JP2004030091A - Electronic mail client system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic mail client system reducing a burden on work confirming whether or not the address of electronic mail has excess or shortage in preparing new electronic mail by using the transmitted electronic mail as a base by an electronic mail preparation person. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic mail client system has a confirmation means confirming that which group includes the address of the transmitted electronic mail when preparing the new electronic mail using the transmitted electronic mail having an address specified by an address group as the base. Thus, the electronic mail client system expresses clearly that which address group includes individual addresses and easily confirms that the address of the new electronic mail address is included in the desired address group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic mail system, and more particularly, to an electronic mail client system for managing and specifying an electronic mail destination.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-285040, a function has been provided to sort the transmitted e-mail to a specific folder according to the destination of the transmitted e-mail, and the e-mail There is an e-mail client that reduces administrative work.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above-described conventional technology easily manages an already transmitted e-mail by allocating the e-mail to a specific folder by looking at the destination of the transmitted e-mail. However, since it is not easy to confirm whether the destination of the transmitted e-mail currently being edited belongs to a specific destination group, it is necessary to confirm the destination of the transmitted e-mail one by one. This burdens the e-mail creator.
[0004]
In general, a method of creating a new e-mail includes: (1) a method of creating a completely new e-mail from scratch; and (2) a destination of the transmitted e-mail based on the transmitted e-mail. How to add / delete necessary destinations for new e-mail after copying to destination. (3) Based on received e-mail, added e-mail sender and, in some cases, all recipients There is a method of setting a destination.
[0005]
As a general method for simplifying designation of a destination of a new e-mail, a destination group management mechanism may be used. This destination group management mechanism has a function of defining and editing a "destination group" in which a plurality of destinations are collected.
[0006]
In a modern society in which computer networks have entered general life, e-mail is often used for business communication in corporate and organizational activities. When creating a new e-mail for business communication, it is often the case that destinations are grouped and specified like "members belonging to department A and department B", rather than specifying individual destinations one by one. . The destination group management mechanism realizes such grouping of destinations. That is, a certain destination group is registered, and individual destinations are added to the destination group. When creating an e-mail, instead of specifying destinations one by one, the destination is specified by a destination group.
[0007]
When creating a new e-mail based on the transmitted e-mail, the e-mail client system initially sets the same destination as the destination of the transmitted e-mail as the destination of the new e-mail. The e-mail creator checks whether the initially set destination is sufficient or not for the desired destination, and adds / deletes the destination if necessary. The initially set destination has no information indicating which destination group each destination belongs to.
[0008]
For this reason, if the e-mail creator expects that the initially set destination of the new e-mail belongs to a specific destination group, the e-mail creator expects that in the "list of individual destinations" to confirm that fact. On the other hand, "whether the destination belongs to a desired destination group" has been confirmed. This confirmation task placed a heavy burden on the e-mail creator.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an e-mail client system that reduces the burden of confirming whether there is enough or not the e-mail destination when an e-mail creator creates a new e-mail based on a transmitted e-mail. Is to do.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, when creating a new e-mail based on a sent e-mail whose destination is specified by a destination group (hereinafter, referred to as “sent e-mail specified by destination group”), The checking means for checking which group the destination of the e-mail belongs to can reduce the work of checking each destination one by one.
[0011]
Furthermore, if the destination group of the sent e-mail based on the edited e-mail is edited by a user operation after the transmitted e-mail is sent and a certain destination is added or deleted from the destination group, the fact can be explicitly displayed. Then, it is urged to confirm whether the destination of the new e-mail is sufficient or not, and the work of checking individual destinations is reduced.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an electronic mail client system according to the present invention.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, an e-mail client system 11 is connected to an e-mail server system 17 via a network 16, and sends and receives e-mails. The e-mail creator 10 inputs the text and destination of the new e-mail via the e-mail preparation unit 13. The e-mail creator 10 can also specify the destination of the new e-mail via the destination group management unit 12. At this time, the e-mail creator 10 can select a destination group or individual destinations as a destination designation unit.
[0015]
The e-mail creating unit 13 sets the destination of a new e-mail based on the transmitted e-mail as follows.
[0016]
First, the e-mail creator 10 specifies a transmitted e-mail to be used as a base via the e-mail storage unit 14. The e-mail storage unit 14 stores the previously transmitted e-mail in a pair with the destination or destination group of the transmitted e-mail. Therefore, a copy of the destination group can be given to the e-mail creating unit 13.
[0017]
The e-mail creating unit 13 sets the copy of the passed destination group as the destination group of the new e-mail.
[0018]
The e-mail creating unit 13 presents the destination or destination group of the new e-mail to the e-mail creator 10 in a display method described later. This display method reduces the task of the e-mail creator 10 confirming whether the destination is correct or not. If the e-mail creator 10 finds an excess or deficiency in the destination, the e-mail creator 10 adds or deletes the destination and sets a desired destination.
[0019]
The e-mail transmission / reception unit 15 transmits the completed e-mail to the network 16. The e-mail storage unit 14 stores the e-mail to be transmitted and its destination or destination group in pairs when transmitting the e-mail.
[0020]
Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a description will be given of a destination display method by which the present system allows an e-mail creator to easily check whether the destination is over or under.
[0021]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen displayed when a destination is set for a new e-mail based on a transmitted e-mail specified by a destination group. Here, the destination G1 (21) of the new e-mail is created by copying the destination group specified when the transmitted e-mail was created. At the time of creation of the transmitted e-mail, Mr. A (22), Mr. B (23), Mr. C (24), Mr. D (25), and Mr. E (26) are in the destination group G1 (21). Shall be included. The “○” mark at the beginning of each destination indicates that these destinations are included in the destination group G1.
[0022]
As described above, the destination group and the destinations belonging to the group are displayed in a hierarchical relationship. With this display method, the e-mail creator 10 can know that the individual addresses from Mr. A to Mr. E belonged to the destination group G1. When the e-mail creator 10 intends to designate a destination belonging to the destination group G1 as a destination of a new e-mail, the destination copied from the transmitted e-mail surely belongs to the destination group G1. At a glance.
[0023]
When a plurality of destination groups of the transmitted e-mail are designated as a basis of the destination group of the new e-mail, the display method of the destination group of the new e-mail is as follows. That is, one general destination group including a plurality of destination groups is virtually created, and the general destination group is displayed. The destinations belonging to each destination group are hierarchically displayed as belonging to the general destination group. Further, as additional information of each destination, it indicates which destination group they belong to. For example, when the destination A belongs to the destination groups G1 and G2, information indicating that the destination A belongs to the destination groups G1 and G2 is displayed on the display section of the destination A.
[0024]
When a destination of a new e-mail is created by copying a destination of a transmitted e-mail specified by a destination group, there is a possibility that the destination group at the time of creation of the transmitted e-mail 37 has been changed by the destination group management unit 12. There is something. In this case, it is possible to reduce the work of confirming the destination by explicitly indicating information on the change of the destination group to the e-mail creator 10.
[0025]
Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case will be described as an example where the destination group G1 (21) in FIG. 2 is copied from the transmitted e-mail as the destination group and used as the destination group G1 '(31) of the new e-mail.
[0026]
Before creating a new e-mail based on the transmitted e-mail 37, Mr. B (23) is deleted from the destination group G1 (32) managed by the destination group management unit 12, and Mr. F (27) is deleted. It shall be added.
[0027]
The destination group G1 '(31) of the new e-mail is created by copying the destination group G1 (21) of the transmitted e-mail 37. As information on the destination group G1 '(31) displayed when a new e-mail is created, the parts related to Mr. B (23) and Mr. F (27) are explicitly displayed using a message or the like. That is, since Mr. B (23) in the destination group G1 '(31) of the new e-mail has already been deleted from the latest state (32) of the destination group G1, Mr. B is also deleted from the destination of the new e-mail. It indicates to the e-mail creator 10 that there is a high possibility that (23) should be deleted. Also, Mr. F (27) who is not in the destination group G1 '(31) of the new e-mail is included in the latest state (32) of the destination group G1, so Mr. F (27) is set as the destination of the new e-mail. ) Is indicated to the e-mail creator 10.
[0028]
The e-mail creator 10 indicated with the above information determines whether (1) Mr. B (23) should be deleted and (2) Mr. F (27) should be added to the destination of the new e-mail. Judge and set the desired destination.
[0029]
Conventionally, the e-mail creator 10 had to perform the following operations (a) to (c) in order to confirm (1) and (2). That is, (a) a destination group including Mr. A, Mr. B, Mr. C, Mr. D, and Mr. E is searched for by searching the mailing destination group management unit 12; While checking each new e-mail destination one by one, it is checked whether there is any change in the new and old group configurations. (C) It is confirmed that Mr. B has been deleted from the latest destination group and Mr. F has been added (b) ), It is necessary to perform a complicated check of recognizing and confirming (1) and (2), but such a complicated work is reduced.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the present system when creating a new e-mail based on the transmitted e-mail specified by the destination group will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the case where the destination group G1 (21) of FIG. 2 is copied from the transmitted e-mail 37 and used as the destination group G1 ′ (31) of the new e-mail will be described as an example.
[0031]
The e-mail creating unit 13 copies the destination group 21 stored as a pair with the transmitted e-mail 37 from the e-mail storage unit 14 and initializes the destination group G1 ′ (31) for the new e-mail. . The e-mail creating unit 13 notifies the destination group management unit 12 that the destination included in the destination group G1 ′ (31) of the new e-mail is the same as the destination included in the latest destination group G1 (32). Check if they are the same. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the destination included in the destination group G1 (32) has been changed between the time when the base e-mail is transmitted and the time when the new e-mail is created. The e-mail creating unit 13 explicitly displays a message or the like for the changed destination, such as Mr. B (23) and Mr. F (27) in FIG.
[0032]
Next, the flow of the operation for realizing the display methods shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0033]
First, the latest state G1 (32) of the destination group of the transmitted e-mail 37 as the base is extracted from the destination group management unit 12 (step 41). In the following, a case where only one destination group of the transmitted e-mail 37 is specified will be described as an example.
[0034]
If a plurality of destination groups are specified, one virtual destination group that supervises the destination groups is created, and the same processing as described below is performed on the supervised destination group.
[0035]
Next, the following operation is performed for the initial state of the destination group G1 '(31) of the new e-mail, that is, for each destination A in the destination group G1 (21) copied from the destination group of the transmitted e-mail 37. Repeat (step 42). First, in order to clearly indicate that the destination A has been designated as the destination of the new e-mail, a mark “」 ”is specified at the display location of the destination A (step 43).
[0036]
Next, it is checked whether the destination A is included in the group G1 (32) (step 44). If not included, a message that the destination A does not belong to the group G1 (32) is explicitly displayed by a message (step 45). In this way, the e-mail creator 10 is urged to confirm whether it is necessary to delete the destination A from the destination of the new e-mail.
Next, the following is repeated for each destination B included in the group G1 (32) (step 46). First, it is checked whether the destination B is included in the destination group G1 '(31) (step 47). If not included, a message that the destination B is newly added to the destination group G1 (32) is explicitly displayed by a message (step 48). In this way, the e-mail creator 10 is urged to confirm whether or not it is necessary to add the destination B to the destination of the new e-mail. The destination B is marked with “x” to explicitly indicate that it is not included in the destination of the new e-mail.
[0037]
According to the present embodiment, when creating a new e-mail based on a transmitted e-mail specified by a destination group, it is possible to reduce the work of confirming to which destination group the destination of the new e-mail belongs.
If the destination group has been changed, it is highly likely that the destination should be deleted or added following the change.However, the destinations that may be deleted or added are specified, The task of checking is reduced.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when a new e-mail is created based on a transmitted e-mail specified by a destination group, there is an effect that it is possible to reduce the work of confirming to which destination group the destination of the new e-mail belongs.
[0039]
Further, according to the present invention, when a destination group has been changed, it is highly likely that a destination should be deleted or added following the change, but a destination that may be subject to deletion or addition is specified, and the destination is specified. This has the effect of reducing the task of checking for excess or deficiency in the work.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an electronic mail client system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed when setting a destination of a new e-mail based on a transmitted e-mail specified by a destination group.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when a destination is set for a new e-mail based on a transmitted e-mail specified by a destination group, showing a display example when the destination group is changed.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of the present system when creating a new e-mail based on a transmitted e-mail specified by a destination group.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process for displaying a destination setting screen when creating a new e-mail based on a transmitted e-mail specified by a destination group.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 E-mail creator 11 E-mail client system 12 Destination group management unit 13 E-mail creation unit 14 E-mail storage unit 15 E-mail transmission / reception unit 16 Network 17 E-mail server system

Claims (2)

A destination group management unit that groups and manages the destinations of the e-mail, an e-mail storage unit that stores the transmitted e-mail and the destination group of the transmitted e-mail as a pair, and based on the transmitted e-mail. An e-mail creating unit for displaying a destination group of the sent e-mail when creating a new e-mail, and editing a destination of the new e-mail while confirming the contents thereof system. 2. The e-mail client system according to claim 1, wherein the destination group of the transmitted e-mail is changed by the destination group management unit after the transmission of the e-mail, and as a result, the destination group of the new e-mail is changed by the destination group management unit. When there is a difference between the destination group of the new e-mail and the latest state of the destination group corresponding to the destination group of the new e-mail, the destination group of the new e-mail and the destination group management are displayed when displaying the destination of the new e-mail. An e-mail client system for explicitly displaying a difference between the destination group corresponding to the destination group of the new e-mail managed by the department and the destination group.

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