JP5884819B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program, and in particular, leaves an e-mail that includes characters before thread division information and duplicates the e-mail to separate it from the e-mail. By generating header email information for the child email and setting the header information of the child email so that the child email of the remaining email and the generated email are in the same thread. The present invention relates to a technique for allowing a user to efficiently check an e-mail.

  Conventionally, when it is desired to view each electronic mail and confirm the history of a certain topic, each electronic mail is displayed as a thread and confirmed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes to display an email as a thread for each sender.

JP 2010-198143 A

  As described above, when it is desired to efficiently confirm the history of a certain topic by confirming the electronic mail, it is desirable that only one topic is described in each electronic mail of one thread.

  However, in the past, the topic may have changed in the middle of each e-mail in the same thread, and even if each e-mail in one thread is confirmed, the history of one topic can be efficiently confirmed. It was difficult.

  For this reason, in order to efficiently confirm the background of a certain topic, it is conceivable that when a topic changes in the middle of one thread, the thread is managed separately for each topic.

  However, for example, when the topic A is changed to the topic B in the middle of the mail in a certain thread, the topic A and the topic B are included in the email data (text or attached file) in which the topic just switches in the thread. (For example, the mail text in FIG. 16).

  In such a case, if the electronic mail in the same thread is simply separated, the mail disappears in the separation source thread, and therefore, there is a possibility that content may be lost in the separation source thread.

  Further, after changing from topic A to topic B, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, as shown in FIG. When returning to the topic A, managing the e-mail as a thread of the original topic A has not been disclosed so far, and the e-mail could not be efficiently confirmed.

An object of the present invention is to leave an email containing characters before the thread division information, and to duplicate the email to generate an email of a thread different from the email, By setting the header information of the child email and dividing the thread so that the generated email and the generated email are in the same thread , the user can efficiently check the email It is to provide a mechanism that can do.

The present invention divides a memory means for storing a plurality of e-mail of the same thread, instructed e-mail to split threads, and a receiving unit for receiving a user instruction to divide the thread, the thread by said receiving means When an instruction is received, a dividing unit that divides a thread composed of the plurality of e-mails stored in the storage unit by an e-mail that has received the instruction by the receiving unit, and an instruction by the receiving unit Division determination means for determining whether the body text of the received email or the attached file includes thread division information used for determining whether to duplicate the email and divide the thread, and the division determination Means that the thread division information is determined to be included in the body of the e-mail or attached file A character determination unit that determines whether a character is included before the thread division information; and the character determination unit determines that the character is included before the thread division information. The generation means for generating an e-mail of a thread different from the e-mail by copying the e-mail and including the character before the thread division information by the character determination means Specifying means for identifying a child mail of the e-mail that is determined to be included, and the dividing means adds the instruction to the body of the e-mail received by the receiving means or the attached file by the dividing determining means. On the condition that it is determined that thread division information is included, the e-mail generated by the generating unit, the child mail specified by the specifying unit, So that the same thread, and sets the email header information specified by the specifying means, characterized by dividing the thread constituted by the plurality of e-mail stored in the storage means .

The present invention is also a method of controlling an information processing apparatus including a storage unit that stores a plurality of electronic mails of the same thread, wherein the reception unit divides the thread and the instruction of the electronic mail for dividing the thread. an accepting step of accepting an instruction to the user, dividing means, when receiving an instruction to divide the thread by said receiving step, the thread formed by the plurality of e-mail stored in the storage means, said reception The division step of dividing by the e-mail that received the instruction in the step, and whether the division determination means divides the thread by copying the e-mail to the body of the e-mail received in the reception step or the attached file A division determination step for determining whether thread division information used for determining whether or not the character determination means includes the division determination step; A character determination step for determining whether or not a character is included before the thread division information of the body of the e-mail or the attached file that is determined to include the thread division information in the step; In the character determination step, if it is determined that the character is included before the thread division information, the electronic mail is left and the electronic mail is duplicated to be a thread different from the electronic mail A generating step for generating the e-mail, and a specifying unit for specifying a child mail of the e-mail that has been determined in the character determining step to include a character before the thread division information. In the division step, the thread division information is included in the body of the e-mail or the attached file in which the instruction is received in the reception step in the division determination step. On the condition that it is determined, the header information of the child mail specified in the specifying step is set so that the e-mail generated in the generating step and the child mail specified in the specifying step are in the same thread. A thread configured by the plurality of electronic mails stored in the storage unit is divided and set.

Further, the present invention is a program that can be read and executed by an information processing apparatus including a storage unit that stores a plurality of e-mails of the same thread, the information processing apparatus having an e-mail instruction for dividing a thread, and A receiving unit that receives an instruction to divide the thread by a user, and a thread that is configured by the plurality of emails stored in the storage unit when the instruction to divide the thread is received by the receiving unit ; In order to determine whether to split the thread by copying the email into the body of the email or the attached file of the email received by the receiving means and the splitting means for splitting by the email received by the receiving means The division determination means for determining whether the thread division information used in the is included, and the division determination means By the character determination means for determining whether the text is included before the thread division information of the body of the e-mail or the attached file that is determined to include red division information, and the character determination means, Generating to generate an email of a thread other than the email by leaving the email and duplicating the email when it is determined that a character is included before the thread division information And a means for specifying a child mail of the e-mail that has been determined by the character determination means to contain a character before the thread division information. The division means If it is determined by the means that the thread division information is included in the body of the e-mail received by the accepting means or the attached file. The header information of the child mail specified by the specifying means is set so that the e-mail generated by the generating means and the child mail specified by the specifying means are in the same thread, and the storage A thread constituted by the plurality of electronic mails stored in the means is divided .

According to the present invention, an e-mail including characters before the thread division information is left, and the e-mail is duplicated to generate an e-mail of a thread different from the e-mail. By setting the header information of the child email and dividing the thread so that the generated email and the generated email are in the same thread , the user can efficiently check the email Can do.

It is a figure showing an example of a system configuration figure of an information processing system concerning an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable to the electronic mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103 illustrated in FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart for performing control processing in the server 100, the e-mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a thread separation keyword 501. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the exclusion keyword 511. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a thread management table for managing e-mail threads stored in a memory of a client terminal 101. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a mail list screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a mail list screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a mail list screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a mail list screen. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart for performing control processing in the server 100, the e-mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart for performing control processing in the server 100, the e-mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a thread combination keyword 502. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the thread management information produced | generated by performing the process of step S1404. It is a figure which shows an example of the mail list screen displayed according to the thread management information (D) shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the text of the email 412 and the email 413. FIG.

Hereinafter, an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
The first embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an e-mail server 100, a client terminal 101, and a client terminal 103 are connected via a network 102 so that they can communicate with each other.

  An e-mail addressed to the client terminal 103 transmitted from the client terminal 101 (e-mail is also simply referred to as e-mail) is transmitted to the client terminal 103 which is a transmission destination via the e-mail server 100.

  Similarly, an e-mail addressed to the client terminal 101 transmitted from the client terminal 103 is transmitted to the client terminal 101 as a transmission destination via the e-mail server 100.

  As described above, the client terminal 101 can send and receive electronic mails to and from the client terminal 103, and can send an electronic mail (reply mail) in response to the electronic mail received from the client terminal 103 to the client terminal 103. Is possible.

  Similarly, the client terminal 103 can send and receive e-mails to and from the client terminal 101, and send a reply e-mail (reply mail) to the e-mail received from the client terminal 101 to the client terminal 101. Is possible.

  Emails to be transmitted and received are stored in the memory of the client terminal 101 and the client terminal 103. Also in the electronic mail server 100, when relaying an electronic mail, it is possible to store the transmitted / received electronic mail in a memory.

  The e-mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103 are application examples of the information processing apparatus of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable to the electronic mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus applicable to the electronic mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103 illustrated in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU that comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204. Further, the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 is necessary to realize a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as an OS), which is a control program of the CPU 201, or a function executed by each server or each PC. Various programs to be described later are stored.

  A RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program or the like necessary for execution of processing from the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 into the RAM 203 and executing the loaded program.

  An input controller 205 controls input from an input device such as a keyboard (KB) 209 or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown). A video controller 206 controls display on a display 210 such as a liquid crystal display. The display 210 is a touch panel and functions as an input device that can be operated by pressing a screen on the display.

  A memory controller 207 is provided in an external storage device (hard disk (HD)), flexible disk (FD), or PCMCIA card slot for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like. Controls access to an external memory 211 such as a compact flash (registered trademark) memory connected via an adapter.

  A communication I / F controller 208 connects and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing on the network. For example, communication using TCP / IP is possible.

  Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the display 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. Further, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display 210.

  Various programs to be described later for realizing the present invention are recorded in the external memory 211 and executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 203 as necessary. Furthermore, definition files and various information tables used when executing the program are also stored in the external memory 211, and a detailed description thereof will be described later.

  Next, a flowchart for performing control processing in the electronic mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart for performing control processing in the server 100, the email server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103.

  The processing of each step shown in FIG. 3 can be executed by the e-mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103. Here, as an example, the processing will be described as being executed by the client terminal 101.

  The process of each step shown in FIG. 3 is executed and executed by the CPU 201 of the client terminal 101.

  The client terminal 101 stores e-mails transmitted and received with other devices such as the client terminal 103 in a memory such as the external memory 211 of the client terminal.

  That is, the client terminal 101 stores a plurality of emails of the same thread in a memory (storage means).

  The client terminal 101 shows the value of Message-ID and the value of In-Reply-To included in the header information of each email stored in the memory, as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6A shows a table of Message-ID values and In-Reply-To values for managing e-mails of the same thread stored in the memory of the client terminal 101.

  6A is a diagram showing an example of a thread management table for managing e-mail threads stored in the memory of the client terminal 101. FIG.

  The thread management table shown in FIG. 6A includes items “No.”, “Message-ID”, and “In-Reply-To”.

  In the item “No.”, a value indicating the number of the record specifying the electronic mail managed by the thread management table is stored.

  The item “Message-ID” stores a generally known Message-ID value for uniquely identifying an e-mail.

  The item “In-Reply-To” is a value stored for the reply mail, and stores the value of Message-ID of the reply source electronic mail (parent mail) for the reply mail.

  Therefore, by checking the value of “Message-ID” and the value of “In-Reply-To” of each record of the thread management table, it is determined which email is a reply email to which parent email. Is possible.

  For example, the e-mail 521, the e-mail 522, and the e-mail 523 have a parent-child relationship.

  That is, “Message-ID” of the e-mail 521 is set in “In-Reply-To” of the e-mail 522.

  In addition, “Message-ID” of the e-mail 522 is set in “In-Reply-To” of the e-mail 523.

  Therefore, the e-mail 521 is the parent mail, the reply mail for the parent mail is the electronic mail 522 (child mail), and the reply mail for the child mail is the electronic mail 523. In this way, the parent-child relationship of each email thread can be determined from “Message-ID” and “In-Reply-To”.

  Before the processing shown in FIG. 3 is executed, the thread management table shown in FIG. 6A is stored in the memory of the client terminal 101.

  Further, the thread separation keyword 501 shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the memory of the client terminal 101 in advance.

  The thread separation keyword 501 is an application example of thread division information that is a condition for dividing a thread according to the present invention.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the thread separation keyword 501.

  The thread separation keyword 501 shown in FIG. 4 is registered in advance by a user operation before executing the processing shown in FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 4, “By the way” and “Now” are stored as the thread separation keywords 501.

  The thread separation keyword 501 executes thread separation processing on an email to be subjected to thread separation processing, or copies the target email to generate an email to generate an email. Used to determine whether to perform separation processing.

  When the thread separation keyword 501 is present in the body of the email or in the attached file, the content before the thread separation keyword 501 in the body of the email or the attached file (data) and the email Is determined to be different from the content after the thread separation keyword 501 in the body text or the attached file (data).

Further, the exclusion keyword 511 shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the memory of the client terminal 101 in advance.
The exclusion keyword 511 is an application example of the exclusion information of the present invention.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the exclusion keyword 511.

  The exclusion keyword 511 shown in FIG. 5 is registered in advance by a user operation before the processing shown in FIG. 3 is executed.

  In the example of FIG. 5, “Thank you very much” and “Thank you for your help” are stored as the exclusion keywords 511.

  When the exclusion keyword 511 exists in the content of the email body or the attached file (data) before the thread separation keyword 501, and there is a wording between the exclusion keyword 511 and the thread separation keyword 501, It is possible to determine that the content of the text is different (less relevant) from the content after the thread separation keyword 501 in the body of the email or the attached file (data) with higher accuracy. It is.

  Since there are many cases where a greeting or the like is present at the beginning of the body of an e-mail or an attached file (data), such words are registered in advance as excluded keywords 511 and the excluded keywords 511 are excluded. If the sentence exists before the thread separation keyword 501 in the body of the electronic mail or the attached file (data), it is determined that the electronic mail is copied to generate an electronic mail and the thread separation processing is executed. To do. If the sentence excluding the exclusion keyword 511 does not exist before the thread separation keyword 501 in the body of the email or the attached file (data), the thread separation processing is performed without copying the email. Is determined to be executed.

  FIG. 6B shows an example of thread management information obtained when thread separation processing is executed without copying the e-mail 522 of FIG.

  That is, the e-mail 531 in FIG. 6B is the same record as the 521 in FIG. 6A, and the e-mail 533 in FIG. 6B is the same as that in FIG. Although the record is the same as 523, the e-mail 532 in FIG. 6B is not the same record as the e-mail 522 in FIG.

  That is, the e-mail 532 in FIG. 6B indicates that “In-Reply-To” of the e-mail 522 in FIG. 6A has been deleted. As described above, since the thread separation process is executed without copying the e-mail, the e-mail 531 in FIG. 6B, the e-mail 532 in FIG. 6B, and the B in FIG. This email is stored as an email of a thread different from that of the email 533.

  In this case, since the content of “In-Reply-To” of the e-mail 533 is not changed, the parent-child relationship (thread relationship) between the e-mail 532 and the e-mail 533 is maintained.

  FIG. 6C shows an example of thread management information obtained when copying the electronic mail 522 of FIG. 6A to generate an electronic mail and executing thread separation processing.

  That is, the e-mail 541 in FIG. 6C is the same record as the 521 in FIG. 6A, and the e-mail 542 in FIG. 6C is the same as that in FIG. Although the record is the same as 522, the e-mail 544 in FIG. 6C is not the same record as the e-mail 523 in FIG.

  That is, in the electronic mail 544 in FIG. 6C, “_Copy” is added to “In-Reply-To” in the electronic mail 523 in FIG.

  Further, “Message-ID” and “In-Reply-To” of the e-mail 543 generated by copying the e-mail 522 of FIG. 6A are added.

  At this time, “_Copy” is added to “Message-ID” of the email 522 in “Message-ID” of the email 543 generated by copying the email 522, and “In-Reply” of the email 543 is added. -To "has been deleted.

  That is, since the “Message-ID” of the email 543 generated by copying overlaps with the email 522 of the copy source, “_Copy” is added to the “Message-ID” of the email 522, and the email 543 “Message-ID”.

  In addition, in order to maintain the relationship between the e-mail 522 and the e-mail 523 that originally had a parent-child relationship, the contents of the “In-Reply-To” of the e-mail 544 are copied to the “Message- ID ”.

  First, when the processing shown in FIG. 3 is started, the client terminal 101 displays the mail list screen shown in FIG. 7 by using the thread management information (FIG. 6A) of each electronic mail stored in the memory. Displayed on a display unit 210 or the like.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mail list screen.

  The mail list screen (FIG. 7) is a list of each email and a display method for displaying each email as a thread (thread display) or a display method for displaying each email without displaying the thread (normal display) ) Are displayed, and a radio button 101 for receiving an instruction to perform an e-mail thread split process is displayed.

  Then, the selection of the radio button 101 by the user is accepted, and each e-mail is displayed by a display method in which each e-mail is displayed by thread display or each e-mail is displayed without performing thread display. Accepts the specification of.

  For example, when the thread display radio button 101 shown in FIG. 7 is pressed by the user, the mail list screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, there is a reply email 202 of the email 201, and an email 203 as a reply email of the email 202 is displayed in a thread.

  The mail list screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed by specifying the thread relationship of each electronic mail using the thread management information shown in FIG.

  Then, the client terminal 101 selects one of the displayed emails on the email list screen of FIG. 7 or 8 by the user, and the thread separation buttons 102 and 204 are displayed by the user. When pressed, the processing after step S301 is executed.

  First, the client terminal 101 acquires the thread separation keyword 501 stored in the memory (step S301).

  Then, the client terminal 101 determines whether the thread separation keyword 501 acquired in step S301 is included in the data (text or attached file) of the electronic mail selected by the user (division determination unit). (Step S302).

  If it is determined that the thread separation keyword 501 acquired in step S301 is included in the e-mail data (text or attached file) (YES), the process proceeds to step S303. If it is determined not to be included (NO), the process proceeds to step S312.

  Next, in step S312, the client terminal 101 performs thread separation processing, and performs thread separation processing between the electronic mail selected by the user and the parent mail of the electronic mail. That is, since the thread separation keyword 501 does not exist in the thread separation target email selected by the user, the thread separation processing is executed without copying the email selected by the user.

Specifically, it is performed by deleting “In-Reply-To” included in the mail header of the electronic mail selected by the user.
Step S312 is an application example of the dividing means of the present invention.

  Then, when the client terminal 101 executes the process of step S312, the process proceeds to step S313.

  If the client terminal 101 determines in step S302 that the thread separation keyword 501 acquired in step S301 is included in the email data (text or attached file) (YES), In step S303, it is determined whether or not there is a word before the thread separation keyword 501 in the body of the electronic mail or in the attached file (data) (character determination unit).

  If the client terminal 101 determines that no word exists before the thread separation keyword 501 (NO), the client terminal 101 starts from the beginning of the body of the email or attached file (data) that performs the current thread separation. The e-mail is determined to be an e-mail having a low relationship with the parent e-mail, and the process proceeds to step S312 to thread the e-mail to be subjected to the thread separation and the parent e-mail of the e-mail. Isolate.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the wording exists before the thread separation keyword 501 (YES), the client terminal 101 acquires the exclusion keyword 511 stored in the memory (step S304).

  In step S305, the client terminal 101 determines whether the exclusion keyword acquired in step S304 exists in the text existing before the thread separation keyword 501 in the body of the email or the attached file (data) (step S305). Exclusion determination means).

  If the client terminal 101 determines that the exclusion keyword acquired in step S304 does not exist in the word existing before the thread separation keyword 501 (step S305: NO), the client terminal 101 or the attached text Although the wording before the thread separation keyword 501 in the file (data) is highly related to the content of the parent mail of the electronic mail, the wording after the thread separation keyword 501 and the content of the parent mail of the electronic mail are high. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S307, where the electronic mail is copied to generate an electronic mail, and thread separation processing is executed.

  In addition, when it is determined that the exclusion keyword acquired in step S304 exists in the word existing before the thread separation keyword 501 (step S305: YES), the client terminal 101 changes the word before the thread separation keyword 501. It is determined that there is a high possibility of being only an excluded keyword, and the process proceeds to step S306.

  In step S306, the client terminal 101 determines whether there is another wording between the excluded keyword determined to be present in step S305 and the thread separation keyword determined to be present in step S302. (Determination means)

  If it is determined in step S306 that there is a wording between the excluded keyword and the thread separation keyword (YES), the client terminal 101 has a high relationship with the content of the parent mail text or the like. Since the determination can be made, the process proceeds to step S307, the electronic mail to be processed is copied to generate an electronic mail, and thread separation processing is executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S306 that no wording exists between the excluded keyword and the thread separation keyword (NO), the client terminal 101 determines that no wording exists between the exclusion keyword and the thread separation keyword. Since it is possible to determine that the word before the thread separation keyword is only the exclusion keyword, the process proceeds to step S312, and the thread separation process is executed without copying the e-mail. That is, the separation processing (step S312) of the currently selected e-mail and the parent mail to be subjected to thread separation is executed.

  In step S307, the client terminal 101 copies (duplicates) the selected email to be processed for thread separation, and newly creates an email (generation unit).

  Then, the client terminal 101 assigns a new “Message-ID” that does not overlap with other e-mails (step S308).

  In step S308, since the “Message-ID” of the copy-generated e-mail and the e-mail generated by copying are duplicated, a new “Message-ID” is adopted for the e-mail generated by copying. Number.

  Specifically, the “Message-ID” numbered in step S308 is performed by adding the word “_Copy” to the “Message-ID” of the email to be thread-separated.

  Then, the client terminal 101 updates and sets “Message-ID” numbered in step S308 to “Message-ID” in the header of the electronic mail (copy mail) generated in step S307 (step S309). ).

  The client terminal 101 then sends another e-mail of the same thread whose “Message-ID” is set to “In-Reply-To” (separation of the current processing target thread). (Sending mail of e-mail to be executed) is searched and specified (specifying means) (step S310).

  Here, if there is a child mail in the e-mail to be thread-separated, it is necessary to relink the child mail as a child mail of the copy mail.

  Next, in step S311, the client terminal 101 rewrites (updates) “In-Reply-TO” of the child mail searched in step S310 to “Message-ID” numbered in step S308. Set.

In this way, by rewriting “In-Reply-To” of the child mail to “Message-ID” of the copy mail, it is possible to re-associate the retrieved child mail with the copy mail and inherit the past thread. Become.
Steps S309 and S311 are application examples of the dividing means of the present invention.

  Then, when the client terminal 101 executes the process of step S311, the process proceeds to step S313.

  In step S313, the client terminal 101 uses the radio button 101 on the mail list screen of FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 to select a display method (thread display) for displaying each email as a thread. It is determined whether the display method (normal display) of the display method for displaying mail is selected.

  If it is determined that the display method (thread display) for displaying each email as a thread is selected, the process proceeds to step S317, and the relationship between the threads of each email is determined according to the thread management information shown in FIG. The mail list screen (FIGS. 9 and 10) for threading and displaying each electronic mail is displayed (step S317).

  9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating an example of a mail list screen that displays each electronic mail as a thread.

  FIG. 9 is a mail list screen displayed in step S317 after the email 202 in FIG. 8 is selected and the thread separation button 204 is pressed. In step S312, the thread is separated without copying the email. It is a figure which shows the mail list screen produced | generated according to the thread | sled management information of FIG. 6 (B) by which the process was performed (when the relevance is low in the content of a parent mail and a child mail).

  FIG. 10 is a mail list screen displayed in step S317 after the electronic mail 202 in FIG. 8 is selected and the thread separation button 204 is pressed, and the electronic mail is copied in steps S307 to S311. A mail list screen generated according to the thread management information of FIG. 6C generated by generating an email and executing thread separation processing (when the contents of the parent mail and the child mail are highly relevant) ).

  If it is determined that the display method (normal display) for displaying each e-mail without displaying the thread is selected, the client terminal 101 proceeds to step S314.

  In step S314, the client terminal 101 sets “_Copy” in “Message-ID” of the mail header from the thread management information of FIG. 6 generated by the processing from step S307 to step S311 or the processing in step S312. Search for emails that contain. That is, the copied electronic mail is searched.

  Here, when a display method (normal display) in which each email is displayed without thread display is selected, “Message-ID” of the email header is set to “Message-ID” in order to prevent the copy email from being displayed. A copy mail to which “_Copy” is assigned is searched.

  Then, the client terminal 101 performs setting to exclude the copy mail searched in step S314 from the display target (step S315), and displays, for example, a mail list screen shown in FIG. S316).

  For example, although the copy mail is included in the thread management information in FIG. 6C generated in step S307 to step S311, by executing the processing from step S314 to step S316, for example, as shown in FIG. The mail list screen can be displayed.

In this way, the user can select a display method (thread display) for displaying each email as a thread and a display method (normal display) for displaying each email without displaying the thread via the mail list screen of FIG. The display method can be switched according to the reception and selection.
Steps S634 and S635 are application examples of the output means of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the data included in each e-mail of the same thread, the e-mail of the same thread is divided into e-mails of a plurality of threads, so that the user can efficiently check the e-mail. be able to.
<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described.
In the second embodiment, only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  In the first embodiment, when the topic is changed from the middle of the body of the email of a series of threads or the text in the attached file, that is, for example, as shown in the email body 412 shown in FIG. When the topic is changed from topic A to topic B in the text, a copy of the email is created, and the created copy email is separated from the thread email after the copy source email. By separating and managing as thread emails, it is possible to prevent the content of emails whose topics have been changed from midway in the thread from which they were separated, and to efficiently send emails to users The mechanism that can be confirmed was explained.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, from the middle of a text in a series of thread e-mails or attachments (data), for example, from topic A to topic as shown in FIG. A mechanism that allows the user to efficiently check the e-mail even when the e-mail is returned to the topic A after the e-mail is changed to B will be described.

  The second embodiment can be described by adding the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 to the flowchart of FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment, and has been described in the first embodiment. In order to perform the same processing as the flowchart of FIG. 3, the description of the flowchart of FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment is omitted here.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart for performing control processing in the server 100, the e-mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103.

  The processing of each step shown in FIG. 11 can be executed by the e-mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103, but here, as an example, it will be described as being executed by the client terminal 101.

  The processing of each step shown in FIG. 11 is implemented and executed by the CPU 201 of the client terminal 101.

  First, in step S311 shown in FIG. 3, the client terminal 101 rewrites “In-Reply-TO” of the child mail searched in step S310 with “Message-ID” numbered in step S308 (update). If set, the processing shown in FIG. 11 is executed.

  At this time, for example, the thread management information shown in FIG. 6C has been generated (set).

  Next, in step S1401, the client terminal 101 sets “Message-ID” numbered in step S308 to “In-Reply-TO” of the thread management information (for example, FIG. 6C). Search for child mail.

  Specifically, “In-Reply-TO” to which the word “_Copy” is assigned is searched.

Next, the client terminal 101 acquires the thread combination keyword 502 (FIG. 13) stored in the storage unit such as a memory (step S1402).
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the thread combination keyword 502.

  This thread combination keyword 502 is used to determine whether or not the subsequent mail has returned to the mail contents before separation when mail following the mail subjected to thread separation exists in the thread.

  If this keyword is present in the subsequent mail, it is determined that the mail is a mail to be re-linked from the thread after thread division to the thread before thread division.

  Next, the client terminal 101 determines whether the thread combination keyword 502 acquired in step S1402 is included in the text of the electronic mail (child mail) searched in step S1401 or data such as an attached file (step S1402). Step S1403).

  In step S1403, a combination determination is performed to determine whether the main body of the child mail or the attached file includes thread combination information (thread combination keyword), which is a condition for making the child mail an e-mail of the split source thread. This is an application example of the means.

  If the client terminal 101 determines that the thread combination keyword 502 acquired in step S1402 is included in the data of the e-mail (child mail) searched in step S1401 or the data of the attached file, etc. (Step S1403: YES), “_Copy” is deleted from “In-Reply-TO” of the e-mail that is determined to be included, and is associated with the e-mail of the thread before the thread division ( In step S1404), the process proceeds to step S313.

  If it is determined in step S1404 that the text or attached file of the child mail includes thread combination information (thread combination keyword) that is a condition for making the child mail an e-mail of the thread that is the split source (Step S1403: YES) This is an application example of the dividing means of the present invention in which the child mail is set as an electronic mail of the dividing source thread.

  By executing the processing in step S1404, the thread management information in FIG. 6C is changed to the thread management information in FIG.

  FIG. 14D is a diagram illustrating an example of thread management information generated by executing the process of step S1404.

  (D) of FIG. 14 shows the relationship between “Message-ID” and “In-Reply-To” threads created by creating copy e-mails at 551, 552, 553, and 554 and separating the threads. .

  That is, the email 551 and the email 552 are not changed, and a copy of the email 552 is created.

  Since the “Message-ID” of the copy email 553 is duplicated with the “Message-ID” of the copy source email 552, the “Message-ID” of the email 553 is “Message” of the copy source email 552. The character string “_Copy” is concatenated with the “ID” character string.

  Then, in order to maintain the relationship (thread) between the e-mail 552 and the e-mail 554 originally in the parent-child relationship (same thread), the content of the “In-Reply-To” of the e-mail 554 is changed to the copy-source e-mail 552. To “Message-ID”. At this time, if it is determined that the content of the e-mail 554 returns to the content of the e-mail 552, the “In-Reply-To” of the e-mail 554 is changed again to the “Message-ID” of the e-mail 552. ing.

  In this way, it is determined that the content of the email (child mail) has returned to the content of “Before thread split” by including the thread combination keyword in the content (data) of the email of the child mail. The thread is changed as the child mail of the e-mail (parent mail) that was originally in the parent-child relationship (same thread).

  This process means that the value of “In-Reply-TO” rewritten in step S311 is returned to the value of “Message-ID” of the parent mail before thread division, but this is set in the child mail. This is realized by rewriting the character string excluding “_Copy” from “In-Reply-TO”.

  By performing the processing of FIG. 11, after changing from the topic A to the topic B as shown in FIG. 16, for example, in the middle of the text of the e-mail of the series of threads or the attached file (data), Even when a subsequent electronic mail returns to the topic A, the electronic mail can be managed as a thread of the original topic A, and the user can efficiently check the electronic mail.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart for performing control processing in the server 100, the email server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103.

  The processing of each step shown in FIG. 12 can be executed by the e-mail server 100, the client terminal 101, and the client terminal 103, but here, as an example, it will be described as being executed by the client terminal 101.

  The process of each step shown in FIG. 12 is implemented and executed by the CPU 201 of the client terminal 101.

  First, in step S313, the client terminal 101 selects whether a display method (thread display) for displaying each electronic mail with the radio button 101 on the mail list screen in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 is selected, or does not perform thread display. It is determined whether the display method (normal display) of the display method for displaying each electronic mail is selected.

  If it is determined that the display method (thread display) for displaying each email as a thread is selected (step S313: YES), the process shown in FIG. 12 is executed, and the process proceeds to step S317.

  In step S317, according to the thread management information (D) shown in FIG. 14, the relationship between the threads of each e-mail is determined, and a mail list screen (FIG. 15) for thread-displaying each e-mail is displayed (step S317).

  In step S1501, the client terminal 101 determines that “_Copy” is included in “Message-ID” of the email header of the email of the record selected by the user in the email list screen of FIG. Whether the e-mail is a copy mail).

  If the client terminal 101 determines that “_Copy” is included in “Message-ID” of the mail header of the selected e-mail (YES), the selected e-mail has been copied. E-mail of “Message-ID” (copy-source mail) that matches the value of “Message-ID” that is determined to be an e-mail and that “_Copy” is deleted from the value of “Message-ID” The management information (D in FIG. 14) is searched and specified (step S1502).

  Then, the client terminal 101 reverse-displays the specified electronic mail record and the electronic mail record selected by the user (for example, FIG. 15B).

  The client terminal 101 determines that “_Copy” is not included in the “Message-ID” of the email header of the email of the selected record (the selected email is not a copy email) (step S1501: NO), the “Message-ID” email (copied email) that matches the value of “Message-ID” with “_Copy” added to the “Message-ID” of the selected email. The thread management information (D in FIG. 14) is searched and specified (step S1504).

  In step S1504, the client terminal 101 determines whether the copied mail (copy mail) has been searched and specified (step S1505).

  If the client terminal 101 determines that the copied mail (copy mail) has been searched and specified (step S1505: YES), the record of the specified electronic mail (copy mail) and the user The record of the electronic mail (copy source mail) selected by the above is highlighted (for example, (B) in FIG. 15) (step S1506).

  The example in FIG. 15B shows that when either 412 or 414 in FIG. 15A is selected by the user, the e-mails 412 and 414 are highlighted. Yes.

  In steps S1503, S1506, and S317, the divided thread e-mails are generated by copying, the original e-mail of the e-mail, and the non-replicated e-mail. It is an application example of the output means for identifying and displaying.

  In this way, since the copied mail and the mail that has not been copied are identified and displayed, it is possible to check which email is the copied mail, and the user can duplicate the email. It is possible to reduce checking, and it is possible to check the e-mail efficiently.

  15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating an example of a mail list screen displayed in accordance with the thread management information (D) illustrated in FIG.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included. An information processing apparatus (computer) that can read and execute the program code realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

100 server 101 client terminal 102 network

Claims (9)

Storage means for storing a plurality of emails of the same thread;
Instruction e-mail to split threads, and a receiving unit for receiving a user instruction to divide the thread,
When the instruction to divide the thread is received by the receiving means, the dividing means for dividing the thread constituted by the plurality of e-mails stored in the storage means by the e-mail that has received the instructions by the receiving means When,
The receiving means of the electronic mail that has received the instruction in the text or attachments, determines split thread split information includes Tei Luke used to determine whether to split the thread to duplicate the electronic mail and the judgment means,
And character determination means for determining whether contains characters before the thread division information of the thread split information contained Ru been judged in the e-mail Tei body, or attachment by the division determination unit,
When it is determined by the character determination means that characters are included before the thread division information, the electronic mail is left, and the electronic mail is duplicated and a thread other than the electronic mail is copied . Generating means for generating e-mail ;
By the character determination means, specifying means for specifying the electronic mail email that is determined to contain a character before the thread division information,
With
Said dividing means, by the division determination unit, wherein the electronic mail at the reception means receives the instruction text, or that the thread split information is determined to Ru Tei included in the condition in attachment, by the generation unit and e-mails generated and so that such a child mail that is identified with the same thread by the specifying means, and setting the header information of the child mail specified by the specifying means, stored in said storage means An information processing apparatus that divides a thread composed of the plurality of electronic mails . When the division determination unit determines that the thread division information is not included in the body of the email received by the reception unit or the attached file, the division determination unit determines the thread of the email. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit divides the electronic mail by the electronic mail without duplicating the electronic mail. Email text specified by the specifying means, or attachment, child mail, include conditions threaded coupling information which is used for the e-mail is the division origin of threads divided Ri by said dividing means A combination determination unit for determining whether or not
Said dividing means, by the binding determining unit, when it is determined to contain a pre-Symbol thread binding information in the body of the specified e-mail or attachment by the specifying means, the child mail, said dividing means the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that setting the header information of the child-mail so that the e-mail of the divided original thread by Ri is divided into. By the character determination unit, when it is determined to contain a character before the thread split information, determines whether the body before the the thread split information, or the exclusion information to the attached file included Exclusion determination means;
Determination means for determining whether or not a character is included between the exclusion information determined to be included in the body text or attached file before the thread division information and the thread division information by the exclusion determination means; ,
Further comprising
The generation unit determines that the exclusion information is included in the body text or attached file before the thread division information by the exclusion determination unit, and the determination unit determines whether the exclusion information and the thread division information are included. If it is determined that a character is included between them, the email that is determined to include the character is left, and the email is copied to a different thread from the email Produces
The dividing unit determines that the exclusion information includes exclusion information in the body text or attached file before the thread division information by the exclusion determination unit, and the determination unit determines whether the exclusion information and the thread division information are included. When it is determined that a character is included in between, the e-mail generated by the generating unit and the child e-mail specified by the specifying unit are identified by the identifying unit. It was set header information of e-mail, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that dividing the thread constituted by the plurality of e-mail stored in the storage means Information processing device. The dividing means determines that the exclusion information includes exclusion information in the body text or attached file before the thread division information by the exclusion determination means, and the character determination means determines the exclusion information and the thread division information. If it is determined not to contain characters between, without the determined e-mail and does not include the character is the generating means to replicate the plurality of stored in said storage means 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a thread constituted by an electronic mail is divided by an electronic mail for which an instruction has been received by the reception unit . Further comprising output means for outputting a list of a plurality of e-mail that make up the thread,
And the output means, characterized duplicated e-mail generated by, and the e-mail of the e-mail copy source, to the identification and e-mail that has not been copied by the generating means by the generating means The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . An output means for outputting a list of a plurality of emails constituting the thread;
A selection acceptance in which the output means accepts a selection of whether to display a list of a plurality of e-mails stored in the storage means or display the list of the plurality of e-mails individually without displaying the threads. Means,
Further comprising
In the case where the selection accepting means accepts the selection to be displayed individually without displaying the thread by the selection accepting means, the output means does not include the e-mail reproduced by the creating means, and the storage means A list of a plurality of e-mails stored in is individually displayed without displaying a thread. On the other hand, when the selection receiving means receives a selection to display a thread by a user, the list is copied by the generating means. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a list of a plurality of electronic mails stored in the storage unit, including the generated electronic mails, is displayed as a thread. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus including a storage unit that stores a plurality of e-mails of the same thread,
Reception means, a reception step of receiving an instruction e-mail dividing the thread, and a user an instruction to divide the thread,
When the dividing unit receives an instruction to divide the thread in the receiving step, the thread constituted by the plurality of e-mails stored in the storage unit is changed to the e-mail that has received the instruction in the receiving step. A dividing step of dividing ;
Whether the division determination means includes thread division information used for determining whether to duplicate the e-mail and divide the thread in the body text or attached file of the e-mail that has received the instruction in the reception step A division determination step for determining
A character determination unit determines whether a character is included before the thread division information in the body of the e-mail or the attached file that is determined to include the thread division information in the division determination step. A character determination step;
When the generation unit determines that the character is included before the thread division information in the character determination step, the generation unit leaves the electronic mail and duplicates the electronic mail. A generation process for generating an email for another thread;
A specifying unit that specifies a child mail of the e-mail that is determined to include a character before the thread division information in the character determination step;
With
In the generation step, the division step is performed on the condition that it is determined in the division determination step that the thread division information is included in the body of the email received in the reception step or an attached file. The header information of the child mail specified in the specifying step is set and stored in the storage means so that the generated e-mail and the child mail specified in the specifying step are in the same thread. A control method characterized by dividing a thread constituted by the plurality of electronic mails . A program that can be read and executed by an information processing apparatus including a storage unit that stores a plurality of emails of the same thread,
The information processing apparatus;
Instruction e-mail to split threads, and a receiving unit for receiving a user instruction to divide the thread,
When the instruction to divide the thread is received by the receiving means, the dividing means for dividing the thread constituted by the plurality of e-mails stored in the storage means by the e-mail that has received the instructions by the receiving means When,
Division determination that determines whether the body of an e-mail that has received an instruction by the reception unit or an attached file includes thread division information that is used to determine whether to duplicate the e-mail and divide a thread Means,
A character determination unit that determines whether a character is included before the thread division information of the body of the email or the attached file that has been determined by the division determination unit to include the thread division information;
When it is determined by the character determination means that characters are included before the thread division information, the electronic mail is left, and the electronic mail is duplicated and a thread other than the electronic mail is copied. Generating means for generating e-mail;
The character determining means functions as a specifying means for specifying a child mail of the e-mail that has been determined to contain characters before the thread division information,
The splitting means is provided on the condition that the split determination means determines that the thread split information is included in the body of the e-mail received by the receiving means or an attached file. The header information of the child mail specified by the specifying means is set and stored in the storage means so that the generated electronic mail and the child mail specified by the specifying means are in the same thread. A program that divides a thread constituted by the plurality of electronic mails .

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