JP2004048391A - Mail managing device, mail managing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent overlapped reading of a mail from a terminal when reading the mail from the terminal. <P>SOLUTION: A mail managing device 10 receives a mail distribution request from a terminal 20 being the mail distribution request origin, and judges whether or not the mail indicated in the received distribution request is unread or already read by referring to the already read/unread information of the mail indicating that the prestored received mail is already read or unread. When judging the mail indicated in the distribution request is unread, the mail managing device 10 updates the prestored already read/unread information from unread to already read, and transmits the mail to the request origin of the mail. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mail management device, a mail management method, and a program for transmitting an unread mail among distribution-requested mails to a distribution request source.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional mail management device includes a means for identifying whether a received mail has been read or unread, a means for deleting a read mail, and a method for sending an accessed mail to an access request source. It comprises a means for transmitting to the terminal and a storage means for storing the received mail.
The above-described conventional mail management device recognizes the mail as unread when the mail is received and stored in the storage unit, and then, when the mail is read, recognizes the mail as read. It has become.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional mail management device, as described above, when an e-mail is accessed and the e-mail is read, the e-mail is recognized as read. For example, after the received e-mail A is stored in the storage unit, When the mail A is accessed and read, the mail A is recognized as read. Thereafter, the mail management device receives mail B having the same sender and subject as mail A (mail B has terminals A and B as destinations) and stores it in the storage means. When the mail B is accessed and read from the terminal B, the mail B is recognized as read.
Thereafter, when reading the mail B from the terminal A, the mail A and the mail B stored in the mail management device have already been read, and the mail A and the mail B have the same sender and subject. Therefore, there is a problem that the mail A and the mail B are read redundantly even when the mail B is to be read.
[0004]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mail management device, a mail management method, and a program that can prevent duplicate reading when reading mail from a terminal in view of the above-described problems.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a mail management device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes:
Mail storage means for storing received mail;
Read / unread information storage means for storing read / unread information indicating whether the received mail is read or unread for each mail delivery destination,
An email delivery request receiving means for receiving an email delivery request from an email delivery request source;
Mail sending means for sending the mail indicated in the delivery request received by the mail delivery request receiving means to a requester of the mail,
Whether the mail indicated in the distribution request received by the mail distribution request receiving means is unread or read is determined by checking the mail stored in the read / unread information storage means. An unread / read determination means for determining with reference to read / unread information,
When the unread / read determination unit determines that the mail indicated in the distribution request is unread, the read / unread of the mail stored in the read / unread information storage unit is performed. Updating means for updating information from unread to read,
With
The mail sending means,
When the unread / read determination unit determines that the mail indicated in the distribution request is unread, the mail is transmitted to a request source of the mail.
[0006]
According to such a configuration, only unread e-mails for which distribution has been requested are distributed to the distribution request source, so that when reading e-mails from the terminal, duplicate reading can be prevented.
[0007]
Referring to the read / unread information stored in the read / unread information storage unit, the mail indicated by the read / unread information in which all the distribution destinations have been read is read from the mail storage unit. A mail deleting means for deleting may be further provided.
Thereby, the memory capacity for storing the mail can be suppressed.
[0008]
In the read / unread information storage means,
E-mail deletion information indicating whether or not the e-mail was deleted,
When the e-mail is deleted by the e-mail deletion means, the e-mail deletion information updating means for updating the e-mail deletion information stored in the read / unread information storage means from the undeleted state to the deleted state is provided. You may.
[0009]
Further, the mail management method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes:
Receives an email delivery request from the email delivery request source,
Sending the mail indicated in the received distribution request to the requester of the mail,
Whether the mail indicated in the received distribution request is unread or read is determined by checking whether the received mail stored in advance is read or unread. Is determined by referring to the read / unread information of the mail indicating
When the mail indicated in the delivery request is determined to be unread, the read / unread information of the mail stored in advance is updated from unread to read,
The mail is transmitted to a requester of the mail.
[0010]
According to such a configuration, only unread e-mails for which distribution has been requested are distributed to the distribution request source, so that when reading e-mails from the terminal, duplicate reading can be prevented.
[0011]
Further, a program according to a third aspect of the present invention includes:
Procedures for receiving email delivery requests from email delivery request sources,
Transmitting the mail indicated in the received distribution request to the requester of the mail,
Whether the mail indicated in the received distribution request is unread or read is determined by checking whether the received mail stored in advance is read or unread. A procedure for determining by referring to the read / unread information of the mail indicating the
When the mail indicated in the delivery request is determined to be unread, a procedure for updating the read / unread information of the mail stored in advance from unread to read,
On a computer.
[0012]
According to such a configuration, only unread e-mails for which distribution has been requested are distributed to the distribution request source, so that when reading e-mails from the terminal, duplicate reading can be prevented.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a mail management device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a use mode of a mail management device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mail management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the mail management device 10 is connected to a plurality of terminals 20 via the Internet 30, and includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an input unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication control unit 15 (these components are not shown). The above components are interconnected by a bus 16.
[0015]
The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executes mail distribution processing according to a control program.
For example, for each mail stored in the storage unit 12, the control unit 11 determines whether the mail has been read from all distribution destinations.
When it is determined that each mail stored in the storage unit 12 has been read from all distribution destinations, the control unit 11 deletes the mail from the storage unit 12.
[0016]
The storage unit 12 includes a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk device, and the like. The storage unit 12 includes a control program, a mailbox for storing delivered mail, and a mail management list. Used as a work area for the program.
As shown in FIG. 3, the mail management list 121 includes 1) a mail number for identifying a mail stored in a mailbox, and 2) information indicating whether a mail has been read from each terminal to which the mail is delivered. And 3) information indicating whether the mail stored in the mailbox is deleted or not, and 4) a time stamp when the mail is received.
The information indicating whether the mail has been read is “read” when the mail has been read, and “unread” when the mail has not been read.
[0017]
The input unit 13 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and outputs a pressing signal of a key pressed on the keyboard to the control unit.
The display unit 14 includes a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display panel, and the like, and displays information based on display data output from the control unit 11.
The communication control unit 15 performs communication control for transmitting and receiving mails and the like with each terminal 20.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the mail management apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
For simplicity of explanation, an example will be described in which mails are distributed to both the terminal 20 of #A and the terminal 20 of #B.
[0019]
Here, as a premise for explaining the operation, the state of the mail management apparatus 10 at time n is such that a mail having a mail number “1” (hereinafter, referred to as mail 1) is received at time n−4 and at time n−3. A mail having a mail number “2” (hereinafter, referred to as mail 2) is received, a mail having a mail number “3” (hereinafter, referred to as mail 3) is received at time n−2, and a mail number is received at time n−1. Receives the mail of “4” (hereinafter, referred to as mail 4), receives the mail of the mail number “5” (hereinafter, referred to as mail 5) at time n, and stores the terminal 20 of #A and the terminal 20 of #B. It is assumed that read access to mail has not been received from.
[0020]
Accordingly, in this state, as shown in FIG. 4B, the mail management list includes the read / unread items of the mails 1 to 5 in the terminal A of the terminal A and the read / unread items of the terminal 20 in the terminal B. All of the unread items are “unread”, and all of the deleted items are “unread” indicating that they have not yet been deleted from the mailbox.
Incidentally, FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state where a mail distribution request has been made from the terminal 20 of #A and the terminal 20 of #B. As shown in FIG. 4A, the distribution request of the mail has not yet been made from the terminal 20 of #A and the terminal 20 of #B.
[0021]
Based on the premise described above, thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), from time n to time m (m> n), the reading access of mail 1 to mail 5 from the terminal 20 of $ A is performed. When the mails 1 to 5 are read, the control unit 11 reads / reads the corresponding mail indicated by the mail management list 121 every time the mail is read, as shown in FIG. The “unread” displayed on the unread item (read / unread item in the terminal of $ A) is updated to “read”.
In FIG. 5B, the read / unread items in the terminal 20 of #B are still "unread" because there is no access to read the mail from the terminal 20 of $ B. Therefore, the deletion items indicated by the mails 1 to 5 are “not yet” indicating that they have not been deleted from the mailbox.
[0022]
Thereafter, by the time of m + 1, when a new mail is transmitted at the time of n + 1 (m <n + 1 <m + 1), the control unit 11 of the mail management apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. Registers the mail management information of 6.
Since the mail management information has not yet been read from the terminal 20 of $ A and the terminal 20 of $ B, the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ A and the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ B have not been received. The unread item is “unread”, and the deleted item is “unread”.
[0023]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6A, by time m + 1 (m> n), there is a read access to the mail 1 to the mail 6 from the terminal 20 of $ B at any time, and the mail 1 to the mail 6 are read. 6B, the read / unread item (read / unread item in the terminal of $ B) of the corresponding mail indicated by the mail management list 121 every time the mail is read, as shown in FIG. Update “unread” displayed in) to “read”.
[0024]
Next, the control unit 11 refers to the mail management list 121, and reads all the mails whose read / unread items of the terminal 20 of $ A and the read / unread items of the terminal 20 of $ B are both "read". The deletion item indicated in the management information is updated from “not yet” to “deletion” as shown in FIG. After that, the control unit 11 deletes the mails 1 to 5 whose mail numbers 1 to 5 indicate “delete” indicated by the delete item of the mail management list 121 from the mailbox.
In the mail management list 121, the read / unread item of the terminal #A in the mail management information whose mail number is indicated by 6 is “unread”.
[0025]
After that, by the time n + 3 before the time m + 2, when the mail is newly transmitted at the time of n + 2 and then at the time of n + 3 (m + 1 <n + 2 <n + 3 <m + 2), the control unit 11 of the mail management apparatus 10 As shown in FIG. 7B, mail management information with mail numbers 7 and 8 is sequentially registered.
Since the mail management information has not been read from the terminals 20 of $ A and the terminals 20 of $ B, the read / unread items of the terminals 20 of #A and the read items of the terminals 20 of $ B have been read. The / unread item is “unread”, and the deleted item is “unread”. Note that the deletion item of the mail management information with the mail number 6 is still “not yet”.
[0026]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), by time n + 3 before time m + 2, there is occasional read access to mails 6 to 8 from terminal 20 of $ A, and mails 6 to 8 are read. Each time a mail is read, as shown in FIG. 7B, the control unit 11 reads / reads / reads unread items (read / unread items in the terminal of $ A) of the corresponding mail indicated by the mail management list 121. Update “unread” displayed in) to “read”.
[0027]
Next, the control unit 11 refers to the mail management list 121, and determines whether the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ A and the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ B are both "read". 7 is updated from "not yet" to "delete" as shown in FIG. 7B. Thereafter, the control unit 11 deletes the mail 6 indicated by the mail number 6 indicating “delete” indicated by the delete item of the mail management list 121 from the mailbox.
In the mail management list 121, the read / unread item of the terminal #B of the mail management information indicated by the mail numbers 7 and 8 is “unread”.
[0028]
Thereafter, when a new mail is transmitted at the time of n + 4 (m + 2 <n + 4), the control unit 11 of the mail management device 10 registers the mail management information with the mail number 9 as shown in FIG. I do.
Since the mail management information has not yet been read from the terminal 20 of $ A and the terminal 20 of $ B, the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ A and the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ B have been received. The unread item is “unread”, and the deleted item is “unread”. Note that the deletion items of the mail management information with the mail numbers 7 and 8 are still “not yet”.
[0029]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8A, at time m + 3 (m + 2 <n + 4 <m + 3), there is a read access to the mail 9 from the terminal 20 of $ A, and when the mail 9 is read, the control unit 11 8B is displayed as a read / unread item (read / unread item in the terminal #A) of the mail in the mail management information of the mail number 9 indicated by the mail management list 121, as shown in FIG. Update "unread" to "read".
Note that the control unit 11 determines that the deleted item is “unread” in the mail management list 121 and the read / unread item of $ A and the read / unread item of $ B are not “read”. No new mail is deleted from the mailbox.
In the mail management list 121, the read / unread item of the terminal #B in the mail management information indicated by the mail numbers 7, 8, and 9 is “unread”.
[0030]
Thereafter, when the mail is transmitted at time n + 5 (n + 5 <m + 4) before time m + 4, the control unit 11 of the mail management apparatus 10 sets the mail number to 10 as shown in FIG. Register mail management information.
Since the mail management information has not yet been read from the terminal 20 of $ A and the terminal 20 of $ B, the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ A and the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ B have not been received. The unread item is “unread”, and the deleted item is “unread”. Note that the deletion items of the mail management information with the mail numbers 7, 8, and 9 are still “not yet”.
[0031]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), by the time n + 5 before the time m + 4, there is a read access to the mails 7 to 10 from the terminal 20 of $ B at any time, and the mails 7 to 10 are read. Each time a mail is read, as shown in FIG. 9B, the control unit 11 reads / reads the read / unread item (read / unread item in the terminal of the terminal B) of the corresponding mail indicated by the mail management list 121 Update “unread” displayed in) to “read”.
[0032]
Next, the control unit 11 refers to the mail management list 121, and determines whether the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ A and the read / unread item of the terminal 20 of $ B are both "read". Update the deletion items indicated in the mail management information 7 to 9 from “not yet” to “deletion” as shown in FIG. 9B. After that, the control unit 11 deletes mails 7 to 9 whose mail numbers 7 to 9 indicate “delete” indicated by the delete item of the mail management list 121 from the mailbox.
In the mail management list 121, the read / unread item of the terminal of #A in the mail management information indicated by the mail number 10 is “unread”, and the deletion item is “unread”.
[0033]
According to the mail management apparatus according to this embodiment, it is determined whether the mail indicated in the distribution request received from the terminal 20 is unread or read by referring to the mail management list 121. Then, as a result, when it is determined that the mail indicated in the delivery request is unread, the read / unread information of the mail stored in the mail management list is updated from unread to read. Since the mail is transmitted to the requester of the mail, it is possible to prevent duplicate reading when reading the mail.
[0034]
Further, according to the mail management device, the mail management information stored in the mail management list 121 is referred to, and the mail indicated by the mail management information that all the distribution destination terminals 20 have read is read. Since the mail is deleted from the mailbox, the memory capacity for storing the mail can be reduced.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent duplicate reading when reading mail from a terminal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a usage mode of a mail management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mail management device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mail management list.
FIG. 4A shows the contents of a mail distribution request.
(B) is a diagram showing the contents of a mail management list when a mail distribution request is followed.
FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the contents of a mail distribution request.
(B) is a diagram showing the contents of a mail management list when a mail distribution request is followed.
FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the contents of a mail distribution request.
(B) is a diagram showing the contents of a mail management list when a mail distribution request is followed.
FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the contents of a mail distribution request.
(B) is a diagram showing the contents of a mail management list when a mail distribution request is followed.
FIG. 8A shows the contents of a mail distribution request.
(B) is a diagram showing the contents of a mail management list when a mail distribution request is followed.
FIG. 9A shows the contents of a mail distribution request.
(B) is a diagram showing the contents of a mail management list when a mail distribution request is followed.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 mail management device 11 control unit 12 storage unit 121 mail management list 13 input unit 14 display unit 15 communication control unit 20 terminal

Claims (5)

Mail storage means for storing received mail;
Read / unread information storage means for storing read / unread information indicating whether the received mail is read or unread for each mail delivery destination,
An email delivery request receiving means for receiving an email delivery request from an email delivery request source;
Mail sending means for sending the mail indicated in the delivery request received by the mail delivery request receiving means to a requester of the mail;
Whether the mail indicated in the distribution request received by the mail distribution request receiving means is unread or read is determined by checking the mail stored in the read / unread information storage means. An unread / read determination means for determining with reference to read / unread information,
When the unread / read determination unit determines that the mail indicated in the distribution request is unread, the read / unread of the mail stored in the read / unread information storage unit is performed. Updating means for updating information from unread to read,
With
The mail sending means,
When the unread / read determination unit determines that the mail indicated in the distribution request is unread, the mail is transmitted to a request source of the mail.
A mail management device, characterized in that: Referring to the read / unread information stored in the read / unread information storage unit, the mail indicated by the read / unread information in which all the distribution destinations have been read is read from the mail storage unit. An email deletion means to be deleted,
The mail management device according to claim 1, further comprising: In the read / unread information storage means,
E-mail deletion information indicating whether or not the e-mail was deleted,
When the mail is deleted by the mail deletion means, the mail deletion information updating means for updating the mail deletion information of the mail stored in the read / unread information storage means from the undeleted to the deleted state,
Comprising,
3. The mail management device according to claim 2, wherein: Receives an email delivery request from the email delivery request source,
Sending the mail indicated in the received distribution request to the requester of the mail,
Whether the mail indicated in the received distribution request is unread or read is determined whether the received mail stored in advance is read or unread. Is determined by referring to the read / unread information of the mail indicating
When the mail indicated in the delivery request is determined to be unread, the read / unread information of the mail stored in advance is updated from unread to read,
Send the email to the email requester,
An e-mail management method characterized in that: Procedures for receiving email delivery requests from email delivery request sources,
A procedure for transmitting the mail indicated in the received distribution request to the requester of the mail, and storing in advance whether the mail indicated in the received distribution request is unread or read A step of determining by referring to read / unread information of the mail indicating whether the received mail has been read or unread,
When the mail indicated in the delivery request is determined to be unread, a procedure for updating read / unread information of the mail stored in advance from unread to read,
A program that causes a computer to execute.

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