JP2006190082A - Terminal and processing method for e-mail and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate confirmation about an attached file of an E-mail. <P>SOLUTION: In this E-mail processing method, a user is warned when a determined period passes without displaying or storing the attached file. The user is warned when the user intends to delete the mail without displaying or storing the attached file. When the attached file is stored 75, a mail is transmitted and reported to a sending origin. When the attached file is displayed 74, a mail is transmitted and reported to the sending origin. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic mail terminal, an electronic mail processing method, and a computer program.

  With the spread of e-mails, not only texts but also various types of files are attached to e-mails.

In a conventional electronic mail terminal, a means for a user to display a file attached to a received mail and a means for the user to save in a separate area are provided.
JP 07-006105 A

  However, in the conventional electronic mail terminal, since confirmation of the contents of the attached file is left to the user, there is a problem that the user may leave the attachment without confirming the contents of the attached file, and the mail may be buried as it is.

  However, in the conventional electronic mail terminal, since the confirmation of the content of the attached file is left to the user, there is a problem that the user may forget without confirming the content of the attached file and delete the mail as it is.

  However, in the conventional electronic mail terminal, there is no means for the transmission source to know whether or not the content of the attached file has been confirmed at the reception destination. Therefore, in order for the transmission source to confirm whether or not the content of the attached file has been confirmed at the reception destination, it is necessary to request some response from the reception destination. In response to this, there is a problem that the receiving side has to make some reply that the content of the attached file has been confirmed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic mail terminal capable of preventing an attached file from being left without being confirmed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an e-mail terminal capable of preventing an e-mail from being deleted without confirming the contents of an attached file. To do.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic mail terminal that enables a transmission source to easily know that a reception side has confirmed the contents of an attached file. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention issues a warning to a user when a predetermined period has elapsed without displaying / saving an attached file.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention warns the user when an attempt is made to delete the mail without displaying / saving the attached file.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention notifies a sender by sending an e-mail when saving an attached file.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention notifies a sender by sending an e-mail when an attached file is displayed.

  According to the present invention, since a warning is given when a certain period of time has elapsed without displaying and saving the attached file, it is possible to prevent leaving the attached file without confirming the content of the attached file. is there.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since a warning is given when an email is deleted without displaying / saving the attached file, it is possible to prevent the email from being deleted without checking the content of the attached file. There is an effect that can be.

  Further, according to the present invention, when an attached file is displayed / saved, a mail is sent to the sender and notified, so that the sender confirms the contents of the attached file. There is an effect that it can be easily known.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic mail terminal to which the present invention can be applied.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a network control unit which is connected to the LAN 15 and controls network communication such as data transmission / reception. A storage unit 2 includes a hard disk and a RAM and stores various data, programs, and received mails. A control unit 3 controls the entire electronic mail terminal 10. An e-mail control unit 4 mainly controls creation, transmission, reception, storage, and the like of e-mails. Reference numeral 5 denotes a printing unit that prints an e-mail. Reference numeral 6 denotes a display unit, which is composed of a CRT display or a liquid crystal display, and displays an e-mail body and attached files, various setting screens, messages, and the like. An operation unit 7 includes a keyboard and a pointing device, receives an input from the user, and transmits the input to the control unit 5. The electronic mail terminal 10 is configured as described above. Reference numeral 15 denotes a LAN which performs data transmission between the electronic mail terminal 10 and other devices.

  FIG. 2 is a main screen displayed by an electronic mail terminal to which the present invention can be applied.

  In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a menu area where the user selects a command from the menu and gives instructions such as displaying / printing / deleting mail, displaying / saving / deleting attached files, sending / receiving mail, and various settings. is there. A mail list display area 22 displays a list of information such as a mail number, various marks for identifying the mail (unread / read), a reception date, a sender, a title, and the like. Reference numeral 23 denotes a mail text display area on which the contents of the mail are displayed. Reference numeral 24 denotes an attached file display area. When a file is attached to the mail, the attached file is displayed as an icon and the attached file name is displayed. These constitute the main screen 20.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of an electronic mail terminal to which the present invention can be applied.

  When the electronic mail terminal is activated, first, initial processing is performed in S301. For example, the mail server is inquired whether a new mail has arrived, and if there is a new mail, the receiving process is performed.

  In step S <b> 302, the received mail information is read from the storage unit 2 and displayed in a list in the mail list display area 22. In step S303, one mail is selected from the list according to a predetermined rule (for example, the most recently received mail).

  In step S304, a mail view display process for the selected mail is performed. Specifically, the mail text is displayed in the mail text display area 23 and the attached file information is displayed in the attached file display area 24.

  Next, in S305, if there is a mail deletion instruction from the user, the process proceeds to S306, and if not, the process proceeds to S307. If there is an instruction to delete the mail, the selected mail is deleted in S306, and the process returns to S303.

  If there is no mail deletion instruction, in S307, if there is a mark setting instruction from the user, the process proceeds to S308, and if not, the process proceeds to S309. If there is a mark setting instruction, in S308, the mark setting process for the selected mail is performed. Mark setting is an operation in which the user sets or cancels various marks in order to visually categorize mail, and the mark set by the user is displayed in the mark column of the mail list display area.

  Next, in S309, if there is a mail display instruction from the user, the process proceeds to S310, and if not, the process proceeds to S311. If there is an instruction to display mail, in S310, the selected mail is displayed. Specifically, the selected mail is taken out from the storage unit 2, the external editor is activated, and the content of the mail is displayed on the display unit 6.

  Next, in S311, if there is a mail print instruction from the user, the process proceeds to S312; otherwise, the process proceeds to S313. If there is an instruction to print the mail, the selected mail is printed at S312. Specifically, the selected mail is taken out from the storage unit 2 and the content of the mail is printed by the printing unit 5.

  Next, in S313, if an attached file exists in the mail, the process proceeds to S314, and if not, the process proceeds to S315. If an attached file exists, attached file processing is performed in S314. Specifically, processing such as display, storage, and deletion of an attached file is performed in accordance with a user instruction.

  Next, in S315, if the user selects another mail from the mail list, the process proceeds to S304, and if not, the process proceeds to S316.

  If the user does not select another mail from the mail list, the process returns to S305 if the user does not instruct the end in S316, and if the end is instructed, the process ends.

  In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a warning screen is displayed when a certain period of time has elapsed without displaying / saving an attached file.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control flow of the mail view display process (corresponding to S304 in FIG. 3) of the electronic mail terminal of this embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control flow of the attached file processing (corresponding to S314 in FIG. 3) of the electronic mail terminal of this embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control flow of the initial process (corresponding to S301 in FIG. 3) of the electronic mail terminal of this embodiment.

  FIG. 7 shows a warning screen displayed in this embodiment.

  The control flow of the mail view display process of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in S41, if the selected mail is an unread file, the process proceeds to S42, and if not, the process proceeds to S45. In the case of an unread file, the unread flag is cleared in S42, and the selected mail is set to a read state. Next, in S43, if there is an attached file in the mail, the process proceeds to S44, and if not, the process proceeds to S45. If there is an attached file, an attachment file confirmation time limit is set in S44. This may be a fixed period (for example, one week) or may be set by the user each time.

  Next, in S45, the mail view of the mail is displayed. Specifically, the mail text is displayed in the mail text display area 23 and the attached file information is displayed in the attached file display area 24. Then, the mail view display process ends.

  The flow of control of attached file processing according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in S51, if the user instructs the display of the attached file, the process proceeds to S52, and if not, the process proceeds to S54. In S52, the related application is determined from the type of the attached file, and the content of the attached file is displayed by activating the related application. In step S53, the attached file is confirmed.

  Next, in S54, if the user is instructed to save the attached file, the process proceeds to S55, and if not, the process proceeds to S57. In S55, the attached file is saved in the area designated by the user. In step S56, the attached file is confirmed.

  Next, in S57, if the user is instructed to delete the attached file, the process proceeds to S58, and if not, the attached file process is terminated. In S58, the attached file is deleted from the received mail and the attached file processing is terminated.

  The control flow of the initial process of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in S61, the received mail stored in the storage unit 2 is searched. Next, in S62, when there is an attached file that has not been confirmed and whose confirmation time limit has expired, the process proceeds to S63. In S63, the warning screen of FIG. Subsequently, in S64, a process (described later) is performed in accordance with a user instruction on the warning screen, and the process returns to S61.

  In S62, when there is no attachment file that has not been confirmed and whose confirmation period has expired, the initial process is terminated.

  The warning screen of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 71 denotes an area for displaying e-mail information such as the date and time of receipt of the e-mail, sender, and title, 72 is an area for displaying the e-mail text, and 73 is an area for displaying attached file information.

  Reference numeral 74 denotes a “display” button. When this button is pressed, an application related to the attached file is activated to display the contents of the attached file, and the attached file is confirmed. Reference numeral 75 denotes a “save” button. When this button is pressed, the attached file is saved in an area designated by the user, and the attached file is confirmed. Reference numeral 76 denotes a “delete” button. When this button is pressed, the attached file is deleted from the received mail. Reference numeral 77 denotes a “confirm later” button. When this button is pressed, the contents of the attached file are not confirmed and remain in an unconfirmed state.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when a certain period of time has elapsed without viewing and saving the attached file after the user has viewed the mail, the attached file is left unattended by displaying a warning to the user. prevent.

(Example 2)
In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a warning screen is displayed when an email is deleted without displaying / saving an attached file.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control flow of the mail deletion process (corresponding to S305 in FIG. 3) of the electronic mail terminal of this embodiment.

  FIG. 9 shows a warning screen displayed in this embodiment.

  The control flow of the mail deletion process of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in S81, if there is an attached file in the selected mail, the process proceeds to S82, and if not, the process proceeds to S85. If the attached file is confirmed in S82, the process proceeds to S85, and if not, the process proceeds to S83. In S83, the warning screen of FIG. 9 is displayed.

  Next, in S84, if the user is instructed to delete the message despite displaying a warning, the process proceeds to S85, and if not, the mail deletion process is terminated. In S85, the corresponding mail is deleted from the storage unit 2, and the mail deletion process is terminated.

  FIG. 9 shows a warning screen. When the OK button 91 is pressed, deletion of mail is executed. When the cancel button 92 is pressed, deletion of mail is canceled.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the user tries to delete the mail without saving or displaying the attached file, the warning is displayed to prevent the unconfirmed attached file from being deleted.

(Example 3)
In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which when an attached file is displayed / saved, an e-mail is sent to the sender and notified.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the control flow of the attached file processing (corresponding to S314 in FIG. 3) of the electronic mail terminal of this embodiment.

  FIG. 11 shows a mail text to be transmitted to the transmission source when an attached file is displayed in this embodiment.

  FIG. 12 shows a mail text to be transmitted to the transmission source when the attached file is saved in this embodiment.

  The flow of control of attached file processing according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in S101, if the user is instructed to display an attached file, the process proceeds to S102, and if not, the process proceeds to S104. In S102, the related application is determined from the type of the attached file, and the content of the attached file is displayed by starting the related application. Subsequently, in S103, the e-mail control unit 4 creates a mail notifying that the attached file has been displayed (FIG. 11), and transmits it to the sender of the mail.

  Next, in S104, if the user instructs to save the attached file, the process proceeds to S105, and if not, the process proceeds to S107. In step S105, the attached file is stored in an area designated by the user in the storage unit 2. Subsequently, in S106, the e-mail control unit 4 creates a mail notifying that the attached file has been displayed (FIG. 12), and transmits it to the sender of the mail.

  Next, in S107, when the user is instructed to delete the attached file, in S108, the attached file is deleted from the received mail, and the attached file processing is terminated.

  FIG. 11 shows a mail sent to the transmission source when the attached file is displayed. The mail records the date and time when the attached file was received, the name of the attached file, and the date and time when the attached file was displayed.

  FIG. 12 shows a mail sent to the transmission source when the attached file is saved. The mail records the date and time when the attached file was received, the name of the attached file, and the date and time when the attached file was saved.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when an attached file is saved or displayed on the receiving side, an email is automatically sent to the transmission source, thereby transmitting that the attached file has been processed without being left unattended. The original can know.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since a warning is given when a certain period of time has elapsed without displaying / saving the attached file, it is possible to prevent the attachment file from being left without being confirmed. There is an effect that can be.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a warning is issued when an email is deleted without displaying / saving the attached file, so the email can be deleted without checking the content of the attached file. There is an effect that can be prevented.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when an attached file is displayed / saved, an e-mail is sent to the sender for notification, so that the receiving side confirms the contents of the attached file. There is an effect that the transmission source can be easily known.

(Other examples)
It should be noted that the present invention as described above can take the form of, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or storage medium, and is specifically applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices. Alternatively, it may be applied to an apparatus composed of one device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the figure) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus Is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a computer browser is used to connect to a homepage on the Internet, and the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on an instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an electronic mail terminal. It is a figure which shows the main screen of an electronic mail terminal. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an electronic mail terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the mail view display process of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the attachment file process of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the initial process of a 1st Example. It is a figure which shows the warning screen of a 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the deletion process of 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the warning screen of 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the attachment file process of 3rd Example. It is a figure which shows the transmission mail text of a 3rd Example. It is a figure which shows the transmission mail text of a 3rd Example.

Claims (9)

  Attached file display means for displaying an attached file, a saving means for saving the attached file, and a warning means for warning the user when a predetermined period has elapsed without displaying and saving the attached file An e-mail terminal comprising:   Attached file display means for displaying the attached file, a saving means for saving the attached file, a received mail deleting means for deleting the received mail, and an attempt to delete the mail without displaying and saving the attached file An electronic mail terminal comprising warning means for giving a warning to a user in the case. A storage means for storing the attached file;
An e-mail terminal comprising: a notification means for sending a mail to a sender and notifying the sender when the attached file is stored. A display means for displaying the attached file;
An e-mail terminal comprising: a notification means for sending and notifying a sender of mail when the attached file is displayed.   An attachment file display step for displaying an attachment file, a storage step for saving the attachment file, and a warning step for warning the user when a predetermined period has elapsed without displaying or saving the attachment file An e-mail processing method comprising:   Attached file display step for displaying an attached file, a saving step for saving the attached file, a received email deleting step for deleting the received email, and an attempt to delete the email without displaying / saving the attached file And a warning step for warning the user. A saving step for saving the attached file;
An e-mail processing method comprising: a notifying step of sending and notifying a sender of a mail when the attached file is stored. A display step for displaying the attached file;
An e-mail processing method, comprising: a notifying step of sending and notifying a sender of mail when the attached file is displayed.   A computer program for causing a computer to execute each step according to claim 5.

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