JP3183338B2 - Electronic mail receiving apparatus and electronic mail receiving method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an e-mail receiver for notifying a data terminal such as a portable computer of an incoming e-mail and receiving the received e-mail when the e-mail arrives at a host computer of a computer network or an Internet provider. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an electronic mail receiving method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The Internet and LAN (Local Area)
Mail arrival notification means (herein, devices and services are collectively referred to) as a means for notifying that an e-mail has arrived at a mailbox provided in a host computer in a network such as a network: a local communication network. Has been put to practical use.

The mail arrival notifying means comprises, for example, a mobile receiving device comprising a mobile phone and a portable computer, a notifying device for transmitting information to the mobile receiving device, a message generating device for generating a mail incoming message, and the like. Is done.

A mail arrival notification device having such a configuration is
It works as follows. First, the e-mail is temporarily stored in the database of the host computer, and then transmitted from the notification device to the mobile receiving device. Alternatively, only the arrival of the e-mail is notified to the mobile receiving device by the message generating device, and thereafter, the e-mail is extracted from the mobile receiving device.

[0005]

However, such prior arts have the following problems. First, since the notification device and the mail server are separated, the notification device cannot determine whether the recipient has received the message without fail.

Second, in the case of notifying only the arrival of the mail to the receiving device side, an operation of extracting the electronic mail is required on the receiver side. Third, in the case where the electronic mail is directly transmitted to the mobile receiving device, if the recipient is out of the service range, the notification is not possible.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and when an electronic mail arrives at a mail server,
An object of the present invention is to provide an e-mail receiving device and an e-mail receiving method capable of receiving an incoming call notification and receiving the e-mail reliably and without any operation by a receiver.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The gist of the invention according to claim 1
To the effect that the host computer provided with the mail storage means (32)
Communication with the host computer (3, 3a)
A data terminal (1) connected by a line,
The host computer sends a mail to the mail storage means.
Incoming monitoring means (33) for monitoring whether or not a call has arrived
Indicates that a mail has arrived at the mail storage means.
Incoming call notification means for transmitting incoming call notification information to the data terminal
(2) wherein the data terminal includes the incoming call notification information.
Incoming call receiving means (13) for receiving an incoming call;
The mail storage means via the communication line based on the information;
Mail receiving means for receiving the incoming mail from a stage
(11), wherein the host computer has the
Storage means (34) for storing a unique identification code
The incoming call monitoring means transmits the incoming call notification information to the incoming call
Before responding to the email that has been sent to the knowledge receiving means
Storing the identification code in the storage means.
In the e-mail receiving device. The gist of the invention described in claim 2
The effect is that the communication line is a public telephone network (45),
The host computer is connected via line connection means (44).
And the data terminal is connected to the public telephone network.
Connection to the public telephone network via communication terminal means (43)
The e-mail reception according to claim 1, wherein
Communication device. The gist of the invention described in claim 3 is that
When the communication line is not connected, the incoming call notifying means
Calling the communication terminal means through the line connection means,
Via the communication terminal means after the communication terminal means responds
And sends the incoming notification information to the incoming notification receiving means.
3. The electronic mail according to claim 2, wherein the electronic mail is transmitted.
Exists in the receiving device. The gist of the invention described in claim 4 is that
The incoming call notifying means sets the corresponding unique identification code as
Only for the mail that is not stored in the storage means
Transmitting the incoming notification information to an incoming notification receiving means;
4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein
It exists in the child mail receiving device. Summary of the invention described in claim 5
, The data terminal unit the incoming call notification means the incoming
Set the conditions of the e-mail for sending notification information
Incoming call notification setting means (12), wherein the incoming call communication means
The condition of the mail for transmitting the incoming notification information
Characterized by having registration means (22) for registration.
The electronic mail receiving device according to claim 1, wherein
Exists. The gist of the invention according to claim 6 is that the incoming call notification
The receiving means sets the condition of the mail in the incoming notification means.
When storing the identification number unique to the line connection means,
Via the line connection means with the unique identification number
Only when the incoming notification information is sent,
The incoming mail from the mail storage means to the receiving means
6. The electronic mail according to claim 5, wherein
In the receiving device. The gist of the invention described in claim 7 is that
Incoming mail monitoring means that mail has arrived at the mail storage means
Is detected, the incoming mail notification means
The incoming notification information indicating that mail has arrived
From the computer to the data terminal via the communication line,
The incoming call notification information is received by the incoming call notification receiving means.
The data terminal is connected to the communication line by mail receiving means.
The received mail from the mail storage means via
And the incoming call monitoring means receives the incoming call notification information
Unique to the mail that has been sent to the
The identification code is stored in the storage means, and the incoming call notification means
Is stored in the storage means.
Only for the mail that is not
Transmitting the incoming notification information
It is in the mail receiving method. Summary of the invention described in claim 8
Indicates the incoming call notification when the communication line is not connected.
The means connects the host computer to a public telephone network.
Calling the communication terminal means through the line connection means
The data terminal after the communication terminal means responds.
Via the communication terminal means connected to the public telephone network
Sending the incoming call notification information to the incoming call notification receiving means.
The method according to claim 7, wherein the e-mail is received.
Be in the law. The gist of the invention according to claim 9 is that the data
The incoming call notification is set by the incoming call notification setting means of the terminal means.
The mail for the informing means to transmit the incoming notification information
And the condition of the mail is set to the incoming communication means.
Registered in the registration means, and said incoming call notification receiving means
When setting the conditions of the mail
A unique identification number is stored in the line connection means, and the unique identification number is stored.
The incoming call is routed through the line connection means assigned a different number.
Only when the knowledge information is sent,
Receiving the received mail from the mail storage means
The method according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein
E-mail reception method.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an e-mail receiving device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The e-mail receiving apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a portable information terminal 1 such as a portable computer and an electronic organizer, and a host computer 3 having an incoming notification device 2 such as a computer network, a LAN, or a provider that operates under program control.
Cellular phones and PHS (Personal Handy-phone System:
A mobile communication terminal 43 such as a simplified cellular phone, a modem (MODulator / DEMdulator), and a TA (T
and a line connection device 44 such as an erminal adapter (terminal adapter).

The above-mentioned line connection device 44 is a generalized telephone line network or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital).
Network: a public service network 45 such as a service integrated digital communication network.

A base station 42 is connected to the public network 45 via a mobile communication switching network (not shown).
The base station 42 performs information communication with the mobile communication terminal 43 described above.

The portable information terminal 1 receives an e-mail and displays a received e-mail, an incoming notification message, etc., an e-mail receiving unit 11, an incoming notification setting unit 12, which sets notification conditions and the like for the incoming notification device 2, And an incoming call notification receiving unit 13 for receiving an incoming mail notification transmitted via the line connection device 44.

The above-mentioned incoming call notification setting section 12 acquires and stores a number (telephone number) unique to the line connection device 44 when setting the conditions of the electronic mail incoming notification. Thus, when the mobile communication terminal 43 receives an incoming call, it is determined whether or not the call is from the incoming call notification device 2 by comparing the notified caller number with the stored number.

The incoming call notification device 2 has an incoming call notification registration unit 21 for receiving an incoming call notification setting from the portable information terminal 1, a database 22 for storing notification conditions and the like, and an incoming call notification unit 23 for sending out a message when a mail arrives. are doing.

The database 22 includes, as notification conditions, the name of the sender, the mail address, the title, the time at which the mail was sent and received, the keyword arbitrarily added to the mail,
Alternatively, an incoming call monitoring time zone, an incoming call monitoring interval, a subscription number (telephone number) unique to the mobile communication terminal of the incoming call notification destination, and the like are registered.

The host computer 3 includes a line connection device 4
4 and a mail server 31 connected to another network / host computer (not shown), a mail box 32 for storing mail, and an incoming call monitoring unit 33 for monitoring whether or not an electronic mail has arrived at the mail box 32. Have.

The incoming call monitoring unit 33 operates the mail box 3 only during the incoming call monitoring time period set as the mail notification condition.
2 and the mailbox 32 at every set incoming monitoring interval.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, first, an incoming notification setting condition of the e-mail is set by the incoming notification setting unit 12 (step Sa1). These setting conditions are registered in the database 22 via the incoming call notification registration unit 21.

Next, the incoming call notification registering section 21
3 is notified of an e-mail arrival notification condition (step Sa2). Further, the incoming call monitoring unit 33 searches the mailbox 32 (step Sa3) and confirms whether or not an e-mail matching the condition of the incoming call notification has arrived (step Sa4).

If there is no e-mail at step Sa4, after waiting for a predetermined time (step Sa5),
Returning to the processing of step Sa3, the mailbox 32
Search for.

If the e-mail has arrived at step Sa4, it is checked whether a communication line is connected between the portable information terminal 1 and the incoming call notification device 2 (step Sa6).

Here, when a communication line is connected,
An e-mail incoming notification is transmitted to the incoming notification receiving unit 13 (step Sa7), and the process proceeds to step Sa12 described later. On the other hand, if the communication line is not connected, the mobile communication terminal 43 is first called via the line connection device 44 (step Sa8).

When a call is received from the line connection device 44 (step Sa9), the mobile communication terminal 43 notifies the reception notification receiving unit 13 of the incoming call from the line connection device 44 (step Sa10).

Upon receiving this notification, the incoming call notification receiving unit 13
Responds to the line connection device 44 via the mobile communication terminal 43,
Thus, a communication line is connected between the portable information terminal 1 and the incoming call notification device 2 (step Sa11).

Thereafter, the incoming call notification receiving section 13 receives the incoming message from the incoming call notifying section 23 (step Sa1).
2) This allows the portable information terminal 1 to confirm the arrival of the e-mail.

Further, the incoming call notification receiving section 13 activates the mail receiving section 11 (step Sa13), and receives header information of the incoming e-mail (source name, transmission time, or transmission time) from the mailbox 32 via the mail server 31. Only the information such as the title and the keyword) or the entire text is received (step Sa14). Thereafter, the received information is displayed on the mail receiving unit 11 as necessary.

In the above-described embodiment, after the mobile communication terminal 43 is called via the line connection device 44 in step Sa8, a call from the incoming call notifying section 23 is sent as shown in step Sa12 by a predetermined time set in advance. If the incoming message has not been received, step Sa8 may be performed again.

B. Second Embodiment FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of an e-mail receiving device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3
In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to the respective portions shown in FIG.

The host computer 3a of this embodiment
Has a work file 34 for each mail account in order for the incoming call monitoring unit 33 to write the information of the e-mail that has been notified of the incoming call in the mailbox 32.

When an e-mail arrives, the incoming call monitoring section 33 performs an incoming call notification process, extracts a unique identification code given to each mail, and writes the identification code in the work file 34. This prevents duplicate notification of incoming calls during the next mail search.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, first, the incoming call monitoring unit 33 starts searching for an e-mail from the top of the mailbox 32 for any one of the mail accounts in the mailbox 32 (Step S).
b1), it is checked whether an e-mail exists (step Sb2).

If there is no e-mail in step Sb2, the process is terminated. On the other hand, if it exists, the identification code is extracted from the e-mail (step Sb
3) Check whether the extracted identification code exists in the work file 34 (step Sb4).

In step Sb4, if the identification number is present in the work file 34, since the mail has already been notified, the search for the next electronic mail from the mailbox 32 is started (step Sb5). ,
Returning to the processing of step Sb2, it is confirmed whether an e-mail exists.

On the other hand, for the electronic mail having no identification code in the work file 34, it is confirmed whether or not the condition of the incoming call notification is met (step Sb6). If not, the process proceeds to step Sb5. , The retrieval of the next e-mail from the mailbox 32 is started.

If the retrieved e-mail matches the condition of the incoming notification, an incoming notification is made (step Sb7).
Thereafter, the identification code of the e-mail is stored in work file 3
4 (step Sb8), the process proceeds to step Sb5, and the search for the next e-mail from the mailbox 32 is started.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the incoming call monitoring means detects that a mail has arrived at the mail storage means, the incoming call notification means indicates that the mail has arrived at the mail storage means. Sending information from the host computer to the data terminal via the communication line,
The data terminal receiving the incoming notification information by the incoming notification receiving means receives the incoming mail from the mail storing means via the communication line by the mail receiving means. When the communication line is not in the connection state, the incoming call notifying means calls the communication terminal means via the line connection means for connecting the host computer to the public telephone line network, and switches the data terminal after the communication terminal means answers. Incoming call notification information is transmitted to incoming call notification receiving means via communication terminal means connected to the network. Also, the incoming call monitoring means stores the incoming notification information in the storage means with a unique identification code of the mail which has been transmitted to the incoming notification receiving means, and the incoming notification means stores the corresponding unique identification code in the storage means. The incoming notification information is transmitted to the incoming notification receiving means only for the mail that does not exist.
Also, the incoming notification setting means of the data terminal means sets mail conditions for the incoming notification means to transmit the incoming notification information, registers the mail conditions in the registration means of the incoming communication means, Stores the unique identification number in the line connection means when setting the mail conditions in the incoming call notification means, and sends the mail only when the incoming notification information is sent through the line connection means with the unique identification number Since the receiving means receives the mail arriving from the mail storing means, when the e-mail arrives at the mail server, the e-mail can be received without fail and the e-mail can be received without operation by the recipient. There is an effect that the mail receiving device and the electronic mail receiving method can be realized.

That is, according to the present invention, since the incoming notification is delivered between the incoming notification receiving unit and the incoming notification unit, it can be confirmed that the incoming notification of the e-mail has been transmitted to the portable information terminal without fail.

Further, since the incoming call notification receiving section activates the mail receiving section and automatically receives the incoming mail, the operator of the portable terminal device does not need to perform the operation of receiving the electronic mail. Then, since it is possible to confirm that the incoming notification is transmitted to the portable information terminal without fail, even if the portable information terminal is out of the service area and the incoming notification from the incoming notification device cannot be received, the incoming notification device performs retransmission, It is possible to reliably notify the portable information terminal of the incoming mail notification.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an e-mail receiving device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an electronic mail receiving device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 mobile information terminal (data terminal) 2 incoming notification device (incoming notification unit) 3, 3a host computer 11 mail receiving unit (mail receiving unit) 12 incoming notification setting unit (incoming notification setting unit) 13 incoming notification receiving unit (incoming notification) Receiving unit) 21 Incoming call notification registering unit 22 Database (registering unit) 23 Incoming call notifying unit 31 Mail server 32 Mailbox (Mail storing unit) 33 Incoming call monitoring unit (Incoming call monitoring unit) 34 Work file (Storage unit) 42 Base station 43 Move Communication terminal (communication terminal means) 44 Line connection device (line connection means) 45 Public line network (public telephone line network)

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A host computer (3, 3a) having a mail storage means (32), and a data terminal (1) connected to the host computer by a communication line, wherein the host computer stores the mail An incoming call monitoring means (33) for monitoring whether or not a mail has arrived at the means; and an incoming notification means (2) for transmitting incoming notification information indicating that a mail has arrived to the mail storage means to the data terminal. An incoming call notification receiving unit (13) for receiving the incoming call notification information.
If the incoming call notification through the communication line on the basis of the information possess a mail receiving means (11) for receiving the incoming mail from the mail storage means, the host computer identifies unique to the mail code
Storage means (34) for storing the incoming call notification information,
Said knowledge corresponding to said mail sent to
An electronic mail receiving device , wherein another code is stored in the storage means . 2. The communication line is a public telephone line network (45).
Wherein the host computer is connected to the public telephone network via line connection means (44), and the data terminal is connected to the public telephone network via communication terminal means (43). The electronic mail receiving device according to claim 1, wherein 3. When the communication line is not in a connected state, the incoming call notification unit calls the communication terminal unit via the line connection unit, and after the communication terminal unit responds, 3. The e-mail receiving device according to claim 2, wherein the incoming call notification information is transmitted to incoming call notification receiving means. 4. The incoming call notifying means, wherein the corresponding unique identification code is stored in the storage means.
The incoming call notification receiving means only for the mail which is not
Transmitting the incoming call notification information to the
The electronic mail receiving device according to claim 1.
Place. 5. The incoming call notifying means, wherein the data terminal means is an incoming call notifying means.
Conditions for the mail to send the incoming notification information
And an incoming call notification setting means (12) for setting the incoming call notification information.
Having a registration means (22) for registering the condition of the mail;
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Email receiver. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the incoming call notification receiving means includes a mail
The line connection means when setting
Storing a unique identification number, through said line connection means for the unique identification number is assigned
Only when the incoming notification information is sent,
The incoming mail from the mail storage means to the receiving means
6. The electronic mail according to claim 5, wherein
Device. 7. When incoming call monitoring means detects that mail has arrived at the mail storing means, incoming call notifying information indicating that mail has arrived at the mail storing means is transmitted from the host computer via the communication line by the incoming call notifying means. The data terminal which has transmitted to the terminal and received the incoming notification information by the incoming notification receiving means receives the incoming mail from the mail storage means via the communication line by the mail receiving means, and the incoming monitoring means Incoming call notification information
Identification code unique to the mail that has been sent to the communication means
Is stored in the storage means, and the incoming notification means has the corresponding unique identification code
Previously only for the mail not stored in the storage means
Sending the incoming call notification information to the incoming call notification receiving means.
E-mail receiving method is characterized by that. 8. When the communication line is not connected,
The incoming call notifying means is provided for connecting the host computer to a public telephone network.
Calling the communication terminal means through a line connection means, and after the communication terminal means responds , calls the data terminal
The terminal is connected via communication terminal means connected to a public telephone network.
Transmitting the incoming call notification information to the
The electronic mail receiving method according to claim 7 , wherein: 9. An incoming call notification setting provided in said data terminal means.
The incoming call notification information by the incoming call notification means
Registering means for setting conditions of the mail for transmission, and having the conditions of the mail included in the incoming communication means
And the incoming call notification receiving means changes the condition of the mail to the incoming call
Identification number unique to the line connection means
Storing items, via the line connection means for the unique identification number is assigned
Only when the incoming notification information is sent,
The incoming mail from the mail storage means to the receiving means
9. The method of claim 7, wherein
The e-mail receiving method according to any one of the above.