JP3226855B2 - E-mail sending and receiving device system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail transmitting / receiving system, and more particularly, to an electronic mail transmitting / receiving system of a portable terminal using a communication proxy server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-353966 discloses a technology of an electronic mail system for a portable terminal.
There is the technology described. This technology allows both mobile terminals and the master station to share common knowledge about document creation, thereby making it possible to send e-mail via a wireless communication network using a small mobile terminal. A plurality of sample e-mail texts and destinations are registered in advance in both the master station WS and the master station WS. Then, when creating the e-mail message, a list of the sent e-mail message and a list of the destinations are displayed on the mobile terminal,
The number of the transmission e-mail text selected by the operator from the touch panel and the destination number are transmitted to the station via a wireless channel, and the master station WS uses the e-mail text based on the e-mail number received from the radio terminal. Produces
The e-mail having the destination corresponding to the received destination number is transferred to the e-mail system.

As a technique for a user to receive a service from a portable terminal via a server, for example, there is a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-331654. In this technique, when a user transmits a desired service request to a base station by using a portable terminal, the service request is received by a predetermined server via a simplified cellular phone system network, and the service requested by the user is provided. Is sent to the client, for example. The client transmits response information to the mobile terminal via the server. If the user determines that the desired service can be obtained from the client based on the response information, the user requests the client to provide the service.

[0004]

The above-mentioned "Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-3
A first problem with the technology described in JP-A-53966 or JP-A-8-331654 is that communication time in a portable terminal is long. The reason is that all information is transmitted and received between the mobile terminal and the mail server during transmission and reception of the e-mail.

[0005] A second problem is that the communication cost is high. The reason is that communication of all information is performed using a high-cost communication network.

An object of the present invention is to realize an electronic mail system for a portable terminal which reduces communication costs, reduces the use time of the portable terminal, and improves the throughput to the user.

[0007]

A first electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system according to the present invention has a mail server for controlling transmission / reception of electronic mail, a portable terminal, and a storage device. An electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus comprising: a communication proxy server for relaying; a first communication network connecting the mail server and the communication proxy server; and a second communication network connecting the portable terminal and the communication proxy server. The system, comprising: authentication information for identifying the mail server to be connected to the communication proxy server from the mobile terminal; reception information indicating conditions of received e-mail received by the mobile terminal; Sending e-mail or communication result file is ready
When a first request file including response notification procedure information indicating a means for notifying the portable terminal is transmitted via the second communication network, the communication proxy server receiving the first request file transmits the request If the transmission e-mail exists in the file, the transmission e-mail is transmitted to the mail server via the first communication network, and if the reception condition exists, the transmission e-mail is transmitted from the mail server according to the reception condition. Receiving a received e-mail via the first communication network;
The communication result file is stored in the storage device, and if the response notification procedure information exists, the completion notification is transmitted to the portable terminal.

[0008] A second electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system according to the present invention is the first electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system, wherein the portable terminal receives a request for transmitting the authentication information and the communication result file from the portable terminal. When the second request file including the second request file is transmitted, the communication proxy server that has received the second request file transmits the communication result file stored in the storage device to the mobile terminal.

A third electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system according to the present invention is the first or second electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system, wherein the communication cost of the first communication network is lower than the communication cost of the second communication network. Less expensive than cost.

[0010] A fourth electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system according to the present invention includes: a mail server for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail; a portable terminal; a communication proxy server connected to the mail server by a first communication network; An electronic mail transmitting and receiving apparatus system comprising a request reception server connected to a mobile terminal and a second communication network, and a storage device shared by the communication proxy server and the request reception server, wherein the mobile terminal includes: Authentication information for identifying the mail server to be connected to the communication proxy server, reception information indicating conditions of received e-mail received by the portable terminal, transmitted e-mail to be transmitted, or communication
Notify the portable terminal that the result file is ready
When a first request file including response notification procedure information indicating means for transmitting the first request file is transmitted via the second communication network, the request receiving server that has received the first request file transmits the first request file to the first request file. Is stored in the storage device, the communication proxy server reads the first request file in the storage device, and if the transmission e-mail exists in the request file, the transmission e-mail is stored in the first storage device. Transmitting to the mail server via a communication network, and receiving the received e-mail from the mail server via the first communication network according to the reception condition if the reception condition exists;
The communication result file is stored in the storage device, and if the response notification procedure information exists, the completion notification is transmitted to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal indicates the authentication information and the transmission request of the communication result file. When the second request file including the reception request is transmitted, the request reception server that has received the second request file transmits the communication result file stored in the storage device to the mobile terminal.

A fifth electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system according to the present invention is the fourth electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system, wherein the communication cost of the first communication network is lower than the communication cost of the second communication network. It is.

A sixth electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system according to the present invention is the first, second, third, fourth or fifth electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system, wherein a plurality of the portable terminals or the mail servers exist.

[0013]

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention provides a mail server 01, a communication proxy server 02, a portable terminal 03 having a wireless communication function, a request file 04, a completion notification 05,
And a communication result file 06.

The communication proxy server 02 and the mail server 01 are connected by a normal low-cost communication network.
The communication proxy servers 02 are connected by a high-cost wireless communication network.

The mail server 01 is the same as a conventional mail server (mail host). The communication proxy server 02 connects to the mail server 01 based on the authentication information in the request file 04 from the mobile terminal 03, receives mail according to the reception conditions, transmits the mail, and transmits the communication result to the mobile terminal 03 using the communication result file 06. Notify 03.

In the communication between the communication proxy server 02 and the mobile terminal 03, the communication from the mobile terminal 03 to the communication proxy server 02 is a transfer of the request file 04, and the communication from the communication proxy server 02 to the mobile terminal 03 is completed. The notification 05 or the communication result file 06 is transferred. The communication proxy server 02 has a storage device 07, and the storage device 07 can store a plurality of request files 04 from the portable terminal 03 and a plurality of communication result files 06 obtained by executing this request. .

The portable terminal 03 has a function of performing communication using a wireless line, and can communicate from any place to any place. The mobile terminal 03 has a mail creation / transmission function and a mail reception / display function.

The request file 04 is a file containing a request from the portable terminal 03 to the communication proxy server 02. Requests to the communication proxy server 02 are classified into the following two types and transmitted in either format. (1) A request to send an e-mail from the mobile terminal 03, or
A request to receive a mail to the communication proxy server 02 (meaning notifying the request). In this case, the request file 04 contains
Essential information includes authentication information, and optional information includes transmitted mail, reception conditions, and a response notification procedure. (2) A request for receiving a communication result from the communication proxy server 02 (meaning receiving the result). In this case, the request file 04 includes authentication information and a reception request as essential information.

Next, the contents of the request file 04 will be described in detail.

(A) The authentication information includes the following information. "Information for identifying the mail server 01 to be connected to the communication proxy server 02", "ID for logging in to the mail server 01", "Password for logging in to the mail server 01", "Log in to the mail server 01" Other information to do ".

An example is as follows. "access point:
PCVAN TEL: XX-XXX-XXXXXX "," I
D: sekihara "," Password: **** ".

(B) The outgoing mail contains the following information. "Destination information and email text".

An example is as follows. "To: sekihara", "Subject: XXXXXX"
X "," The sound of the bell of Gion Seisha, and the sound of impermanence. "

(C) The reception condition includes the following information for determining a mail received from the mail server 01. "Email type (unread, read, all)", "Received date and time (from what time of the day to what time of the day)", "Recipient name (to whom mail, to whom mail)", "subject ( What's the title of the email) "," Size limit (Receive emails of a few bytes or less) "," Number limit (Maximum number of emails received) ".

An example is as follows. "Receive up to 11 unread emails."

(D) The response notification procedure includes the following information, which means that the communication proxy server 02 communicates with the mail server 01 and notifies the portable terminal 03 that the communication result file 06 is ready. included. "Disconnect immediately after connecting via telephone line", "Use pager call".

(E) The reception request includes the following information. “Request to receive communication result file 06 in communication proxy server 02 at mobile terminal 03”.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, when the user operates the mobile terminal 03 and selects the function of sending and receiving mail, the mobile terminal 03 transmits authentication information to the mail server 01 to be connected (ID, ID, and Or a password), a mail to be transmitted, reception conditions of the mail to be received (information indicating what to receive), and a response procedure from the communication proxy server 02 are created as one request file 04 (FIG. 2S).
1).

Next, the portable terminal 03 is connected to the communication proxy server 02.
(Fig. 2 S2). After the connection, the request file 04 is transferred to the communication proxy server 02 (S3 in FIG. 2). The communication proxy server 02 stores the received request file 04 in the storage device 07.
(S4 in FIG. 2). After the transfer is completed, if there is no reception request in the transmitted request file 04, the mobile terminal 03 ends the communication with the communication proxy server 02 (if the reception request exists, the communication proxy server 02 The process moves to the transfer of the communication result file 06 (described later). When the transfer of the request file 04 is completed, the mobile terminal 03 enters an idle state.

The operations performed by the portable terminal 03 and the communication proxy server 02 from the connection to the end of the communication are as follows.
This is very simple because only the transfer of the data No. 4 and the storage processing in the storage device 07 of the communication proxy server 02 are performed.

The communication proxy server 02 that has completed communication with the portable terminal 03 connects to the mail server 01 based on the authentication information of the request file 04 in the storage device 07 (FIG. 2S).
5). After the connection with the mail server 01 is completed, if there is an outgoing mail in the request file 04, the communication proxy server 02 executes the mail server 0 by the same procedure as in the related art.
1 is sent (S6 in FIG. 2). The transmission result indicating whether or not the transmission at this time is normally completed is stored in the storage device 07 as a part of the communication result file 06 (S7 in FIG. 2). Further, when the reception condition exists in the request file 04, the mail is received from the mail server 01 (S7 in FIG. 2). The received mail at this time is stored in the storage device 07 as a part of the communication result file 06.

The communication proxy server 02 is a mail server 01
When the e-mail transmission / reception process ends, the communication ends. If the response notification procedure exists in the request file 04 after the end of the communication, the communication proxy server 02 sends a communication completion response (completion notification 05) according to the response notification procedure.
(S8 in FIG. 2).

Upon receiving the completion notification 05, the portable terminal 03 notifies the user only that the transmission of the e-mail has been completed (at this time, the method of displaying the notification to the user is a sounding sound, a screen without user operation intervention). Only the minimum necessary information such as display is notified, in order to simplify the processing of the mobile terminal 03 and to reduce the use time of the mobile terminal 03 as much as possible).

Regardless of whether or not the portable terminal 03 receives the completion notification 05, the portable terminal 03 creates a request file 04a having authentication information and a reception request by a user's operation of receiving an e-mail at an arbitrary timing. (Figure 2
S9) Connect to the communication proxy server 02 (S10 in FIG. 2),
The request file 04a is transferred (FIG. S11). The communication proxy server 02, which has received the request file 04a in which the reception request exists, acquires the communication result file 06 from the storage device 07 using the authentication information in the request file 04a as a key and transfers it to the portable terminal 03 (S12 in FIG. 2). . After the transfer is completed, the communication ends.

In the case where only mail transmission is performed, the authentication information, the transmitted mail, and the request file 04 having the response procedure are transferred from the portable terminal 03 to the communication proxy server 02. In the case where only mail reception is performed, authentication is performed. A request file 04 having information, reception conditions, and a response procedure is transferred. The operation after each transfer is as described above.

Next, the operation of the communication proxy server 02 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the communication proxy server 02.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, the communication proxy server 02 is waiting for communication with the mobile terminal 03 (S11 in FIG. 3). When communication with the mobile terminal 03 is started (S12 in FIG. 3), reception of the request file 04 is started. Then (S13 in FIG. 3), it is checked whether there is a request to receive the previous communication result file 06 (S14 in FIG. 3). If there is a request to receive the previous communication result file 06, the previous communication result file 06 is transmitted to the portable terminal 03. (S15 in FIG. 3),
The request file 04 is deleted (S16 in FIG. 3), and the portable terminal 0 is deleted.
The communication with No. 3 is terminated (S17 in FIG. 3).

If the request file 04 does not exist at this point (N in FIG. 3), it is determined that the request (the previous request for receiving the communication result file 06) has been processed, and the communication with the portable terminal 03 is awaited (S11 in FIG. 3). ). Request file 04
If there exists (S18Y in FIG. 3), communication with the mail server 01 is started to perform the mail transmission / reception processing (S3 in FIG. 3).
19). When there is an outgoing mail in the request file 04 (S20Y in FIG. 3), the communication proxy server 02 transmits the outgoing mail to the mail server 01 (S21 in FIG. 3).

If there is a reception condition in the request file 04 (Y in FIG. 3), the communication proxy server 02 searches for and receives a mail in the mail server 01 (S23 in FIG. 3). When there is a response notification procedure in the request file 04 (S24 in FIG. 3)
Y), the portable terminal 03 is notified that the processing of the communication proxy server 02 is completed according to the response notification procedure (S2 in FIG. 3).
5).

Thereafter, the communication proxy server 02 ends the communication with the mail server 01 (S26 in FIG. 3), and the portable terminal 03
Wait for communication with (FIG. 3S11).

Next, the communication time and the communication cost will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating communication time and communication cost. In FIG. 4, y1 = communication cost on the conventional route, x1 = communication time on the conventional route, y2 = communication cost on the low-cost line according to the present invention, x2 = communication time on the high-cost line according to the present invention. .

Assuming that the communication cost of the low-cost line is one-tenth of the communication cost of the high-cost line, and that the communication time of the high-cost line is one-half of the time of using the low-cost line, y2 = (1/10) * y1, x2 = (1/2) * x1. Therefore, the conventional communication cost = x1 * y1, the communication cost of the present invention = (1/2) * x1 * y1 + x1 *
(1/10) * y1 = (3/5) * x1 * y1, and
The communication cost can be reduced to 3/5.

The connection from one portable terminal 03 to the communication proxy server 02 has been described above. However, the number of portable terminals 03 that can be connected at one time is not limited. The same applies to the case where the connection is made from the terminal 03.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the second embodiment of the present invention is obtained by dividing the communication proxy server 02 of the first embodiment into two, a communication proxy server 02A and a request receiving server 02B. The request receiving server 02B can operate asynchronously with the communication proxy server 02A, and shares the storage device 07.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, the request reception server 02B receives the request file 04 from the mobile terminal 03 (S61, S62 in FIG. 6),
The request file 04 is sequentially stored in the storage device 07.
When the reception request exists in the request file 04, the communication result file 06 in the storage device 07 is searched from the authentication information in the request file 04, and the portable terminal 03 is transmitted only when the communication result file 06 exists. A transfer process is performed (S64 in FIG. 6).

The communication proxy server 02A monitors the inside of the storage device 07 and, if there is an unprocessed request file 04, refers to the request file 04 and starts a communication process with the mail server 01 (S65, S66 in FIG. 6). . The communication proxy server 02A stores the result of communication with the mail server 01 as a communication result file 06 in the storage device 07. When the accumulation of the communication result file 06 is completed, the request file 04
A notification of completion 05 is sent to the portable terminal 03 in accordance with the response notification procedure in (6) (S67 in FIG. 6).

Regardless of whether or not the portable terminal 03 has received the completion notification 05, the portable terminal 03 receives the request from the request receiving server 02B by a user's receiving operation at an arbitrary timing.
And the request file 04 containing the reception request is transferred (S63 in FIG. 6). The request reception server 02B that has received the request file 04 including the reception request acquires the communication result file 06 from the storage device 07, and
(S64 in FIG. 6).

Next, the operations of the request receiving server 02B and the communication proxy server 02A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the request receiving server 02B. FIG. 7B shows the communication proxy server 02A.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7A, the request reception proxy server 02B is waiting for communication with the mobile terminal 03 (S71 in FIG. 7A), and the mobile terminal 0
When the communication with No. 3 is started (S72 in FIG. 7A), the reception of the request file 04 is started (S73 in FIG. 7A), and it is checked whether or not there is a previous request for receiving the communication result file 06 (S72). FIG. 7 (a) S74), the previous communication result file 06
(S74Y in FIG. 7A), the previous communication result file 06 is transmitted to the portable terminal 03 (FIG. 7A).
(A) S75), deleting the request file 04 (FIG. 7)
(A) S76), the request receiving server 02B is the mobile terminal 03
The communication with is terminated (S77 in FIG. 7A).

If there is no previous request to receive the communication result file 06 (S74N in FIG. 7A), the request receiving server 0
2B ends the communication with the portable terminal 03 (S in FIG. 7A).
77) and returns to waiting for communication with the portable terminal 03 (FIG. 7).
(A) S71).

Referring to FIG. 7B, the communication proxy server 02A is waiting for storing the request file 04 (S81 in FIG. 7B), and the request file 04 is stored in the storage device 0.
7, the communication with the mail server 01 is started (S82 in FIG. 7B).

If there is an outgoing mail in the request file 04 (S83Y in FIG. 7B), the communication proxy server 02A sends the outgoing mail to the mail server 01 (S7 in FIG. 7B).
84). If there is a reception condition in the request file 04 (S86Y in FIG. 7B), the communication proxy server 02A searches for and receives a mail in the mail server 01 (S8 in FIG. 7B).
6). If there is a response notification procedure in the request file 04 (S87Y in FIG. 7B), a completion notification 05 is notified to the portable terminal 03 according to the response notification procedure (S8 in FIG. 7B).
8).

Thereafter, the communication proxy server 02A terminates the communication with the mail server 01 (S89 in FIG. 7B) and waits for the storage of a new request file 04 (S81 in FIG. 7B).

Needless to say, the numbers of the mail server 01 and the portable terminal 03 are not limited.

[0053]

The effect of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the effect of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the first effect of the present invention is that the communication cost when sending and receiving electronic mail from a mobile terminal can be reduced. The reason is that the transmission process of e-mail to the mail server, which previously required communication time, is performed on a low-cost line, and only the necessary data is transferred on the high-cost line. This is because it is greatly reduced. This effect is more remarkable as the difference between the communication cost on the high-cost line and the communication cost on the low-cost line is larger and the response of the mail server during communication is lower (on the mail server side).

[0054]

[0055]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a communication proxy server.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing communication time and communication cost.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a request receiving server and a communication proxy server.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the effect of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 01 mail server 02 communication proxy server 02A communication proxy server 02B request reception server 03 mobile terminal 04 request file 04a request file 05 completion notification 06 communication result file

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mail server for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail, a mobile terminal, a communication proxy server having a storage device and relaying the mail server and the mobile terminal, and the mail server and the communication proxy server. An electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system comprising: a first communication network to be connected; and a second communication network to connect the mobile terminal and the communication proxy server, wherein the communication proxy server is connected from the mobile terminal. Authentication information for identifying the mail server to be a partner, reception information indicating conditions of received e-mail received by the portable terminal, transmitted e-mail to be transmitted, or communication result file
Means for notifying the portable terminal that the file is ready
When the first request file including the response notification procedure information indicating is sent via the second communication network, the communication proxy server receiving the first request file, the transmission electron to the request file If the mail exists, the transmission electronic mail is transmitted to the mail server via the first communication network, and if the reception condition exists, the mail server sends the first communication network according to the reception condition. receiving a received e-mail via, stored in the storage device as the communication result file, if it exists the response notification procedure information, e-mail transmission and reception and transmits the completion notification to the mobile terminal Equipment system. 2. When the portable terminal transmits a second request file including a reception request indicating the transmission of the authentication information and the communication result file, the communication proxy server receives the second request file. Transmitting the communication result file stored in the storage device to the mobile terminal. 3. The electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a communication cost of the first communication network is lower than a communication cost of the second communication network. 4. A mail server for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail, a mobile terminal, a communication proxy server connected to the mail server by a first communication network, and a communication proxy server connected to the mobile terminal by a second communication network. An electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system comprising a request reception server, and a storage device shared by the communication proxy server and the request reception server, wherein the mobile terminal communicates with the communication proxy server from the mail. Authentication information for identifying a server, reception information indicating conditions of received e-mail received by the portable terminal, transmitted e-mail to be transmitted, or communication result file
Means for notifying the portable terminal that the file is ready
When the first request file including the response notification procedure information indicating is sent via the second communication network, wherein the request receiving server receiving the first request file, the said first request file Stored in a storage device, the communication proxy server reads the first request file in the storage device, and if the transmission e-mail exists in the request file, the transmission e-mail is stored in the first
Via the communication network transmits to the mail server, if the receiving condition is present, it receives the incoming e-mail via the first communication network from the mail server according to the reception condition, the communication result file If the response notification procedure information is present, the completion notification is transmitted to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal includes the authentication information, and a reception request indicating a transmission request of the communication result file. When the second request file is transmitted, the request receiving server that has received the second request file transmits the communication result file stored in the storage device to the mobile terminal. Email sending and receiving device system. 5. The electronic mail transmitting / receiving system according to claim 4, wherein the communication cost of the first communication network is lower than the communication cost of the second communication network. 6. An electronic mail transmitting / receiving apparatus system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said mobile terminals or said mail server exist.