JPH03201640A - Electronic mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit data files with various contents as one file easily by transmitting the several data files, which are prepared by the various information processings of connection information processors, as one integrated file. CONSTITUTION:In the electronic mail system of a network 12 to which a lot of information processors are connected, a transmitting means 13 is provided to transmit the several data files, which are prepared by the various information processings of the connection information processors, as one integrated file. The several data files prepared by the various information processings of the connection information processors such as generally sold document processings for word processor software, image processing software and table calculation software, for example, or business processing software, etc., are transmitted as one integrated file. Thus, the data files with various contents can be easily transmitted as one file.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an e-mail system in a network in which a large number of information processing devices are connected.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in an electronic mail system on a network connected to a large number of workstations, messages can only be exchanged in a simple manner in which the recipient and the message part are displayed on the screen. This display example is shown in the 18th
As shown in the figure.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a screen displayed on a CRT display in a conventional e-mail system.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 18, a header section in which the destination etc. are written is displayed in the upper half of the display screen, and a message section is displayed in the lower half.

Then, the user uses a keyboard or the like to input business matters, etc. in the message section in the lower half in advance, and sends this input message to the other party as an e-mail. Note that it is possible to attach another file to this email, but in this case, the sending user must set it by directly entering the file name from the keyboard into the attachment field in the header section in the upper half. Met.

In some cases, it is possible to send an email with another file attached, but in most cases, this attachment is also a simple text file containing a message.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] For this reason, conventionally, a data file created using commonly available word processor software, image processing software, etc. is sent to the other party, and the other party uses software equivalent to the data file to create the data file. It was not possible to start it.

For example, even if you send a data file as the attachment mentioned above, the recipient will not be able to start the data file unless the other party knows everything about which file to use and how to start it in which software program.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and includes the following configuration as one means for solving the above-mentioned problems.

In other words, in an e-mail system in a network in which a large number of information processing devices are connected, a transmission means is provided for transmitting several data files created by different information processing of the connected information processing devices as one file. Be prepared.

Alternatively, there is a management means that manages several data files created by different information processing of the connected information processing device into one file for each task together with a definition file that defines the startup command to be executed when opening the data file. The transmission means transmits each file managed by the management means.

[For use] In the above configuration, data created using different information processing of the connected information processing device, such as general commercially available document processing and office processing software such as word processing software, image processing software, and spreadsheet software, etc. By combining several data files into one and transmitting them as a single file, you can easily combine data files with different contents into one file.
Can be transmitted as one file.

Furthermore, by organizing each matter into one file, for example by using the concept of "envelope",
A single file containing several data files is exchanged as an e-mail between information processing devices, and each requirement can be easily processed by referring to the definition file contained in the file.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG.
This figure is a diagram showing the configuration of a network to which the workstations of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are connected.

The part to the left of the broken line in Figure 1 is the workstation 1.
3, the right side shows the network 12 to which the workstation 13 is connected.

A large number of workstations 13 to 17 are connected to this network 12 as shown in FIG. 2, and a mail server 18 is also connected to this network 12.

The role of the mail server 18 is to mediate e-mail between each workstation. Also 19 is mail server 18
A large-capacity external storage device connected to the

Note that the structure of the mail server 18 is similar to that of the workstation 1 except that a large-capacity external storage device 19 is connected.
Same as 3.

In the workstation 13, 1 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as rCPUJ), and ROM in memory 2
Workstation 1 according to the program stored in 3.
3. Performs overall control. 2 is a memory, and inside the memory 2 there is a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as rROMJ) 3, which contains control programs and character fonts.
A random access memory (hereinafter referred to as rRAMJ) 4 used for loading programs and data stored in an external storage device 8 and for memory work, and a video RAM for displaying on a CRT display 9.
(hereinafter referred to as rVRAMJ).

Further, 6 is a mouse as a pointing device, and in this embodiment, it is equipped with two input capotons. 7 is a keyboard for manual operation; 8 is an external storage device; 9 is a CRT display for screen display; 10 is a printer for printout; and 11 is a network connection device for connecting to the network 12.

FIG. 3 is a memory configuration diagram on RAMJ when a program related to the mail system of this embodiment is loaded into RAM4.

In FIG. 3, 20 is an operating system (O3) for overall control, 21 is a Japanese front end processor (FEP) for Japanese input, 22 is a mail system monitor for overall control of the e-mail system, and 23 is a child process. , 24 is a work area.

The e-mail system of this embodiment operates mostly by the mail system monitor 22 and the child process 23. Specifically, the child process 23 is a data file management program 25, a definition file modification program 26, a mail acquisition program 27, a mail sending program 28, a word processing program 29, an image program 30, a cart program 31, and other commercially available programs 32. It is configured. However, each program of the child process 23 is not resident in memory, and the mail system monitor 22 operates by calling and starting one program of the child process 23 each time it is needed.

In addition, 0320% FEP21, mail system monitor 2
Up to 2 are memory resident.

Next, the conceptual differences between the e-mail of this embodiment and the conventional e-mail will be explained below with reference to FIG.

In conventional e-mail, as shown in the upper row, in addition to the mail text corresponding to the message field explained in FIG. 18, mail text A, mail text B, etc. can be added as attached files. However, it shows that all email messages are simple text strings.

On the other hand, as shown in the lower row, the e-mail of this embodiment is composed of word processor (hereinafter referred to as "word processor") document files, image data files, calc data files, etc. in addition to the mail text, and the entire e-mail is an "envelope". It is distinctive in that it is brought together under the concept of

In addition, the definition files in the "°°envelope" can be used as word processing document files, image data files,
This is a file that records each software startup command to open a calc data file, etc. The specific file name of each data file is also recorded here. Also,
By modifying this definition file, it is possible to incorporate various data files created using general commercially available software in addition to the word processor, image, and calc software specific to each station into the mail envelope. ing.

The operation of the system of this embodiment having the above configuration will be explained step by step below.

first. The e-mail mediation operation by the mail server 18 will be explained below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that this process is executed by an e-mail intermediary program existing in the mail server 18.

When the power is turned on to the mail server 18, the process proceeds from step S1 to step S2 and step S3, and it is checked whether or not there is a file transmission from any of the connected workstations, or whether the own workstation is sent from any of the connected workstations. Monitor whether there is an inquiry as to whether or not a file has been received.

On the e-mail sender's side, a group of data files for e-mail are created in advance and organized into a single concept called an ``envelope,'' which will be described later.

An address is added to the envelope, and the sender sends it by e-mail as an envelope containing a large number of data files. Therefore, when this call is received, the processing of the mail server 18 proceeds from step S2 to step S5,
A large number of data files in the "envelope" in the sender's workstation are temporarily stored and registered in a predetermined area in the large-capacity external storage device 19 in the mail server 18, and the destination of the "envelope" is recorded in the destination management file. Register information.

Then, after performing the above-mentioned monitoring again, the workstation on the receiver's side inquires of the mail server 18 whether any mail has been delivered to it, and the processing of the mail server 18 proceeds from step S3 to step S7. The destination management file is checked to see if an e-mail (envelope) to the inquiry destination is registered in the external storage device 19. Then, in step S8, the result is determined, and if there is no mail, "no mail" is returned to the inquiry workstation.

On the other hand, if an e-mail (envelope) to the inquiry destination is registered, the process advances from step S8 to step SIO, and a response of "e-mail exists" is sent. Then, in step S11, the external storage device 1
In response to the inquiry stored in 9, the receiver sends the files in the "envelope" addressed to the workstation on the hand side to the workstation on the hand side. The workstation that receives this "envelope" stores and copies it into its own external storage device 8. The mail server 18 deletes the transmitted file from the file group in the external storage device 19, and ends the e-mail transmission/reception operation.

Next, the operation of each workstation will be explained.

Figure 6 shows the workstation operator using the keyboard 7.
9 is a diagram showing an example of the display on the CRT display 9 when the e-mail system of this embodiment is started up using the . This shows a scene in which the e-mail system is about to be started by inputting the start command rMAILsMJ of the mail system monitor 22.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the date and time are unchanged and the start command has been input.

FIG. 7(a) shows an example of the screen display on the CRT display 9 immediately after starting up the e-mail system.

FIG. 7(a) shows an example of the display of the arrangement status of received mails etc. of the owner of the workstation stored in the external storage device 8.

In FIG. 7(a), 40 is a sorting station, 41 is an envelope holder, 42 is an envelope, and 43 is a name plate for the sorting station, on which the address and name of the owner of the workstation are displayed. 44 is a post, 45 is a trash can icon, 35
is the mouse cursor.

In this example, one e-mail exchange (transfer/copy of data file via network)
As described above, the sent "envelope" is controlled as an exchange of one envelope.The sent "envelope" is then stored in the envelope holder 41.

Envelope holder 41 contains ``mailbox'', ``definition'', ``rLAN project'', ``council'', ``personnel relations'', and ``personal use''.
For nameplates other than "postbox" and "definition book," the user can freely register and modify the names using the right button of the mouse 6 and the keyboard 7.

However, the "postbox" envelope holder 41 is an envelope holder into which an envelope is first taken in when an e-mail is received, and its name is fixed.

The "definition document" envelope holder 41 is used for modifying the "definition file for data file creation" described later, and the name is fixed.

It should be noted that when the user moves the mouse cursor 35 to the place nameplate 4.
3 and trace the left button of the mouse 6 while pressing it, the e-mail service of this embodiment ends and the prompt display state shown in FIG. 6 is returned.

Figure 7(b) shows the envelope holder 41 in the state shown in Figure 7(a).
It is a figure which shows the state which pulled out.

To pull out the envelope holder 41, the user places the mouse cursor 35 on the name plate of the envelope holder 41, moves the mouse cursor to the lower left while keeping the left button pressed, and then releases the left button. Then, the designated envelope holder 41 is pulled out and displayed as shown in FIG. 7(b).

On the other hand, in order to restore the envelope holder 41 that has been pulled out, the user places the mouse cursor 35 on the name plate of the envelope holder 41 that has been pulled out, presses and holds the left button of the mouse 6, and presses the left button of the mouse 6.
All you have to do is move the mouse cursor 35 toward the upper right and release the left button.

Now, the state shown in FIG. 7 (a) before the envelope holder 41 is pulled out.
).

By the way, in FIG. 7(b), the "mailbox" envelope holder 41
, and then the user presses the mouse cursor 3.
5 is placed on the right side of the group of envelopes, and one envelope 42 is displayed popping out. By operating in this way, the user can check the postmark (date of arrival) of the envelope 42 in the "mailbox", the title of the envelope 42, the sender's address (ie, department, etc.), the sender's name, etc.

In this embodiment, the envelopes are stored in order of postmarks starting from the front.

In this pop-up display state, the user moves the mouse cursor 35 to another envelope holder 41 while holding down the left button of the mouse 6, and releases the left button to move the pop-out envelope 42 to the specified envelope. It can be moved to the container 41. In other words, the envelopes 42 can be divided into (f). Also, at this time, if you move them to the trash can 45 icon instead of moving them to another envelope holder 41, the envelopes 42 that were popping up will also disappear from the screen, and at the same time this envelope The data file corresponding to 42 is also deleted from the external storage device 8. This means that the envelope has been discarded.

Further, when the user pops out a newly created envelope 42 and moves it to the mailbox 44 icon, an e-mail is sent. A method for creating a new envelope uses an empty punch tube 46, and details will be described later.

Note that when the "definition document" envelope holder 41 is pulled out, unlike the normal pulling out operation of the envelope holder 41, the screen display changes to the ``screen for modifying the definition file for data file creation'' the moment it is pulled out. When the modification of the definition file is completed according to the user's instructions, the screen returns to the initial screen at 40 in the sorting screen shown in FIG. 7(a).

Detailed flowcharts of the above processing are shown in FIGS. 8A to 8F.

Next, the process of opening an e-mail envelope stored in the external storage device 8 of the device itself will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b).

FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) show the envelope 4 of the received e-mail.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a scene in which the package No. 2 is opened.

In FIG. 7(b), the received envelope 42 is displayed in a pop-up manner, but if the user clicks the left button of the mouse 6 once in this state, the display switches to the state shown in FIG. 9(a). This envelope 42 is the same as the envelope 42 shown popping out in FIG. 7(b).

To open the envelope 42 from this state, the mouse cursor 35 is placed on the upper right corner of the envelope 42 and the left button of the mouse 6 is clicked once. This results in the state shown in FIG. 9(b).

That is, on the right half of the screen, the envelope contents 49 are displayed divided into items. At the top, there are 4 envelope contents for each item.
9 titles are written, and the type of data such as message, word processor, image, calc, etc. is indicated for each item on the right side. From this state, for example, if the user places the mouse cursor 35 on one of the envelope contents 49,
When the left button of the mouse 6 is clicked once, the data file of the corresponding envelope contents 49 is activated by the corresponding application software.

FIG. 10 shows a word processing screen activated by the corresponding application software using this method.

At this point, the user can open the envelope 42 and specifically read one document in the envelope contents 49.

Thereafter, the user reads the document and performs the necessary processing according to the operating method for each application software.

When the document processing is completed and the application software is terminated, the screen display automatically returns to the state shown in FIG. 9(b).

Furthermore, when the user places the mouse cursor 35 on the adhesive margin 50 of the envelope 42 from the state shown in FIG. 9(b) and clicks the left button of the mouse 6 once, the closed envelope 42 shown in FIG.
Return to state a).

Furthermore, from the state shown in FIG. 9(a), the user places the mouse cursor 35 on the lower left part of the envelope, and while keeping the left button of the mouse 6 pressed, moves the mouse cursor 35 to the envelope holder icon 47', and presses the left button. When you let go of , Figure 7 (
A state similar to b), that is, the envelope holder 41 is pulled out, but the sorting without the envelope 42 pop-up display returns to the state shown in the place 40.

On the other hand, in FIG. 9(a), the envelope holder icon 47 mentioned above
If the mouse cursor 35 is moved to the trash can 45 instead of the mouse cursor 35, it is assumed that the corresponding envelope 42 has been discarded, and the above-mentioned sorting returns to the display 40. Of course,
All data files related to the above envelopes will be deleted.

By the way, when the user uses the mouse cursor 35 to pull out the definition file icon 48 in the state shown in FIG. 9(b), the display changes to a screen for editing the definition file in the envelope 42.

When the user finishes modifying the definition file,
The screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. 9(b). Of course, if the modification of the definition file affects the envelope contents 49, the item display of the envelope contents 49 will be displayed differently from before.

Further, in FIG. 9(b), the user places the mouse cursor 35 on the lower right part of one of the envelope contents 49, presses the left button of the mouse 6, moves the mouse cursor 35 to the trash can 45, and presses the left button. When released, the corresponding envelope contents 49 are considered to have been discarded and disappear from the item display of the envelope contents 49. Furthermore, the corresponding data file in the external storage device 8 is also erased.

The opening operation of the received envelope 42 explained above is performed in steps 11A to 11A.
This is shown in the flowchart of Figure IIC.

Next, the process of creating a new envelope 42 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12(a) to 12(d).

When the user places the mouse cursor 35 on the empty envelope 46 and clicks once with the left button of the mouse while the envelope holder 41 is pulled out as shown in FIG. 7(b), the screen shown in FIG.
The display switches to the one shown in a).

In this case, how to return the envelope 42 to the envelope holder 41, how to discard the envelope 42, how to modify the definition file, how to dispose of one of the envelope contents 49, how to close the adhesive margin 50,
How to open the closed envelope 42, etc. is shown in FIGS. 9 and 11A described above.
Since this is the same as the explanation in Figure -41C, detailed explanation will be omitted.

Below, we will explain step by step how the user creates new envelope contents, closes the envelope, and sends it as an e-mail.

In the state shown in FIG. 12(a), the user first places the mouse cursor 35 on the left edge of the envelope and presses the left button of the mouse 6.
Click to make a character cursor 36 appear, and enter the envelope title, destination address, and name manually from the keyboard 7. Thereafter, the user places the mouse cursor 35 on a desired icon among the application startup icons 51 displayed on the right side and clicks the left button of the mouse 6 once.

Then, the selected application software is started, and the screen changes to display the selected application. For example, when a word processor is selected, the display screen shown in FIG. 10 appears.

For example, if the user selects a word processor here, the user inputs a desired sentence. When the text input is completed and the program is closed, a display similar to that shown in FIG. 12(b) in which only the word processor is displayed as an item of the envelope contents 49 appears.

At this time, the user places the mouse cursor on the upper left end of the envelope contents 49, presses the left button of the mouse 6 to make the character cursor 36 appear, and inputs the title of the envelope contents 49 from the keyboard 7.

In FIG. 12(b), the user creates the envelope contents 49 in the order of message, word processor, calc, and image.
I am about to enter the title of the envelope contents 49 in the image.

After entering the title, when the user places the mouse cursor 35 on the margin 50 and clicks the left button of the mouse 6 once, the envelope 42 closes and a "stamp" mark is placed in the upper left corner of the envelope 42. , the display state is as shown in FIG. 12(C). This "°° stamp" mark indicates that preparations for sending e-mail are complete.

From this state, if the user further places the mouse cursor 35 on the lower left part of the envelope 42, presses and holds the left button of the mouse 6, moves the mouse cursor 35 to the post 44, and releases the left button, the e-mail is sent. will be carried out. In other words, all data files corresponding to the envelope contents 49 of the envelope 42 are stored with an address by the control shown in FIG.
It is copied into the mail server 18.

When the transmission is completed, the display changes to the state shown in FIG. 12(d) in which a postmark and a sent mark are displayed on the upper left corner of the envelope 42, indicating that a series of operations related to the transmission of a new envelope have all been completed. Thereafter, the user returns the envelope 42 to the envelope bin icon 47 or discards it in the trash can 45.

As a result, the sorting with the envelope holder 41 pulled out as explained in FIG. 7 returns to the new display. Note that the newly created envelope 42 belongs to the envelope drawer 41 that has been pulled out.

The flowcharts in FIGS. 13A to 13E show the process of creating and transmitting a new envelope 42 and envelope contents 49 for sending as described above.

Next, the directory structure of this embodiment will be explained below.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the directory structure and storage locations of program files and data files in the e-mail system of this embodiment.

The area surrounded by a square in FIG. 14 indicates the directory name.

In the workstation 13 in this embodiment,
The external storage device 8 has a tree-like directory structure. Program files, data files, etc. are stored in each directory.

The directory rb inJ stores various programs related to the e-mail system. When running a program, it searches for this "binJ directory by specifying a path name and starts executing the target program."

The startup dirJ directory is the current directory when the mail system is started, that is, when the user manually enters the mail system monitor startup command rMAILsMJ shown in FIG.

Under this “startup dirJ directory,”
Envelope 0OO1”, “Envelope 0002J”, “Envelope 0003J”
, ``Envelope 0004J'', etc. are formed, and each directory corresponds to one envelope 42. Then, each directory contains a message file, a word file, an image file, a calc file, etc. Data files are built in. Also, one definition file for managing these data file groups is included for each envelope directory.

In addition, "startup dirJ contains an envelope directory management file "envelope dirJ" for associating and managing the envelope title, the name of the envelope case 41 to which it belongs, the envelope directory name, etc.
r, defJ, and a data file creation definition file rprog that defines application startup commands and the like required when creating a new envelope 42 and using application software to create envelope contents 49.

DefJ is included.

FIG. 15 shows a specific example of the contents of the envelope directory management file of this embodiment.

Envelope directory management file “envelope dir.

In de fJ, a number is assigned to each envelope 42, and in order, the name of the envelope holder 41 to which it belongs, the envelope directory name, the envelope title, the destination address (name of the department to which it belongs), the name, and the sender's address (the department to which it belongs). name), name, postmark (received date), opened/
Differences in unopened items, etc. are recorded as simple text strings.

By analyzing this text string, the mail system monitor 22 and data file management program 25
It manages the envelope 42 and the envelope directory.

When an envelope 42 is newly created or discarded, naturally, the corresponding record portion in the envelope directory management file is automatically added or deleted.

Figure 16 shows the definition file rpro for creating data files.
This is a specific example of the contents of g and defJ.

This data file creation definition file describes how to start the application software when the user creates a new envelope 42, that is, when the user creates an envelope directory and creates a new envelope content 49 using the application software; The related file name is entered.

First, a number is set for each application. In the following layers, the name of the type of application software, the specific name of the application software, a startup command sequence, a post-processing command sequence, and the names of related attached files are entered.

In FIG. 16, the post-processing command sequence shows an example in which the backup file is deleted by "°'>del %, bak" in the "1. Message" column.

Note that this record is also recorded as a simple text string, and the mail system monitor 22 starts each application after analyzing the string.

In addition, the definition file rprog for creating data files,
As explained in FIG. 7, defJ can be opened by the user pulling out the "definition document" envelope holder 41, and the screen can be moved to a correction screen. This allows the user to modify the definition file. For example, in addition to word processing, image, and Calc application software, the user can also freely incorporate other commercially available application software and use it as one of the startup software. , can be used to create a data file of the envelope contents 49 in the envelope 42.

In Figure 16, only the types of application software that can specifically specify the data file name as a parameter at the end of the startup command are listed, but apart from that, there are also types of application software that can store data files in a single envelope directory. If it is software, the specific file name can be determined by character string analysis on the mail system monitor 22 side, and any type of application software can be defined in the data file creation definition file.

Furthermore, when the user operates the application software and the envelope contents 49 are created, the definition file rdafafile in the envelope directory is created at the same time.
, defJ, the startup command, specific data file name, etc. are recorded.

A specific example of the contents of the definition files rdatafile and defJ is shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a specific example of the contents of definition files rdatafile and defJ, which exist for each envelope directory.

This definition file is recorded as a simple text string, similar to the data file creation definition file described above.
After character string analysis by the mail system monitor 22,
The application is restarted, etc. in order to open one of the envelope contents 49.

Inside the file, numbers, the type of application software, the specific name of the application software, the title of the envelope contents 49, the startup command sequence, the post-processing command sequence, and the related attached file names are arranged in order. Each time the user creates a new envelope content 49, the corresponding application item in the data file creation definition file is additionally copied to the definition files rdatafile, defJ, and a specific name is recorded as the file name. be done. In addition, if the user instructs, the envelope contents 49
The title is also recorded.

Note that when the envelope 42 is sent by e-mail, a definition file is also sent to the recipient's workstation along with data files such as message, word processor, image, and calc files. It is assumed that the application software corresponding to the command also exists on the receiving workstation. This allows the receiving side to open all items in the envelope contents 49 using the start command of the definition file.

Note that this definition file can be moved to the definition file modification screen by pulling out the definition document icon 48, as explained in FIG. 9 or FIG. 12.

The user can modify the definition file in the envelope directory within this modification screen.

After the modification is completed, the display returns to the envelope display, but in this case, the display of the envelope contents 49 and the like changes according to the modification contents of the definition file.

Note that the flowcharts in FIGS. 8, 11, and 13 described above are based on the data file management program 25, definition file modification program 26, mail acquisition program 27,
Mail sending program 28, word processing program 29,
Image program 30. It operates according to the functions of the cart program 31 and other commercially available programs 32.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, e-mail-related screen displays are displayed using concepts familiar to the general public, such as "postbox" and "envelope" as much as possible. Users can also operate it intuitively from the beginning.

Furthermore, even files created by multiple different processes at the same time can be sent and processed as one e-mail.

[Second Embodiment] In the above-mentioned embodiment, "sorting is place" and "envelope holder"
Using the concepts of ``envelope,'' and ``envelope contents,'' I thoroughly explained the exchange of e-mail in units of ``envelopes.'' However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, and the management method for each "envelope" described above is not limited to those created using specific software, so it is also excellent as a document management method in a single workstation. ing. Therefore, document information created using commercially available office processing/document processing software can be freely incorporated into this "envelope."

In this way, you can freely file even with commercially available office processing and document processing software, and you can mix information created and processed by various programs in one "envelope", making it an extremely versatile e-mail. System can be configured.

[Third Embodiment] In the first embodiment described above, the operation of opening a received envelope (Figures 9 to 11) and the operation of creating a new envelope and envelope contents and shipping them (Figures 9 to 11) are performed. I have explained the two operations (Figures 12 and 13) as separate operations, but the difference between them is that on the envelope display, there is a “postmark °” mark or They could be distinguished by displaying a "stamp" mark to indicate that a new envelope is ready for shipping, or a "sent" mark to indicate that a new envelope has been shipped.

In the first embodiment, a description of "forwarding" an envelope with a postmark once received to the owner of another workstation is omitted. However, in this embodiment, this transfer can also be performed extremely easily.

That is, when performing a "transfer," it can be accomplished with a simple action of removing the "postmark" from the received envelope and adding the action of correcting the destination address and name.

To remove the "postmark", the user should move the mouse cursor 35 to the °°postmark mark and click the right button of the mouse 6 once. To modify the destination address and name, the user places the mouse cursor 35 on the beginning of the destination address/name character string on the envelope 42 and clicks the left button of the mouse 6 once to make the character cursor 36 appear. Then, the user should be able to enter a new destination address and name manually using the keyboard 7.

Thereafter, by moving this envelope to the icon with the mouse cursor 35, the "transfer" action is completed.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the third embodiment described above, the operation method for transferring the received envelopes 42 was described, but it is also possible to easily perform the "copying" operation in units of envelopes 42. can.

In this case, the display on the screen may be, for example, ``The copier icon is set on the shelf in the sorting area J40, and the user selects one envelope 42 with the mouse cursor 35.'' If the envelope 42 is carried to the "copy machine" icon, one copy of the envelope 42 will be made.

With this configuration, duplication can be easily performed.

If this act of "copying" is possible, even when performing the "forwarding" described in the third embodiment, the "postmark" should be removed from the duplicated envelope and the destination address and name corrected. , ゛°transfer°°. This allows the receiving envelope to be kept intact.

Similarly, regarding the "document management" work described in the second embodiment, it is possible to "duplicate" each envelope, which is very convenient for document management and document creation.

As explained above, in an e-mail system that operates on a network connected to a large number of workstations, e-mails created using general, commercially available document processing and office processing software such as word processing software, image processing software, and spreadsheet software. By organizing several data files for each task using the concept of an "envelope," you can create an "envelope" that contains several data files as an e-mail.
This has the effect of allowing e-mails to be exchanged between workstations in units of "envelopes."

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, different information processing of the connected information processing device, for example, word processor software,
By transmitting several data files created with general commercially available document processing and office processing software such as image processing software and spreadsheet software as one file, data files with different contents can be created. can be easily transmitted as one file.

Furthermore, by organizing each matter into one file, for example by using the concept of "envelope",
A single file containing several data files is exchanged as an e-mail between information processing devices, and each requirement can be easily processed by referring to the definition file contained in the file.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a network configuration diagram of the embodiment; FIG. 3 is a memory configuration diagram of a program related to the mail system on the RAM of the embodiment; Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the conceptual difference between conventional e-mail and the e-mail of this embodiment, Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the e-mail mediation operation by the mail server of this embodiment, and Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining the conceptual difference between conventional e-mail and the e-mail of this embodiment. Figure 7(a) shows an example of the display on the CRT display during startup processing of the workstation in this embodiment. Figure 7(a) is an example of the new display for sorting immediately after startup of the e-mail system in this embodiment. Figure 7(b) is a diagram showing a state in which the envelope holder is pulled out from the state shown in Figure 7(a). Figures 8A to 8F show that the sorting in this embodiment is as follows: Flowchart showing the operation; FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are explanatory diagrams of the e-mail opening operation of this embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the word processing screen started by the application software of this embodiment; FIG. 11A Figure ~ No. 11
Figure C is a flowchart showing the envelope opening operation of this embodiment, Figures 12(a) to 12(cl) are diagrams explaining the process of creating a new envelope in this embodiment, and Figures 13A to 13E are A flowchart showing the operation of creating a new envelope in this embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the directory structure and storage locations of program files and data files in the e-mail system of this embodiment. FIG. 15 is an envelope directory in this embodiment. Figure 16 is a diagram showing a specific example of a management file. Figure 16 is a diagram showing a specific example of a definition file for creating a data file in this embodiment. Figure 17 is a diagram showing a specific example of a definition file in this embodiment. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional e-mail screen display. In the figure, 1...CPU, 2...Memory, 3...RO
M, 4...RAM, 5...VRAM, 6...mouse, 7...keyboard, 8...external storage device, 9...
・・CRT display, 10・・Printer, 11・
...Network connection device, 12...Network network, 13-17...Workstation, 18...Mail server, 19...External storage device, 20...O8
, 21... FEP, 22... Mail system monitor, 23... Child process, 24... Work area, 2
5... Data file management program, 26... Definition file modification program, 27... Email acquisition program, 28... Email sending program, 29...
Word processing program, 30...image program,
31...Carta program, 32...Other commercially available programs, 35...Mouse cursor, 36...Character cursor, 40...Sorting place, 41 Envelope holder, 42
... Envelope, 43 sorting is place name plate, 4 ... mailbox, 4
5... Trash can, 46... All envelopes, 47... Envelope holder icon, 48... Definition document icon, 49... Envelope contents, 50... Gluing margin, 51... App launch icon be.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an e-mail system in a network where a large number of information processing devices are connected, a transmission means for transmitting several data files created by different information processing of the connected information processing devices as one file. An e-mail system comprising: (2) In the e-mail system according to claim 1, furthermore, several data files created by different information processing of the connected information processing device are combined into one file for each task, and this is performed when opening the data file. An e-mail system comprising a management means for managing a startup command together with a definition file, and a transmission means for transmitting each file managed by the management means.