JP2008176358A - Communication support device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication support device for efficiently preparing and transmitting communication information such as an electronic mail or a phone call. <P>SOLUTION: This mail support device extracts and displays relevant mail relevant to reply mail (steps 1002 to step 1004) in starting the preparation of reply mail (step 1001). The mail support device displays a warning message when acquiring the relevant mail while preparing reply mail, and to warn a user that the relevant mail has been acquired (step 1006 to step 1009). Also, the mail support device confirms the presence/absence of the reception of the relevant mail by acquiring the reception mail from the mail server again in starting the execution of the transmission of the reply mail (step 1011 to step 1013), and when any relevant mail is present, the mail support device displays a warning message by interrupting the transmission of the replay mail (step 1014). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication support apparatus that supports transmission / reception of communication information such as e-mail and telephone calls.

  A system for exchanging electronic mail (hereinafter referred to as mail) via a network such as the Internet is an important system tool for transmitting information not only for business but also for individuals.

  The mail is sent from the transmission source terminal device to the receiving mail server via the network and stored. The receiving side mail server transmits the received mail to the receiving side terminal device having the corresponding mail address at a predetermined timing via the network. In addition, the receiving terminal device may actively acquire received mail that is stored in the receiving mail server.

  When the receiving terminal device is turned off, mail sent to the mail address of the receiving terminal device is stored in the receiving mail server each time. Therefore, the user, for example, acquires a large number of unread received mails stored in the mail server at the start of business at a terminal device and processes them.

  The user has created a reply mail in response to a mail that needs a reply after confirming all the received mails in advance. In addition, in order to prevent mails from being mistaken, before replying a reply mail, it was confirmed whether a new mail had arrived or not, and a reply mail reply operation was performed.

  In addition, it becomes more difficult to understand the relationship between the flow of exchange and the content while exchanging emails many times, as the number of emails increases. In order to solve this problem, a related document processing apparatus that detects and analyzes the relevance of contents for a plurality of documents (emails), edits by omitting overlapping portions in consideration of the related order, and improves work efficiency. (See, for example, [Patent Document 1].)

JP 2002-236649 A

  However, the related document processing apparatus indicated by [Patent Document 1] detects and analyzes the relevance of a plurality of received mails. The user refers to the analyzed result and determines the mail to be responded. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is impossible to refer to the contents of a mail received during mail creation or just before mail transmission.

  In addition, after the user creates reply mails in order for a large number of received mails and replies, the user may notice that corrections to the contents of the received mails or mails with additional contents are included. There is a problem that the user needs to reply again to an email with corrections or additions, and the work efficiency is reduced.

  In addition, mail may arrive from the reply mail address while creating the reply mail. In some cases, the user does not notice the arrival of the mail and returns the reply mail as it is. Even if the user notices the arrival of an email, it is often not possible to distinguish whether the incoming email is related to the email currently being created, and it is often not confirmed until after the reply is completed. In this case as well, there is a problem that work efficiency decreases if a new reply is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication support apparatus capable of accurately and efficiently creating and transmitting communication information such as e-mail and telephone calls. .

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first invention supports transmission / reception of communication information including at least one of character information and voice information, and temporarily stores received communication information that is information related to the received communication information. A communication support apparatus comprising a communication information storage unit that performs communication information acquisition means for acquiring the received communication information from the communication information storage part, transmission preparation means for preparing transmission of the communication information, and the communication information Related communication information extracting means for extracting related communication information related to the communication information prepared for transmission from the received communication information acquired from the storage unit, and related communication for displaying a list of the extracted related communication information And a communication support apparatus comprising an information display means.

The communication support apparatus is a communication apparatus that exchanges communication information such as character information and voice information. The communication support apparatus is an apparatus such as a computer, a mobile phone, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) that performs transmission / reception of electronic mail and voice communication by a telephone function.
The received communication information is communication information received by the communication support apparatus, and is, for example, a received mail, an answering machine record, and an incoming call history. The received communication information may be temporarily stored in the communication information storage unit.
The communication information storage unit is a device that temporarily stores received communication information, such as a mail server, an answering machine or an incoming call history recording device provided in a telephone company facility or a mobile phone.
Preparation for transmission of communication information indicates an operation up to immediately before the transmission of communication information, for example, mail creation (new mail creation or reply mail creation), telephone call operation (dial operation or redial operation).
The related communication information is communication information related to communication information that is prepared for transmission. For example, the related communication information is related mail, related answering machine or incoming call history. The related mail is mail related to mail that is prepared for transmission (reply mail or new mail). The related mail is, for example, mail including the same outgoing mail address as the destination of the mail being created, or mail including a character string common to the mail title. Further, the related mail may be a mail in which the same keyword appears in the mail body at a predetermined rate or more. Further, the related mail may be a mail having a transmission mail address having a common domain name and a mail address of a destination of the created mail. In addition, the user may input conditions for extracting related mail.

  The communication support apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention acquires received communication information from the communication information storage unit and creates communication information. The communication support apparatus extracts related communication information related to communication information prepared for transmission from the acquired received communication information, and displays a list.

In addition, the communication support apparatus may extract related communication information related to communication information that is prepared for transmission from the acquired received communication information at the start of communication information transmission preparation.
In addition, the communication support apparatus acquires the received communication information from the communication information storage unit and extracts the related communication information at least at any point in time from the start of preparation for transmission of communication information to immediately before transmission of communication information prepared for transmission. May be.
In addition, the communication support apparatus may acquire the received communication information from the communication information storage unit and extract the related communication information at the start of transmission execution of the communication information prepared for transmission.

  Further, the communication support apparatus may extract only the unconfirmed related communication information and display the list, or extract both the unconfirmed and already confirmed related communication information, and display the list so that the unconfirmed and the already confirmed can be identified. May be.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the communication support apparatus can extract and refer to the related communication information from the received communication information during the creation of the communication information. Information can be created efficiently. That is, the communication support device not only checks related mails in received mails during mail creation, but also efficiently creates mails with accurate contents by checking related answering machine contents and incoming call history. be able to. In addition, the communication support apparatus can efficiently make a call with accurate contents by confirming the contents of the related mail in the received mail, the related answering machine contents, and the incoming call history at the time of a telephone call operation.

  In addition, the communication support apparatus may cancel the transmission of the mail or the outgoing call by confirming the content of the related mail, the related content of the answering machine, or the incoming call history. In addition, the communication support apparatus may warn that a related mail, a related answering machine record, and an incoming call history have been acquired. Thereby, useless mail transmission and telephone transmission can be prevented.

  The second invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the communication support apparatus of the first invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the communication assistance apparatus which can produce and transmit communication information, such as an email and a telephone call accurately and efficiently, can be provided.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a communication support apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are given to components having substantially the same functional configuration, and redundant description will be omitted.

(1. Configuration of the mail support system 1)
First, the configuration of the mail support system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the mail support system 1.

  The mail support system 1 is configured by connecting terminal devices 7-1 to 7-3, a mail server 13, and a mail support device 11 via a network 5. A plurality of terminal devices 7 and a mail server 13 may be connected.

(1-1. Terminal device 7)
The terminal devices 7-1 to 7-3 are devices such as computers that can be connected to the mail server 13 and the mail support device 11 via the network 5. The terminal devices 7-1 to 7-3 are assumed to belong to the sender (A) 3-1, the sender (B) 3-2, and the sender (丙) 3-3, respectively.

  When each of the terminal devices 7-1 to 7-3 sends the created mail to the mail support device 11 of the user 9, the mail is sent via a mail server (not shown) used by each terminal device 7. Sent to the mail server 13 used by the mail support apparatus 11.

(1-2. Mail support device 11)
The mail support device 11 is a device such as a computer having a mail acquisition means 15, a mail creation means 17, a related mail address extraction means 19, a related mail extraction means 21, a related mail display means 23, and a related mail reception warning means 26. . The mail support apparatus 11 belongs to the user 9. A mail management application (mailer) used by the mail support apparatus 11 is connected to the network 5 via the mail server 13 to send and receive mail.

The mail acquisition unit 15 acquires a mail sent from the mail server 13. Alternatively, the mail acquisition unit 15 requests and acquires mail addressed to the mail support apparatus 11 stored in the mail server 13.
The mail creation means 17 creates mails such as new mails, reply mails, and forward mails.

  The related mail address extracting unit 19 extracts a mail address related to the mail being created by the mail creating unit 17. For example, the mail address of the mail address being created is extracted.

  The related mail extracting unit 21 extracts a mail related to the mail address extracted by the related mail address extracting unit 19 from the received mail list acquired by the mail acquiring unit 15.

  The related mail display means 23 displays a list of related mails extracted by the related mail extraction means 21 on the display unit 107 of the mail support apparatus 11. The related mail display means 23 may display related mails in time series or may display them by mail title.

  When the related mail extraction means 21 extracts the related mail, the related mail reception warning means 26 displays the arrival of the related mail on the display unit 107 of the mail support apparatus 11 together with the warning message.

(1-3. Mail Server 13)
The mail server 13 is a device such as a computer. The mail server 13 is a server that manages mail related to a user's mail address registered in the mail server 13. The mail server 13 manages the mail address of the mail support device 11 of the user 9.

  The mail server 13 receives and accumulates mail sent to the managed mail address. The mail server 13 delivers the mail to the user at a predetermined timing. When a mail delivery request is sent from the user, the stored unread mail is delivered to the user.

(2. Hardware configuration)
Next, the hardware configuration of the terminal devices 7-1 to 7-3, the mail support device 11, and the mail server 13 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal devices 7-1 to 7-3, the mail support device 11, and the mail server 13. Note that the hardware configuration in FIG. 2 is an example, and various configurations can be adopted depending on the application and purpose.

  The terminal devices 7-1 to 7-3, the mail support device 11, and the mail server 13 include the CPU 101, the memory 103, the storage unit 105, the display unit 107, the input unit 109, the output unit 111, and the communication unit 113 via the system bus 115. Connected and configured.

  A CPU 101 (Central Processing Unit) is a device that performs operation control of arithmetic devices (four arithmetic operations, comparison operations, etc.), hardware and software.

  The memory 103 is a memory such as a RAM and a ROM. A RAM (Random Access Memory) stores a ROM (Read Only Memory), an OS (Operating System) program read from the storage unit 105, an application program, and the like. The RAM functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 101.

  The storage unit 105 is a device that stores various data, and is, for example, a hard disk. The storage unit 105 stores a program executed by the CPU 101, data necessary for program execution, an OS, various databases, and the like.

  The display unit 107 is a display device, such as a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal panel. The display unit 107 includes a logic circuit (such as a video adapter) for realizing the video function of the computer.

  The input unit 109 is an input device for various data, such as a keyboard and a mouse. The output unit 111 is an output device for various data, for example, a printer. Drive devices that perform data input / output with various media can also be used as the input unit 109 and the output unit 111.

The communication unit 113 is a communication control device that connects and communicates with an external device via the system bus 115. For example, Internet communication using TCP / IP is possible.
The system bus 115 is a path that mediates transmission / reception of control signals, data signals, and the like between the devices.

  The terminal devices 7-1 to 7-3, the mail support device 11, and the mail server 13 store programs (application programs, OS programs, etc.) stored in the storage unit 105, ROM, or storage medium in the RAM of the memory 103. Various processes are executed under the control of the CPU 101 after loading.

(3. Operation of mail support device 11)
Next, the operation of the mail support apparatus 11 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The mail support device 11 selects a predetermined mail from the received mails sent from the mail server 13 and creates a reply mail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mail support apparatus 11.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating transition of screens displayed on the display unit 107 of the mail support apparatus 11.

  The mail acquisition unit 15 of the mail support apparatus 11 receives and acquires received mail addressed to the mail support apparatus 11 stored in the mail server 13. A screen (A1) 301 for displaying the received mail list 27 is displayed on the display unit 107 of the mail support apparatus 11.

  FIG. 5 shows a screen (A1) 301. As shown in FIG. The received mail list 27 displayed on the screen (A1) 301 includes items such as a sender 3, a state 39 indicating "unread" or "read", a subject 41, and a reception date and time 43. The received mails 201 to 205 are displayed in chronological order based on the reception date and time 43, for example.

  In addition, on the screen (A1) 301, a “Create Mail” button 29, a “Reply to sender” button 31, a “Reply to all” button 33, a “Send / Receive” button 35, and the like are arranged. When the “Create Mail” button 29 is pressed, a new mail creation screen is displayed. When one of the received mails in the received mail list 27 is selected and the “Reply to sender” button 31 is pressed, a reply mail creation screen for the selected received mail is newly displayed. When the “Reply to All” button 33 is pressed, a reply mail creation screen is newly displayed with all persons related to the selected received mail as a destination. When the “transmission / reception” button 35 is pressed, the mail support apparatus 11 transmits the created transmission mail and acquires the unread reception mail that has arrived at the mail server 13.

  The user 9 selects the received mail 202 from the received mail list 27 on the screen (A1) 301 and confirms the content, and then presses the “Reply to sender” button 31. The mail support apparatus 11 detects pressing of the “Reply to sender” button 31 (step 1001). The mail creation means 17 newly displays a reply mail creation screen (B1) 302 for the received mail 202. On the screen of the mail support apparatus 11, a new screen (B1) 302 is simultaneously displayed in addition to the screen (A1) 301.

  The related mail address extraction means 19 acquires a reply address (mail address of the sender 3) from the mail header information of the received mail 202 (step 1002). The mail header information includes the mail address of the sender 3, the reception date and time, the mail address of the recipient, the mail title, and the like.

  The related mail extracting means 21 extracts unread mail sent from the same mail address as the acquired reply address. That is, the related mail extracting unit 21 extracts unread mail transmitted from the reply address from the received mail acquired by the mail acquisition unit 15 from the mail server 13.

  If there is an unread mail from the reply destination address (YES in step 1003), the related mail display means 23 of the mail support apparatus 11 replaces the screen (A1) 301 with the screen of the unread mail list transmitted from the reply destination address. (A2) 303 is displayed on the display unit 107 (step 1004). The screen (A2) 303 may be newly displayed while the screen (A1) 301 is displayed.

  The related mail display means 23 selects the unread mail from the unread mail transmitted from the reply address by adding a condition such as including a predetermined word / phrase in the mail title, and displays a new screen (A2) 303. You may make it display.

  FIG. 6 shows a screen (A2) 303. As shown in FIG. The received mail list 45 displayed on the screen (A2) 303 includes the received mail 202, the received mail 204, and the received mail 202 sent from the same sender “B” 3-2 from the received mail list 27 (FIG. 5). The received mail 205 is extracted. Since the received mail 202 has already been read, the status 39 “read” is displayed on the received mail list 45. Further, the display method may be such that the total number of unread received mails can be known, such as status 39 “unread 1/2” for received mail 204 and status 39 “unread 2/2” for received mail 205.

  The user 9 can select and read the unread received mail 204 and the received mail 205 and confirm the contents. When the user 9 confirms the unread received mail and cancels the creation of the reply mail 47 to be created (YES in step 1005), the reply mail creation screen (B1) 302 is closed and the work is performed. finish.

  If the user 9 does not cancel the reply mail 47 creation work (NO in step 1005), the reply mail 47 creation work is continued on the reply mail creation screen (B1) 302 (step 1006).

  The mail acquisition unit 15 of the mail support apparatus 11 checks whether or not there is an unread received mail stored in the mail server 13 at a predetermined timing (step 1007), and acquires any unread received mail addressed to the mail support apparatus 11. . The related mail extracting means 21 extracts mail sent from the reply address of the reply mail 47 being created from the acquired unread received mail.

  When unread received mail is extracted from the reply address (YES in step 1008), the related mail reception warning means 26 of the mail support apparatus 11 displays a warning 63 on the screen (B1) 302 for creating the reply mail 47. Then, a warning is given that an unread received mail from the reply address has arrived (step 1009).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen (B2) 304 in which a reply mail 47 is being created. The screen (B2) 304 includes a “Send” button 49 for sending the reply mail 47, a “Save” button 51 for saving the reply mail 47 in the storage unit 105, a “Cancel” button 53 for canceling the creation of the reply mail 47, and the like. Is placed. The reply mail 47 includes a transmission destination 55, a sender 57, a subject (mail title) 59, a mail text 61, and the like. The warning 63 is displayed in a pop-up on the screen where the reply mail 47 is being created.

  When an unread received mail from the reply address is extracted, the screen (A2) 303 on which the received mail list 45 is displayed is updated to the screen (A3) 305, and a record of the unread received mail 206 is added. A received mail list 46 is displayed (FIG. 4).

  The user 9 can open the unread received mail 206 on the screen (A3) 305 and check the content of the mail. When the unread received mail 206 on the screen (A3) 305 is pressed, the screen is switched to the screen (A4) 307, and the user 9 can confirm the contents of the mail text 62 of the received mail 206 (FIG. 4). Note that the screen (A4) 307 may be displayed instead of the screen (A3) 305, or a new screen (A4) 307 may be displayed together with the screen (A3) 305.

  When the user 9 cancels the reply mail 47 creation work (YES in step 1010), the reply mail creation screen (B2) 304 is closed, or the “stop” button 53 on the screen (B2) 304 is pressed. Finish the work.

  When the user 9 continues the work of creating the reply mail 47 (NO in step 1010), the work of creating the reply mail 47 is continued on the reply mail creation screen (B2) 304, and the processing from step 1006 is repeated.

  Returning to step 1008, mail is not confirmed until arrival of an unread received mail from the reply address (NO in step 1008) and the “send” button 49 of the reply mail 47 is pressed (NO in step 1011). The creation means 17 continues the creation work of the reply mail 47 and repeats the processing from step 1006.

  In step 1011, when pressing of the “send” button 49 of the reply mail 47 is detected on the screen (B 3) 306 where the creation of the reply mail 47 is completed (YES in step 1011), the mail acquisition means 15 sends the mail server 13. (Step 1012), and if there is an unread received mail addressed to the mail support apparatus 11, it is acquired. The related mail extracting means 21 extracts mail sent from the reply address of the reply mail 47 from the acquired unread received mail.

  When unread received mail is extracted from the reply address (YES in Step 1013), the related mail reception warning means 26 of the mail support apparatus 11 displays a warning 65 on the screen (B4) 308 where the transmission operation is performed. Then, a warning is given that an unread received mail from the reply address has arrived (step 1014).

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a screen (B4) 308 on which a warning 65 is displayed on the screen (B4) 308 on which the transmission instruction operation is performed.
When the user 9 stops sending the reply mail 47 (YES in step 1015), the screen (B4) 308 is closed, or the “stop” button 53 on the screen (B4) 308 is pressed to finish the operation. Further, when the “transmission cancellation” button 71 of the warning 67 regarding the transmission cancellation is pressed, the editing work of the reply mail 47 may be performed again. Alternatively, the user 9 may save the reply mail 47 in the storage unit 105 by pressing the “save” button 51 on the screen (B4) 308.

  When the reply mail 47 is to be transmitted (NO in Step 1015), the user 9 presses the “Send” button 69 of the warning 67 regarding the transmission stop. When it is confirmed that the “send” button 69 is pressed, the mail support apparatus 11 transmits a reply mail 47 on the network 5 (step 1016).

  Through the above process, the mail support device 11 extracts and displays a related mail related to the reply mail at the start of reply mail creation. When the related mail is acquired during the reply mail creation, a warning message is displayed. Warning that related emails have been fetched. In addition, the mail support device 11 obtains the received mail again from the mail server at the start of the reply mail transmission execution, confirms whether or not the related mail has been received, and if there is a related mail, interrupts the reply mail transmission. Display a warning message.

  As described above, when the user performs reply mail creation work, the mail support apparatus 11 extracts and displays all unread received mails related to the mail, so that the user can perform an accurate reply work. . For example, when a reply mail creation operation is performed on a read mail, it is possible to check without missing an unread mail related to content change or content addition for the read mail.

  In addition, when the mail support apparatus 11 newly receives a related mail during reply mail creation work, a warning message indicating that the related mail has been acquired is displayed so that the related mail can be referred to. Can be created, and work efficiency can be improved.

  Further, when there is a reply mail transmission execution instruction, the mail support apparatus 11 acquires the received mail from the mail server again, confirms whether the mail related to the reply mail to be transmitted has been received, If there is a mail, the transmission of the reply mail is interrupted and a warning message is displayed. By checking the related mail immediately before the transmission, a reply mail with a more accurate content can be created.

(4. When there are multiple destinations)
It is assumed that the user 9 creates a mail addressed to a plurality of transmission destinations (TO, CC, and BCC destinations). The mail support apparatus 11 extracts and presents mail sent from any one of a plurality of destinations related to the mail at the start of mail creation, during mail creation, or at the time of mail transmission instruction.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a mail creation screen 401. FIG. 9 shows a screen 401 in which the sender 57 “Taro Yamada” creates a reply mail 47 at a plurality of destinations of the destination 55 “B”, the CC destination 56 “A”, and “A”.

  When an unread received mail sent from any one of a plurality of destinations is extracted (YES in step 1008 in FIG. 3), the related mail reception warning means 26 of the mail support apparatus 11 sends a reply mail 47. A warning 63-1 is displayed on the screen 401 being created to warn that an unread mail has arrived from a transmission destination address (for example, transmission destination CC: Mr. Tsuji) (step 1009). Further, the related mail reception warning means 26 of the mail support apparatus 11 further displays a warning 63-2 to indicate that an unread mail has arrived from another destination address (for example, Mr. No, the destination CC). Warning.

  The user 9 can create an email with appropriate contents by checking unread emails sent from a plurality of destinations related to the reply email 47 being created. Further, the user 9 can cancel the creation of the reply mail 47, and the work efficiency can be improved by avoiding the work of creating a useless mail.

(5. Effects, etc.)
As described above in detail, the mail support apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when creating and sending a reply mail to the mail, at the start of reply mail creation, during reply mail creation, at the time of reply mail transmission instruction , Extract and present mail related to reply mail. Therefore, the user can create a reply mail with an accurate content after grasping the contents of the mail related to the reply mail. Moreover, since it is possible to avoid creating unnecessary reply mails many times, work efficiency can be improved.

  In addition, the mail support apparatus 11 may present not only received unread mail and related newly received mail related to the reply mail but also related read mail. Since the user can refer to the contents of all mails related to the reply mail, it is possible to efficiently create a reply mail with a more accurate content.

  The mail support apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied not only when creating a reply mail but also when creating a new mail or creating a forward mail. Therefore, by extracting and presenting mail related to the mail at the time of general mail creation, it is possible to create a mail with an accurate content, and at the same time, to improve the efficiency of mail creation.

  The mail support device 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be used for a terminal device such as a mobile phone. A mobile phone or the like may not be able to display received unread mail at a time because the display screen is small. When the user performs mail creation work, the user can perform accurate mail creation work by extracting and displaying the unread received mail related to the mail. In particular, the user can avoid the work of checking the unread received mail by scrolling the display screen of the mobile phone, which is effective in improving operability.

  Further, the mail support apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied not only to a mail system but also to a telephone system as a communication support apparatus. The communication support apparatus handles not only character information but also voice information in a similar manner. The reply mail creation instruction in the mail system corresponds to the redial operation of the telephone system. A new mail creation instruction in the mail system corresponds to a call operation of the telephone system. The warning with the related mail in the mail system corresponds to the warning with the incoming call history of the telephone system or with the answering machine record.

  For example, in a mobile phone having both mail and telephone functions, when the user 9 issues a new mail creation instruction or a reply mail creation instruction, the communication support apparatus checks whether there is an unread mail transmitted from the mail transmission destination address. At the same time, the unconfirmed incoming call history and the unconfirmed answering machine record sent from the same source telephone number as the mail transmission destination address are confirmed. The communication support device warns the user 9 when the user 9 confirms at least one of unread mail, unconfirmed incoming call history, and unconfirmed answering machine record while the user 9 is creating mail.

When the user performs an outgoing call operation or a redial operation, the communication support device
At the same time as confirming the unconfirmed call history and unacknowledged answering record from the destination telephone number, it is confirmed whether there is any unread mail sent from the same mail address as the telephone number. The communication support device warns the user 9 when the user 9 confirms at least one of unread mail, unconfirmed incoming call history, and unconfirmed answering machine record during a call outgoing operation.

  In this way, the communication support device warns the user 9 of the presence of the related received mail, incoming call history, and answering machine record when the user 9 performs mail creation or telephone call operation. Since the user 9 can confirm the contents of the related received mail, incoming call history, and answering machine record, the user 9 can create a mail with accurate contents and make a call. In addition, since the user can avoid unnecessary mail creation and telephone calls, work efficiency can be improved. In particular, when applied to a mobile phone having both mail and telephone functions, the user 9 has a great effect of convenience.

  The preferred embodiments of the communication support apparatus according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

Configuration diagram of mail support system 1 The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the terminal device 7, the mail preparation assistance apparatus 11, and the mail server 13. Flow chart showing operation of mail support device 11 The figure which shows the screen transition in the display part 107 of the mail assistance apparatus 11. The figure which shows incoming mail screen (A1) 301 The figure which shows the screen (A2) 303 which displays the received mail list 45 The figure which shows mail creation screen (A3) 305 The figure which shows mail creation screen (B4) 308 The figure which shows the mail creation screen 401

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ......... Mail support system 3, 3-1 to 3-3 ......... Sender 5 ......... Network 7-1 to 7-3 ......... Terminal device 9 ......... User 11 ......... Mail support device 13 ......... Mail server 15 ......... Mail acquisition means 17 ......... Mail creation means 19 ......... Related mail address extraction means 21 ......... Related mail extraction means 23 ......... Related mail display means 26 ......... Related Mail reception warning means 27, 45, 46 ......... Received mail list 29 ......... "Compose mail" button 31 ......... "Reply to sender" button 33 ......... "Reply to all" button 35 ......... "Send / Receive" button 39 ......... State 41 ......... Subject 43 ......... Reception date 47 ......... Reply mail 49, 69 ......... "Send" button 51 ......... "Save" button 53, 71 ......... "Cancel" button 55 ... …… Destination 56 ……… CC (carbon copy) destination 57 ……… Sender 59 ……… Subject 61 ……… Mail text 63, 65, 67 ……… Warning 101 ……… CPU
103 ......... Memory 105 ......... Storage unit 107 ......... Display unit 109 ......... Input unit 111 ......... Output unit 113 ......... Communication unit 115 ......... System bus 201-206 ......... Received mail 301 , 303, 305, 307... Screen A
302, 304, 306, 308 ... …… Screen B
401 ... …… Screen

Claims (9)

A communication support apparatus including a communication information storage unit that supports transmission / reception of communication information including at least one of character information and voice information and temporarily stores received communication information that is information related to the received communication information. ,
Communication information acquisition means for acquiring the received communication information from the communication information storage unit;
Transmission preparation means for preparing for transmission of the communication information;
Related communication information extracting means for extracting related communication information related to the communication information being prepared for transmission from the received communication information acquired from the communication information storage unit;
Related communication information display means for displaying a list of the extracted related communication information;
A communication support apparatus comprising:   At the start of transmission preparation of the communication information by the transmission preparation means, the related communication information extraction means is related communication related to the communication information prepared for transmission from the received communication information acquired by the communication information acquisition means. The communication support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information is extracted.   The communication information acquisition unit obtains the received communication information from the communication information storage unit at least at any point in time from the start of transmission preparation of the communication information by the transmission preparation unit to immediately before transmission of the communication information prepared for transmission. The communication support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related communication information extraction unit acquires the related communication information.   The communication information acquisition unit acquires the received communication information from the communication information storage unit, and the related communication information extraction unit extracts the related communication information at the start of transmission execution of the communication information prepared for transmission. The communication support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The communication information transmission stopping means for canceling the transmission of the communication information prepared for transmission when the related communication information is acquired before the transmission execution start of the communication information prepared for transmission is started. The communication support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   6. The communication support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising related communication information reception warning means for warning that the related communication information has been acquired. The related communication information extracting means extracts only unconfirmed related communication information,
The communication support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the related communication information extraction unit displays a list of the extracted unconfirmed related communication information. The related communication information extracting means extracts unconfirmed and confirmed related communication information,
The communication according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the related communication information extraction unit displays the extracted related communication information in a list so that the unconfirmed and the confirmed can be identified. Support device.   A program that causes a computer to function as the communication support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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