JP2003234785A - E-mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve an e-mail system which performs operations which are suitable for respective terminals even when the plurality of terminals are different in ability or usage purpose. <P>SOLUTION: The plurality of terminals are adopted as a master terminal 2 and a slave terminal 3 and a server device 1 transfers an e-mail to the terminals. The e-mail transfer part 111a of the server device 1 transfers the e-mail only to the master terminal 2 in the case of a master terminal mode, and transfers the e-mail only to the slave terminal 3 after copying in the case of a slave terminal mode. The server mail control part 113 of the server device 1 erases mails in the server device 1 and changes the attributes in response to a server mail control request from the slave terminal 3. At least one of the master and slave terminal 2 and 3 includes a mode change request part for requesting the change of a present operation mode of the server device 1. <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 at least one parent terminal and at least one child terminal for communicating electronic mail.
The present invention relates to an electronic mail system including a server device that transfers an incoming electronic mail to each terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, there are electronic mail systems for transferring electronic mail to a plurality of terminals. In such an e-mail system, when a user performs an operation that changes the status of the mail, such as reading, saving, or deleting a message, on one terminal, an e-mail system that reflects the operation result on other terminals is also available. For example, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-8842, "Electronic Mail System". By the way, these days, mobile phones that can send and receive emails have become widespread, and users can go out by transferring emails that arrive at PCs (usually emails that are generally sent and received on PCs) to mobile phones. Even now, I can read the mail that I received.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
When reading a mail on a plurality of terminals like the electronic mail system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 8842, "When a user performs an operation involving a change in the status of the mail on one terminal, the operation result on another terminal Is reflected "is meaningful. This is because the user does not need to be aware of the difference between the terminals by keeping the mail state exactly the same even though the terminal is actually another terminal.

However, depending on the combination of terminals used, it is not always good to keep the same state. For example, consider the case of reading mail on two terminals, a personal computer and a mobile phone. Since mobile phones have a small capacity for storing mails and new mails may not be received if there is not enough free space, mails that are somewhat old are often deleted in order. At this time, even if the email with the same content that has reached the computer is deleted in response to the operation of deleting email on the mobile phone, even though the computer can store much more mail than the mobile phone, Only the same number of emails as mobile phones can be stored, and the utility value of the system drops dramatically.

Further, as a method of handling e-mail if the terminal does not have a mail processing function as long as it has a web page browsing function, a web mail filter processes mail on a mail server as a pseudo mailer. ,
A method of converting to an HTML format that can be handled by a Web browsing function and supplying the converted HTML format to a terminal is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-203216 "Electronic mail system and electronic mail auxiliary apparatus". In the case of such Web mail, the contents of the electronic mail stored in the server are directly displayed or deleted without being stored in a terminal or the like. On the other hand, a general e-mail mailer (client) saves and manages the e-mail received from the server by itself, and does not need to leave the e-mail in the server.

Now, let us consider a case where a mail is read by two terminals, a personal computer and a mobile phone capable of browsing the Web. It is assumed that a mobile phone uses Web mail, and a personal computer uses a general electronic mail mailer that is not Web mail. In such a state, if the e-mail reaches the server and the e-mail reaches the mailer of the personal computer, it is possible to read the e-mail using Web mail, but once the mailer of the personal computer is reached. Once delivered, you will not be able to view the email via Webmail. As described above, when the capabilities and purposes of use are different among a plurality of terminals, there is a problem in the above-described conventional electronic mail system.

[0007]

The present invention adopts the following constitution in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. <Structure 1> In an electronic mail system including at least one or more parent terminals and child terminals for communicating electronic mail, and a server device for transferring an incoming electronic mail to each terminal, the server device operates When the mode is the parent terminal mode, send the e-mail only to the parent terminal,
In the child terminal mode, the operation mode of the e-mail transfer section that changes the operation mode of the e-mail transfer section and the e-mail transfer section that supplies and copies e-mail only to the child terminal and the parent terminal or child terminal changes the current operation According to the mode management unit that stores the mode and the server mail control request from the child terminal,
The server terminal includes a server mail control unit that deletes mails in the server device and changes attributes, and the child terminal includes a server mail control request unit that requests deletion of the emails in the server device and change attributes. Alternatively, at least one of the child terminals is provided with a mode change requesting unit for requesting to change the current operation mode of the server device.

<Structure 2> In an electronic mail system including at least one or more parent terminals and child terminals for communicating electronic mail, and a server device for transferring the received electronic mail to each terminal, a server device is provided. Includes an electronic mail transfer unit that supplies electronic mail only to the parent terminal when the operation mode is the parent terminal mode, and an electronic mail copy that supplies the electronic mail only to the child terminal when the operation mode is the child terminal mode, and the parent terminal or the child terminal. In response to a mode change request from the server, the operation mode of the e-mail transfer unit is changed, the mode management unit that stores the current operation mode, and the server mail control request from the child terminal An operation record that includes a server mail control unit that makes a change, and the child terminal records the operation result of the email at the child terminal in the child terminal mode. When a request to change the current operation mode of the server device is made at the child terminal, the server mail control request unit that collects the operation results recorded by the operation recording unit and sends the result as a server mail control request to the server device. And an electronic mail system comprising a mode change requesting unit that requests at least one of the parent terminal and the child terminal to change the current operation mode of the server device.

<Structure 3> At least one parent terminal and one or more child terminals that perform e-mail communication processing, and W that converts the e-mail into a format that can be viewed by a Web browser
In an e-mail system including an eb mail filter and a server device that supplies an incoming e-mail to each of the terminals or the Web mail filter, the server device comprises:
When the operation mode is the parent terminal mode, only the parent terminal recognizes the existence of the e-mail, and when the child terminal mode, only the Web mail filter recognizes the existence of the e-mail, and the server mail from the child terminal. The server terminal includes a server mail control unit that deletes mails in the server device and changes attributes according to the control request.The child terminal has a server mail control request unit that requests deletion of the emails in the server device and attribute changes. An electronic mail system, comprising: a mode change requesting unit that requests at least one of a parent terminal and a child terminal to change a current operation mode of a server device.

<Structure 4> In the electronic mail system according to any one of Structures 1 to 3, the server device is provided only when the server device is in the child terminal mode when a new electronic mail arrives at the server device. An electronic mail system comprising an incoming call notification unit in a child terminal mode for notifying a child terminal of the arrival of an electronic mail.

<Structure 5> In the electronic mail system according to any one of Structures 1 to 4, the parent terminal has a parent terminal mailer section for transmitting and receiving electronic mail, and the parent terminal mailer section is in operation. The e-mail system is characterized in that the server device is set to the parent terminal mode only in the case of.

<Configuration 6> In the electronic mail system according to any one of Configurations 1 to 4, the server device is set to the parent terminal mode only when the user logs in to the parent terminal. E-mail system.

<Structure 7> In the electronic mail system according to any one of Structures 1 to 4, the server device is set to the parent terminal mode only when the child terminal is located within a predetermined range of the parent terminal, and other than that. In some cases, the e-mail system is set to child terminal mode.

<Structure 8> An electronic mail system according to any one of Structures 5 to 7, wherein the operation mode of the server device is switched between automatic and manual.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific examples. <Specific example 1> In the specific example 1, terminals connected to a mail server are classified into two types, a parent terminal and a child terminal, two operation modes are set in the mail server, and processing is performed by either of the two types of terminals. You can control what you do.

<Structure> FIG. 1 is a structural diagram showing a specific example 1 of the electronic mail system of the present invention. The illustrated system includes a server device 1, a parent terminal 2, a child terminal 3, and a network 4. The server device 1 is an electronic mail server device that relays forwarded mail and stores incoming mail. The parent terminal 2 is a terminal device capable of reading and writing mail,
In this specific example, it is assumed that the personal computer is a personal computer. The child terminal 3 is a terminal device capable of reading and writing mails, and is a mobile phone in this specific example. The network 4 is a network such as the Internet, LAN, packet switching network,
The server device 1, the parent terminal 2 and the child terminal 3 are connected to each other.

The server device 1 includes a server unit 111, a mode management unit 112, a server mail control unit 113, and a mail storage unit 114. The server unit 111 has a function of a general electronic mail server and includes an electronic mail transfer unit 111a. E-mail transfer unit 111a
Is to switch the transfer operation depending on the operation mode.
When the operation mode is the parent terminal mode, the electronic mail is transferred only to the parent terminal 2, and when the operation mode is the child terminal mode, the electronic mail is copied and transferred only to the child terminal 3. The mode management unit 112 manages two types of operation modes, changes the operation mode of the electronic mail transfer unit 111a according to a mode change request from the parent terminal 2 or the child terminal 3, and stores the current operation mode. Is configured to. The server mail control unit 113 is a functional unit that deletes mails and changes attributes in the server device according to a server mail control request from a child terminal. Mail storage 1
A storage unit 14 stores the text and attributes of the mail.

The parent terminal 2 comprises a parent terminal mailer section 121 and a parent terminal mode change request section 122. The parent terminal mailer unit 121 is a functional unit that performs processing equivalent to that of a known mailer. That is, it has a function of transmitting and receiving electronic mail. The parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122 is a functional unit for requesting the server device 1 to change the operation mode. The child terminal 3 includes a child terminal mailer unit 131 and a child terminal mode change request unit 13
2 and a server mail control requesting unit 133.
The child terminal mailer unit 131 is a functional unit that performs processing equivalent to that of a known mailer that sends and receives mail as the child terminal 3. The child terminal mode change requesting unit 132 is a functional unit for requesting the server device 1 to change the operation mode. The server mail control requesting unit 133 is a functional unit for requesting the server device 1 to perform control such as deleting a mail or changing an attribute. Here, the mail attribute is information such as the operation result of the user for the corresponding mail, such as whether or not the content of the corresponding mail has been read, whether it has not been read (read or unread), and whether or not a reply has been made to the corresponding mail. Means The parent terminal mailer unit 12 in the parent terminal 2
1 and the parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122 are configured by corresponding software and hardware such as CPU and memory for executing these software. Further, the child terminal mailer unit 1 in the child terminal 3
Each of 31 to the server mail control requesting unit 133 is also composed of corresponding software and hardware such as a CPU and a memory for executing these software, or dedicated hardware.

<Operation> The electronic mail system according to this example is characterized in that the server device 1 is set with two kinds of operation modes. Hereinafter, these two operation modes (parent terminal mode and child terminal mode) will be described. ● Parent terminal mode When the parent terminal 2 tries to acquire the mail that reaches the server device 1, it operates as usual, but when the child terminal 3 tries to acquire it, the server device 1 does not receive the mail. It works as if. The initial state of the system is the parent terminal mode. ● Child terminal mode Contrary to the parent terminal mode, when the child terminal 3 tries to acquire the mail that has reached the server device 1, it operates as usual, but when the parent terminal 2 tries to acquire it, the server device 1 Works as if no mail was delivered to. Further, in this mode, even if the child terminal 3 acquires a mail, the server device 1 does not delete the mail but stores it. The current operation mode is stored in the mode management unit 112, and when the user changes the operation mode, the parent terminal 2 uses the parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122 and the child terminal 3 uses the child operation mode. By using the terminal mode change requesting unit 132, the contents are instructed to the server device 1.

Next, the operation of electronic mail will be described. When an operation such as deleting a mail or changing an attribute is performed on the child terminal 3, the server mail control requesting unit 133 notifies the server device 1 of the contents. If the operation mode is the child terminal mode, the server device 1 sends the server mail control request unit 133.
Delete the email and change the attribute according to the request from. It should be noted that the server mail control request unit 133 is the server device 1
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-88 discloses a data format for notifying the user and a processing method when the server device 1 receives the data.
This is similar to the control message described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 42-42.

By these operations, the following is possible in the entire system. When the mail arrives when the server device 1 is in the child terminal mode and the child terminal 3 receives the mail, the same mail is left in the server device 1.
Then, the operation result of this mail at the child terminal 3 is reflected in the mail in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1. Since the server device 1 does not deliver the mail to the parent terminal 2 in the child terminal mode, the child terminal 3 does not deliver the mail to the parent terminal 2.
All mail operations received from the server device 1 are reflected in the mail in the server device 1. When the server device 1 switches to the parent terminal mode, the parent terminal 2 receives the mail in the server device 1. Since these mails reflect the operation of the child terminal 3, for example, mails deleted by the child terminal 3 need not be read by the parent terminal 2, and if the child terminal 3 changes the mail attributes, The mail received by the terminal 2 has already undergone the same attribute change. Further, even if the child terminal 3 is operated (for example, a mail deleting operation) after the server device 1 is switched to the parent terminal mode, it does not affect others, so that the personal computer can hold only the same number of mails as the mobile phone. The problem of can be solved.

Next, the operation of the entire system will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first specific example. This figure shows the mail number stored in the server device 1 and the mail numbers received by the parent terminal 2 and the child terminal 3 for each step. For convenience of explanation, a numeral is used as the mail number, but this number may be an ID that is uniquely determined for the entire mail that reaches the user.
For example, Message-ID defined in RFC822 is applicable.

At first, it is assumed that there is no mail in the server device 1 and the operation mode is the parent terminal mode. When the mails 1 and 2 arrive here, the server device 1 stores them in the mail storage unit 114 (step S101). Further, when the mail 3 arrives, it is stored as in step S101 (step S102). In this way, the parent terminal 2
Alternatively, when the child terminal 3 does not come to acquire the mail, the arrived mails are accumulated in the server device 1. When the parent terminal 2 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1,
Since the operation mode of the server device 1 is the parent terminal mode,
The mails 1, 2, and 3 in the mail storage unit 114 are delivered to the parent terminal 2 (step S103). When there is a request from the parent terminal mode change request unit 122 or the child terminal mode change request unit 132 to change to the child terminal mode, the mode management unit 112 of the server device 1 switches the operation mode to the child terminal mode (step S104). . After that, when the mail 4 arrives, it is stored in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1 (step S105). When the parent terminal 2 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1, the current operation mode of the server device 1 is the child terminal mode, so the server device 1 operates as if there is no incoming mail, and as a result, the parent terminal 2 No. 2 ends without receiving a new mail, and mail 4 remains in the server device 1 (step S106). When the child terminal 3 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1, the current operation mode of the server device 1 is the child terminal mode, so the mail of the server device 1 is passed to the child terminal 3. Further, in the child terminal mode, even if the mail is delivered to the child terminal 3, the mail in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1 is not deleted, so the mail 4 remains in the server device 1 (step S107).

When the mail 5 arrives here, it is stored in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1 (step S10).
8). When the child terminal 3 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1, the mail 5 is sent in the same manner as in step S107.
Is passed to the child terminal 3, and the mail 5 remains in the server device 1 (step S109). When the mail 4 is deleted at the child terminal 3, the server mail control request unit 133 notifies the server device 1 of “delete mail 4” as the operation content. When the server apparatus 1 receives a request for “delete mail 4” from the server mail control requesting unit 133, the server mail control unit 113
Deletes the mail 4 in the mail storage unit 114 (step S110). The format of the operation content notified by the server mail control request unit 133 to the server device 1 is the same as that of the conventional technique, for example.

Next, when there is a request from the parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122 or the child terminal mode change requesting unit 132 to change to the parent terminal mode, the mode management unit 112 of the server device 1 sets the operation mode to the parent terminal mode. (Step S111). When the parent terminal 2 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1, the operation mode of the server device 1 is currently the parent terminal mode. Therefore, the mail storage unit 1 of the server device 1
The mail 5 in 14 is passed to the parent terminal 2 (step S
112). In this state, even if the mail 5 is deleted at the child terminal 3, the server apparatus 1 is in the parent terminal mode, so that it does not affect others. Therefore, the mail 5 of the parent terminal 2 is never deleted.

<Effect> As described above, according to the first specific example, the server device 1 is set to have two kinds of operation modes, and therefore the following effects can be obtained. ● If the parent terminal 2 is a personal computer in the office and the child terminal 3 is a mobile phone capable of sending and receiving mail, if the child terminal mode is used when leaving the office such as when going out and the parent terminal mode is used when the user is in the office, Not only will you be able to read your email while you're on the go, you'll never have to look again at an email that you've deleted on the go after returning to your office. Therefore, it is possible to process the mail efficiently without the need for the operation twice. Further, since the mails in the server device 1 are deleted and the attributes are changed in accordance with the server mail control request from the child terminal 3, the mail attributes such as read and unread mails are deleted in addition to the mails. Since it is reflected, more efficient mail processing can be performed. ● In the child terminal mode, the mail is stored in the server device 1 and the mail operation result at the child terminal 3 is stored in the server device 1.
Since it is reflected in the internal mail and is sent to the parent terminal 2 after switching to the parent terminal mode, the communication cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional electronic mail system because communication between the server device 1 and the parent terminal 2 is unnecessary. You can ● Depending on the operation mode of the server device 1, the mail operation result at the child terminal 3 may or may not be reflected in the mail at the parent terminal 2. Therefore, the user selects the operation mode so that the mail at the child terminal 3 is mailed. It is possible to control whether or not the operation result is reflected in the parent terminal 2. For this reason,
When deleting the mail of the child terminal 3 due to the limitation of the storage capacity of the child terminal 3, the mail can be prevented from being reflected in the parent terminal 2.

<Specific Example 2> In the specific example 2, the operation result of the mail at the child terminal 3 is recorded and sent together when the operation mode of the server device 1 is changed. Further, the function of changing the operation mode from the parent terminal 2 is omitted.

<Structure> FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electronic mail system of the second specific example. The illustrated system includes a server device 1, a parent terminal 2a, a child terminal 3a, and a network 4. Here, since the server device 1 and the network 4 are the same as the server device 1 and the network 4 of the first specific example, description thereof will be omitted. The parent terminal 2a is a terminal device capable of reading and writing mail, the parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122 of the first specific example is omitted, and only the parent terminal mailer unit 121 is provided. This parent terminal mailer section 12
The function of 1 is the same as that of the specific example 1. As in the first specific example, the child terminal 3a has a child terminal mailer unit 131, a child terminal mode change request unit 132, and a server mail control request unit 133.
In addition to a, an operation recording unit 231 is provided. The operation recording unit 231 is a functional unit that records operations such as deleting mail and changing attributes on the child terminal 3a. The basic function of the server mail control requesting unit 133a is the same as that of the server mail control requesting unit 133 of the first example, but in the second example, the child terminal mode change requesting unit 132 sends a mode switching instruction. In this case, the difference is that the recorded contents of the operation recording unit 231 are sent to the server device 1.

<Operation> FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of the second specific example. This diagram corresponds to FIG. 2 in the first specific example, and shows the mail number stored in the server device 1 and the mail numbers received by the parent terminal 2a and the child terminal 3a for each step. Also, the circled numbers indicate that the information has "read". Further, in FIG. 4, a column of recorded contents of the operation recording unit 231 is added to the right end. This column shows the contents recorded in the operation recording unit 231, the circled numbers represent "read", and the other numbers represent "delete".

In FIG. 4, first steps S101-
Since step S104 is the same as that of the first specific example, the same step number is given to the corresponding portion, and the description thereof will be omitted. After the processing up to step S104 is completed, when mails 4, 5, and 6 arrive, they are stored in the server device 1 (step S201). When the child terminal 3a issues a mail acquisition request to the server device 1, the operation mode of the server device 1 is currently the child terminal mode, and therefore the mail of the server device 1 is passed to the child terminal 3a. In the child terminal mode, even if the mail is delivered to the child terminal 3a, the mails in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1 are not deleted.
6 also remains in the server device 1 (step S202). When the mail 4 is deleted at the child terminal 3a, the operation recording unit 231 records that the mail 4 is deleted (step S20).
3). When the mail 5 is read by the child terminal 3a, the operation recording unit 23
It is recorded that 1 read the mail 5 (step S20).
4). When the mail 6 is read by the child terminal 3a, the operation recording unit 23
It is recorded that 1 read the mail 6 (step S20).
5). After that, when the mail 7 arrives, it is stored in the server device 1 (step S206). Mail 6 on child terminal 3a
When the mail is deleted, the operation recording unit 231 records that the mail 6 has been deleted (step S207).

When the child terminal mode change request unit 132 requests the server apparatus 1 to change to the parent terminal mode, the mode management unit 112 of the server apparatus 1 switches the operation mode to the parent terminal mode. The child terminal 3a requests the server device 1 to switch the operation mode by the child terminal mode change requesting unit 132, and at the same time, the operation contents recorded in the operation recording unit 231 are "mail 4, mail 6 has been deleted, mail "5 is already read" server mail control request unit 1
The server device 1 is notified via 33a. Server device 1
The server mail control unit 113 deletes the mails 4 and 6 stored in the mail storage unit 114 according to this content, and sets the attribute of the mail 5 to "read" (step S208). When the parent terminal 2a makes a mail acquisition request to the server apparatus 1, the mail 5 and the mail 7 stored in the mail storage unit 114 of the server apparatus 1 because the operation mode of the server apparatus 1 is currently the parent terminal mode. Is passed to the parent terminal 2a. Since the mail 5 is set as read in step S208, the information can be confirmed also in the parent terminal 2a (step S209). When the mail 1 is read by the parent terminal 2a, the parent terminal 2 sets the mail 1 as read (step S210).

<Effect> As described above, the second embodiment has the following effects. Since the mail operation information at the child terminal 3a is collectively sent to the server device 1 when the mode is changed, the child terminal 3a
Then, you don't have to be connected to the network to operate mail. Therefore, even if the child terminal 3a is a terminal that is not always connected to the network, such as a mobile phone, the mail operation can be performed without being aware of the connection state to the network. Since the mail operation information of the child terminal 3a is collectively sent to the server device 1 when the mode is changed, the number of times of communication with the server device 1 can be reduced and the communication cost can be reduced as compared with the first specific example. Since the mail operation information of the child terminal 3a is collectively sent to the server device 1 when the mode is changed, even if various operations are performed on the mail by the child terminal 3a, only the final result will be sent. Compared to sending information for each operation as in Example 1, the amount of information to be sent is smaller, and as a result,
Communication costs can be significantly reduced. For example, in the specific example 2, when the mail 6 is read in step S205 and the mail 6 is deleted in step S207, only the information in which the mail 6 has been deleted needs to be sent. By providing the mode change requesting unit only in the child terminal 3a, it is ensured that the child terminal 3a is connected to the network 4 when the mode is changed (the mode should be changed if the child terminal 3a cannot be connected to the network 4). Cannot be done). At this time, the mail operation information at the child terminal 3a is sent to the server device 1 at the same time, so that the child terminal 3a can be reliably sent before the parent terminal 2a acquires the mail of the server device 1 without requiring a special mechanism. The operation information of the mail can be reflected in the mail in the server device 1. As a result, the child terminal 3a
The operation of the mail at will be surely reflected in the mail of the parent terminal 2a.

<Specific Example 3> In the specific example 3, the child terminal is the Web.
This is an example of a system that has only a browsing function and that sends and receives mail by this Web browsing function.

<Structure> FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electronic mail system according to the third embodiment. The illustrated system includes a server device 1a, a parent terminal 2, a child terminal 3b, a network 4, and a Web.
It consists of a mail filter 5. Here, since the parent terminal 2 and the network 4 are the same as the parent terminal 2 and the network 4 of the specific example 1, the description thereof will be omitted. The basic function of the server device 1a is as follows.
However, the difference is that transmission / reception of mail, deletion of mail, change of attributes, and the like are performed in response to access from the Web mail filter 5. For example, the mode management unit 1
Reference numeral 12 is configured so that only the Web mail filter 5 recognizes the presence of an electronic mail in the child terminal mode. The child terminal 3b is a terminal capable of reading and writing mails. In the third specific example, the child terminal W has a function for that purpose.
The eb browsing unit 331 is provided. This child terminal Web browsing unit 331 is an HTML (HyperText Markup Languag).
e) A functional unit that processes the format to display the content received from the web mail filter 5 on the screen and send an instruction from the user to the web mail filter 5. Then, by this child terminal Web browsing unit 331,
The functions of the child terminal mode change requesting unit 132 and the server mail control requesting unit 133 are realized. The functions of the child terminal mode change requesting unit 132 and the server mail control requesting unit 133 are the same as in the first specific example.

The Web mail filter 5 is the server device 1
It has a function of processing the mail of a, etc. into a format that can be viewed by a Web browser such as HTML and supplying it to the child terminal 3b.
51, Web mail filter mode change request unit 152
Is equipped with. Web mail filter mailer section 15
Reference numeral 1 denotes a functional unit for processing an electronic mail into an HTML format and supplying it to the child terminal 3b, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-203216. The Web mail filter mode change request unit 152 uses the child terminal 3b.
It is a functional unit for receiving an instruction from and requesting a change of the operation mode of the server device 1.

<Operation> The electronic mail system according to this example is characterized in that two kinds of operation modes are set in the server device 1a. Hereinafter, these two operation modes (parent terminal mode and child terminal mode) will be described. ● Parent terminal mode If the parent terminal 2 tries to acquire the mail that has arrived at the server device 1a, the operation is the same as before, but if any other party than the parent terminal 2 tries to acquire the mail, the mail has arrived at the server device 1a. It works as if it doesn't exist. The initial state of the system is the parent terminal mode. ● Child terminal mode Contrary to the parent terminal mode, when a mail other than the parent terminal 2 tries to acquire the mail that has arrived at the server apparatus 1a, it operates as usual, but when the parent terminal 2 tries to acquire it, the server apparatus operates. It operates as if mail has not arrived at 1a.
The current operation mode is stored in the mode management unit 112, and when the user changes the operation mode, the parent terminal 2
From the parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122, and from the child terminal 3 the child terminal Web browsing unit 331 (child terminal mode change requesting unit 132a) issues a mode change instruction to the Web mail filter 5. By doing.

Next, the operation of electronic mail will be described. In the child terminal 3b, when an instruction to delete a mail or change an attribute is given by the child terminal Web browsing unit 331, W
The eb mail filter 5 receives the instruction. When the operation mode is the child terminal mode, the server device 1a deletes the mail or changes the attribute according to the request from the Web mail filter 5. The processing procedure between the web mail filter 5 and the server device 1a is described in JP-A-11-203216, except that the request from the web mail filter 5 is not accepted when the server device 1a is in the parent terminal mode. Since the method is the same as the method described in the publication, description thereof is omitted here.

By these operations, the following can be performed in the entire system. When mail arrives when the server device 1a is in the child terminal mode, even if the parent terminal 2 tries to acquire the mail, it operates as if the mail has not arrived. As a result, the received mail remains in the server device 1a and can be read by the child terminal 3b. That is, by setting the server device 1a in the child terminal mode, the mail can always be read by the child terminal 3b regardless of the operation of the mailer of the parent terminal 2, which is a problem with the conventional parent terminal. It is possible to solve the problem that the mail cannot be read on the child terminal side because the mail is delivered to.

Next, the operation of the entire system will be described in more detail. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the third specific example. This figure shows, for each step, the mail number stored in the server device 1a and the mail numbers received by the parent terminal 2 and the child terminal 3b, respectively. For convenience of explanation, a numeral is used as the mail number, but this number may be an ID that is uniquely determined for the entire mail that reaches the user. For example, Message-ID defined in RFC822 is applicable. Further, since the web mail filter 5 directly refers to / manipulates the mail in the server device 1a, the web mail filter 5 and the child terminal 3b do not store the mail.

At first, it is assumed that there is no mail in the server device 1a and the operation mode is the parent terminal mode. here,
When the mails 1 and 2 arrive, the server device 1a stores them in the mail storage unit 114 (step S301).
Further, when the mail 3 arrives, it is stored as in step S301 (step S302). In this way, when the parent terminal 2 does not come to acquire the mail, the mails that have arrived at the server device 1a are accumulated. The parent terminal 2 is the server device 1
When a mail acquisition request is issued to a, since the operation mode of the server device 1a is currently the parent terminal mode, the mails 1, 2, 3 in the mail storage unit 114 are passed to the parent terminal 2 (step S303). . Parent terminal mode change request unit 12
2 or Web mail filter 5 for child terminal We
When there is a request from the b browsing unit 331 to change to the child terminal mode, the mode management unit 112 of the server device 1a switches the operation mode to the child terminal mode (step S304). After that, when the mail 4 arrives, it is stored in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1a (step S305). When the parent terminal 2 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1a, the current operation mode of the server device 1a is the child terminal mode, so the server device 1a operates as if there is no incoming mail, and as a result, the parent terminal 2 ends without receiving a new mail, and mail 4 remains in the server device 1a (step S306). When the child terminal 3 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1a, the current operation mode of the server device 1a is the child terminal mode, so that the mail of the server device 1a can be read by the child terminal 3. Further, in the child terminal mode, since the mail in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1a is not deleted, the mail 4 remains in the server device 1a (step S307).

When the mail 5 arrives here, it is stored in the mail storage unit 114 of the server 1a (step S3).
08). When the child terminal 3 gives an instruction to read the mail, the mail 4 or 5 is sent to the child terminal 3 as in step S307.
Can be read at. Also, mail 4 to the server device 1a.
And 5 remain (step S309). Web browsing unit 331 for child terminal (server mail control requesting unit 133) in the child terminal 3
When an instruction to delete the mail 4 is issued using, the Web mail filter 5 requests the server device 1a to delete the mail 4 (step S310). Since the method of deleting a mail by Web mail is the same as the method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-203216, a description thereof will be omitted here.

Next, regarding the server device 1a, when there is a request from the parent terminal mode change request unit 122 or the Web mail filter mode change request unit 152 to change to the parent terminal mode, the mode management unit 112 of the server device 1a The operation mode is switched to the parent terminal mode (step S31
1). When the parent terminal 2 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1a, the operation mode of the server device 1a is currently the parent terminal mode, and therefore the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1a.
The mail 5 in is delivered to the parent terminal 2 (step S31).
2).

<Effect> As described above, according to the specific example 3, the following effects can be obtained. If the parent terminal 2 is a personal computer in the office and the child terminal 3 is a mobile phone capable of sending and receiving Webmail, the child terminal mode can be used when leaving the office such as when going out, and the parent terminal mode can be used when the user is in the office. Not only will you be able to read your email while you're on the go, you'll never have to look at emails you've deleted on the go again after returning to your office. Therefore, it is possible to process the mail efficiently without the need for the operation twice. Further, since the mail in the server device 1a is deleted and the attribute is changed in accordance with the server mail control request from the child terminal 3b, the mail attribute such as read or unread mail is deleted in addition to the mail deletion. Since it is reflected, more efficient mail processing can be performed. Since it is possible to change the operation mode of the server device 1a from either the personal computer or the mobile phone, it is possible to prevent the email from being delivered to the mailer of the personal computer and being unable to read the email by Web mail. As a result, regardless of the operation of the mailer of the personal computer, by changing to an appropriate operation mode, it becomes possible to read the mail on the go.

<Specific Example 4> In the specific example 4, the server device of the specific example 3 is provided with an incoming call notification unit for notifying the child terminal of incoming mail only when the server device is in the child terminal mode.

<Structure> FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the electronic mail system according to the fourth embodiment. The illustrated system includes a server device 1b, a parent terminal 2, a child terminal 3c, a network 4, and a Web.
It consists of a mail filter 5. Here, since the parent terminal 2, the network 4, and the Web mail filter 5 have the same configurations as those in the third specific example, description thereof will be omitted. The server device 1b includes an incoming call notification unit 211 in the child terminal mode in addition to the functional unit of the third specific example. The incoming notification section 211 in the child terminal mode notifies the child terminal 3c of the incoming email when the operation mode of the server apparatus 1b is the child terminal mode when the new email is delivered to the server apparatus 1b. It is a functional unit for notifying. The child terminal 3c includes a child terminal Web browsing unit 331 similar to that of the specific example 3 and an incoming call notification receiving unit 332. The incoming call notification receiving unit 332 is a functional unit that receives the incoming call notification issued by the incoming call notification unit 211 in the child terminal mode of the server device 1b and notifies the user.

<Operation> FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the fourth specific example. This figure corresponds to FIG. 6 in the concrete example 3, and shows the mail number stored in the server device 1b and the mail numbers received by the parent terminal 2 and the child terminal 3c for each step. Also, the circled numbers indicate that the information has "read". Further, in FIG. 8, a column indicating whether or not there is an incoming mail notification to the child terminal 3c performed by the server device 1b is added to the right end. In this column,
◯ means to notify, and x means not to notify.

At first, it is assumed that there is no mail in the server device 1b and the operation mode is the parent terminal mode. here,
When the mails 1 and 2 arrive, the server device 1b stores them in the mail storage unit 114. At this time, the server device 1
Since the operation mode of b is the parent terminal mode, the child terminal 3c is not notified (step S401). In addition, email 3
When arrives, the mail 3 is stored without notifying the child terminal 3c as in step S401 (step S4).
02). In this way, when the parent terminal 2 does not come to acquire the mail, the mails that have arrived at the server device 1b are accumulated. When the parent terminal 2 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1b, since the operation mode of the server device 1b is currently the parent terminal mode, the mail 1 in the mail storage unit 114,
2 and 3 are passed to the parent terminal 2 (step S403).

Parent terminal mode change request unit 122 or W
When there is a request from the web browsing unit for child terminal 331 to change to the child terminal mode via the eb mail filter mode change requesting unit 152, the mode management unit 112 of the server device 1b.
Switches the operation mode to the child terminal mode (step S
404). After that, when the mail 4 arrives, it is stored in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1b. At this time, since the server device 1b is in the child terminal mode, the incoming notification unit 211 in the child terminal mode notifies the child terminal 3c of the arrival of the mail 4 (step S405). When the parent terminal 2 makes a mail acquisition request to the server apparatus 1b, the current operation mode of the server apparatus 1b is the child terminal mode, so the server apparatus 1b operates as if there is no incoming mail, and as a result, the parent terminal 2 ends without receiving a new mail, mail 4
Remains in the server device 1b (step S406). When an instruction to read a mail is issued from the child terminal 3c, the current operation mode of the server apparatus 1b is the child terminal mode.
The mail of b can be read by the child terminal 3c. Further, in the child terminal mode, even if the mail is delivered to the child terminal 3, the mail in the mail storage unit 114 of the server apparatus 1b is not deleted, so the mail 4 remains in the server apparatus 1b (step S).
407).

When the mail 5 arrives here, it is stored in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1b. At this time, as in step S405, the incoming notification section 21 in the child terminal mode
1 notifies the child terminal 3c of the arrival of the mail 5 (step S408). When the instruction to read the mail is issued at the child terminal 3c, the mail 4 or 5 can be read at the child terminal 3c as in step S407. Further, the mails 4 and 5 remain in the server device 1b (step S409). Child terminal 3c
When the deletion request for the mail 4 is made at, the Web mail filter 5 requests the server device 1b to delete the mail (step S410). It should be noted that the method of deleting the mail is a specific example 3
Is the same as.

Next, when there is a request from the parent terminal mode change request unit 122 or the Web mail filter mode change request unit 152 to change to the parent terminal mode, the server device 1
The mode management unit 112 of b switches the operation mode to the parent terminal mode (step S411). When the parent terminal 2 makes a mail acquisition request to the server device 1b, the operation mode of the server device 1b is currently the parent terminal mode. Therefore, the mail 5 in the mail storage unit 114 of the server device 1b is the parent terminal 2
(Step S412).

<Effect> As described above, the fourth embodiment has the following effects in addition to the effects of the third embodiment. ● It is efficient because it notifies you of incoming calls only in the child terminal mode. For example, if it costs a fee for each incoming notification, the cost can be kept low.

<< Usage Pattern >> In the above specific examples, the parent terminals 2, 2a and the child terminals 3,
Although the case where there is only one 3a, 3b, 3c has been described, there may be a plurality of parent terminals 2, 2a and child terminals 3, 3a, 3b, 3c. In the specific examples 1 to 3, as in the specific example 4, the server device 1 (1a) notifies the child terminals 3 (3a, 3b) of the incoming mail only when the mail is received in the child terminal mode. ON / OFF control of incoming call notification and server device 1
You may comprise so that control of the operation mode of (1a) may be synchronized. That is, in specific examples 1 to 3, the server device 1
In (1a), the same incoming call notification unit 211 as the child terminal mode may be provided. ● In specific examples 1, 3, and 4, the parent terminal 2 and the child terminal 3 (3b,
3c) is configured so that the operation mode change request of the server device 1 (1a, 1b) can be made, but this is possible only from either one of the parent terminal 2 or the child terminal 3 (3b, 3c). It may be configured in any manner.

In each of the above specific examples, the server device 1 (1
It has been explained that if the operation mode of a, 1b) is the child terminal mode, the mail operation result at the child terminal is automatically reflected in the mail in the server device 1 (1a, 1b). Alternatively, the mail operation in the server device 1 (1a, 1b) may be explicitly performed. In the specific examples 1 and 2, electronic mail may be used for communication of the mode change request and the server mail control request. When the mail operation of the server device 1 is explicitly performed using electronic mail, the parent terminal 2 (2a) and the child terminal 3
A general electronic mail processing function (mailer) can be used as it is for (3a).

In the second specific example, the parent terminal mode change requesting unit is omitted in the parent terminal 2a in order to guarantee the connection of the child terminal 3a to the network 4. However, this parent terminal mode changing request unit is eliminated. Alternatively, the parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122 may be used to change the operation mode of the server device 1. In this case, it is checked whether communication is possible between the child terminal 3a and the server device 1, and if communication is possible, the same processing as when changing the operation mode from the child terminal mode change requesting unit 132 is performed, If communication is not possible, it may be configured to notify that the operation mode change has failed. That is, the child terminal 3a is assumed to be a mobile device such as a mobile phone or a mobile information terminal. Therefore, when the child terminal 3a is in a place where radio waves do not reach,
It is immediately apparent that the user cannot change the mode from the child terminal 3a. However, when the user is using the parent terminal 2, the situation of the child terminal 3a at that time is not always known, and it is necessary to confirm whether or not the child terminal 3a can be connected by communicating. For this reason, in the second specific example, the function of changing the mode is omitted from the parent terminal 2 so that it is not necessary to perform such confirmation. However, this function is not necessarily required to be omitted, and when the status of the child terminal 3a is in a state where communication is not possible, it is determined that the mode change from the child terminal 3a is impossible and the mode change from the parent terminal 2 is performed. May be configured not to be performed. That is, in the second specific example, the parent terminal 2 may include the parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122. In this case, it is checked whether communication can be performed between the child terminal 3a and the server device 1 and communication is performed. Only if
The mode may be changed from the parent terminal 2.

In each of the specific examples described above, the parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122 and the child terminal mode change requesting unit 132 request the server apparatus 1 (1a, 1b) to perform the mode changing request based on the user's instruction. Although described as a premise, the mode may be changed automatically without an instruction from the user, or may be configured to be switchable automatically or manually. As a configuration for automatically changing the mode, for example, the following three types can be considered. The parent terminal mode is set only when the parent terminal mailer unit 121 is operating. That is, when the parent terminal mailer unit 121 is activated, the parent terminal mode change request unit 122 sends a request to change to the parent terminal mode, and the parent terminal mailer unit 121 is sent.
When the process ends, the parent terminal mode change requesting unit 122 performs an operation of sending a request for changing to the child terminal mode. The parent terminal mode is set only when the user uses (logs in) the parent terminal 2 (2a). That is, when the parent terminal 2 (2a) is realized as a dedicated device, the parent terminal mode is set only when -A parent terminal 2 (2a) is powered on. In addition, the parent terminal 2 (2
When a) is realized as an application (mailer) on a personal computer, -B, the parent terminal mode is set only when the application is running. -C Set to parent terminal mode only when the user is logged in to the personal computer. When the child terminals 3 (3a, 3b, 3c) can obtain the position information of the terminal like a mobile phone or PHS,
The parent terminal mode is set only when the child terminals 3 (3a, 3b, 3c) are located near the parent terminal 2 (2a). That is, the position information of the parent terminal 2 (2a) is registered in advance, and the parent terminal 2 (2a) is registered.
When the position of a) and the position of the child terminal 3 (3a, 3b, 3c) are within a certain range, the parent terminal mode is set.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a specific example 1 of an electronic mail system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first specific example.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a specific example 2 of the electronic mail system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of the second specific example.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a specific example 3 of the electronic mail system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of a specific example 3;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a specific example 4 of the electronic mail system of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of the fourth specific example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a, 1b server device 2, 2a Parent terminal 3, 3a, 3b, 3c Child terminal 111a E-mail transfer unit 112 Mode management unit 113 Server mail control unit 121 Parent terminal mailer section 122 Parent Terminal Mode Change Request Unit 131 Mailer part for child terminal 132 Child terminal mode change request unit 133, 133a Server mail control request unit 231 Operation Recorder 232 Incoming call notification receiver 331 Web browsing unit for child terminal

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electronic mail system comprising at least one parent terminal and one or more child terminals for communicating electronic mail, and a server device for transferring an incoming electronic mail to each terminal, wherein the server device is When the operation mode is a parent terminal mode, an email is supplied only to the parent terminal, and when the child terminal mode, an email transfer unit that duplicates and supplies the email only to the child terminal, and the parent terminal or In accordance with a mode change request from the child terminal, the operation mode of the electronic mail transfer unit is changed, a mode management unit that stores the current operation mode, and a server mail control request from the child terminal A server mail control unit for deleting mails and changing attributes, wherein the child terminal deletes emails in the server device A server mail control requesting unit for requesting a change in sex, and a mode change requesting unit for requesting at least one of the parent terminal and the child terminal to change the current operation mode of the server device. An e-mail system characterized by that. 2. An electronic mail system comprising at least one parent terminal and one or more child terminals for communicating electronic mail, and a server device for transferring an incoming electronic mail to each terminal, wherein the server device is When the operation mode is a parent terminal mode, an email is supplied only to the parent terminal, and when the child terminal mode, an email transfer unit that duplicates and supplies the email only to the child terminal, and the parent terminal or In accordance with a mode change request from the child terminal, the operation mode of the electronic mail transfer unit is changed, a mode management unit that stores the current operation mode, and a server mail control request from the child terminal A server mail control unit for deleting mails and changing attributes, wherein the child terminal is an electronic mailer for the child terminal in the child terminal mode. And an operation recording unit for recording the operation result of the server device, the operation recording unit records the operation result recorded by the operation recording unit when a request for changing the current operation mode of the server device is made at the child terminal A server mail control request unit for transmitting to the server device as a control request, and a mode change requesting at least the child terminal of the parent terminal or the child terminal to change the current operation mode of the server device. An electronic mail system characterized by having a request section. 3. At least one parent terminal and one or more child terminals that perform e-mail communication processing, a web mail filter that converts the e-mail into a format that can be viewed by a web browser, and an incoming e-mail that is received by each of the terminals or In an electronic mail system including a server device for supplying to a web mail filter, the server device causes the parent terminal to recognize the presence of the electronic mail only when the operation mode is the parent terminal mode, and when the operation mode is the child terminal mode. A mode management unit that allows only the Web mail filter to recognize the presence of an electronic mail, and a server mail control unit that deletes a mail in the server device and changes an attribute in accordance with a server mail control request from the child terminal. The child terminal is a server that requests deletion of the e-mail or modification of attributes in the server device. An electronic device including a Bamail control requesting unit, and a mode change requesting unit for requesting that at least one of the parent terminal and the child terminal requests to change a current operation mode of the server device. Mail system. 4. The electronic mail system according to claim 1, wherein the server device newly receives the electronic mail only when the server device is in the child terminal mode. In this case, the electronic mail system is provided with an incoming call notification unit in the child terminal mode for notifying the child terminal of the arrival of the electronic mail. 5. The electronic mail system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the parent terminal includes a parent terminal mailer section for sending and receiving electronic mail, and the parent terminal mailer section is in operation. The e-mail system is characterized in that the server device is set to the parent terminal mode only in the case of. 6. The electronic mail system according to claim 1, wherein the server device is set to the parent terminal mode only when the user logs in to the parent terminal. Mail system. 7. The electronic mail system according to claim 1, wherein the server device is set to the parent terminal mode only when the child terminal is located within the predetermined range of the parent terminal, and otherwise. Is an electronic mail system characterized by being set to child terminal mode. 8. The electronic mail system according to claim 5, wherein the operation mode of the server device is switched between automatic and manual.