JP2004229156A - Device and program for receiving electronic mail - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an e-mail receiving device capable of securing internal memory capacity properly without requiring complex user operation. <P>SOLUTION: The e-mail receiving device comprises a mail managing part 12 which controls reception and storage of e-mail, an internal memory 14 which stores a received mail, and a slot part 4 where an external memory 4a is attached or detached. If the size of a mail to be received is larger than the capacity of the internal memory 14, the mail managing part 12 transfers the oldest mail that is stored in the internal memory 14 and has been read to the external memory 4a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an e-mail receiving device to which an external storage medium can be attached and detached, and an e-mail receiving program for causing the e-mail receiving device to function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, mobile phones having an e-mail transmission / reception function have been widely and widely used. The capacity of one electronic mail transmitted / received by such a mobile phone is about several hundred bytes to several tens of kilobytes, and the capacity of an internal memory for storing the received mail is determined in consideration of portability and price of the device. The mainstream is 2-3 MB (several hundred received mails). It should be noted that the conventional mobile phone is configured such that when there is no free space in the internal memory upon receiving an e-mail, the read mail stored in the internal memory is deleted in order from the oldest one to secure the free space. Was.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 10-65947 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Certainly, with the mobile phone having the above configuration, mail transfer from the server to the terminal can be performed without delay, so that it is not necessary to unnecessarily increase the server capacity. Even when there is no free space in the internal memory, unread mails are not automatically deleted, and it can be said that some consideration has been given to data protection.
[0005]
However, in the mobile phone having the above-described configuration, in order to prevent the read mail whose content has been confirmed once by the user from being automatically deleted, it is necessary to protect necessary read mail or to reduce unnecessary read mail. Complicated user operations were required, such as deleting and securing free space in the internal memory. In particular, in the push-type mail system widely used in mobile phones, new incoming mail is automatically transferred from the server regardless of the user's intention, so the user always pays attention to the free space in the internal memory. I had to do it.
[0006]
Conventionally, a device that automatically transfers information stored in an internal memory to the external memory when the external memory is mounted has been disclosed and proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1). Indeed, if the prior art of this document is applied to a mobile phone, it is possible to secure the free space of the internal memory without deleting the stored received mail. However, the prior art of this document is configured to automatically transfer all the data stored in the internal memory to the external memory. Therefore, if the conventional technology is applied to a mobile phone as it is, unread mail is transferred to the external memory, and the unread mail is transferred to the external memory. When the memory is removed from the mobile phone body, there is a problem that the content of the unread mail cannot be confirmed. In order to avoid such a situation, it is necessary to select the necessary read mail and manually transfer it to the external memory, and it is necessary to perform a complicated user operation as well as to protect the read mail. Did not change.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an e-mail receiving device and an e-mail receiving program that can appropriately secure free space in an internal memory without requiring a complicated user operation. I do.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an e-mail receiving device according to the present invention includes a mail management unit that controls reception and storage of an e-mail, an internal storage medium that stores the received e-mail, and a detachable external storage. An e-mail receiving apparatus, comprising: an interface unit serving as an access unit between a medium and the mail management unit; and a display unit for displaying the received e-mail. In this case, if the capacity of the e-mail to be received is larger than the free space of the internal storage medium, the e-mail stored in the internal storage medium that meets predetermined conditions is transferred to the external storage medium. And With such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately secure the free space of the internal storage medium without requiring a complicated user operation. Therefore, the limitation on the number of received mails due to the capacity of the internal storage medium can be removed.
[0009]
In the electronic mail receiving apparatus having the above-described configuration, the mail management unit transfers the oldest read electronic mail stored in the internal storage medium to the external storage medium, assuming that the predetermined condition is satisfied. It is good to configure. With such a configuration, unread mail and the most recently read mail remain in the internal storage medium, so that even if the external storage medium is removed from the electronic mail receiving device, the contents can be viewed. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.
[0010]
Further, in the electronic mail receiving device having the above configuration, if there is no electronic mail stored in the internal storage medium that satisfies the predetermined condition, the mail management unit interrupts the reception of the electronic mail. It may be configured to display the fact on the display unit. Alternatively, if the capacity of the e-mail to be transferred to the external storage medium is larger than the free space of the external storage medium, the e-mail management unit suspends the reception of the e-mail and displays the fact on the display unit. It is good to make it the composition which makes it. With this configuration, the user can be made aware that there is no free space in the internal storage medium, and can be prompted to delete unnecessary read mail.
[0011]
Further, an e-mail receiving program according to the present invention includes an e-mail management unit that controls reception and storage of e-mail, an internal storage medium that stores the received e-mail, a removable external storage medium, and the e-mail management unit. An e-mail receiving program for operating an e-mail receiving device having an interface unit serving as an access unit between the two and an e-mail receiving device for displaying the received e-mail If the capacity of the e-mail is larger than the free space of the internal storage medium, the e-mail that meets predetermined conditions among the e-mails stored in the internal storage medium is transferred to the external storage medium. The configuration is such that the management unit functions. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize an e-mail receiving device that can appropriately secure the free space of the internal storage medium by simply rewriting a program without requiring a complicated user operation. Become. Therefore, the limitation on the number of received mails due to the capacity of the internal storage medium can be removed.
[0012]
Further, the electronic mail receiving program according to the present invention, assuming that the predetermined condition is satisfied, transfers the oldest read electronic mail stored in the internal storage medium to the external storage medium. It is good to make it the structure which makes a part function. With this configuration, the unread mail and the most recently read mail remain in the internal storage medium, so that even if the external storage medium is removed from the electronic mail receiving device, the contents can be viewed. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.
[0013]
Further, the electronic mail receiving program according to the present invention, if there is no electronic mail stored in the internal storage medium that satisfies the predetermined condition, interrupts the reception of the electronic mail and informs the display unit to that effect. , The mail management unit may be configured to function. Alternatively, if the capacity of the e-mail to be transferred to the external storage medium is larger than the free space of the external storage medium, the reception of the e-mail is interrupted, and the fact is displayed on the display unit. It is preferable that the management unit be configured to function. With such a configuration, the user can be made aware that there is no free space in the internal storage medium, and can be prompted to delete unnecessary read mail.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a description will be given of a case where the present invention is applied to a mobile phone having an e-mail transmission / reception function as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a mobile phone according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the mobile phone according to the present embodiment has a mail receiving controller 1 (a reception processing unit 11 that performs an e-mail reception process, and a control unit that controls reception and storage of an e-mail). A mail management unit 12, a mail display unit 13 for displaying the received e-mail, and an internal memory 14 for storing the received e-mail); and a wireless bidirectional communication with a base station (not shown). An antenna 2 for performing communication, an input unit 3 for receiving a user operation, a slot unit 4 for attaching and detaching an external memory 4a, and a display unit 5 including a liquid crystal display or an organic EL [Electro Luminescence] display are provided. Consisting of Although not shown in the figure, the mobile phone of the present embodiment has essential components (such as a call control unit and a call control unit) for realizing essential functions (call / call function, voice input / output function, etc.) as the phone. Microphones and speakers).
[0015]
In the mobile phone of the present embodiment having the above configuration, the capacity of the internal memory 14 is set to 2 to 3 megabytes in consideration of the portability and price of the device. On the other hand, as the external memory 4a, a small IC memory card (for example, a compact flash memory card having a capacity of about 8 to 64 megabytes) is detachable. First and second mail databases 14a and 4b are stored in the internal memory 14 and the external memory 4a. FIG. 2 is a data map showing the stored contents of the first and second mail databases 14a and 4b. As shown in the figure, the first and second mail databases 14a store mail header information (sender, subject, destination, transmission route, reception date and time), mail text, mail attached file, unread / read flag, etc. For each received mail. Note that the initial value of the unread / read flag is “unread”, and is changed to “read” when the electronic mail is viewed.
[0016]
Next, a mail receiving operation of the mobile phone having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a mail receiving operation by the mail management unit 12. As shown in the figure, in the mobile phone of this embodiment, when receiving an e-mail (both push-type automatic reception and user manual reception), in step S101, a mail is received from a network (not shown) via the antenna 2 A determination is made as to whether a notification has been received. Here, when it is determined that the mail reception notification has been received, the flow proceeds to step S102, and when it is determined that the notification has not been received, the notification presence determination in step S101 is continued.
[0017]
If it is determined in step S101 that a mail reception notification has been received, in step S102, the capacity of the e-mail to be received is compared with the free space in the internal memory 14, and in subsequent step S103, based on the above-described comparison result, It is determined whether the e-mail to be received can be stored in the internal memory 14. Here, if it is determined that the e-mail can be stored in the internal memory 14 (the capacity of the e-mail to be received is smaller than the free space of the internal memory 14), the flow proceeds to step S104, where the storage is impossible. If it is determined that there is a size (the capacity of the e-mail to be received is larger than the free space of the internal memory 14), the flow proceeds to a mail transfer flow A described later.
[0018]
If it is determined that the received mail can be stored in the internal memory 14 in step S103, the received mail is stored in the internal memory 14 in step S104, and in subsequent step S105, it is determined whether all the electronic mails have been received. Is Here, if it is determined that all the e-mails have been received, a series of e-mail reception processing is terminated. If it is determined that all e-mails have not been received, the flow returns to step S102, and the above-described series of e-mails is returned. The receiving operation is repeated.
[0019]
Next, a mail transfer operation of the mobile phone having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a mail transfer operation by the mail management unit 12. If it is determined in step S103 of FIG. 3 that the e-mail to be received cannot be stored in the internal memory 14, in step S201, it is determined whether there is a read mail in the internal memory 14. Is performed. Here, if it is determined that there is a read mail, the flow proceeds to step S202 where the flow continues, and if it is determined that there is no read mail, the flow proceeds to step S205.
[0020]
If it is determined in step S201 that there is a read mail, in step S202, the capacity of the oldest read mail in the internal memory 14 (the capacity of the read mail to be transferred to the external memory 4a) and the external memory 4a In step S203, it is determined whether the read mail to be transferred can be transferred to the external memory 4a based on the result of the comparison. Here, if it is determined that the transfer is possible to the external memory 4a (the capacity of the e-mail to be transferred is smaller than the free space of the external memory 4b), the flow proceeds to the subsequent step S204, where the transfer is impossible. If it is determined that there is a size (the capacity of the e-mail to be transferred is larger than the free space of the external memory 4b), the flow proceeds to step S205.
[0021]
If it is determined in step S203 that the mail can be transferred to the external memory 4a, in step S204, the oldest read mail in the internal memory 14 is transferred to the external memory 4a, and then the flow returns to step S102 in FIG. It is. With such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately secure the free space of the internal memory 14 without requiring a complicated user operation.
[0022]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that there is no read mail, or if it is determined in step S203 that the mail cannot be transferred to the external memory 4a, in step S205, the mail reception operation is interrupted and the display unit 5 The memory full display is performed. Then, a series of mail reception processing is ended. With such a configuration, the user can be made aware that there is no free space in the internal memory 14 and can be prompted to delete unnecessary read mail.
[0023]
Next, a mail browsing operation of the mobile phone having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a mail browsing operation by the mail management unit 12. As shown in the figure, in the mobile phone of the present embodiment, when browsing an e-mail, it is determined in step S301 whether or not a user has performed a mail browsing operation. Here, when it is determined that the mail browsing operation has been performed, the flow proceeds to step S302, and when it is determined that the mail browsing operation has not been performed, the operation presence / absence determination in step S301 is continued.
[0024]
If it is determined in step S301 that a mail browsing operation has been performed, it is determined in step S302 whether the operation is a browsing operation of the internal memory 14. Here, if it is determined that the operation is a browsing operation of the internal memory 14, the flow proceeds to step S <b> 303. If it is determined that the operation is not a browsing operation of the internal memory 14, the flow proceeds to step S <b> 307.
[0025]
If it is determined in step S302 that the operation is a browsing operation of the internal memory 14, in step S303, a list of mails stored in the internal memory 14 is displayed. Then, in the following step S304, it is determined whether or not the user has performed a detailed browsing operation of the stored mail. Here, if it is determined that the e-mail details browsing operation has been performed, the flow proceeds to step S305, and if it is determined that the e-mail details browsing operation has not been performed, the detailed operation presence / absence determination in step S304 is continued.
[0026]
If it is determined in step S304 that the detailed browsing operation of the stored mail has been performed, in step S305, the details of the stored mail selected by the user (mail header information, mail text, mail attached file, etc.) are displayed in detail. At this time, if the unread / read flag of the stored mail selected by the user is “unread”, the content is rewritten to “read”.
[0027]
Thereafter, in step S306, a determination is made as to whether or not a browsing end operation has been performed by the user. Here, if it is determined that the browsing end operation has been performed, a series of e-mail browsing processing ends, and if it is determined that the e-mail browsing operation has not been performed, the flow returns to step S302 to perform the above-described e-mail browsing processing. Is continued.
[0028]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S302 that the operation is not a browsing operation of the internal memory 14, in step S307, a list of mails stored in the external memory 4a is displayed. Then, in the subsequent step S308, it is determined whether or not the user has performed a detailed browsing operation of the stored mail. Here, if it is determined that the e-mail detailed browsing operation has been performed, the flow proceeds to step S309, and if it is determined that the e-mail detailed browsing operation has not been performed, the detailed operation presence / absence determination in step S308 is continued.
[0029]
If it is determined in step S308 that the detailed browsing operation of the stored mail has been performed, in step S309, the details of the stored mail selected by the user (mail header information, mail text, mail attached file, etc.) are displayed in detail.
[0030]
Thereafter, in step S310, it is determined whether or not the browsing end operation has been performed by the user. Here, if it is determined that the browsing end operation has been performed, a series of e-mail browsing processing ends, and if it is determined that the e-mail browsing operation has not been performed, the flow returns to step S307, and the above-described e-mail browsing processing is performed. Is continued.
[0031]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a mobile phone having an e-mail transmission / reception function has been described as an example. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to this. (E.g., a digital camera or a portable information terminal having an e-mail transmission / reception function).
[0032]
Further, in the above embodiment, the case where a small IC memory card is adopted as the external storage medium has been described as an example, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this, and other external storage media may be used. Media (tape system such as magnetic tape and cassette tape, magnetic disk system such as flexible disk and hard disk, optical disk system such as CD-RW, MO disk, MD, DVD-RW, and card system such as IC card and optical card) It is also possible to adopt.
[0033]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given by taking as an example a configuration in which the oldest read mail stored in the internal memory 14 is transferred to the external memory 4a, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, only the e-mail that has been filtered under various conditions, such as an e-mail transmitted from a specific address or an e-mail including a specific character string in the subject, may be transferred to the external memory 4a.
[0034]
Further, the e-mail receiving program that causes the mobile phone having the above configuration to function may be stored in a main storage device (not shown) in advance, or may be read from the external memory 4a and executed. In this case, the program may be executed by directly accessing the e-mail receiving program stored in the external memory 4a, or may be executed after being temporarily downloaded to the main storage device. The download program may be stored in the main storage device in advance.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an e-mail receiving device and an e-mail receiving program that can appropriately secure free space in an internal memory without requiring a complicated user operation. Become.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a mobile phone according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a data map showing contents of first and second mail databases.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a mail receiving operation of the mail management unit 12;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a mail transfer operation of the mail management unit 12;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a mail browsing operation of the mail management unit 12;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 mail reception controller 11 reception processing unit 12 mail management unit 13 mail display unit 14 internal memory 14a first mail database 2 antenna 3 input unit 4 slot unit 4a external memory 4b second mail database 5 display unit

Claims (8)

A mail management unit that controls reception and storage of the e-mail, an internal storage medium that stores the received e-mail, an interface unit that is an access unit between the removable external storage medium and the mail management unit, A display unit for displaying the obtained e-mail,
The e-mail management unit, upon receiving the e-mail, satisfies a predetermined condition among the e-mails stored in the internal storage medium if the capacity of the e-mail to be received is larger than the free space of the internal storage medium. An e-mail receiving device for transferring an electronic mail to the external storage medium. The electronic mail according to claim 1, wherein the mail management unit transfers the oldest read electronic mail stored in the internal storage medium to the external storage medium, assuming that the predetermined condition is satisfied. Email receiver. If the e-mail management unit does not find any of the e-mails stored in the internal storage medium that satisfies the predetermined condition, the e-mail management unit suspends the reception of the e-mail and causes the display unit to display the fact. The electronic mail receiving device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein If the capacity of the e-mail to be transferred to the external storage medium is larger than the free space of the external storage medium, the e-mail management unit interrupts the reception of the e-mail and displays the fact on the display unit. The electronic mail receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: A mail management unit that controls reception and storage of the e-mail, an internal storage medium that stores the received e-mail, an interface unit that is an access unit between the removable external storage medium and the mail management unit, A display unit for displaying the e-mail, and an e-mail receiving program for operating an e-mail receiving device comprising:
At the time of receiving the e-mail, if the capacity of the e-mail to be received is larger than the free space of the internal storage medium, the e-mail stored in the internal storage medium that meets a predetermined condition is stored in the external storage medium. An e-mail receiving program for causing the e-mail management unit to function such that the e-mail is transferred to the e-mail management unit. 6. The mail management unit according to claim 5, wherein the mail management unit is configured to function to transfer the oldest read e-mail stored in the internal storage medium to the external storage medium as satisfying the predetermined condition. Email receiving program. If none of the e-mails stored in the internal storage medium meets the predetermined condition, the e-mail management unit functions to interrupt the reception of the e-mail and display a message to that effect on the display unit. The e-mail receiving program according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the e-mail receiving program is executed. If the capacity of the e-mail to be transferred to the external storage medium is larger than the free space of the external storage medium, the e-mail management unit stops the reception of the e-mail and displays the fact on the display unit. The e-mail receiving program according to any one of claims 5 to 7, which causes the e-mail to function.

Images