is replaced with the “Cancel Approve” button, and by selecting this “Cancel Approve” button, the display of the recipient name etc. field 57 is displayed. Changes from approved to read.

When the user selects the "add opinion" button on the message screen 51, the message is sent to the opinion creation request call server 4 (S209). Mail server In 4, based on the request for creating the opinion, the opinion input screen display unit 12 transmits the opinion input screen data to the user terminal 1 (S210), and the opinion input screen 71 is displayed on the user terminal 1 (S211).

As shown in FIG. 5, an opinion input field 72 is provided in the opinion input screen 71. When an opinion is input in the opinion input field 72 and an “add” button is selected, the opinion is input. Is sent to the mail server 4 (S212). In the mail server 4, when the opinion storage unit 13 associates this opinion with the message of No. 129 and stores it in the database 6 (S213), and the user subsequently makes a request to read the No 29 message, The message search and extraction unit 9 searches and extracts this opinion together with the No. 129 message. Then, the message display unit 11 causes the user terminals 1, 2, 3 to display this opinion associated with the message of No. 129 simultaneously with the message of No. 129.

Furthermore, when a specific opinion, for example, the opinion displayed at the bottom of the opinion display unit 53 of FIG. 4 is selected from the message screen 51 of FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. An opinion screen 73 is displayed on the user terminal 1 by the display unit 11. When the user selects “Reply to this opinion” on this opinion screen 73, as shown in FIG. 7, the reply opinion input screen display unit 17 displays a reply opinion input screen 74 on the user terminal 1, When the user inputs a reply opinion in the reply opinion input field 75 of the reply opinion input screen 74 and selects the “add” button, it is sent to the reply opinion S-mail server 4. In the mail server 4, the reply opinion storage unit 18 associates this reply opinion with the message of No. 129 and stores it in the database 6, and if the user subsequently requests to read the Nol 29 message, the message is displayed. Part 11 causes the user terminal 1, 2, 3 to display this reply opinion together with the message of No. 129 and the opinion on it.

Next, referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the operation when the user creates a new message will be described. Here, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the user creates a new message, and FIG. 9 is a view showing an input screen of the new message. In this case, since the processing procedure until the message list screen 41 is displayed is the same as the processing procedure when the user message S is received, the description is omitted here. In step 205, when the user power ^ new postcard button is selected from the message list screen 41 (see FIG. 3) displayed on the user terminal 1 by the list display unit 10, the new message creation request power It is sent to the S-mail server 4 (S301). In the mail server 4, the new message input screen display unit 7 transmits the new message input screen data to the user terminal 1 based on the new message creation request (S302), and the user terminal 1 inputs the new message. Screen 81 (see FIG. 9) is displayed (S303).

As shown in FIG. 9, in addition to a new message input field 82, a receiver specification field 83, a version information field 84 and the like are displayed on the new message input screen 81, When the user enters a message in the new message input field 82 and selects the "send" button, the message is sent to the new message car server 4 (S304). At this time, when the user selects the “attach file” button and designates a predetermined file stored in the user terminal 1 and utters it, the file attachment processing unit 16 attaches the designated file to the new message. Send to the mail server 4 together with the new message.

At this time, the user can also save a new message as a draft on the mail server 4 as a draft by selecting the “Save as draft” button. Then, in the mail server 4, the new message storage unit 8 stores this new message transmitted from the user terminal 1 in the database 6 in association with the recipient together with the attached file, if there is an attached file. (S 305).

Next, referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 10 to FIG. 12, an operation when the user creates a message of a new version will be described. Here, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure when the user creates a new version of the message, FIG. 11 shows the display screen of the already input message, and FIG. 12 shows the new version message input screen. FIG. In this case, the processing procedure until the message list screen 41 is displayed is the same as the processing procedure at the time of receiving the user power message, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

In step 205, from the list screen 41 of the messages displayed on the user terminal 1 by the list display unit 10, a message previously prepared by oneself (in this case, “Tamura”), for example, FIG. If the message No. 132 is selected (S401), this selection request is a mail server. In the mail server 4, the message search and extraction unit 9 searches the database 6 for data on the message of No. 132 and extracts it (S402), and the message display unit 11 receives data on this message. Based on, the message screen 91 of Nol 32 is displayed on the user terminal 1 (S403). In this case, on the message screen 91, as shown in FIG. 11, a "new version" button is displayed instead of the "approve" button.

Next, when the user selects the “new version” button on the message screen 91, a request for creating a new version of the message is sent to the mail server 4 (S404). In the mail server 4, the new version message input screen display unit 19 transmits the new version message input screen data to the user terminal 1 based on the request for creating the new version message (S405), and the user terminal 1 The new version message input screen 101 is displayed at step S406.

As shown in FIG. 12, the new message input screen 101 includes a new version message input field 102 and a receiver specification field 103, similar to the new message input screen 81 in FIG. Version information column 104 and so on are displayed. In this case, “2” is displayed in version information column 104, and it is displayed that the message has been upgraded from “1” to “2”. Ru. Then, when the user inputs a message in the message input field 102 of the new version and selects the "send" button, the message is transmitted to the message call server 4 of the new version (S407). At this time, you can attach a file to a user force message or save a message as a draft as in the case of creating a new message.

In mail server 4, new version message storage unit 20 associates this new version of the message sent from user terminal 1 with the attached file, if any, with the attached file, and stores it in a database. 6 (S408). Then, when the user subsequently requests to read the message of No. 132, the message search and extraction unit 9 searches and extracts the latest version of the message of No. 131, but the user inputs a new message. When the old version is selected in the version information column of screen 81 or the new version message input screen 91, the message search and extraction unit 9 searches and extracts the specified old version of message No. 132, and displays the message table The display unit 11 causes the user terminal 1, 2, 3 to display the old version of the message.

Next, referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 13, an operation at the time of displaying an unread message will be described. Here, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when displaying an unread message. In this case, the processing procedure until the message list screen 41 is displayed is the same as the processing procedure at the time of receiving the user's power message, so the description is omitted here.

[0050] In step 205, in the list screen 41 of the messages displayed on the user terminal 1 by the list display unit 10 (see FIG. 3), the "unread only display" box 48 is checked and "update" When the button is selected (S501), it is sent to the selection request key server 4. In the mail server 4, the unread message extraction unit 15 searches the database 6 for data on unread messages and extracts it (S502). The message display unit 11 displays a list screen of unread messages on the user terminal 1 based on the data related to the extracted unread messages (S 503). In this case, as shown in Figure 3, check the “From is you” box, the sender narrows down to your own unread messages, or check the “To is you” box. Recipients can narrow down to their own unread messages, or check the “do not show deleted” box to exclude deleted unread messages for display.

Next, an electronic mail system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the input screen of a new message is standardized in a predetermined form, and the other points are the same as those of the above-described first embodiment. is there. Therefore, in the following description, the points different from the above-described first embodiment will be mainly described to simplify the description, and the details of the configuration and the operation similar to those of the first embodiment will be described. Description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 5 of the mail server 4 according to the present embodiment has a predetermined stylization in addition to the components in the first embodiment described above. A document conversion unit 21 capable of converting a document configured by inputting a message on a new message input screen into another formatted document, and a message is input on a new message input screen Based on the approval status of the document division unit 22 capable of dividing the structured document into a plurality of stylized documents, and the sender's and receiver's approval status of the message, to the persons other than the sender and the receiver. The message transmission determination unit 23, which determines whether or not to transmit a message, and the range for limiting the disclosure to persons other than the sender and the receiver based on the request of the sender and the receiver of the message. And a message disclosure restriction unit 24 that can be specified in. The new message input screen display unit 7 is configured to be able to display a predetermined, formatted new message input screen on the user terminals 1, 2, 3 based on the request from the user terminals 1, 2, 3. Also, the status management unit 14 determines whether or not the message from the message screen displayed on the user terminal 1, 2 or 3 of the receiver of the message has the approval operation of the receiver. It is configured to determine whether or not the recipient approves.

FIG. 15 shows the procedure for sending a new message (purchase order) with the new message input screen power standardized by the user on the side of the orderer, and displays the message list screen 41. The processing procedure up to is the same as the processing procedure in the case of the first embodiment described above.

First, on the list screen 41 of the messages displayed on the user terminal 1 on the orderer side (S 205), the user enters a predetermined input from among a plurality of stylized new message input screens. When a screen, for example, a new input screen for a purchase order draft is selected (S601), this selection request is sent to the S-mail server 4. In the mail server 4, the new message input screen display unit 7 transmits the input screen data of the original draft of the purchase order to the user terminal 1 (S602), and the user terminal 1 receives an! An input screen (not shown) of the draft of the document is displayed (S603).

Next, when the user designates the recipient, inputs the order details, and selects the “send” button, the draft of the order form is sent to the S-mail server 4 (S 604). At this time, the user can also attach a predetermined file to the purchase order as in the case of the first embodiment described above. In the mail server 4, the new message storage unit 8 stores the order contents of this purchase order sent from the user terminal 1 in the database 6 in association with the recipient together with the attached file if there is an attached file. As well as the intended recipient's It transmits to the one terminal 2, 3 (S605).

In the user terminals 2 and 3, the message display unit 11 displays the screen 111 of the draft of the purchase order (S606). As shown in FIG. 16, on the draft screen 111 of this purchase order, a sender name field 112, a field 113 for displaying whether the recipient name is unread or read or approved together with the recipient name, and a version information field 114 In addition to the above, order content 115 is standardized and displayed, so that the recipient can determine whether the original draft of the purchase order has not been read, read, or approved based on the character color of each recipient name. It is getting worse. Then, an approval button is provided on the screen 111 of the draft of this purchase order, and when the “Approve” button is selected, a field for displaying the name of the recipient who selected the message, etc. (in FIG. The display in the column of “) changes to“ Approved ”as well, and other recipients will be notified if the recipient has accepted this message!

In addition, it is possible to create an opinion on the contents of the order described in the original draft of the purchase order by selecting the “Add opinion” button by each person involved in the sender and the receiver. This is the same as the case of the first embodiment, and thus, it is possible to efficiently discuss the contents of the order among the grouped parties. Then, as a result of consultation between the parties concerned, if necessary, the original proposal of the order sheet is re-created, and the final draft of the purchase order incorporating the opinions of the parties concerned is put together as a message of the new version.

Next, the status management unit 14 determines whether or not each of the above-mentioned recipients has made a selection operation of the “Approve” button on their own terminals for the order contents of the final draft of the order form. Based on the determination, it is determined whether the contents of the order have been approved by the respective recipients (S607). At this time, in addition to the case where all the recipients approve, the case where a certain number or more of the recipients approve, or the case where a specific person (for example, the person in charge) of the recipients approves, It can also be configured to determine that the status management unit 14 has been approved by a believer.

Then, in step 607, when the status management unit 14 determines that the order content of the final draft of the order form has been approved by the receiver, the message transmission determination unit 23 determines that the order to the supplier has been received. The transmission of the purchase order is permitted, and the document conversion unit 21 converts the final draft of the purchase order into a document standardized for transmission to the supplier and instructs transmission (S 608). This At the time of conversion of the document, since the contents inputted in the draft of the order sheet are transferred as they are to the document stylized for sending the supplier as it is, there is no possibility that a transfer error will occur. In addition, after the document conversion unit 21 converts the draft of the purchase order into a document standardized for sending the purchaser, items not included in the draft of the purchase order, for example, date of ordering, name of person in charge of ordering, notification items You may configure to be able to add new etc.

On the other hand, when the status management unit 14 determines that the order content is not approved by the receiver in step 607, the message transmission determination unit 23 sends the order form to the order destination. Do not allow sending.

Then, in the mail server 4, the new message storage unit 8 associates the finally agreed order contents of the purchase order sent from the user terminal 1 with the recipient as the new version message. The data is stored in the database 6 and transmitted to the user terminal of a predetermined receiver on the side of the contractor (S609). Further, the contents of the finally agreed upon order are displayed on the terminal of the person in charge in the document for transmitting the supplier on the basis of the request of the person in charge of the person at the orderer.

FIG. 17 shows the processing procedure when the user on the supplier side receives a standardized new message (purchase order), and the processing procedure until the message list screen 41 is displayed is described above. It is the same as the processing procedure in the case of the first embodiment.

First, on the list screen 41 of the messages displayed on the user terminal on the side of the order receiver (S205), when the user selects an order form (S701), this selection request mail server 4 is sent. Believed. In the mail server 4, the message search and extraction unit 9 searches and extracts the data relating to the order contents of the order from the database 6, and transmits the data to the user terminal (S702).

In the user terminal, the message display unit 11 displays the screen 121 of the purchase order in the form of a document stylized as the order-sending trust (S 703). As shown in FIG. 18, the display screen 121 for this purchase order includes a sender name field 122, a field 123 for displaying whether the recipient name is unread or read, and the version information field 124 together with the recipient name. In addition to the above, order contents 125 are standardized and displayed, and it is possible for the recipient to judge whether the opinion is unread, read or approved by the color of the letter of each recipient name. . And this purchase order display screen 1 21 is provided with an approval button, and when the "Approve" button is selected, the display of the field 57 for displaying the name of the recipient who selected the message changes to readability approval, and the recipient strength S This It will be notified to other recipients whether the message has been approved or not.

[0066] In addition, it is possible to create an opinion on the order contents described in the order form by the sender and the receiver each participant selecting the "add opinion" button. This is the same as the case of the embodiment, and thus, it is possible to efficiently discuss the contents of the order among the grouped parties. At this time, regarding the opinion etc. that the person in charge of the contractor side decides not to disclose to the orderer side, the user terminal of the contractor side designates a predetermined range on the screen 121 of the order form and When the "disclosure" button (not shown) is selected, the message disclosure restriction unit 24 makes the message in the designated range undisclosed to the orderer side.

Next, the status management unit 14 determines, based on whether or not each recipient has selected the “Approve” button on the screen 121 of each purchase order for the order contents of the purchase order, It is determined whether the order contents have been approved by each of the recipients (S704). At this time, in addition to the case where all the recipients approve, the case where a certain number or more of the recipients approve, or the case where a specific person (for example, the person in charge) of the recipients approves, It can also be configured to determine that the status management unit 14 has been approved by a believer.

Then, when the status management unit 14 determines that the order content has been approved by the receiver in step 705, the message transmission determination unit 23 permits transmission of the order receipt to the order source, The document conversion unit 21 converts the contents of the order sheet into a document (order sheet) standardized for transmission to the order source, and instructs transmission (S 608). At the time of conversion of this document, since the contents of the order sheet are transferred as they are to the document standardized for transmission of the order source, there is no possibility that a transfer error will occur.

On the other hand, when the status management unit 14 determines that the order contents are not approved by the receiver in step 705, the message transmission determination unit 23 sends the order receipt to the order originator. Do not allow sending.

At this time, as a result of the discussion between the person in charge of the orderer and the person in charge of the customer, When a part of the contents described in the order form is ordered separately, the “split” button (not shown) is made by designating a predetermined range on the screen 121 of the user terminal power purchase order on the orderer side. If the user selects "), the document division unit 22 divides the designated range of the message.

Next, in the mail server 4, the new message storage unit 8 stores the contents of the sales order received from the user terminal in the database 6 in association with the recipients, and It transmits to the user terminal 1, 2, 3 of the predetermined receiver of (S706).

In the above-described second embodiment, the purchase order has been described as a stylized document, but this is merely an example, and the present invention is, for example, the contents of the order received by the customer. Other than shipping instructions, manufacturing instructions, purchasing instructions, purchasing order documents, shipping reports, invoices, sales reports, transfer slips for sending to departments, business to apply for and receive, and business to receive for applications Etc. Ask · It is also applicable to stylized documents used in any work in the relationship with which it is asked.

[0073] As described above, according to the electronic mail system according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the same message can be used at any time for the grouped parties of the sender and all designated recipients. And, it is possible to share an opinion or a reply opinion associated with the message, and also to grasp the presence or absence of unread, read or approval of each person concerned with the message or opinion. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly transmit information between the parties concerned grouped, and it becomes possible to manage the history easily and reliably.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the user arbitrarily sets a tag such as “important”, “hold”, “look behind”, “★” mark or the like for the message, and Message Classification It can also be configured to facilitate organization. In this case, the control unit 5 of the mail server 4 includes a tag setting unit (not shown) capable of arbitrarily setting a tag for classifying the message from the user terminal 1 to the message, and the tag setting unit A tag setting message extraction unit (not shown) is further provided for extracting from the database 6 only data related to messages for which the same tag has been set by the user, and the list display unit 10 responds to the request from the user terminal 1. Based on the data on the messages extracted by the tag setting message extraction unit, a list screen of messages in which the same tag is set can be displayed on the user terminal 1. FIG. 19 shows an example of the message list screen at this time, with the sticky note list 131 displayed at the left end, and the sticky note field 132 between the title field of each message and the sender name field. Is displayed. This tag is configured to be displayed only on the user terminal 1 in which the tag is set, and is not displayed on other user terminals.

Further, in this case, as shown in FIG. 22, a sticky note input box 135 is displayed on the right side of the message title input box on the message display screen, and the sticky note setting unit displays the message display screen. The tag can be set for the message based on the data on the tag input from the tag input field 135. This allows the user to arbitrarily sort and organize messages received by the user.

Furthermore, in this case, by selecting the “Edit” button of the sticky note list 131 on the message list screen (see FIG. 19), as shown in FIG. 21, addition, change and deletion of the sticky note are set. A settable sticky note editing screen 134 is displayed.

Note that the above-described function related to the sticky note can be configured to be settable also for the opinion and the reply opinion that are not limited to the above-described message. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, a sticky note input box 133 can be provided on the new input screen, and the sender can set a sticky note in advance for the new message from the sticky note input box 133. Then, in this case, a new message is sent to each designated receiver in a state of being added with a tag, and an attachment is displayed on the terminal of each of the recipients.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when displaying opinions, hierarchically displaying the exchange of opinions in order (so-called “thread display”) or adding a function of closing the addition of an opinion You can also

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the Internet is used as the information communication network has been described, but this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the use of a dedicated communication line or the like as the information communication network. It is worth mentioning that it can be implemented even in environments that use information communication networks.

According to the present invention, grouping can be achieved because the sender and all the designated recipients can share the same message and the opinion and the reply opinion associated with the message even if it is! / ヽ. Information can be smoothly transmitted between the parties concerned, and management of the history is Various excellent effects can be obtained, such as easy and reliable operation.

Claims

The scope of the claims

An electronic mail system for transmitting and receiving electronic mail in an environment where a user terminal and a mail server are mutually connected via an information communication network, wherein the user terminal has an input screen for new messages. A new message input screen display means for displaying the input screen of a standardized new message on the user terminal according to the selection of

New message storage means for specifying a recipient and inputting the new message on the input screen of the formatted new message, associating the new message transmitted with the receiver with the receiver, and storing the new message in a database;

A message search and extraction means for searching the database for data concerning a message specified by the user who made the browse request as a receiver in response to the message browse request of the user terminal power and extracting the data;

List display means for displaying a list screen on the user terminal based on data related to the message extracted by the message search and extraction means;

Message display means for causing a message screen including the message to be displayed on the user terminal in response to a request for selecting the list screen strength message;

Opinion input screen display means for displaying an opinion input screen on the user terminal in response to a request to create an opinion for the message displayed on the user terminal by the message display means;

Opinion storage means for associating the opinion input from the opinion input screen displayed on the user terminal with the selected message and storing it in the database; the message displayed on the user terminal of the receiver of the message In the case where all the recipients have performed an approval operation for the message included in the screen, or when a certain number or more of the recipients or a specific person perform an approval operation, Status management means for determining that the mail server accepts the approval operation from the user terminal of the mail server by the mail server;

A message included in the message screen approved by the recipient when the status management means determines that the message is approved by the recipient Document conversion means for converting a document into a document standardized for transmission;

Message transmission determination means for transmitting the formatted document converted by the document conversion means to the user terminal of the user terminal of the receiver;

An e-mail system characterized by having a tweet.

[2] The electronic mail according to claim 1, further comprising a document dividing unit capable of dividing a document configured by inputting a message on the new message input screen into a plurality of formatted documents. system.

[3] The status management means determines whether the message is read or unread based on the presence or absence of the message selection operation from the list screen, and displays the determination result on the user terminal. The electronic mail system according to any one of the items 1 and 2.

[4] A message disclosure control means capable of designating in the message a range for restricting disclosure to persons other than the sender and the receiver based on the request of the sender and the receiver of the message. Scope of item 1 Force The electronic mail system described in any one of the items 3.

[5] An unread message extraction unit is provided for extracting only data related to a message determined to be unread by the status management unit, and the list display unit is configured to receive the unread message in response to a request from the user terminal. The unread message list screen is configured to be displayed on the user terminal based on the data on the unread message extracted by the extraction means, E-mail system described.

[6] A file attachment processing means capable of selecting a file stored in the user terminal based on a request from the user terminal and attaching the file to the message. The E-mail System of Item 5.

[7] A reply opinion input screen display means for displaying an input screen of a reply opinion on the user terminal in response to a request to create a reply opinion to the opinion displayed on the user terminal by the message display means;

A reply opinion storage unit that associates the reply opinion input from the reply opinion input screen displayed on the user terminal with the opinion and is stored in the database; And have

The data relating to the message that the message search and extraction means searches and extracts from the database includes a reply opinion associated with the opinion, and the message display means is configured to display the message screen as the user. The e-mail system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a reply opinion associated with the opinion is also displayed together with the opinion when displayed on a terminal.

[8] A new version message input screen display means for displaying a new version message input screen on the user terminal in response to a request for creating a new version of a message that has already been input, and

New version message storage means for storing a new version of the message input screen displayed on the user terminal in the database in association with the already input message of the new version,

And the message retrieval and extraction means is configured to, in response to a message browsing request from the user terminal, data on the message of the latest version among messages designated as recipients by the user who has made the browsing request as the receiver. The list display means displays the list screen on the user terminal based on the data related to the latest version of the message extracted by the message search and extraction means, and the message display means includes the list screen. The e-mail system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the e-mail system is configured to cause the user terminal to display the latest version of the message in response to a request for selection of a message from the user. .

[9] The electronic system according to claim 8, wherein the message display means is configured to be able to display old and version messages in response to a request from the user terminal.

[10] A tag setting means capable of arbitrarily setting a tag for classifying the message to the user terminal force for the message, and only data concerning a message in which the same tag is set by the tag setting means A database setting means for extracting a tag setting message extracting unit; and the list display unit is configured to store data on the message extracted by the tag setting message extracting unit in response to a request from the user terminal. And the list screen of the messages in which the same tag is set can be displayed on the user terminal on the basis of the one tag. Email system.

11. The tag setting device according to claim 10, wherein the tag setting unit is configured to be able to set a tag for the new message based on the data regarding the tag input on the input screen power of the new message. Email system.

[12] A tag editing screen capable of setting addition, change, and deletion of the tag is configured to be displayed on the user terminal based on a request from the list screen of the message !, Claim 11 E-mail system described in Section.

[13] The e-mail according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the set tag is configured to be displayed only on the user terminal for which the set tag is set. system.