JPH02305146A - Mail reception system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To receive a mail correctly without having a user be conscious of the kind of a host computer by revising a request kind when it is discriminated that a request and a return form are dissident, receiving mail information according to the request type and adding the information to a mail application means. CONSTITUTION:A request coincident discrimination means 8 identifies a user request kind from a request kind recognition means 7 and a return form of a main data returned from a mail processing means 6 of a host computer 2 to a mail transfer system 4. When the user request and the return form of the host computer 2 are dissident, a request change means 10 executes the processing making the user request kind coincident with the return form of the host computer 2 for the internal processing of the main transfer system 4. Succeedingly, a main transfer processing means 9 executes the read processing of the mail data transferred from the host computer 2. The mail transfer processing means 9 reads the mail data and transfers the data desired by the user to a mail application means 3. Thus, the mail data desired by the user is received.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] The purpose of this invention is to enable a workstation user to correctly receive emails without being aware of the type of host computer, regarding an email reception method that does not depend on the type of host computer. In a mail transfer system that processes mail transfer requests by mail application means on a workstation and exchanges mail information with mail processing means on a host computer, the type of request requested by the mail application means is determined. request type recognition means for recognizing; request matching determining means for determining whether the format of information returned by the mail processing means on the host computer in response to the request matches the request; and the request matching determining means. request changing means for changing the request type when it is determined that the request and return formats do not match; and mail transfer processing means for receiving mail information added from the host computer corresponding to the request type and adding it to the mail application means. It is configured to have the following.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a mail receiving method for a workstation in a mail service that links a host computer and a workstation, and more specifically, to a mail receiving method that does not depend on the type of host computer [prior art] In recent years, workstations have become popular. Along with this, the introduction of e-mail services is becoming more popular.

The e-mail service not only allows for the exchange of e-mails between individual workstations, but also provides a service such as a notice board that sends e-mails to a larger number of users.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a mail service system in which workstations and host computers are linked.

A mail transfer system 54 exists as system software of the workstation 51, and the mail transfer system 54 is connected to a host computer group 52 made up of various host computers via a transfer service 55, which is a communication data interface.

When sending an e-mail from the workstation 51 to another workstation, the user creates a document using an editor or the like on the workstation and then starts the e-mail transfer system 54. The mail transfer system 54 adds the destination name specified by the user and management information for mail management (body part management information) to the above-mentioned document (body part), which is the main body of the mail, and sends the document to the transfer service 55.

The transfer service 55 sends mail data created by the mail system to the host computer group 52 via a network or telephone line. Furthermore, the host computer 52
The group manages and stores mail data sent from the transfer service 55.

On the other hand, when receiving mail, the user uses the man-machine interface of workstation 51 to request mail transfer system 54 to receive the mail. The mail transfer system 54 requests the host computer group 52 via the transfer service 55 to transfer the mail data specified by the user. In response to this request, the host computer group 52 transfers the data requested by the user out of the mail data managed and stored to the mail transfer system 54 of the workstation 51 via the transfer service 55. This allows the user to receive desired mail data.

By the way, in recent years, the types of host computers have increased significantly,
Along with this, the formats of mail data returned by host computers are also becoming more diverse. As a result, when requesting to receive e-mail, a user can attach limiting conditions (request type) to the e-mail data to be received and retrieve only a portion of the e-mail data.

FIG. 6 is an example of the mail data format returned by the host computer group 52.

As described above, mail data is composed of a document (body part) that is the main body of the mail, a destination name indicating where to send the mail, and management information regarding the mail (body part management information). For example, host A may store the destination name, body part management information, and body all together (■ in Figure 6 for host A) or separately (
(■ to ■) in the same figure) can be returned. In response, host B always returns the destination name', body part management information, and body body all at once (■ to ■). Furthermore, a host computer such as host C that returns a combination of two of the above three types of information can also be considered (■ to @).

As a result of the diversification of return formats on the host computer side, users can now specify and request the type of information they need when requesting to receive mail. In other words, in addition to mail data that includes the addressee name, body part management information, and body itself, requests can be made for individual constituent elements of the mail data, such as only the addressee name, only body part management information, and only the body body. (request types in Figure 6).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Here, if the user's request type and the return format of the host computer match as in host A, the mail data returned to the workstation via the transfer service 55 and mail transfer system 54 is the data desired by the user. Yes, the returned data can be output as is to a display, etc. However, on the other hand, host B
or host C, the request type and return format may not match. That is, in host B, even if the user requests only the destination name, the host computer returns the mail data as a set including the destination name, body part management information, and body body (■ in FIG. 6).

In such a case, the process of extracting the necessary parts from the returned mail data is performed on the workstation 5.
It must be done in 1. However, conventionally, mail systems have been configured on the premise that the host computer group 52 returns to the mail transfer system 54 information that matches a request from the workstation 51 to the mail transfer system 54 .

For example, when receiving an email from host B in Figure 6, you can receive it correctly if you select all of the request types, but if you select other request types such as only destination name or only body part management information, , the workstation cannot receive it correctly.

In other words, even if the request type is a destination name, the host computer group 52 returns all mail data (■), while the workstation 51 interprets the returned data as a destination name and processes it, so correct processing is not possible. This will result in a reception error.

As a result, there was a problem in that emails could not be received from host computers whose request and return formats did not match.

An object of the present invention is to enable a workstation user to correctly receive mail without being aware of the type of host computer.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention. Book.

In the invention, the workstation 1 requests the host computer 2 to receive mail, and the mail application means 3 in the workstation 1 correctly receives the mail data returned by the mail processing means 6 in the host computer 2. The request type recognition means 7, which is characterized in that the request type is appropriately processed by the mail transfer system 1, identifies the type of request made by the user. For example, the email requested by the user.
It recognizes whether the data is only the destination name, only body part management information, only the body itself, or whether all information is requested.

The request matching determination means 8 compares the user's request with the host computer 2.
Determine whether the formats of the mail data returned by the two match. That is, the components of the mail data actually returned from the host computer 2 are examined to determine whether the user request identified by the request type recognition means 7 and the return format of the host computer 2 match.

The request changing means IO changes the request type to match the return format of the host computer 2 when the request matching determining means 8 determines that the user's request and the return format of the host computer 2 do not match. The request changing means 10 causes the user's request type to match the return format of the upper host computer 2 in appearance.

The mail transfer processing means 9 receives mail information added from the host computer 2 in accordance with the request type, and adds it to the mail application means 3.

[For production]

The present invention is based on the premise that a user operates the mail application means 3 on the workstation 1 to receive mail when sending or receiving mail.

The user first operates the mail application means 3 on the work stage engine 1 and requests reception of mail from the host computer 2. When a user makes a request to receive mail, he or she will be asked whether to receive all mail data (data including the recipient name, body part management information, and body) or a portion of the mail data (for example, just the recipient name). choose whether to receive it.

This selection information is sent to the request type recognition means 7 in the mail transfer system 4, and the request type recognition means 7 recognizes the type of request. The recognition result is then sent to the request matching determination means 8.

The request matching determining means 8 identifies the user's request type from the request type recognizing means 7 and the return format of the mail data returned from the mail processing means 6 of the host computer 2 to the mail transfer system 4. That is, it is determined whether the user's request type and the return format from the host computer 2 match. If they match, the mail transfer processing means 9 is operated.

The mail transfer processing means 9 executes a process of transferring the mail data as is to the mail application means 3.

On the other hand, if the request matching determining means 8 determines that the user's request and the return format of the host computer 2 do not match, the request changing means 10 is activated.

The request changing means 10 executes a process of matching the user's request type with the return format of host calculation a2 for internal processing of the mail transfer system 4, and subsequently executes a mail transfer process 9. In the mail transfer processing means 9, as a result of the request change means 10 matching the request type and the return format, the process of reading the mail data transferred from the host computer 2 becomes executable. The mail transfer process 9 reads the mail data and transfers the data desired by the user to the mail application means 3.

〔Example〕

Examples will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

The overall configuration of this embodiment includes a workstation 11 through which a user sends and receives e-mail, and a host computer connected to this workstation 11 via a communication line such as a network and which executes e-mail service processing. Consists of 12.

The workstation 11 is provided with a CPU 21, to which a main memory 22, a communication control section 23, and a display buffer 24 are connected. The CPU 21 executes processing according to programs stored in the main memory 22. In addition to the operating system (O3) 25, the main memory 22 stores a mail transfer system 14 and a mail application program 13 which is an application program. The communication control unit 23 is an interface circuit that executes communication processing between the workstation 11 and the host computer 12 under control from the CPU 21 .

The display buffer 24 is a buffer memory that stores data to be displayed on a display unit 26 connected to the workstation 11. In addition, an input section 27 such as a keyboard is connected to the workstation 11, through which the user accesses the workstation 11.

On the other hand, the host computer 12 includes a main memory 31 in the CPU 30,
Communication control unit 32, input/output control unit 33, external storage control unit 3
4 are connected.

The CPU 30 executes processing according to programs stored in the main memory 31. In addition to 0335 in the main memory 31,
A mail system 36, which is an application program for providing mail services to workstations connected to the host computer 12, is stored.

The communication control unit 32 is an interface that controls the exchange of data with the workstation 11 connected to the host computer 12 via a network or the like in accordance with instructions from the CPU 30. The input/output control unit 33 is an interface that controls various input/output devices 37 connected to the host computer 12, such as a keyboard and a display.

Furthermore, an external storage device 3 is connected to the host computer 12 to store mail data and the like. External storage device 38
is controlled by the external storage control section 34.

When the user of the workstation 11 inputs a command to start the mail application program 13 from the input unit 27, the CPU 21 starts mail sending and receiving processing according to the mail application program 13.

Here, the flow of mail reception processing will be explained on the premise that the user inputs a command requesting mail reception.

The CPU 21 receives the command for requesting mail reception, and outputs a message to the display section 26 so as to select the format of the data to be received next. In response to this message, the user inputs the format of the requested data (request type) through the input section 27. There are several types of requests, such as the entire mail data, only the destination name, only the body bart management information, and only the body itself, and the user selects the format of the data he or she wishes to receive.

Next, the CPU 21 calls the mail transfer system 14 according to the mail application program 13, and passes the mail reception command and request type to the program of the mail transfer system 14. Furthermore, the CPU 21 is the mail forwarding system 1.
4, the communication control section 23 is controlled 1fflL, and the host computer 12 is requested to send an e-mail.

The communication control unit 32 of the host computer 2 receives this mail transmission request and passes the request to the CPU 30. C.P.
The U 30 executes the mail system 36, which is an application program on the host computer 12, and retrieves mail from the external storage device 38 under the control of the external storage controller 34.

The CPU 30 further sends the retrieved mail data to the workstation via the communication control unit 32.

Return it on 11.

The mail transfer system 14 in the workstation 11 receives the mail data returned by the host computer 12 via the communication control unit 23. First, the receiver determines whether the received mail data matches the user's request type, and if it matches, the receiver reads the received mail data through the mail forwarding process in the mail forwarding system 14. , and pass it on to the email application program. On the other hand, the user's request type and the email returned from the host computer 12
If the data format is different, the request type is changed by the request change process within the mail transfer system 14 to match the return format from the host computer 12, and then the above-mentioned mail transfer process is started. This allows the mail forwarding process to read the mail data. The mail reception process is completed by passing the read mail data to the mail application program 13.

FIG. 3 is an operational flowchart of the embodiment of the present invention. For hosts A and B in the explanatory diagram of request types and return formats from host computers in FIG. It becomes possible.

When a user requests the mail transfer system 14 to receive mail through the mail application program 13, the mail transfer system 14 first requests that the user's request type is all of the mail data (address name, body bart management information, and all of the body body). information) or only the destination name (Sl).

If the request type is all or none of the destination names (N), then it is determined whether the request type is body bart management information (S2). Based on the determinations in determinations 31 and 32, the request type is classified into three types. In other words, request type = all or destination name (Y in 31, ■■■ in Figure 6)
■), request type = body part management information (Y in S2, same ■■), request type = body body (N in S2, same ■■)
■) There are three ways.

If the request type = all or destination name (Y in Sl), then S3 is executed, if the request type = body bart management information (Y in 32), process S5, and if the request type = body body (32 N) executes process S9.

The process of S3 executed when the request type=all or destination name is a destination name process that reads the destination name and passes it to the mail application program 13. And then host computer 1
Determine whether the return format from 2 is only the destination name (S4
). If only the destination name is requested (Y in S4), it is assumed that the user's request type is only the destination name (■ in FIG. 6), and the mail reception process is terminated (END). On the other hand, host computer 1
If the return format from 2 is not just the addressee name (N of 34)
is considered to be ■ (request type = all at host A) in FIG. 6, or ■, ■ (request type = destination name and all at host B), and the next process S5 is executed.

Process S5 is executed not only in the case of ■■■ described above but also in the case of ■■ in which the request type is body part management information. It is determined whether the request type=bodyvert management information and whether all mail data has been returned from the host computer 2 (that is, whether or not ■). If it is determined that the process S5 does not apply (N) (■■■■), a body part management information process (S7) is executed in which the body part management information is read and passed to the mail application program 13.

On the other hand, in the case of Y in process S5 (that is, in the case of ■), even though the request is for body part management information, all data has been returned from the host computer 12.
Unable to read body part management information. Therefore, in this case, in order to make it possible to read the body part management information, the request type is changed from body part management information to all (36), and the process is executed again from process S1.

By changing the request type, the same process as in case (2) will be executed.

If you change the request type to all and execute process S1, the request type = all, so it becomes Y in process S1,
Furthermore, destination name processing (S3) is executed to read out the destination name. Furthermore, since the information returned from the host computer 12 is not only the destination name, the determination in process S4 is N. Also, in the determination in process S5, the request type has been changed to all, so it is N, and the body part management information in process S7 is Processing for reading and passing the receipt to the mail application program 13 is executed. By changing the request type to all through the above processing, host B can also read the body part management information.

After completing the body part management information processing (S7) for ■■■■, it is then determined whether the data returned from the host computer is only body part management information (
S8). That is, it is determined whether or not ■. ■If it is determined that (Y), the mail reception process ends (E
ND).

If the returned data is not only body part management information (N
) executes the following 39 processes.

Processing S9 is for request type = body (N of 32).
Also execute in the case of . Process S9 determines whether the request type is body and whether all data has been returned from the host computer 2. In other words, it is determined whether ■. ■
If it is determined that (Y), the host computer 2 returns all data even though the request type is only the body, so it is assumed that the body cannot be read, and the above-mentioned As in the case of , the process of changing the request type to all (S6) is executed, and then the process is restarted from 31. By changing the request type to all, the same process as in case (2) will be executed.

That is, in process S1, request type = all (Y),
Execute destination name processing in S3. In step S4, the return from the host is not just the destination name, so the result is N, and in step S5, the request type is not body part management information, so the result is N. Then, body part management information processing in step S7 is executed. In process S8, since the return from the host computer 2 is not only body part management information, the process proceeds to N, and in process S9, this time the request type is not the body but all, so the result is N, and process 310 is executed.

If it is determined in S9 that it is not ■ (that is, N), the process SIO is executed, the body is read out, and the process of passing the message to the mail application software 3 is executed.

As described above, by executing the process according to the operation flowchart of FIG. 3, it becomes possible for host A and host B to receive mail in all cases (■ to ■).

On the other hand, even if host (C) in Figure 6 is added, that is, a host computer that returns two of the three types of information as a set is added, email reception will be performed using almost the same process as in Figure 3. Can be executed. The flow of processing will be explained along the operational flowchart of FIG.

The difference from the process in the case of hosts A and B in FIG. 3 is that the determination conditions for determination processes S4 and S9 in FIG. 3 are different.

When you request the email return system 14 to receive emails,
As in the case of FIG. 3, the request types are first classified into three types. That is, in process 311, it is determined whether the request type = all or destination name, or whether the return from the host = ■.
Further, in step 312, it is determined whether the request type is one-to-one management information or not.

Request type = All or destination name (Y in S11, ■ in Figure 6)
■■■■0@), execute the destination name processing in S13,
The receiver reads the destination name from the mail data and passes it to the mail application program 13. Next, it is determined whether the data returned from the host computer 2 is only the destination name (■) (
314). In the case of (2) (Y), the mail reception process is ended (END). Even if the returned data includes both the destination name and body part management information, it can be determined that the request type is only the destination name, so there is no need to execute the process of reading out the body part management information, and the mail reception process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the data returned from the host computer 2 includes all data (N, ■■■■0@), and if the request type is body part management information (Y in S12, ■
■■), the process 315 is executed. Process 315 determines whether the request type is body part management information and whether all data has been returned from the host computer 12. In other words, it is determined whether ■. In the case of (2) (Y), the request type is changed to all and the process is executed again from process Sll. As a result, the destination name processing in step S13 is executed, and as a result, the processing for reading out the body bart management information becomes executable.

If it is determined in the determination 315 that it is not ■ (S15
N, ■■■■■0■0) Return from the host -■ is determined in process S15', and when N, body part management information processing (S17) is executed and body part management information is sent to mail data. The message is read out from within and passed to the email application software 3.

When the determination in step 315' is Y, the body processing in step S20 is performed. Next, it is determined whether the data returned from the host computer is only body part management information or body part management information and a destination name (
31B). That is, it is determined whether or not ■■. ■■
If it is determined that it is (Y), the mail reception process is ended (END), and if the returned data is not only body part management information (N), the next process of 319 is executed.

The process S19 is also executed when the request type=body (N in S12). Process S19 determines whether the request type=body and whether all data or the destination name and body have been returned from the host computer 2. That is, this is a process of determining whether or not it is ■.

In the case of ■, the body cannot be read because all data has been returned even though the body is requested. In the case of (2) (Y in S19), the request type is changed to all (S16), and the process is repeated from process Sll. As a result, in the case of ■, the destination name and body part management information are read out in steps 313 and S17, respectively, and the remaining body parts can be read out.

If it is not ■ (N) in process S19, the process of 320 is executed to read the body and pass it to the mail application software 3, and the entire process ends (END). As described above, even when host C is added, mail reception becomes possible in all cases from ■ to @.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it becomes possible for the user and the mail application software to receive the mail data desired by the user without being aware of the difference in the type or level of the host computer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a system configuration diagram of one embodiment, and Fig. 3 is an operation flowchart of one embodiment (hosts A, B
), FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of one embodiment (hos) A, B
, C), FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the positioning of the mail transfer system, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of request types and return formats from the host computer. 1...Workstation, 2...Host computer, 3...Mail application software, 4...Mail forwarding system, 5...Forwarding service, 6...Mail processing software, 7...Request Type recognition means; 8. Request matching determination means; 9. Mail transfer processing; 10. Request change processing. Patent applicant: Fujitsu Limited Figure 5: Explanatory diagram of the positioning of the email forwarding system

Claims (1)

[Claims] Processing a mail transfer request by the mail application means (3) on the workstation (1) and exchanging mail information with the mail processing means (6) on the host computer (2). The mail transfer system (4) includes a request type recognition means (7) that recognizes the type of request requested by the mail application means (3), and a mail processing means (7) on the host computer (2) in response to the request. 6) a request matching determination means (8) that determines whether the format of the information returned matches the request; and when the request and return format are determined to be inconsistent by the request matching determining means (8). a request changing means (10) for changing the request type; and a mail transfer processing means (9) that receives mail information added from the host computer (2) in accordance with the request type and adds it to the mail application means (3). An email receiving method characterized by having the following.