JP3814991B2 - E-mail editing apparatus and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an e-mail editing apparatus that edits e-mail data including special characters that are not defined in a common character code between an e-mail transmission side and a reception side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, exchange of electronic mail via an intranet or the Internet has been popular. In addition, exchange of electronic mail between different models (for example, between Windows machines, Macintosh machines, UNIX machines, etc.) using different character codes (for example, Shift JIS, JIS, EUC, etc.) is also actively performed.
[0003]
Conventionally, if the character code is different between the sending side and the receiving side of the e-mail, the e-mail receiving side automatically determines the type of character code used and matches the model of the receiving side. By converting to character codes, garbled emails are avoided.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, among the plurality of types of character codes, there is a character code of an undefined area where the correspondence between the character and the character code is not generalized, and a special character (for example, “▲ 1 ▼ ▲ 2 ▼) is included in the code of this region. In many cases, a circled letter “...” and a Roman numeral “III ...” are associated with each other.
[0005]
In the exchange of e-mail between the different models, if such special characters are included in the e-mail, there is a problem that the character code is not converted into the corresponding character.
[0006]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is an e-mail editing apparatus that does not cause garbled characters even when special characters in character codes in undefined areas where correspondence between characters and character codes is not generalized are used. Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium that allows a computer to perform this process.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an invention described in claim 1 is an electronic mail editing apparatus for editing mail data including special characters not defined in a common character code on an electronic mail transmission side and a reception side. A code conversion table indicating a correspondence relationship between a character code used in a different type of editing device that edits mail data and a character code used in the electronic mail editing device, as the character code of the special character; And a storage means for storing a code-type correspondence table indicating the correspondence between different types of editing devices for editing mail data and the character codes of the special characters used in the editing device, and an arbitrary transmission partner Extracting means for extracting the first character code of each paragraph of the e-mail received from the e-mail, and referring to the code-type correspondence table for the extracted character code And a type determination unit for determining the type of the editing device of the transmission partner, and a character code of the special character included in the received e-mail when the editing device of the transmission partner is determined by the type determination unit. And a received mail code converting means for converting the received mail into a character code corresponding to the electronic mail editing apparatus using the code conversion table.
[0008]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if a special character that is not defined as a common character code is included in the received e-mail, the character code at the beginning of each paragraph in the e-mail data Based on the above, the type discriminating means collates with the code-type correspondence table to discriminate the type of the editing apparatus of the transmission partner, and then the received mail code converting means is written in the e-mail according to the code conversion table. The character code of the special character is converted into a character code corresponding to the electronic mail editing apparatus. Therefore, even a special character that is not defined as a common character code can be displayed and output without being garbled. Further, since the extraction of the character code of the special character is not performed on the entire mail data but only on the first character data of each paragraph in which the special character is likely to be used, the processing speed can be improved. In addition, since the data related to the other party of the e-mail is not necessary for the above processing, the necessary data amount can be kept small even when the number of the other party is large and small. Here, it is preferable that the character code used for the type determination is a character code (for example, a circled character or a Roman numeral) that is often used at the beginning of a sentence. The discrimination can be performed reliably and efficiently.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 2 is the claim of claim 1 The character code conversion by the received mail code conversion means is performed at the time of receiving an e-mail or reading out an e-mail.
[0010]
If the conversion of the character code is performed at the time of reception as in the second aspect of the invention, it is not necessary to repeat the conversion process each time when reading, and the processing efficiency is improved. If done, the character code of the e-mail is stored as it is from the reception to the reading of the e-mail, so that highly reliable data management can be performed.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the electronic mail editing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.
[0022]
The electronic mail editing apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2, a display unit 3, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 4, an input device 5 such as a keyboard, a pointing device 6 such as a mouse, a communication interface 7, and a storage A special character (for example, a character code is not defined between different models (Windows machine, Macintosh machine, UNIX machine), which is configured by connecting a storage device 8 or the like having a medium 8a via a bus 10. It has a function for handling “(1), (2) ...” and “III ...” Roman numerals, etc.) in an e-mail without being garbled.
The electronic mail editing apparatus 1 is connected to an arbitrary computer network through a communication interface 7 and can exchange electronic mail with each computer in the network through a mail server 100 in the network.
[0023]
The CPU 2 uses the work area of the RAM 4 according to the control program and control data stored in the storage device 8 and performs various arithmetic processes, data input processing from the input device 5 and the pointing device 6, and the display unit 3. Display data output processing and control of each part of the electronic mail editing apparatus 1 are performed.
[0024]
The storage device 8 stores control data and control programs such as e-mail transmission / reception processing for transmitting / receiving e-mail to / from the mail server 100 and mail editing processing for creating / editing mail data. The control program and control data of the code conversion process for converting the character code of the special character are stored.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows a data chart as an example of control data used in the code conversion process.
[0026]
The control data used in the code conversion process includes a character code conversion table shown in FIG. 2A and a target list (type correspondence table) shown in FIG.
[0027]
The character code conversion table is data indicating the correspondence between the character codes of special characters used in different models and the character codes of special characters used in the electronic mail editing apparatus. In FIG. 2A, “A” and “B” in the “model” column use different models from the e-mail editing apparatus 1, and the data in the “character code” column is used in the model shown in the same row. The data in the column “correction code” of the character code of the special character to be displayed indicates the character code corresponding to the special character used in this model.
[0028]
The target list is data indicating a correspondence relationship between a mail address of a partner who exchanges electronic mail and a model of the electronic mail editing apparatus used by the partner.
[0029]
These character code conversion tables and type correspondence tables allow users to add data. For example, when a new special character is found, the character code and correction code corresponding to this special character Is added to the character code conversion table to avoid garbled special characters. In addition, when you know the recipient of the email and the model of that partner, you can avoid garbled special characters by adding the recipient's email address and model data to the target list. It is possible to plan.
[0030]
The storage device 8 has a storage medium 8a in which the above programs, data, and the like are stored in advance, and the storage medium 8a is configured by a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory. This storage medium 8a is fixed to the storage device 8, or is detachably mounted. The program and data stored in the storage medium 8a are provided with a storage device provided with the storage medium on the other device side connected via a communication line or the like, and the program stored in the storage medium You may make it the structure which uses data via a communication line.
[0031]
Next, an outline of the module configuration related to the email processing executed by the email editing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a module block diagram showing an outline of the module configuration.
[0032]
Processing related to electronic mail is mainly performed by the mail editing module M1, the mail reception module M2, and the mail transmission module M3. These modules are executed by the CPU 2 based on each module software (control program and control data) stored in the storage device 8.
[0033]
The mail editing module M1 is module software for creating, displaying, and editing electronic mail. This module creates e-mails to be sent (input of partner address, title, body text, etc.) and displays received e-mails. The received mail reading process in the mail editing module M1 includes a received mail code conversion process which is a feature of the present invention, and the character code of the special character is a code corresponding to the model of the electronic mail editing apparatus 1. It is supposed to convert to.
[0034]
The mail receiving module M2 is a module that downloads a received mail from the mail server 100 via the communication interface 7 and saves the mail data of the received mail in a predetermined file in the storage device 8 by a user instruction operation. In the mail receiving module M2, when the user gives a predetermined instruction operation, the mail editing module M1 is activated, and the received mail data selected by the user is delivered to the mail editing module M1. The contents are displayed and output on the display unit 3.
[0035]
The mail transmission module M3 is a module for transmitting the electronic mail created by the mail editing module M1, and the user performs a predetermined instruction operation (for example, selection of a menu command using the pointing device 6 or the like) in the mail editing module M1. ), The mail data is delivered from the mail editing module M1, and the mail transmission process is started. The mail transmission module M3 includes a code conversion process for outgoing mail, which is a feature of the present invention, and converts a character code of a special character into a code corresponding to the model of the transmission partner. .
[0036]
Next, processing related to electronic mail performed in the electronic mail editing apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0037]
When a user transmits an e-mail, first, the user activates the mail editing module M1 to create an e-mail to be transmitted. The e-mail is created by inputting (or selecting) a destination e-mail address, inputting a title, inputting a body text, and the like, as in the past. The created e-mail is automatically attached with the e-mail address and transmission time of the sender.
[0038]
When the user performs an email transmission instruction operation after the completion of the creation of the email, the email transmission module M3 starts the email transmission process.
[0039]
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the mail transmission process performed by the mail transmission module M3. A program for realizing each function described in this flowchart is stored in the storage medium 8a in the form of a program code readable by the CPU 2.
[0040]
When the mail transmission process is started, first, in step S1, a mail address of a transmission destination is searched and acquired from the mail data, and the process proceeds to step S2.
[0041]
In step S2, the mail address acquired in step S1 is collated with the target list stored in the storage device 8 (FIG. 2B), and whether the above-mentioned mail address is included in the item “destination address”. Determine whether or not. As a result, if it is included, the model data corresponding to the mail address is acquired from the target list and the process proceeds to step S3. If not included, the process jumps to step S4 as it is.
[0042]
When the process proceeds to step S3, the character code of the special character included in the mail data using the code conversion data corresponding to the model data acquired in step S2 from the character code conversion table (FIG. 2A). Is replaced with a correction code, and the process proceeds to step S4.
[0043]
In step S4, the mail data code-converted in step S3 or the original mail data that has not been code-converted by jumping to the processing in step S3 in the discrimination process in step S2 is sent to the mail server 100 (or The process is stored in the storage area for transmission), and this process is terminated.
[0044]
That is, the above-described steps S1 to S3 constitute the outgoing mail code conversion means, and the character code of the special character included in the mail data matches the character code of the electronic mail editing apparatus 1 with the model of the transmission destination. It is converted to the character code.
[0045]
The reception of the e-mail is started when the mail receiving module M2 is set to automatically receive the mail at a predetermined time or when the user performs an instruction to receive the mail. Email data sent to the address is automatically downloaded and stored in a predetermined storage area.
[0046]
The process of reading the received e-mail is started when the user first activates the mail editing module M1 and then performs an operation of selecting and reading out the e-mail to be read.
[0047]
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the mail reading process performed by the mail editing module M1. A program for realizing each function described in this flowchart is stored in the storage medium 8a in the form of a program code readable by the CPU 2.
[0048]
When the mail reading process is started, first, in step S10, mail data stored in the storage device 8 is read into the work area of the RAM 4, and the process proceeds to step S11.
[0049]
In step S11, the mail address data of the sender is searched and acquired from the mail data, and the process proceeds to step S12.
[0050]
In step S12, the mail address acquired in step S11 is collated with the target list (FIG. 2B), and it is determined whether or not this mail address is included in the item “destination address”. As a result, if it is included, the model data corresponding to the mail address is acquired from the target list and the process proceeds to step S13. If not included, the process jumps to step S14 as it is.
[0051]
When the process proceeds to step S13, the character code of the special character included in the mail data using the code conversion data corresponding to the model data acquired in step S12 from the character code conversion table (FIG. 2A). Is replaced with a correction code, and the process proceeds to step S14.
[0052]
In step S14, the mail data code-converted in step S13 or the original mail data that has not been code-converted by jumping to the processing in step S13 in the discrimination process in step S12 is converted into image data and displayed on the display unit 3. This process is terminated.
[0053]
That is, the above-described steps S11 to S13 constitute the code conversion means for received mail, and the character code of the special character included in the mail data corresponds to the electronic mail editing apparatus 1 from the character code of the model of the transmission destination. It is converted to the character code.
[0054]
As described above, according to the electronic mail editing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, special characters that are not defined as common character codes (for example, circled characters and Roman numerals) are included in the received electronic mail. Even in such a case, the character code of the special character written in the e-mail is converted into the character code corresponding to the e-mail editing device 1 by the above-described received mail code converting means (the processing in steps S11 to S13). Is done. Therefore, even if a special character is not defined as a common character code, the electronic mail can be displayed and output without being garbled.
[0055]
Even if the special character is included in the e-mail to be transmitted, the code conversion means for the e-mail (the processing in steps S1 to S3) performs the special character character written in the e-mail. The code is converted into a character code corresponding to the editing device of the transmission partner. Therefore, even if a special character that is not defined as a common character code is included, it is possible to transmit an e-mail that is not garbled.
[0056]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the electronic mail editing apparatus 1 of this embodiment. For example, special characters that are not defined between different models as special characters but are commonly defined between the same models. Characters (for example, (1), (2) ... round letters, III ... Roman numerals, etc.) have been illustrated, but other special characters that are not defined in common among the same models, such as user-defined characters, The same processing can be performed by registering the same character between the user on the sending side and the receiving side.
[0057]
The timing of code conversion of received mail is not limited to the time of mail reading shown in this embodiment, but may be performed when mail is downloaded from the mail server 100 by the mail receiving module M2 (at the time of mail reception). good. By doing so, it is not necessary to perform code conversion every time when reading, and the processing speed can be improved.
[0058]
[Second Embodiment]
The e-mail editing apparatus according to the second embodiment can automatically convert special characters without using the target list (FIG. 2B) shown in the first embodiment, for example. In addition, the internal configuration and the module configuration related to electronic mail are almost the same as those of the electronic mail editing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations and functions, and the description thereof is omitted, and only different configurations and functions will be described.
[0059]
The storage device 8 of the electronic mail editing apparatus of this embodiment stores a predetermined code list (code-type correspondence table) used in the automatic conversion function.
[0060]
FIG. 6 shows a data chart of the predetermined code list.
[0061]
This predetermined code list is used to estimate the model from the character code used in the mail data, and is a list in which the character codes of special characters used in different models are associated with the model. As the character code data, for example, a special character code such as a round numeral or Roman numeral such as “(1), I” which is highly likely to be used at the beginning of a sentence is used.
[0062]
The automatic conversion function (automatic conversion process) is provided in, for example, the mail editing module M1, and the mail data is read from the storage device 8 after the user performs an instruction operation to instruct reading of the received mail in the mail editing module M1. It starts when it is read into the work area of the RAM 4.
[0063]
FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the automatic conversion process performed by the mail editing module M1.
[0064]
When the automatic conversion process is started, first, in step S15, the character code at the beginning of each paragraph in the mail data read into the work area is extracted and stored in a predetermined work area, and the process proceeds to step S16. To do. That is, the process in step S15 functions as an extraction unit.
[0065]
In step S16, the character code stored in step S15 is checked against the predetermined code list to determine whether or not the character code is included in the item “character code”. As a result, if it is included, the process proceeds to step S17. If it is not included, the automatic conversion process is terminated and the process returns to the next process of the mail display output. That is, the process of step S16 functions as an automatic search means.
[0066]
In step S17, model data corresponding to the character code is acquired from the corresponding code list, this model is determined to be the model of the transmission source, and the process proceeds to step S18. That is, this step S17 functions as a type determination means.
[0067]
In step S18, the character code of the special character included in the mail data is replaced with the correction code using the code conversion data corresponding to the model determined in step S17 from the character code conversion table (FIG. 2A). The process is terminated. Then, the process returns to the next process of the mail display output.
[0068]
In other words, after searching for the character code of special characters in the mail data by the above automatic conversion process, the sender model is determined from this character code, and then this email is edited from the character code of the model of the determination result It is converted to the character code of the device. Further, the search for the character code of the special character is not performed in the entire mail data, but is performed only in the data of the first character of each paragraph in which the special character is likely to be used, so that the processing speed is improved.
[0069]
After the automatic conversion process is completed, a process for displaying and outputting the mail data after the code conversion is performed, and even the special characters are displayed on the display device 3 without being garbled.
[0070]
As described above, according to the e-mail editing apparatus of this embodiment, even if a special character is included in the received e-mail, an undefined character code in the e-mail data is obtained by the automatic conversion process. Is automatically searched, the corresponding code list is checked based on this undefined character code, the recipient's model is determined, and then the character code of the special character written in the e-mail according to the code conversion table is determined. Since the character code corresponding to the electronic mail editing apparatus is converted, even if the special character is not defined as a common character code, the electronic mail can be displayed and output without being garbled. Furthermore, according to this automatic conversion process, data relating to the other party of the e-mail is not required, so that even when there are a large number of other parties, the necessary data amount can be kept small.
[0071]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the electronic mail editing apparatus according to this embodiment. For example, the automatic conversion process may be performed at the time of receiving an e-mail in addition to the reading of the received mail. In addition, the detailed configuration and processing content specifically shown can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0072]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, even if a special character that is not defined as a common character code is included in the received e-mail, the type is based on the character code at the beginning of each paragraph in the e-mail data. The discriminating means collates the code-type correspondence table to discriminate the type of the editing device of the transmission partner, and then the received mail code converting means follows the code conversion table and the character code of the special character written in the e-mail Is converted into a character code corresponding to the electronic mail editing apparatus. Therefore, even a special character that is not defined as a common character code can be displayed and output without being garbled. Further, since the extraction of the character code of the special character is not performed on the entire mail data but only on the first character data of each paragraph in which the special character is likely to be used, the processing speed can be improved. In addition, since the data related to the other party of the e-mail is not necessary for the above processing, the necessary data amount can be kept small even when the number of the other party is large and small. Here, it is preferable that the character code used for the type determination is a character code (for example, a circled character or a Roman numeral) that is often used at the beginning of a sentence. The discrimination can be performed reliably and efficiently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an electronic mail editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a data configuration used in a character code conversion process, where (a) is a data chart of a character code conversion table, and (b) is a data chart of a target list (type correspondence table).
3 is a module block diagram showing a module configuration related to processing of an e-mail in the e-mail transmission apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of mail transmission processing performed by a control unit of the electronic mail editing apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of mail reading processing performed by a control unit of the electronic mail editing apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a data chart showing a data configuration of a corresponding code list (code-type correspondence table) used in automatic conversion processing;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of automatic conversion processing performed by a control unit of the electronic mail editing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 E-mail editing device
2 CPU
3 Display section
4 RAM
5 input devices
6 pointing devices
7 Communication interface
8 Storage device
8a storage media
100 mail server
M1 mail editing module
M2 mail receiving module
M3 mail sending module

Claims (3)

An email editing device that edits email data including special characters that are not defined in a common character code on the email sending side and the receiving side,
As the special character code, a code conversion table indicating correspondence between a character code used in a different type of editing device that edits mail data and a character code used in the electronic mail editing device, and mail data Storage means for respectively storing a code-type correspondence table indicating a correspondence relationship between different types of editing devices that perform editing and character codes of the special characters used in the editing device;
An extraction means for extracting a character code at the beginning of each paragraph of an email received from an arbitrary transmission partner;
A type discriminating means for discriminating the type of the editing apparatus of the transmission partner by comparing the extracted character code with the code-type correspondence table;
When the editing device of the transmission partner is determined by the type determining means, the character code of the special character included in the received e-mail is converted to the character code corresponding to the e-mail editing device using the code conversion table. An email editing apparatus comprising: a received mail code converting means for converting into a received mail.   2. The electronic mail editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion of the character code by the received mail code conversion means is performed when an electronic mail is received or when an electronic mail is read. A computer used for an e-mail editing device that edits e-mail data including special characters that are not defined in a common character code between the e-mail sending side and the receiving side,
As the special character code, a code conversion table indicating correspondence between a character code used in a different type of editing device that edits mail data and a character code used in the electronic mail editing device, and mail data Storage means for respectively storing a code-type correspondence table indicating a correspondence relationship between different types of editing apparatuses that perform editing and character codes of the special characters used in the editing apparatus;
Extraction means for extracting the character code at the beginning of each paragraph of an email received from an arbitrary transmission partner;
A type discriminating means for discriminating the type of the editing device of the transmission partner by collating the extracted character code with the code-type correspondence table;
When the editing device of the transmission partner is determined by the type determining means, the character code of the special character included in the received e-mail is converted to the character code corresponding to the e-mail editing device using the code conversion table. A computer-readable storage medium having recorded thereon a program for functioning as a received mail code converting means for converting into a received mail .

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