JP2004200817A - Electronic mail arrival notice method, electronic mail arrival notice system, arrival notice apparatus, arrival notice server, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic mail arrival notice method, an electronic mail arrival notice system, an arrival notice apparatus, an arrival notice server, and a computer program for informing a phone terminal located in a premises or outside the premises about the new mail arrival. <P>SOLUTION: An arrival notice server 2 of an arrival notice apparatus 5 discriminates whether a mail server 11 stores newly arrived mail. When the mail server 11 stores the newly arrived mail, the arrival notice server 2 prepares arrival information, and the communication terminal 3 of the arrival notice apparatus 5 transmits the arrival information to a PHS terminal 16 having an extension number of an external line number via a PBX 12 or the PBX 12 and a public PHS line network P under the control of the arrival notice server 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic mail incoming notification method, an electronic mail incoming notification system, an incoming notification device, an incoming notification server, and a computer program for notifying a telephone terminal that an electronic mail has arrived at a mail server.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information terminal (hereinafter, referred to as a PHS terminal) that transmits and receives information by a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) has been used as a telephone terminal having a unique extension number and an external line number. . Such a PHS terminal is used in a PHS private telephone system in which communication is performed using an extension number in a premises such as at home or in a company, and communication is performed outside the premises by using an outside line number (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Further, in order to use a PHS terminal equipped with a browser or a mailer as a client of various servers connected to a LAN, a PHS communication system in which a PHS private telephone system and a LAN are connected has conventionally been used.
[0003]
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a conventional PHS communication system.
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a LAN (Local Area Network). Various servers (for example, a mail server 11) and a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) serving as a client are connected to the LAN 10; , A private branch exchange (PBX) 12 serving as a telephone exchange is connected.
[0004]
The PBX 12 is connected to a public PHS network P, which is a public telephone network, and PHS connection devices (hereinafter referred to as BSs) 15, 15,..., And the BSs 15, 15,. Has a function of connecting the PHS terminals 16, 16,... To the PBX 12 wirelessly.
The PHS terminal 16 is provided with a mailer. When the PHS terminal 16 is located on the premises, the PHS terminal 16 is connected to the PBX 12 via the BS 15 as indicated by an arrow 161, and is connected to the LAN 10 via the router 13 as indicated by an arrow 161. The e-mail is transmitted and received by communicating with the mail server 11 which is in use. Further, when the PHS terminal 16 is located outside the premises, the PHS terminal 16 is connected to the PBX 12 via the public PHS line network P as indicated by an arrow 162 by using a unique outside line number, and the mail server is connected to the PBX 12 via the router 13. Connect to 11.
[0005]
Conventionally, an electronic mail arrival notification system for notifying the arrival of an electronic mail has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3).
In addition, a PHS terminal having a function of displaying information transmitted from a calling side when a call is made is generally used. The information is a telephone number of the calling PHS terminal and / or a message (for example, character information of up to 20 bytes) input by the user of the PHS terminal. Not sent or received. Therefore, the PHS terminal cannot transmit and receive the information when the called party does not respond, but can transmit and receive the information in real time when it responds.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-172673
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent No. 2984620
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent No. 3183338
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional PHS communication system cannot notify the PHS terminal 16 of the arrival of a new mail even if the mail server 11 receives a new electronic mail (new mail) (for example, the PBX 12). It is impossible or difficult to notify the incoming call by changing the specifications).
Therefore, the user of the PHS terminal 16 needs to operate the PHS terminal 16 at an appropriate timing to check whether or not there is a new mail in the mail server 11 in order to check whether or not there is a new mail. It was inconvenient.
Further, for example, when an incoming call notification with an extension number fails, an incoming call notification system for notifying an incoming call again with an extension number or performing an incoming call notification by switching to an outside line number is not disclosed.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a device (an incoming call notification device) added to a conventional PHS communication system is a telephone exchange and / or a public PHS network when a mail server has new mail. The incoming mail is transmitted to a PHS terminal having an extension number or an outside line number via a telephone, so that new mail can be sent to a PHS terminal located on the premises or off the premises without changing each device constituting the conventional PHS communication system. Method for notifying incoming e-mail, an e-mail incoming notification system, an incoming notification device constituting the e-mail incoming notification system, an incoming notification server forming the incoming notification device, and a computer functioning as an incoming notification server It is intended to provide a computer program.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the electronic mail arrival notification method according to the first invention, the apparatus including the storage unit associates the mail address with the extension number and / or the external line number of the telephone terminal having the unique extension number and the external line number. It is determined whether there is a new mail for one mail address in a mail server that sends and receives e-mails to one or more mail addresses, and if there is a new mail, the arrival of the new mail is received. Is generated, and an extension number and / or an external number stored in association with the mail address having the new mail are read out from the storage unit, and the generated call information is stored in the telephone terminal. And / or a telephone terminal having the read extension number or external number via a public PHS network. And transmitting to the machine.
[0010]
An electronic mail arrival notification system according to a second aspect of the present invention provides a telephone terminal having a unique extension number and an external line number, a telephone exchange for making a telephone connection with the telephone terminal, and transmission and reception of electronic mail to one or more mail addresses. An e-mail arrival notification system comprising: a mail server for performing the following: an e-mail arrival notification system, comprising: the telephone exchange and an arrival notification device connected to the mail server, wherein the arrival notification device has a mail address, an extension number of a telephone terminal, and / or Or, a storage unit for storing an external line number in association therewith, a determination unit for determining whether there is a new mail for one mail address in the mail server, and a notification of the arrival of the new mail when there is a new mail. Information generating means for generating incoming information for the user, and associating with the mail address having the new mail from the storage means. Reading means for reading an extension number and / or an outside line number stored in advance and transmitting the generated incoming information to the telephone terminal having the read out extension number or outside line number via the telephone exchange and / or the public PHS network. Transmitting means.
[0011]
The incoming call notification device according to the third invention is a storage device for storing a mail address, an extension number and / or an outside line number of a communication partner in association with each other, and whether an external first device has a new mail for one mail address. Determining means for determining whether there is new mail, information generating means for generating incoming information for notifying the arrival of the new mail, and storing from the storage means in association with a mail address having the new mail. Reading means for reading out the extension number and / or the external number, and transmitting the generated incoming information to a communication partner having the read out extension number or the external number via an external second device and / or a public PHS network. And means for performing the operation.
[0012]
An incoming call notifying device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is configured by connecting an incoming call notifying server and a communication terminal, and the incoming notifying server includes the storing unit, the determining unit, the information generating unit, Reading means, and means for transmitting the incoming call information and the extension number or the outside line number to the communication terminal, wherein the communication terminal transmits the incoming information received from the incoming call notification server to the second device. And / or via the public PHS line network, to a communication partner having an extension number or an outside line number received from the incoming call notification server.
[0013]
An incoming call notifying device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the incoming call notifying server, wherein the incoming call notifying server determines whether or not the communication terminal has succeeded in transmitting with an extension number or an outside line number. The incoming call information corresponding to the failed extension number or the extension number, and the extension number or the extension number or the extension number or the extension number stored in the storage means in association with the extension number or the extension number, the communication terminal. Means for transmitting to
[0014]
An incoming call notifying device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein the incoming call notifying server stores a predetermined number of retransmissions in the storage unit in association with each mail address, and counts the number of failed transmissions. Means for determining whether or not the counted number is equal to or less than the number of retransmissions.If the transmission fails, when the number of times is equal to or less than the number of retransmissions, it corresponds to the extension number or the outside line number for which the transmission failed. Incoming call information and the extension number or the outside line number are transmitted to the communication terminal.
[0015]
An incoming call notifying apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes a means for determining whether or not transmission by an extension number or an external number is successful, and, when the transmission fails, an incoming call corresponding to the extension number or the external number of which transmission failed. Means for transmitting information to the extension number or the outside line number or a communication partner having the outside line number or the extension number stored in the storage means in association with the extension number or the outside line number.
[0016]
The incoming call notifying apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, wherein the storage means stores a predetermined number of retransmissions in association with each mail address, and means for counting the number of times of unsuccessful transmission. Means for determining whether or not the number of transmissions is equal to or less than the number of transmissions. If the transmission fails, when the number of transmissions is equal to or less than the number of retransmissions, incoming information corresponding to the extension number or the external number of the transmission that failed, It is configured to transmit to a communication partner having a number or an outside line number.
[0017]
In the incoming call notifying apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the storage means stores a predetermined determination time in association with each mail address, and counts an elapsed time after the determination means determines whether there is a new mail. Means, and means for determining whether or not the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the determination time, wherein the determination means determines whether there is a new mail when the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the determination time. It is characterized in that it is configured to determine.
[0018]
In the incoming call notifying apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the storage unit stores notification execution information indicating a new mail to be notified of an incoming call in association with each mail address, and the determination unit determines that there is a new mail. If determined, means for determining whether the newly arrived mail corresponds to the notification execution information, and means for prohibiting generation of incoming information to the information generation means when determined not to correspond. It is characterized by having.
[0019]
An incoming call notification server according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit for storing a mail address, an extension number and / or an outside line number of a communication partner in association with each other, and whether an external first device has a new mail for one mail address. Determining means for determining whether there is new mail, information generating means for generating incoming information for notifying the arrival of the new mail, and storing from the storage means in association with a mail address having the new mail. Read means for reading the extension number and / or external number being read out, and means for transmitting the generated incoming call information and the read extension number or external number to an external third device.
[0020]
A computer program according to a twelfth invention is a computer program for causing a computer having storage means for storing an e-mail address, an extension number and / or an outside line number of a communication partner in association with each other to communicate with an external device. Determining whether a new mail for one mail address exists in an external first device; and, if there is a new mail, causing a computer to generate incoming information for notifying of the arrival of the new mail. And causing the computer to read an extension number and / or an external number stored in association with the mail address having the new mail from the storage means. To send the incoming call information and the read extension number or external number. Characterized in that it is executed and-up.
[0021]
In the first invention, the second invention, and the third invention, a telephone terminal having an extension number and an outside number is notified that a new mail is present in the mail server. In this case, an incoming call notifying device including a storage unit is added to a known system including a telephone exchange for making a telephone connection with the telephone terminal and a mail server for transmitting and receiving electronic mail.
The incoming call notification device determines whether or not there is a new mail for one mail address in the mail server, and generates incoming information when there is a new mail.
[0022]
Further, the incoming call notifying device reads the extension number stored in the storage means in association with the mail address, and transmits the generated incoming information to the telephone terminal having the read extension number via the telephone exchange. As a result, the incoming call is notified by the extension number.
Alternatively, the incoming call notifying device reads the external line number stored in the storage means in association with the mail address, and sends the generated incoming information to the telephone terminal having the read external line number, by using the telephone exchange and the public telephone network. Or through a public telephone network to notify an incoming call by an outside line number.
[0023]
In this manner, the e-mail incoming notification method, the e-mail incoming notification system, and the incoming call notification device perform an incoming call notification by an extension number to a telephone terminal located on the premises including the known system, and An incoming call notification using an outside line number is made to the telephone terminal to be called.
In this case, when the telephone terminal receives the incoming call information, the telephone terminal user obtains a new mail from the mail server using the telephone terminal or an appropriate information terminal. For this reason, the e-mail incoming notification method, the e-mail incoming notification system, and the incoming notification device eliminate the need for the user to check whether there is any new mail.
In addition, the e-mail arrival notification method, the e-mail arrival notification system, and the arrival notification device constitute an e-mail arrival notification system by adding an arrival notification device without changing each device included in the known system. are doing.
[0024]
In the fourth invention, the eleventh invention, and the twelfth invention, the incoming notification device is configured using an incoming notification server and a third device (in this case, a communication terminal).
The incoming call notification server determines whether there is a new mail for the one mail address in the mail server, and if there is a new mail, generates incoming information and stores it in the storage means in association with the mail address. Read the extension number (or outside number) that is present. Next, the incoming call notification server transmits the read extension number (or outside line number) and the generated incoming call information to the communication terminal. The communication terminal transmits the received incoming call information to a communication partner having the received extension number (or outside number) via the second device (for example, a telephone exchange) and / or a public telephone line network.
[0025]
Such an incoming call notifying device is provided in an electronic mail incoming notifying system, so that an incoming call is notified by an extension number to a telephone terminal located on the premises, and an incoming call number is notified by an external number to a telephone terminal located off the premises. Perform incoming call notification.
In this case, when a known communication device that transmits the received information to a communication partner having the received telephone number via a second device (for example, a telephone exchange) and / or a public telephone network is used as a communication terminal, The communication terminal is simply configured.
[0026]
In addition, a known computer having a storage unit is configured by storing a mail address, an extension number and / or an outside line number of a communication partner in the storage unit in association with each other, and installing the computer program of the present invention. In this case, the incoming call notification server is simply configured. In this case, the computer program causes the computer to determine whether a new mail for one mail address is present in the mail server, to generate incoming information when there is a new mail, and to store the information in association with the mail address. The extension number (or the outside line number) stored in the communication terminal is read and the read extension number (or the outside line number) and the generated incoming call information are transmitted to the communication terminal.
[0027]
In the fifth invention, the incoming call notification server determines whether or not the communication terminal has succeeded in the transmission with, for example, the extension number. To the communication terminal. The communication terminal transmits the received incoming call information to a communication partner having the received extension number.
In this way, when the incoming call notification using the extension number (or the outside line number) fails, the failed incoming call notification is performed again using the same extension number (or the outside line number). (Outside the premises), but the communication partner who cannot receive the incoming call information because the radio wave has not arrived is surely notified of the incoming call.
[0028]
Also, the incoming call notification server determines whether the communication terminal succeeded in the transmission with the extension number, for example, and when the transmission failed, the transmission is stored in the storage unit in association with the extension number in which the transmission failed. The outside line number and the incoming call information are transmitted to the communication terminal. The communication terminal transmits the received incoming call information to a communication partner having the received outside line number.
In this way, when the incoming call notification by the extension number (or the outside line number) fails, the failed incoming call notification is switched to the outside line number (or the internal number number) and is performed again. (Or off-premise) but exceptionally on the off-premise (or on-premise), so that the communication partner who could not receive the incoming call information is surely notified of the incoming call.
[0029]
According to the sixth aspect, the incoming call notification server stores the predetermined number of retransmissions in the storage unit, and when the communication terminal fails to transmit the incoming call information by the extension number (or the outside line number), the incoming call notification server The server counts the number of times transmission failed. At this time, if the counted number is equal to or less than the number of retransmissions, the incoming call notification server transmits the extension number (or the outside line number) for which transmission failed and the incoming call information to the communication terminal. The communication terminal transmits the received incoming call information to a communication partner having the received extension number (or outside line number).
When the counted number exceeds the number of retransmissions, the incoming call notification server does not transmit the extension number (or the outside line number) and the incoming call information of the failed transmission to the communication terminal. Therefore, the communication terminal does not transmit the incoming call information.
[0030]
As described above, when the incoming call notification fails, the incoming call notification is performed again for a predetermined number of times. In this case, the incoming call notification is reliably performed, and the incoming call notification is prevented from being uselessly repeated for a communication partner whose incoming call notification does not succeed because it is not present on the premises.
[0031]
According to the seventh invention, for example, it is determined whether or not the transmission with the extension number is successful, and if the transmission fails, the reception information of the failed transmission is transmitted to the communication partner having the extension number of the failed transmission. Send.
In this way, when the incoming call notification using the extension number (or the outside line number) fails, the failed incoming call notification is performed again using the same extension number (or the outside line number). Incoming call notification is sent to the failed communication partner without fail.
[0032]
Also, for example, it is determined whether or not the transmission with the extension number is successful. If the transmission fails, the incoming call information that has failed to transmit is stored in the storage unit in association with the extension number that failed to transmit. Send to the communication partner having the number.
In this way, when the incoming call notification by the extension number (or the outside line number) fails, the failed incoming call notification is switched to the outside line number (or the internal number number) and performed again, so that the incoming call notifying apparatus can receive the incoming call information. An incoming call notification is securely sent to the communication partner who did not exist.
[0033]
In the eighth invention, the predetermined number of retransmissions is stored in the storage means, and when the transmission of the incoming call information by the extension number (or the external number) fails, the number of times of the transmission failure is counted. At this time, if the counted number is less than or equal to the number of retransmissions, the failed incoming call information is transmitted to the communication partner having the extension number (or outside number) whose transmission failed.
If the counted number exceeds the number of retransmissions, the terminal does not transmit incoming information for which transmission failed.
[0034]
As described above, the incoming call notifying device performs the incoming call notification a predetermined number of times again when the incoming call notification fails, so that the incoming call notification can be more reliably performed to the communication partner that has failed to receive the incoming call information. In addition, it is prevented that useless repetition of the incoming call notification is performed for the communication partner for whom the incoming call notification is not successful.
[0035]
According to the ninth aspect, when the elapsed time since the last time the determination means determined the presence or absence of a new mail is longer than the determination time, the determination means determines the presence or absence of the new mail and is less than the determination time. The determination means does not determine the presence or absence of a new mail.
As the determination time, for example, by using an average time interval at which the mail server receives the new mail, the incoming notification device efficiently determines the presence or absence of the new mail.
[0036]
According to the tenth aspect, the storage unit stores notification execution information indicating a new mail to be notified of an incoming call. The incoming call notification device determines whether the newly arrived mail corresponds to the notification execution information, and if so, generates the incoming information and performs the incoming notification. Do not do.
For this reason, the incoming call notifying device prevents incoming mail from being notified of newly arrived mail that does not require incoming call notification.
[0037]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments.
Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an electronic mail arrival notification system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a LAN, and the LAN 10 is provided in a company building, a university site, or the like. Various servers (e.g., the mail server 11 and the incoming notification server 2 constituting the incoming notification device 5 of the present embodiment) are connected to the LAN 10 and the personal computers 14, 14,. , The PBX 12 is connected via the router 13.
[0038]
The PBX 12 is a telephone exchange for making a telephone connection with a PHS terminal 16, 16,..., Which is a telephone terminal serving as a slave, and a telephone (not shown). The PBX 12 is connected to a public PHS network P, which is a public telephone network, and BSs 15, 15,. The BSs 15, 15,... Are installed in various places on the premises, and have a function of wirelessly connecting the PHS terminals 16, 16,.
[0039]
The mail server 11 transmits / receives an e-mail (hereinafter, referred to as an e-mail) to one or a plurality of e-mail addresses. When an e-mail addressed to the PHS terminal 16 is received, the received e-mail is transmitted to the PHS terminal. Until transmission to E.16, it is stored as a new mail (unread e-mail) in a mailbox (not shown).
After transmitting the stored new mail to the PHS terminal 16, the mail server 11 may be configured to continue storing the new mail as a read e-mail, or may be configured to delete the read new mail. good. When the storage is continued, the personal computer 14 can receive the e-mail, for example.
[0040]
The PHS terminal 16 is a PHS mobile phone including a display unit 16a for displaying information to be transmitted or received information and the like, and an operation unit 16b using numeric keys and function keys. Further, the PHS terminal 16 includes a mailer that transmits and receives an e-mail as a mail client of the mail server 11, and stores a unique extension number (for example, 5368), an outside line number (for example, 070-1234-5678), and a mail address. Have. Further, the PHS terminal 16 has a function of switching between an extension mode and an outside mode.
[0041]
When located in the premises, the PHS terminal 16 is switched to the extension mode, for example, by the user, connects to the PBX 12 via the BS 15, and communicates with the mail server 11 connected to the LAN 10 via the router 13 from the PBX 12. To send and receive e-mails. An arrow 161 indicates a signal transmitted from the PHS terminal 16 to the mail server 11 at this time (for example, a signal for the PHS terminal 16 requesting the mail server 11 to transmit an e-mail to the PHS terminal 16). ).
Further, the PHS terminal 16 communicates (calls) with the other PHS terminals 16 in the premises via the PBX 12 via the BS 15 and communicates with the telephone (not shown) connected to the PBX 12 by wire or wireless via the PBX 12. The PBX 12 communicates (calls) with the off-premises PHS terminal 16 via the public PHS network P.
[0042]
Further, when the PHS terminal 16 is located outside the premises, for example, it is switched to the outside line mode by the user, connected to the PBX 12 via the public PHS network P, and connected to the LAN 10 from the PBX 12 via the router 13. It communicates with the mail server 11 to send and receive e-mails. An arrow 162 indicates a flow of data transmitted from the PHS terminal 16 to the mail server 11 at this time.
Further, the PHS terminal 16 communicates (calls) with another PHS terminal 16 outside the premises via the public PHS network P, and communicates (calls) with the PHS terminals 16 on the premises from the PBX 12 via the BS 15. Or make a call via the PBX 12 with a telephone (not shown) connected to the PBX 12 by wire or wirelessly.
[0043]
The incoming call notification device 5 is configured by connecting the incoming call notification server 2 and the communication terminal 3, and is connected to the PBX 12 and the mail server 11 by connecting the incoming call notification server 2 to the LAN 10. .
The incoming call notification server 2 has the computer program of the present embodiment installed in a known server computer having a hard disk as a storage means, and communicates with the mail server 11 or the personal computers 14, 14,.
[0044]
The communication terminal 3 uses a known card-type PHS communication terminal, and connects a mobile data communication card such as the card-type PHS communication terminal to a known adapter for connecting to a computer without a card slot. The adapter is connected to the incoming call notification server 2 so that the adapter is connected to the incoming call notification server 2. When the communication terminal 3 receives the extension number or the outside line number and a message (for example, incoming information described later), the communication terminal 3 calls the information terminal (for example, the PHS terminal 16) having the received extension number or the outside line number. The message is transmitted to the information terminal when the information terminal responds.
[0045]
The incoming call notification server 2 communicates with the mail server 11 via the LAN 10. In this case, the incoming notification server 2 determines whether or not a new mail for one mail address is stored in the mail server 11, and sends the stored date and time, subject, and sender name (mail address) of the new mail. Or, new mail information such as a name associated with the mail address) is obtained (open arrow 200).
Further, the incoming notification server 2 uses the acquired new mail information to generate incoming information for notifying the arrival of new mail, and generates the incoming information and the extension of the PHS terminal 16 having the one mail address. The number or the outside line number is transmitted to the communication terminal 3 (open arrow 300).
[0046]
The communication terminal 3 has a unique extension number (for example, 5513), connects to the PBX 12 via the BS 15 using the extension number received from the incoming call notification server 2, and further from the PBX 12 to the PHS on the premises via the BS 15. It communicates with the terminal 16. Open arrows 301 and 302 indicate the flow of data (for example, incoming information) transmitted from the communication terminal 3 to the PHS terminal 16 in the premises at this time.
Further, the communication terminal 3 communicates with the PHS terminal 16 outside the premises from the PBX 12 via the public PHS network P using the external line number received from the incoming call notification server 2. The white arrows 301 and 303 indicate the flow of data (for example, incoming information) transmitted from the communication terminal 3 to the off-premises PHS terminal 16 at this time.
The incoming call notification server 2 and the communication terminal 3 may be connected wirelessly or via the LAN 10.
[0047]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the incoming call notification server 2 and the communication terminal 3.
In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a CPU which is a main control unit of the incoming call notification server 2, and the CPU 20 is connected to each unit such as a ROM 21 and a RAM 22 via a bus. The CPU 20 controls each unit of the apparatus according to a storage unit 27 using a hard disk or a computer program stored in the ROM 21, temporarily stores data generated at this time in the RAM 22, and executes various processes.
[0048]
The external storage unit 23 is, for example, a CD-ROM drive, and is controlled by the CPU 20 to control a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (for example, a computer program according to the present embodiment and a computer program for executing the computer program). Information is read from a recording medium 28) on which data to be used is recorded, and stored in the storage unit 27.
The LAN I / F 24 is an interface that connects the incoming call notification server 2 and the LAN 10, and the interface 25 is connected to the adapter, and the adapter is connected to an interface 34 of the communication terminal 3, which will be described later.
Timer 26 inputs time data to CPU 20.
[0049]
A part and another part of the storage area of the storage unit 27 are an incoming notification database 271 and a new mail database 272.
Information stored in the incoming call notification database 271 (see FIG. 3) is information read from the recording medium 28 by the external storage unit 23, information received via the LAN 10, and the like. In this case, the user creates necessary information using, for example, the personal computer 14 and transmits the information to the incoming call notification server 2 via the LAN 10.
The information stored in the new mail database 272 (see FIG. 4) includes information generated when the CPU 20 performs the incoming call notification process, information received from the mail server 11 via the LAN 10, and the like.
[0050]
In the following, a case where the domain name is the same and the user name is different among the domain names and the user names of the mail addresses of the PHS terminals 16 will be exemplified. Therefore, the incoming call notification database 271 and the new mail database 272 store only the user name of the mail address as the mail address.
The incoming call notification database 271 or the new mail database 272 may store a domain name and a user name as a mail address, or may store the domain name and the user name individually.
[0051]
Instead of storing the computer program read from the recording medium 28 in the external storage unit 23 in the storage unit 27, the computer program received via the LAN 10 may be stored in the storage unit 27. Further, instead of executing the computer program stored in the storage unit 27, the computer program stored in the recording medium 28 may be directly read and executed.
Further, the incoming call notification server 2 may be provided with a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and the user may input information to be stored in the incoming call notification database 271 using these.
[0052]
The CPU 30, which is a main control unit of the communication terminal 3, is connected to each unit of the apparatus such as a ROM 31 and a RAM 32 via a bus, controls each unit of the apparatus according to a computer program stored in the ROM 31, and stores data generated at this time. The processing is temporarily stored in the RAM 32 to execute various processes.
The interface 34 is connected to the adapter, and the adapter is connected to the interface 25 of the incoming call notification server 2.
When the extension number or the extension number is received via the interface 25, the communication unit 33 is controlled by the CPU 30 to wirelessly communicate with the PHS terminal 16 having the received extension number or the extension number via the PBX 12 and the BS 15. Do. In this case, the CPU 30 causes the RAM 32 to store the result of the communication (for example, whether or not the PHS terminal 16 of the communication partner has responded).
[0053]
FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of information stored in the incoming call notification database 271 and the new mail database 272, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 3, the incoming call notification database 271 stores a user password (not shown), user identification information (not shown), an extension number, and an outside number in association with the user name of the user who owns the PHS terminal 16. , An e-mail address (user name of the e-mail address), an e-mail password (not shown), notification contents, the number of extension retransmissions, the number of external line retransmissions, switching, determination time, and notification execution information. However, in the present embodiment, the extension number may not be stored.
That is, the incoming call notification database 271 functions as a storage unit that stores the mail address, the extension number and / or the outside line number of the PHS terminal 16 in association with each other.
[0054]
The user name and the user password are used when the user communicates with the incoming call notification server 2 using the personal computer 14. The user identification information is used to determine whether each user is an administrator of the electronic mail arrival notification system or a general user. The electronic mail incoming notification system according to the present embodiment allows the general user to set information stored in the incoming notification database 271 in association with his / her user name by using the personal computer 14 communicating with the incoming notification server 2. The system is configured so that the administrator can perform settings of the electronic mail arrival notification system itself, user management, and the like.
[0055]
The extension number, the outside line number, and the mail address are the extension number, the outside line number, and the mail address unique to the PHS terminal 16 owned by the user, and the mail password is transmitted from the mail server 11 using the PHS terminal 16. It is used when sending and receiving mail (that is, when communicating with the mail server 11).
In the present embodiment, by making the extension number column blank, incoming call notification by extension number is not performed (see FIGS. 5 and 6).
The notification content indicates the type of the content of the incoming information to be transmitted to the PHS terminal 16 when the incoming notification is performed. When the notification content is “subject”, the CPU 20 sets the subject of the new mail to “sender”. In the case of "name", incoming information is generated to transmit the name or mail address of the sender of the new mail to the PHS terminal 16.
[0056]
The incoming information is not limited to the subject or the sender's name, but may be information indicating the presence or absence of a predetermined keyword or attached file included in the new mail. Further, there is a limit to the amount of data that can be transmitted to the PHS terminal 16 (for example, 20 bytes or less), and when the data amount of the incoming information exceeds 20 bytes, the latter half of the incoming information exceeding 20 bytes may be truncated. Alternatively, only a predetermined keyword included in the incoming call information may be transmitted. Furthermore, when the amount of data that can be transmitted to the PHS terminal 16 is large, the incoming information may include a plurality of pieces of information (subject, sender's name, etc.), and "a new e-mail has arrived at the mailbox". A message notifying the incoming call may be included.
[0057]
In the present embodiment, mainly when there is a new mail, first, an incoming call notification is performed using an extension number, and when the incoming notification fails, retransmission for retransmitting incoming information is performed using an extension number, and the retransmission is performed. When the notification fails, an incoming call notification is performed using an external line number. When the incoming notification fails, retransmission is performed using an external number. When the retransmission fails, an incoming notification is performed until a new mail arrives. (See FIGS. 5 to 7). Communication with an extension number generally has a low communication fee (for example, 0 yen), and communication with an outside line number generally has a high communication fee (for example, 10 yen per message transmission). By prioritizing incoming call notification, the e-mail incoming notification system reduces call charges.
[0058]
The number of extension retransmissions and the number of external retransmissions indicate the number of retransmissions to be performed when transmission with an extension number (or an external number) fails, and the number of extension retransmissions (or the number of external retransmissions) ) Is 0, if the transmission with the extension number (or the outside line number) fails, the retransmission with the extension number (or the outside line number) is not performed.
The switching indicates whether or not to switch to transmission using an outside line number when transmission using an extension number has failed. When “present”, switching is performed, and when “absent”, switching is not performed.
The determination time is a time interval at which the CPU 20 determines whether or not there is a new mail in the mail server 11. It should be noted that a configuration may be used in which the time at which the determination is performed is used instead of the time interval at which the determination is performed.
[0059]
The notification execution information indicates a new mail to be notified of an incoming call among the new mails, and uses a keyword such as "important" or "urgent", a sender name, or a reception time. The CPU 20 performs only the notification of the arrival of the new mail including the notification execution information. In the case of "notify all", notification of the arrival of all newly arrived mails is performed.
Note that the notification execution information may be a keyword or a mail address indicating a new mail that does not perform the incoming call notification, and is configured so that the notification execution information for performing the incoming notification or the notification execution information not performing the incoming notification can be selected. May be.
[0060]
In the present embodiment, retransmission or transmission after switching is configured to be performed almost immediately after transmission or previous retransmission has failed (see FIGS. 5 and 6). However, a predetermined time interval is stored in the incoming call notification database 271, and retransmission or transmission after switching is performed when the elapsed time after transmission or previous retransmission failed exceeds the time interval. It may be configured as follows.
[0061]
Further, in the present embodiment, the incoming call notification is not performed for all newly arrived mails by setting the extension number field to blank and setting the switching to "none" (FIGS. 5 to 7). However, the service status indicating whether each user desires the incoming call notification service by the electronic mail incoming notification system may be stored in the incoming call notification database 271. In this case, the CPU 20 performs an incoming call notification when “used” is stored, and does not perform an incoming call notification for all newly arrived mails when “stopped” is stored.
[0062]
As shown in FIG. 4, the new mail database 272 stores information such as new mail information, a notification status, the number of extension transmissions, the number of outside line transmissions, and incoming call information in association with a mail address (user name of the mail address). ing.
The new mail information is the transmission date / time, subject, and sender name of the new mail stored in the mail server 11.
The notification status indicates whether or not the incoming notification of the new mail has been made or whether or not the incoming notification has been made. “Notified” indicates that the incoming notification has already been performed, and “Not notified” indicates that the incoming notification has not been received. It indicates that the notification has not been made yet, and “not notified” indicates that the incoming call notification is not made.
[0063]
The extension transmission frequency and the external transmission frequency are the number of times of transmission using the extension number and the external line number.
The incoming information is the content of the incoming information to be transmitted to the PHS terminal 16 when performing the incoming notification, and when the notification content stored in the incoming notification database 271 is “Subject”, it is the subject of the new mail, The "sender name" is the name or mail address of the sender of the new mail.
[0064]
FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the incoming notification process of the incoming notification server 2. In the following, an incoming notification processing procedure for one mail address stored in the incoming notification database 271 will be described.
The CPU 20 starts counting the elapsed time from 0 using the timer 26 (S11).
The CPU 20 determines whether the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the determination time stored in the incoming call notification database 271 in association with the mail address (S12), and when the elapsed time is shorter than the determination time (NO in S12). ), Keep counting the elapsed time until the elapsed time exceeds the judgment time.
[0065]
If the elapsed time measured using the timer 26 is equal to or longer than the determination time (YES in S12), the CPU 20 terminates the measurement of the elapsed time (S13), and then uses the timer 26 to count the elapsed time from 0. The mail server 11 restarts (S14), communicates with the mail server 11 (S15), and determines whether a new mail addressed to the mail address is stored (S16). If the new mail is not stored (NO in S16), CPU 20 continues counting the elapsed time and returns the processing to S12. When the new mail is stored (YES in S16), the CPU 20 performs the processing described below while continuing to count the elapsed time, and after the processing is completed (for example, YES in S34 or S40). ), The process returns to S12.
[0066]
That is, the CPU 20 measures the elapsed time from the determination of the presence or absence of a new mail, and determines whether the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the determination time stored in the incoming notification database 271 in association with the mail address. And a determination unit that determines whether the mail server 11 has a new mail for one mail address when the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the determination time.
[0067]
If it is determined in step S16 that the new mail is stored, the CPU 20 determines, among the predetermined information (for example, a header) included in the new mail addressed to all the mail addresses stored in the mail server 11, that each new mail is stored. The transmission date and time, the subject, and the sender's name are read, and the read transmission date and time, the subject, and the sender's name are stored as new mail information in the new mail database 272 in association with the mail address (user name of the mail address) ( S17). In this case, when the transmission date and time, the subject, and the sender name of the new arrival mail are equal to the transmission date, the subject, and the sender name of the already stored new arrival mail information, the CPU 20 determines that the arrival of the new arrival mail is new. The mail information is not stored in the new mail database 272. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the unread e-mail that has already been notified of the incoming call from being notified again.
[0068]
Next, the CPU 20 selects a new mail having the oldest transmission date and time from among the new mail stored in the mail server 11 (S 18), and executes the selected new mail in the notification execution stored in the incoming notification database 271. It is determined whether the information corresponds to the information (S19). In this case, whether the new mail contains information that matches the notification execution information (for example, whether the text includes the keyword “urgent”, whether the header includes a predetermined mail address, or not) Or not). However, when the notification execution information is “all notification”, the CPU 20 determines that the new mail corresponds to the notification execution information.
[0069]
If the selected new mail does not correspond to the notification execution information (NO in S19), the CPU 20 stores the notification status as “not notified” in the new mail database 272 in association with the new mail information of the new mail (S19). S20).
If the selected new mail corresponds to the notification execution information (YES in S19), the CPU 20 stores the notification status “not notified” in the new mail database 272 in association with the new mail information of the new mail (S19). S21), incoming call information for notifying the arrival of the new mail is generated (S22). When generating the incoming call information, the CPU 20 stores information (subject or sender name) corresponding to the notification content stored in the incoming call notification database 271 as incoming call information in the new mail database 272.
[0070]
The CPU 20 determines whether or not there is another new mail (new mail not yet selected) in the mail server 11 (S23). If there is the new mail (YES in S23), the processing in S18 to S23 is performed. repeat.
As described above, the CPU 20 determines, for all newly arrived mails, whether or not the newly arrived mails correspond to the notification execution information, and the information generating means for generating the incoming information when it is determined that the newly arrived mails correspond. It functions as a unit that prohibits the generation of incoming information when it is determined that it does not correspond, that is, a unit that does not generate incoming information. That is, in the present embodiment, the incoming notification is not generated, and the notification status is set to “not notified”, thereby preventing incoming notification from being performed for newly arrived mail that does not require incoming notification.
[0071]
When there is no other newly arrived mail in the mail server 11 (NO in S23), the CPU 20 determines whether or not an extension number is stored in the incoming call notification database 271 in association with the mail address (S31). If not (NO in S31), the process proceeds to S37 described later. When the extension number is stored in the incoming call notification database 271 (YES in S31), the CPU 20 reads out the stored extension number (S32) and executes a subroutine for performing the incoming call notification execution process (S33). In the incoming call notification execution process, the incoming call information generated in S22 and the extension number read out in S32 are transmitted to the communication terminal 3.
[0072]
After the end of the incoming call notification execution process in S33, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the incoming call notification has been successful (S34). In this case, the CPU 20 determines that the incoming call notification has succeeded when all the notification information stored in the new mail database 272 is “notified” or “not notified”, and at least one of them is “not notified”. In this case, it is determined that the incoming call notification has failed.
If the incoming call notification is successful (YES in S34), CPU 20 returns the process to S12.
[0073]
If the incoming call notification has failed (NO in S34), CPU 20 increases the number of extension transmissions of the oldest new mail by one by the new mail whose notification status stored in the new mail database 272 is “not notified”. The number of times transmission has failed is counted (S35). Next, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the counted number, that is, the number of extension transmissions is equal to or less than the number of extension retransmissions stored in the incoming call notification database 271 (S36). In the following cases (YES in S36), the process returns to S33, and the subroutine for performing the incoming call notification execution process is executed again.
In this case, in the incoming call notification execution process, the incoming call information and the extension number that failed to be transmitted in the previously executed incoming call notification execution process are transmitted to the communication terminal 3.
[0074]
If the number of extension transmissions exceeds the number of extension retransmissions (NO in S36), or if the extension number is not stored in the incoming call notification database 271 (NO in S31), the new mail database 272 is returned. Among the new mails whose notification status is stored in “not notified”, the number of extension transmissions of the oldest new mail is set to zero.
Next, the CPU 20 determines whether to switch from the incoming call notification by the extension number to the incoming call notification by the outside line number by determining whether the switching stored in the incoming call notification database 271 is “present” or “absent” ( (S37) If it is not to be switched (NO in S37), the process returns to S12.
When switching from the incoming call notification by extension number to the incoming call notification by external line number (YES in S37), CPU 20 reads the external line number stored in incoming call notification database 271 (S38), and executes a subroutine for performing incoming call notification execution processing. (S39). In the incoming call notification execution process, the incoming call information generated in S22 and the outside line number read out in S38 are transmitted to the communication terminal 3.
[0075]
After the end of the incoming call notification execution process in S39, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the incoming call notification has been successful (S40). In this case, the CPU 20 determines that the incoming call notification has succeeded when all the notification information stored in the new mail database 272 is “notified” or “not notified”, and at least one of them is “not notified”. In this case, it is determined that the incoming call notification has failed.
If the incoming call notification is successful (YES in S40), CPU 20 returns the process to S12.
[0076]
If the incoming call notification has failed (NO in S40), CPU 20 increases the number of outside line transmissions of the oldest newly-arrived mail among new mails whose notification status stored in newly-arrived mail database 272 is “not notified” by one. Thus, the number of times transmission failed is counted (S41). Next, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the counted number, that is, the outside line transmission number is equal to or less than the outside line retransmission number stored in the incoming call notification database 271 (S42). In the following cases (YES in S42), the process returns to S39, and the subroutine for performing the incoming call notification execution process is executed again.
In this case, in the incoming call notification execution processing, the incoming call information and the outside line number that failed to be transmitted in the previously executed incoming call notification execution processing are transmitted to the communication terminal 3.
[0077]
When the number of outside line transmissions exceeds the number of outside line retransmissions (NO in S42), the CPU 20 determines the oldest new mail among the new mails whose notification status stored in the new mail database 272 is “not notified”. The number of outside line transmissions is set to 0, and the process returns to S12.
As described above, if the transmission has failed, the CPU 20 determines whether the number of times the transmission has failed is equal to or less than the number of extension retransmissions, the incoming call information corresponding to the extension number that failed to transmit, and the extension number. Means for transmitting to the communication terminal 3, and further, if the transmission fails, the incoming call information corresponding to the extension number that failed to transmit, and the external number stored in the incoming call notification database 271 in association with the extension number, Means for transmitting to the communication terminal 3; furthermore, if the transmission fails, if the number of transmission failures is equal to or less than the number of external line retransmissions, incoming call information corresponding to the external line number which failed to transmit; Is transmitted to the communication terminal 3.
[0078]
In the present embodiment, an unread e-mail is determined as a new arrival e-mail. For example, an unread e-mail that arrives within a predetermined time period (within 24 hours or one month, or the like) An unread e-mail or the like with the latest arrival date and time may be determined as a new arrival e-mail from the read e-mail with the latest date and time.
Further, in the present embodiment, various data stored in the new mail database 272 is not deleted, but for example, the notification status in the new mail database 272 is “notified” or “not notified” and the transmission time Erases various data of newly arrived e-mails that have passed a predetermined time (exceeding 24 hours or one month), or e-mails of newly arrived e-mails whose transmission date and time are older than the read e-mail with the latest transmission date and time May be configured.
[0079]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine showing a procedure of an incoming notification execution process of the incoming notification server 2. In the following, a case where an incoming call notification is performed using an extension number will be described as an example.
The CPU 20 determines the arrival information of newly arrived mail whose transmission date and time of the newly arrived mail information is the oldest among the newly arrived mails stored in the newly arrived mail database 272 and whose arrival status is “not notified” (that is, at S22 in FIG. 5). The generated incoming information is selected (S51), and the selected incoming information and the extension read out in S32 of FIG. 6 are transmitted to the communication terminal 3 via the interface 25 (S52).
[0080]
Next, the CPU 20 communicates with the communication terminal 3 via the interface 25, detects the transmission result of the communication terminal 3 (S53), and determines whether the communication terminal 3 has succeeded in transmitting with the extension number. Is determined (S54), if unsuccessful (NO in S54), it is determined that the incoming call notification has failed (S55), the notification status of the new mail database 272 is left as "not notified", and this subroutine ends. I do.
If the communication terminal 3 has succeeded in transmitting with the extension number (YES in S54), the CPU 20 determines that the incoming call notification has been successful, rewrites the notification status of the new mail database 272 to "notified", and stores it. (S56).
[0081]
Finally, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the new mail with the incoming status of “not notified” is still stored in the new mail database 272 (S57). If it is stored (YES in S57), Steps S51 to S57 are repeated. If there is no new mail whose incoming status is "not notified" is no longer stored in the new mail database 272 (NO in S57), it is determined that all incoming notifications have been successful (S58), and this subroutine ends. I do.
[0082]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the incoming information transmission process of the communication terminal 3.
The CPU 30 determines whether or not the extension number and the incoming call information have been received via the interface 34 (S71), and if not received (NO in S71), stands by until it is received.
When the extension number and the incoming information are received (YES in S71), the CPU 30 calls the PHS terminal 16 having the extension number using the received extension number (S72), and the PHS terminal 16 responds. It is determined whether or not a response has been received (S73). If no response has been received (NO in S73), the extension number received in S71 and information indicating that transmission has failed are recorded in the RAM 32 (S74). The incoming information transmission process ends, and the process returns to S71.
[0083]
If the calling PHS terminal 16 has responded (YES in S73), the incoming call information received in S71 and the extension number of the terminal are transmitted to the PHS terminal 16 (S75), and the RAM 32 The extension number received in S71 and the data indicating that the transmission was successful are recorded (S76), the incoming information transmitting process is terminated, and the process returns to S71.
As described above, the communication terminal 3 receives the incoming information from the incoming notification server 2 via the PBX 12 when using an extension number, and via the PBX 12 and the public PHS network P when using an external number, It transmits to the PHS terminal 16 having the extension number or the outside line number received from the incoming call notification server 2.
When the communication terminal 3 has a unique extension number and an outside line number, when using the outside line number, the communication terminal 3 sends the incoming call information to the PHS terminal 16 via the public PHS network P without passing through the PBX 12. May be configured to be transmitted.
[0084]
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of information displayed on the display unit 16a of the PHS terminal 16. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the information display / email receiving process of the PHS terminal 16.
The PHS terminal 16 normally displays a standby screen as shown in FIG. 9A (S90). Information such as a date and a current time is displayed on the standby screen.
[0085]
The PHS terminal 16 determines whether or not it has been called (S91), and if it has not been called (NO in S91), waits until it is called.
When a call is made (YES in S91), the PHS terminal 16 notifies the user of the call by emitting a built-in light source, sounding a ring tone, or vibrating a vibrator. In this case, the user can know that he / she has been called by the PHS terminal 16.
[0086]
Next, the PHS terminal 16 determines whether or not information to be displayed on the display unit 16a (for example, the telephone number and message of the calling party) has been received (S92), and if received (YES in S92). Then, the received information is stored in the built-in storage unit and displayed on the display unit 16a (S93). If the received information is the extension number and incoming information of the calling side (for example, the communication terminal 3), the PHS terminal 16 displays an incoming information display screen as shown in FIG. On the incoming call display screen, the received date and time, the extension number of the communication terminal 3, and the incoming call information are displayed. In this case, by visually recognizing the incoming call display screen, the user can know that there is new mail and the subject or sender of the new mail.
[0087]
In S93, after displaying the received information or when the information to be displayed is not received (NO in S92), PHS terminal 16 determines whether or not to make a call (S94), and makes a call. In this case (YES in S94), a call is made with the calling telephone (S95), and it is determined whether the call has ended (S96). If not (NO in S96), the call is terminated. continue.
When the call is terminated (YES in S96) or when no call is made (NO in S94), the PHS terminal 16 determines whether or not to communicate with the mail server 11 (S97). In this case, the user operates a predetermined function key of the operation unit 16b when the user wants to receive the e-mail.
If the communication with the mail server 11 is not performed (NO in S97), the information display / email reception processing is terminated, and the processing returns to S90.
[0088]
When the predetermined function key is operated to communicate with the mail server 11 (YES in S97), the PHS terminal 16 instructs the user to input a password, and the input password is authenticated by the mail server 11. Then, it is determined whether there is an e-mail to be received (S98). If there is no e-mail (NO in S98), the PHS terminal 16 displays on the display unit 16a that there is no e-mail, ends the information display / email reception processing, and returns the processing to S90.
[0089]
If there is an e-mail to be received (YES in S98), the PHS terminal 16 receives the e-mail and displays an e-mail list display screen as shown in FIG. 9C on the display screen 16a (S99). ). The subject of the received e-mail is displayed in a list on the e-mail list display screen, and the subject of the currently selected e-mail is highlighted. Next, when a predetermined function key of the operation unit 16b is operated, the PHS terminal 16 displays an e-mail content display screen as shown in FIG. 9D (S100). The transmission time, sender, subject, and text of the e-mail selected in S99 are displayed in text on the e-mail content display screen.
After the processing in S99, the PHS terminal 16 ends the information display / email reception processing, and returns the processing to S90.
[0090]
Note that the processing of S97 to S100 may be executed, for example, after the processing of S90 in accordance with the operation of a predetermined function key of the operation unit 16b. Further, the information displayed in S93 may be displayed on the display unit 16a until another predetermined function key is operated, and is deleted by performing the processing in S90 after an appropriate time has elapsed. Is also good. Further, after the information displayed in S93 is deleted from the display unit 16a, the information may be displayed again on the display unit 16a in response to operation of another predetermined function key of the operation unit 16b.
[0091]
The e-mail incoming notification system as described above performs an incoming call notification using an extension number to the PHS terminal 16 located on the premises, and performs an incoming call notification using an external number to the PHS terminal 16 located outside the premises.
In this case, the user of the PHS terminal 16 receives a new mail from the mail server 11 using the PHS terminal 16 when the PHS terminal 16 receives the incoming information. For this reason, the user does not need to check whether there is any new mail.
Further, the e-mail incoming notification system is simply configured by adding the incoming notification device 5 without changing the known system including the mail server 11, the PBX 12, the PHS terminal 16, and the like. Further, the communication terminal 3 using a known card-type PHS communication terminal and the incoming notification server 2 are connected, and the incoming notification device 5 is simply configured.
[0092]
In the present embodiment, the incoming information is transmitted for each new mail. However, when there are a plurality of new mails, for example, a representative new mail (for example, It may be configured to transmit only the incoming information of the newest mail with the oldest transmission date and time. In this case, since it is notified that at least one new mail has arrived, the user receives all the new mails from the mail server 11 using the PHS terminal 16. In such a case, it is possible to prevent the PHS terminal 16 from being called many times when there are a plurality of new mails.
[0093]
Further, when the incoming information is transmitted for each new mail as in the present embodiment, the PHS terminal 16 displays the subject or the sender name of all the new mails. In such a case, when the user can infer the contents only from the information of the subject or the sender without reading the contents of the new mail, the trouble of receiving the new mail from the mail server 11 or the communication fee is omitted. For example, when there is enough time, or when returning from the off-premise to the premise, new mail can be received.
[0094]
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the PHS terminal 16 having the mailer is notified of the arrival of the e-mail to the PHS terminal 16 and the PHS terminal 16 receives the new mail has been described as an example. The mail may be received by the personal computer 14 that can communicate with the mail server 11. Further, the PHS terminal 16 may be configured to notify the PHS terminal 16 of an incoming e-mail addressed to another information terminal owned by the user of the PHS terminal 16. In this case, the incoming call notification database 271 stores the mail address of the information terminal and the extension / external number of the PHS terminal 16 in association with each other, and when the user is notified of the arrival of the new mail, The new mail is received using the mailer of the information terminal.
[0095]
Further, in the present embodiment, a case where the mail server 11, the PBX 12, the incoming call notification server 2, and the like are connected to each other by a wire is illustrated, but a configuration in which the mail server 11, the PBX 12, and the incoming call notification server 2 are connected wirelessly may be used.
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where a part of the storage area of the storage unit 27 (hard disk) incorporated in the incoming notification server 2 is used as the incoming notification database 271 (storage means) is illustrated. A configuration in which a database server external to the notification server 2 is used as storage means may be used. That is, the incoming call notification device may be configured by an incoming call notification server, a communication terminal, and a database server.
Further, in the present embodiment, the PHS terminal is used as the telephone terminal, but the present invention is not limited to the PHS terminal, and any telephone terminal that performs communication using a unique extension number and an external line number may be used.
[0096]
Embodiment 2.
In the first embodiment, an incoming call notifying device 5 configured by connecting an incoming call notifying server 2 for determining the presence / absence of a new mail and generating incoming information and a communication terminal 3 for transmitting incoming information is exemplified. However, in the present embodiment, an incoming call notifying device 4 that integrally includes the determination function and the information generating function of the incoming call notifying server 2 and the transmitting function of the communication terminal 3 is exemplified.
[0097]
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an electronic mail arrival notification system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a LAN. The LAN 10 is connected to various servers (for example, a mail server 11), personal computers 14, 14,... Which are clients, and the incoming call notification device 4 of the present embodiment. , The PBX 12 is connected via the router 13.
[0098]
The incoming call notification device 4 has a unique extension number (for example, 5513), is connected to the PBX 12 and the mail server 11 by being connected to the LAN 10, and is connected to the mail server 11 or the personal computers 14, 14,. Communicate with etc.
When communicating with the mail server 11 via the LAN 10, the incoming call notifying device 4 determines whether or not new mail for one mail address is stored in the mail server 11. The new mail information such as the transmission date and time, the subject, and the sender's name is obtained (open arrow 400).
[0099]
Further, the incoming call notification device 4 uses the acquired new mail information to generate incoming information for notifying the incoming of a new mail.
Next, the incoming call notifying device 4 connects to the PBX 12 via the BS 15 using the generated incoming information and the extension number of the PHS terminal 16 having the mail address, and further connects the PBX 12 to the PHS on the premises via the BS 15. It communicates with the terminal 16. (Open arrow 401, 402). Alternatively, the PHS terminal 16 is connected to the PBX 12 via the BS 15 using the generated incoming call information and the outside line number of the PHS terminal 16 having the mail address, and the PHS terminal 16 is connected to the PHS terminal 16 via the public PHS network P from the PBX 12. Communicate with (Open arrow 401, 403).
[0100]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the incoming call notification device 4.
In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes a CPU which is a main control unit of the incoming call notification device 4, and the CPU 20 is connected to each unit such as a ROM 21 and a RAM 22 via a bus. The CPU 20 controls each unit of the apparatus according to a computer program stored in the ROM 21, temporarily stores data generated at this time in the RAM 22, and executes various processes. Note that a part or all of the computer program for controlling each unit of the device may be stored in the storage unit 27.
The communication unit 29 is a built-in PHS communication module having a unique extension number, and is controlled by the CPU 30 to wirelessly communicate with the PHS terminal 16 having the received extension number or external number via the PBX 12 and the BS 15. Do.
[0101]
The CPU 20 of such an incoming call notifying device 4 executes an incoming call notifying process as shown in FIGS. In this case, the CPU 20 determines whether a new mail for one mail address is stored in the mail server 11 and, if a new mail is stored, sets incoming information for notifying the incoming of the new mail. Generate.
Further, the CPU 20 reads the extension number or the outside line number stored in association with the mail address having the new mail from the incoming call notification database 271, and via the PBX 12 when the extension number is used, and the PBX 12 when the outside line number is used. And transmitting the generated incoming call information to the PHS terminal 16 having the read extension number or external line number via the public PHS network P.
In addition, the same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0102]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a subroutine showing a procedure of an incoming call notification execution process of the incoming call notification device 4. This subroutine is called and executed in S33 or S39 of the incoming call notification processing as shown in FIGS.
In the following, a case where an incoming call notification is performed using an extension number will be described as an example.
[0103]
The CPU 20 determines the arrival information of newly arrived mail whose transmission date and time of the newly arrived mail information is the oldest among the newly arrived mails stored in the newly arrived mail database 272 and whose arrival status is “not notified” (that is, at S22 in FIG. The generated incoming call information) is selected (S111), and the PHS terminal 16 having the extension number is called by the communication unit 29 using the extension number read out in S32 of FIG. 6 (S112).
Next, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the PHS terminal 16 has responded (S113). If not (NO in S113), the CPU 20 determines that the incoming call notification has failed (S114), The notification status of the database 272 is left as “not notified”, and the present subroutine ends.
[0104]
If the calling PHS terminal 16 answers (YES in S113), the incoming call information selected in S111 and the extension number of the own terminal are transmitted to the PHS terminal 16 (S115), and the new mail database The notification status of 272 is rewritten to “notified” and stored (S116).
Finally, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the new mail whose incoming status is “not notified” is still stored in the new mail database 272 (S117). If it is stored (YES in S117), The processing of S111 to S117 is repeated. If the new mail with the incoming status of “not notified” is no longer stored in the new mail database 272 (NO in S117), it is determined that all incoming notifications have succeeded (S118), and this subroutine ends. I do.
[0105]
The above-described electronic mail arrival notification system has the same effect as the electronic mail arrival notification system of the first embodiment.
Further, the e-mail incoming notification system is simply configured by adding the incoming notification device 4 without changing the mail server 11, the PBX 12, the PHS terminal 16, and the like.
[0106]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the electronic mail arrival notification method and the electronic mail arrival notification system of the present invention, an incoming call is notified by an extension number to a telephone terminal located on the premises, and an incoming call is received by an external number on a telephone terminal located off the premises. By performing the notification, it is possible to notify the telephone terminal having the extension number and the outside line number that the new mail exists in the mail server. For this reason, the user of the telephone terminal can acquire the new mail from the mail server using the telephone terminal or another information terminal that has received the incoming call information, when the new mail is surely stored in the mail server. . That is, the present invention can improve user convenience.
[0107]
Further, the e-mail incoming notification system of the present invention includes an incoming call notification device in a known system including a telephone exchange for performing telephone connection of a telephone terminal having an extension number and an external line number, and a mail server for transmitting and receiving e-mail. It is configured by adding. Therefore, it is possible to easily configure the system without changing the telephone terminal, the telephone exchange, the mail server, and the like.
[0108]
According to the incoming call notifying device of the present invention, the incoming call notifying device has various functions such as an incoming call notification by an extension number or an outside line number and retransmission of incoming information when the incoming call notification fails, so that the incoming call By adding / changing the function to the device, the function of the electronic mail arrival notification system can be easily changed.
[0109]
Also, when the incoming call notification using the extension number (or the external number) fails, the failed incoming call notification is performed again by using the same internal number (or the external number) or by switching to the external number (or the internal number). In addition, the incoming call notification device can reliably perform the incoming call notification.
Further, the incoming call notifying device, when the incoming call notification fails, retransmits the incoming call information a predetermined number of times, so that the incoming call notification can be more reliably notified to a communication partner whose incoming call notification is not successful, In addition, it is possible to prevent the arrival notification from being repeated unnecessarily for a communication partner whose arrival notification is not successful even after retransmission many times.
[0110]
In addition, the incoming call notification device determines the presence or absence of a new mail when the elapsed time from the previous determination of the presence or absence of a new mail is longer than the determination time, and determines the presence or absence of a new mail when the elapsed time is less than the determination time. By not doing so, the presence or absence of a new mail can be determined efficiently.
Further, the incoming call notification device generates incoming information and performs incoming notification when the new mail corresponds to the notification execution information, and does not generate incoming information and does not perform incoming notification when the new mail does not correspond. It is possible to prevent the notification of an incoming call from being made to unnecessary new mail.
[0111]
Further, according to the incoming call notification server of the present invention, the incoming call notification server and the received information (for example, the incoming call information) are transmitted to a communication partner (telephone terminal) having the received telephone number (extension number or external number). By connecting to a second device (telephone exchange) and / or a communication terminal that transmits via a public telephone line network, the incoming call notification device can be easily configured.
[0112]
According to the computer program of the present invention, by installing the computer program on a computer having a storage unit that stores an e-mail address and an extension number and / or an outside line number of a communication partner in association with each other, an incoming call notification server is provided. Can be simply configured.
Further, the present invention has excellent effects such that the computer program can be easily distributed by being stored in a recording medium or transmitted and received via a communication network.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an e-mail incoming notification system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an incoming notification server and a communication terminal included in the electronic mail incoming notification system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information stored in an incoming call notification database of a storage unit of the incoming call notification server according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information stored in a new mail database of a storage unit of the incoming call notification server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an incoming notification process of the incoming notification server according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an incoming notification process of the incoming notification server according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine showing a procedure of an incoming call notification execution process of the incoming call notification server according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of incoming information transmission processing of a communication terminal constituting the electronic mail incoming notification system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of information displayed on a display unit of the PHS terminal included in the electronic mail arrival notification system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, wherein (a) is a standby screen; (B) is an incoming information display screen, (c) is an e-mail list display screen, and (d) is an e-mail content display screen.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an information display / email reception process of the PHS terminal provided in the electronic mail arrival notification system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an electronic mail incoming notification system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an incoming call notifying device included in an electronic mail incoming notification system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a subroutine showing a procedure of an incoming call notification execution process of the incoming call notification device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a conventional PHS communication system.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 mail server
12 PBX
16 PHS terminal
2 Incoming call notification server
20 CPU
25 Interface
271 Incoming Call Notification Database
29,33 Communication unit
3 Communication terminal
4,5 Incoming call notification device
P Public PHS network

Claims (12)

An apparatus comprising storage means,
Storing the e-mail address in the storage means in association with the extension number and / or the outside number of the telephone terminal having the unique extension number and the outside line number;
Determining whether there is a new mail for one mail address in a mail server that sends and receives e-mails to one or more mail addresses;
If there is a new mail, generate incoming information for notifying the arrival of the new mail,
Reading an extension number and / or an outside line number stored in association with the mail address having the new mail from the storage means;
E-mail sending the generated incoming information to a telephone exchange having a read extension number or external number via a telephone exchange for making a telephone connection with the telephone terminal and / or a public telephone line network. Incoming call notification method. A telephone terminal having a unique extension number and an external number,
A telephone exchange for making a telephone connection with the telephone terminal;
An e-mail arrival notification system comprising: a mail server that transmits / receives e-mails to / from one or more mail addresses;
An incoming notification device connected to the telephone exchange and the mail server,
The incoming call notification device,
Storage means for storing the mail address, the extension number and / or the outside number of the telephone terminal in association with each other;
Determining means for determining whether or not the mail server has a new mail for one mail address;
If there is a new mail, an information generating means for generating incoming information for notifying the arrival of the new mail,
Reading means for reading, from the storage means, an extension number and / or an outside line number stored in association with a mail address having the new mail;
Means for transmitting the generated incoming information to the telephone terminal having the read extension number or external number via the telephone exchange and / or the public telephone line network. Storage means for storing a mail address, an extension number and / or an outside line number of a communication partner in association with each other;
Determining means for determining whether or not the external first device has new mail for one mail address;
If there is a new mail, an information generating means for generating incoming information for notifying the arrival of the new mail,
Reading means for reading, from the storage means, an extension number and / or an outside line number stored in association with a mail address having the new mail;
Means for transmitting the generated incoming call information to a communication partner having the read extension number or external number via an external second device and / or a public telephone line network. It is configured by connecting the incoming call notification server and the communication terminal,
The incoming call notification server,
The storage unit, the determination unit, the information generation unit, the read unit,
To the communication terminal, comprising means for transmitting the incoming information, and the extension number or external number,
The communication terminal,
Incoming call information received from the incoming call notification server is transmitted to the communication partner having the extension number or external number received from the incoming call notification server via the second device and / or the public telephone line network. The incoming call notification device according to claim 3, wherein: The incoming call notification server,
Means for determining whether the communication terminal has successfully transmitted an extension number or an outside number,
If the transmission fails, the incoming call information corresponding to the extension number or external line number that failed to transmit, and the extension number stored in the storage means in association with the extension number or the external number or the extension number or the external line number 5. The incoming call notification device according to claim 4, further comprising means for transmitting an extension number to the communication terminal. The incoming call notification server stores a predetermined number of retransmissions in the storage unit in association with each mail address,
Means for counting the number of times the transmission failed,
Means for determining whether the number of times counted is less than or equal to the number of retransmissions,
If the transmission fails, when the number of retransmissions is equal to or less than the number of retransmissions, incoming information corresponding to the extension number or the outside line number that failed to transmit, and the extension number or the outside line number are transmitted to the communication terminal. The incoming call notification device according to claim 5, wherein Means for determining whether the transmission with the extension number or the outside line number was successful,
If the transmission fails, the incoming information corresponding to the extension number or the external line number that failed to transmit, the external number stored in the storage unit in association with the internal number or the external number or the internal number or the external number, 4. An incoming call notifying device according to claim 3, further comprising means for transmitting to a communication partner having an extension number. The storage unit stores a predetermined number of retransmissions in association with each mail address,
Means for counting the number of times the transmission failed,
Means for determining whether the number of times counted is less than or equal to the number of retransmissions,
If the transmission fails, when the number of retransmissions is equal to or less than the number of retransmissions, incoming information corresponding to the extension number or the outside line number of the failed transmission is transmitted to a communication partner having the extension number or the outside line number. The incoming call notification device according to claim 7, wherein: In the storage means, a predetermined determination time is stored in association with each mail address,
Means for measuring an elapsed time since the determination means determines the presence or absence of a new mail;
Means for determining whether or not the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the determination time,
9. The incoming call according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether there is a new mail when the elapsed time is equal to or longer than the determination time. Notification device. In the storage unit, notification execution information indicating a new mail to be notified of an incoming call is stored in association with each mail address,
When the determining means determines that there is a new mail,
Means for determining whether the newly arrived mail corresponds to the notification execution information,
10. The incoming call notifying device according to claim 3, wherein the information generating means includes means for prohibiting generation of incoming call information when it is determined that the incoming call information does not correspond. Storage means for storing a mail address, an extension number and / or an outside line number of a communication partner in association with each other;
Determining means for determining whether or not the external first device has new mail for one mail address;
If there is a new mail, an information generating means for generating incoming information for notifying the arrival of the new mail,
Reading means for reading, from the storage means, an extension number and / or an outside line number stored in association with a mail address having the new mail;
Means for transmitting the generated incoming call information and the read extension number or external number to an external third device. A computer program for causing a computer including a storage unit for storing an email address, an extension number and / or an outside line number of a communication partner in association with each other to communicate with an external device,
Causing the computer to determine whether a new mail for the one mail address is in the external first device;
Causing the computer to generate incoming information for notifying of the arrival of the new mail when there is new mail;
Causing the computer to read an extension number and / or an outside line number stored in association with the mail address having the new mail from the storage means;
Causing the computer to transmit the generated incoming call information and the read extension number or external number to an external third device.

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