JP2003233570A - E-mail transfer program, e-mail transfer device and e- mail transfer method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To thoroughly inform a message only by setting on groupware even when there are group members leaving the seat in executing work in cooperation within the group by using the groupware. <P>SOLUTION: This e-mail transfer program stores a transfer destination corresponding to a destination division of the member executing cooperative work by the group as transfer destination information in accordance with the division, and transfers received mail of the groupware by acquiring the transfer destination on the basis of user ID of a transmission partner, destination division information, and the transfer destination information in accordance with the division. The group member can thoroughly inform the message even if there are group members leaving the seats only by designating the destination division when displaying a destination by the destination display function being one function of the groupware by presetting the transfer destination corresponding to the destination division. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail transfer method in groupware, and in particular, in cooperation with a destination display function, an electronic mail (hereinafter referred to as an electronic mail) which enables notification of a message even when a group member is absent. Email and description) Transfer technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Although e-mail is a very convenient message notification means that allows easy communication with other parties all over the world,
Generally, it is unclear whether or not the recipient has opened the email sent by the user, so there is a part lacking in the function for using it for collaboration. With the mail function of the groupware, it is possible to display whether or not the mail sent to the mail outbox has been opened by the recipient, and to confirm whether the recipient has opened the sent mail without opening the read notification email. Things are in operation.

This is because the mail server or client
A consortium IETF (Internet Engi) established to promote standardization of technologies developed on the Internet.
RFC (Request for Comments) 1891, 1892, which is an official document issued by the Neering Task Force.
This is realized by notifying the distribution status in accordance with 1894. Specifically, the source client requests the destination to notify the delivery status and sends an email to the destination client.
When the recipient opens the mail, the mail indicating that the mail has been opened is returned to the sender of the mail. At this time, the mail server to which the sender of the mail belongs creates a mail outlook for each client, and when the mail with the delivery status for the sent mail is received, the mail ID is used as a key to open the sent mail outlist. Display the status of. As a result, the user can display the outgoing mail list managed by the mail server from the client and know the delivery status of the sent mail.

In the groupware, the protocol and the mounting level used by the server and the client are unified, and since the user is only a specific user registered in the server, such a service is possible. On the other hand, e-
Although mail uses the same protocol, it goes through the servers of multiple providers, the number of users is unspecified, and various mailers for clients are used. Since it is difficult to unify the levels, it is the current situation that the delivery status of emails sent by users cannot be confirmed from the email list as with the email function of groupware.

[0005]

When working together in a group, it is generally necessary for a sender of a message to know whether or not notification to a group member who is a destination is thoroughly notified and to perform the work smoothly. is there. However, the transmission destination is not always present, and the client at his / her own seat is often not available. As a coping method in such a case, conventionally, when a group member leaves the desk, write their destination on an electronic bulletin board, which is a destination display function, and the sender of the mail refers to the electronic bulletin board to respond to the destination of the other party. It was necessary to thoroughly notify the message by sending an e-mail designating a reply request or making a telephone contact.

Further, as a similar technique, in an e-mail or a telephone, the recipient of the mail sets a mail forwarding destination in advance, so that, for example, a message sent to a client or a telephone used by each person while traveling on a mobile phone The service of forwarding to is carried out. However, when working in a group, it is necessary for the group members to both display the destination on the destination display function and set the forwarding destination of the e-mail or the telephone before leaving the seat, which is a complicated task. It was

According to the present invention, when working together in a group using groupware, a message can be thoroughly notified to a group member who is absent only by operating the normally used groupware. It is an object.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. The mail transfer program 10 of the present invention uses a computer to store the user IDs of group members who collaborate in a group, the destination divisions, and the transfer destinations corresponding to the destination divisions in the storage device 2 as the transfer destination information 21 for each division. The transfer destination storage means 11 to be stored, the user ID of the member and the destination division are stored in the storage device 2 as the destination division information 22 and the mailbox 23 on the storage device 2 connected to the mail server 1. With respect to the received mail, the transfer destination acquisition unit 13 that acquires the transfer destination based on the transfer destination information 21 and the destination classification information 22 according to the classification, and the mail that transfers the groupware mail to the e-mail etc. according to the transfer destination It functions as the transfer means 14.

When the mail transfer means 14 transfers the mail of the groupware, if the mail is stored in the mailbox 23, the group members can refer to the transferred mail from their clients even when they return to their seats. It is possible to If the group members set the destinations corresponding to the destination categories in advance, the destination display function, which is one of the functions of the groupware, can be used to specify the destination display and the destination category. Can thoroughly notify the message. If the destination category can be set from the destination categories displayed on the screen for setting the destination display, the burden on the group member is not particularly set.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. The mail server 1 is a server that manages groupware mail, and is executed by a mail transfer program 10 according to the present invention in addition to a conventional mail management program. Mail transfer program 10
Is a transfer destination storage means 11 for storing the user IDs of group members who collaborate in a group, destination divisions, and transfer destinations corresponding to the destination divisions in the storage device 2 as the division-specific transfer destination information 21 using a computer. , Group member user ID and destination classification, destination classification information 22
Destination storage means 12 for storing in the storage device 2, and transfer destination acquisition means 13 for acquiring a transfer destination based on the classification-based transfer destination information 21 and the destination classification information 22 when a mail addressed to a group member arrives at the mail server 1. It functions as a mail transfer means 14 for transferring a groupware mail to an e-mail or the like according to a transfer destination, and is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium.

The mail transfer program 10 may be incorporated into a conventional mail management program of groupware to be operated, or may be operated as an independent program as an optional function of groupware. In the latter case, it is necessary to call the mail fetch function of the conventional mail management program from the mail transfer program or add the mail fetch function. In the present embodiment, an example in which the conventional groupware function is added and incorporated in the mail management function will be described.

The storage device 2 stores user IDs of group members, destination divisions and transfer destination information 21 for storing transfer destinations corresponding to destination divisions, and destinations for storing user IDs and destination divisions of group members. The classification information 22 and the mailbox 23 that stores the received mail used by the groupware are stored. LAN for mail server 1
Clients 31, 32, 33 used by group members via an internal network such as a mobile terminal 41 or mobile phone 42 used by a group member on a business trip via an external network such as the Internet, and a PC used at home (Personal computer) 43 and the like are connected.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a transfer destination definition screen for destination categories. Prior to the operation of the groupware, the forwarding destination of the groupware mail for the destination classification for each user (member of the group) is defined. In the present embodiment, the transfer destination of the user AAAAA is defined. In the case of a short-term business trip or movement, the transfer destination is aaa. k @ yy. ne. It is defined as jp. This indicates that the user AAAAA transfers the data to the mobile phone by e-mail when the user is on a business trip in a short distance and is moving. Similarly, in the case of a long-distance business trip, the transfer destination is set to aaa.ss so that the transfer is made to the mobile terminal used by the user AAAA. p @ y
y. ne. It is defined as jp. It should be noted that it is indicated that the user AAAAA cannot be contacted when returning home. If it is necessary to contact even when returning home, the transfer destination such as the PC or mobile phone used by the user AAAAA at home may be redefined.

FIG. 3 shows transfer destination information classified by group of group members defined on the transfer destination definition screen for the destination classification shown in FIG. When the destination category of the user is his / her seat, the destination is the pop-up IP address. This is because when the groupware is used, a normal message is output to the pop-up. This destination uses the one already defined in the conventional groupware settings.

FIG. 4 shows destination division information of group members. This information stores the contents specified by adding a new destination classification when the user performs the destination display using the conventional destination display function. For example, user AAAAA is 13:
From 00:00 to 15:00, he was on a business trip to Company A in Shinagawa, returned to his seat at 16:00, returned home at 20:00, and plans to return to work at 9:00 the next day. On the screen that defines the destination display, for the newly added "Destination classification",
By displaying the categories defined in the operation destination of the groupware such as "nearby", "moving", "self-seat", and "distant location" in advance so that the user can select, there is no burden on the user. It is possible to specify it naturally by extending the operation of the groupware.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a storage processing flow of destination classification information and classification-specific transfer destination information according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The storage processing of the transfer destination information for each category is performed as a part of a series of processing for setting mail management of groupware. First, a transfer destination definition screen for destination categories as shown in FIG. 2 is output to allow a groupware administrator or user to define transfer destinations for destination categories for group members (S501). Then, the user ID for each user defined in the transfer destination definition screen for the destination category, the destination category, and the transfer destination corresponding to the destination category are mailed as the category-specific transfer destination information 21 as shown in FIG. It is stored in the storage device 2 connected to the server 1 (S502).

In the present embodiment, a screen for setting the transfer destination for the destination category preset by the groupware administrator is output prior to the operation of the groupware. It is also possible to set an additional destination classification to the destination classification set in advance in the operation destination on the transfer destination definition screen. The storage process of the destination classification information is performed by extending the conventional destination display function. First, the destination display input screen to which the designation of the destination category is added is output (S503). This processing is the display itself of the conventional destination display input screen. Next, the destination information including the newly added destination division is stored in the storage device 2 connected to the mail server as the destination division information 22 as shown in FIG. 4 (S504).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a mail transfer processing flow in the first embodiment according to the present invention.
This mail transfer process is an extension of the process that is performed when the mail management function of the conventional groupware receives a mail. When the mail management program of the groupware receives the mail, it first acquires the current time using the interface with the OS (S601). Next, S50
The destination classification at the current time of the user is acquired by referring to the destination classification information 22 stored in the storage device 2 in 3 (S602). For example, the destination of the received mail is the user AAAAA, and the current time is 1 January 2002.
If the time is 5:30, referring to the destination classification information, the user AAAAA is scheduled to “move” to his / her seat after finishing the work on a short-term business trip to Shinagawa Company A at the current time.

Next, it is judged whether or not the received mail should be transferred (S603). When the destination category of the user to whom the mail is transferred is “self seat”, the transfer is not necessary, and in this embodiment, the mail is output to the pop-up of the transfer destination client.
If the destination category of the mail transfer destination is other than "Self", it is a transfer target, so the current time of the user of the mail transfer destination is referred to by referring to the category-specific transfer destination information 21 stored in the storage device 2 in S502. The transfer destination corresponding to the destination classification in (3) is acquired (S604).

The transfer destination of the user AAAAA during movement is a
aa. k @ yy. ne. Since it is assumed that it is predefined as jp, the mail currently being processed is the user AAAA.
It will be transferred to A's mobile phone by e-mail.
Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, if the transfer destination of the transfer destination information classified by category is “empty”, it indicates that the transfer cannot be performed, and therefore, for example, the current time is 20:00.
If it has passed, the transfer process is not performed for the user AAAAA.

Next, according to the transfer destination obtained in S604, e
-Transfer processing to mail or the like is performed (S605). e-
The transmission process to the mail is a conventional technique, and is not an essential part of the present invention. (Supplementary Note 1) Destination storage means for storing information indicating where in a plurality of destination divisions for each group member there is in the storage device, and transfer for storing in the storage device an electronic mail address for the destination division for each group member Transfer for acquiring the destination division stored by the destination storage means and acquiring the electronic mail address for the destination division stored by the transfer destination storage means based on the destination storage means and the group member ID of the destination of the received electronic mail First acquisition means,
An e-mail transfer program that causes a mail server to function as a mail transfer unit that transfers e-mail to the acquired e-mail address.

(Supplementary Note 2) The mail transfer program according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the destination category included in the information stored in the storage means has at least a plurality of business trip categories. (Supplementary Note 3) A step of storing in the storage device information indicating where in each of the plurality of destination divisions for each group member is present; a step of storing an electronic mail address for each destination division for each group member in the storage device; Based on the group member ID of the destination of the received e-mail, the destination classification stored in the destination storage means is acquired,
An e-mail transfer method comprising: a step of acquiring an e-mail address for a destination category stored in a transfer destination storage means; and a step of transferring an e-mail to the acquired e-mail address.

(Supplementary Note 4) The mail transfer method according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the destination classification included in the information stored in the storage means includes at least a plurality of business trip classifications. (Supplementary Note 5) Destination storage means for storing in a storage device information indicating where each group member is present in a plurality of destination divisions, and transfer for storing in the storage device an electronic mail address for each destination division for each group member Transfer for acquiring the destination division stored by the destination storage means and acquiring the electronic mail address for the destination division stored by the transfer destination storage means based on the destination storage means and the group member ID of the destination of the received electronic mail First acquisition means,
An electronic mail transfer device comprising: a mail transfer means for transferring an electronic mail to the acquired electronic mail address.

(Supplementary note 6) The mail transfer device according to supplementary note 5, wherein the destination classification included in the information stored in the storage means includes at least a plurality of business trip classifications. (Supplementary Note 7) Destination storage means for storing in a storage device information indicating where to attend in a plurality of destination divisions for each group member, and transfer for storing in the storage device an electronic mail address for the destination division for each group member Transfer for acquiring the destination division stored by the destination storage means and acquiring the electronic mail address for the destination division stored by the transfer destination storage means based on the destination storage means and the group member ID of the destination of the received electronic mail First acquisition means,
A computer-readable recording medium recording an electronic mail transfer program that causes a mail server to function as a mail transfer means for transferring an electronic mail to an acquired electronic mail address.

(Supplementary Note 8) The destination classification included in the information stored in the storage means includes at least a plurality of business trip classifications, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the mail transfer program according to Supplementary Note 7. .

[0026]

When the groupware is used to work together in a group, a message can be notified even to a group member who is absent by only setting the groupware.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Example of transfer destination definition screen for destination classification

[Fig. 3] Transfer information by category

[Figure 4] Destination classification information

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a storage process of transfer destination information for each category and destination category information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing mail transfer processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 mail server 2 storage devices 10 Mail transfer program 11 Transfer destination storage means 12 Destination storage means 13 Transfer destination acquisition means 14 E-mail transfer method 21 Transfer destination information means by category 22 Destination classification information 31 clients 32 clients 33 clients 41 Mobile terminal 42 mobile phone 43 Home PC

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A destination storage means for storing information indicating where in a plurality of destination divisions each group member is present in a storage device, and an electronic mail address for each destination division for each group member is stored in the storage device. The destination division stored in the destination storage means is acquired based on the transfer destination storage means and the group member ID of the transmission destination of the received electronic mail, and the electronic mail address for the destination division stored in the transfer destination storage means is acquired. An e-mail transfer program that causes a mail server to function as a transfer destination acquisition unit and a mail transfer unit that transfers e-mail to the acquired e-mail address. 2. A step of storing, in a storage device, information indicating where in each of the plurality of destination divisions for each group member there is, and a step of storing an electronic mail address for each destination division for each group member in the storage device. A step of acquiring the destination classification stored in the destination storage means based on the group member ID of the destination of the received electronic mail, and acquiring the electronic mail address corresponding to the destination classification stored in the transfer destination storage means; Forwarding an email to an email address. 3. A destination storage means for storing information indicating where in a plurality of destination divisions for each group member there is in the storage device, and an electronic mail address for the destination division for each group member in the storage device. The destination division stored in the destination storage means is acquired based on the transfer destination storage means and the group member ID of the transmission destination of the received electronic mail, and the electronic mail address for the destination division stored in the transfer destination storage means is acquired. An e-mail transfer device having a transfer destination acquisition means and a mail transfer means for transferring an e-mail to the acquired e-mail address.