JPH05207055A - Mail incoming informing system in mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a user to detect automatically that mail addressed to himself is terminated in a mail box in personal computer computer communication. CONSTITUTION:In a mail system provided with a mail center and a terminal connected to a network through a terminal adapter, the mail center 1 is provided with user telephone number holding means 2-11 to 2-N1 to hold the telephone number of every mail box and an informing means 1-1 attached with the telephone number of the mail box, and the terminal adapter 3-0 is provided with the telephone number holding means 3-6 of the incoming informing source of the mail center and a display means 3-8, and when the mail is entered in the mail box, incoming information in which the telephone number of the incoming informing source is entered is sent to the user, and when the held number of the telephone number holding means 3-6 of the terminal adapter coincides with the telephone number of the incoming informing source, the display means 3-8 is display-controlled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an incoming mail notification system, and, for example, in personal computer communication, it is extremely easy for a user to know that a mail addressed to him / herself has arrived in a mail box of the center without accessing the center. The present invention relates to an incoming mail notification method that can be automatically detected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers have become widespread, and personal computer communications for sending and receiving e-mail using this personal computer are performed. When a personal computer is used as a terminal when sending and receiving e-mails via such a public network, since the personal computer generally consumes a large amount of power, not only when the user is absent, but when the personal computer is not used, Since the power is turned off, in such a mail system, a mail center is provided to install a user storage device, and a mailbox for each subscriber who subscribes to the mail system is prepared in this user storage device. I'll do it.

When user A sends a mail to user B, user A writes a transmission message in the mailbox of user B. The user B turns on the power of the personal computer when he / she comes home from the place where he / she goes, accesses his / her own mailbox in the mail center, receives the transmission message when it is received, and receives it from the user A. You will read the email.

[0004]

As described above, in a mail system provided with a mail center via a public network like a personal computer communication, a mail arrival notification for notifying a user that a mail has arrived is given. Since it has not been done, it was necessary for the user to regularly access the mail center and check for mail.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to notify at a low cost that an electronic mail has arrived without accessing the mail center and without constantly turning on the personal computer.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention will be described later, focusing on the fact that the power consumption of the terminal adapter is small, so that the power supply does not increase much even if the power is constantly turned on. As described above, the display means for notifying the arrival of the electronic mail is provided.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, mail boxes 2-10 to 2-2 are respectively stored in profile information holding units 2-1 ... 2-N of the user storage device 2 connected to the mail center 1 in units of users. -Phone number holding area 2 outside N0
-11 to 2-N1 are provided and the telephone number for each user is entered.

On the other hand, in the user terminal 31 such as a personal computer connected to the mail center 1 via the telephone network 4, the terminal adapter 3-0 has a telephone number holding unit 3-6 for holding the telephone number of the mail center 1. Set up.

The mail center 1 has an NCU having an automatic calling function, and the line interface section 1-1, CP
A U1-2, a main storage device 1-3, and the like are provided. The terminal adapter 3-0 includes a line interface section 3-2, an interface conversion section 3-4, a terminal side interface 3-4, a CPU 3-5, and a display interface 3.
-7, a display device 3-8 such as an LED is provided, and a terminal body 3-1 such as a personal computer is further connected. Also, the mail center 1 is connected with a user terminal 3N configured similarly to the user terminal 31.

When the telephone network is an ISDN network, the line interface section 3-2 is an ISDN interface.

[0011]

Now, when the user terminal 3N sends a mail to the user terminal 31, the user terminal 3N sends the mail to the mail center 1. As a result, the mail center 1 temporarily holds the mail addressed to the user terminal 31 in the mail box 2-10 of the profile information holding unit 2-1 for the user # 1 of the user storage device 2, and
The telephone number (# 1) of the user terminal 31 is read from the telephone number holding area 2-11.

As a result, the line interface section 1-1 of the mail center 1 sends a call signal in which the telephone number # 0 of the mail center 1 is entered as the calling number to call the user terminal 31.

In the user terminal 31, when the CPU 3-5 receives the call notification via the line interface section 3-2, the calling number of the mail center 1 which holds the calling number in the telephone number holding section 3-6. It is compared with the telephone number # 0, and when they match, the display device 3-8 such as an LED is lit and displayed via the display interface 3-7.

The mail center 1 outputs the calling signal a prescribed number of times, but when the connection signal is not returned from the user terminal 31 side and the ringing signal is received, the mail center 1 outputs a disconnection signal to place the call. Disconnect.

However, since the display device 3-8 retains the lighting state even after the call is disconnected, the user # 1 later returns home from the place where he / she is going to see the lighting state of the display device 3-8, It recognizes that the addressed mail exists in the mailbox 2-10 of the mail center 1 and reads it.

Since the terminal adapter 3-0 consumes less power, the electricity bill is small even if the power is constantly turned on.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an operation explanation sequence diagram thereof. In the figure,
The portions having the same symbols as and indicate the same portions.

The terminal adapter 3-0 is connected to the telephone network 40.
Uses the SIT point interface unit 3-2 as an interface unit for the ISDN network, and uses the terminal adapter 3
It is converted by the IF conversion unit 3-3 at a level processed within −0, and is connected to the terminal body 3-1 via the terminal interface unit 3-4 and the connection unit 3-9. Further, the CPU 3-5 is provided with a comparison unit 3-10.

In FIG. 2A, only the device terminal 31 is representatively shown, but of course, the user terminal 3N shown in FIG.
A plurality of user terminals as described above are connected to the mail center 1 so that they can communicate with each other. Then, as the telephone network 4, for example ISDN
A net is used.

Next, the operation of FIG. 2A will be described based on the sequence shown in FIG. (1) Omitted in FIG. 2A, for example, the user terminal 3N
Sends a mail to the user terminal 31 of the user # 1, so sends it to the mail center 1. The mail center 1 receives this, the CPU 1-2 writes it in the mailbox 2-10 in the profile information holding unit 2-1 of the user # 1 of the user storage device 2, and the telephone number holding unit 2 The telephone number of the user terminal 31 is read from -11.

(2) Next, the CPU 1-2 causes the S / T point interface section 1-1 to send SETUP to the incoming call destination telephone number read from the telephone number holding section 2-11. At this time, the S / T point interface section 1-1 transmits SETUP to the ISDN network 40 with the calling number (# 0) of the mail center 1.

(3) As a result, the ISDN network 40 uses the S
An incoming call request is sent to the called number designated by ETUP (in this case, the telephone number # 1 of the user terminal 31) with the calling number (# 0). That is, the terminal adapter 3 of the user terminal 31 with the calling number (# 0) is added from the ISDN network 40.
-Send SETUP to 0.

(4) This incoming request is sent to the terminal adapter 3
When it is received by the S / T point interface unit 3-2 of −0, the CPU 3-5 sends the calling number to the telephone number holding unit 3-.
The incoming call notification source number stored in No. 6 is compared by the comparison unit 3-10. If they match, the CPU 3-10 turns on the display device 3-3 having, for example, an LED via the display interface 3-7 to display in the mail center 1 that the mail addressed to itself is received. At the same time, the CPU 3-5 outputs the calling ALERT to the ISDN network 40 from the S / T point interface unit 3-2.

(5) When the mail center 1 receives the calling ALERT via the ISDN network 40, it disconnects DIS.
Issue C to disconnect the call. However, even if the call is disconnected, the display device 3-8 is still lit on the terminal adapter 3-0. Therefore, even when the user is absent, the user returns home and sees the display device 3-8 illuminate to send mail addressed to himself. Recognizes that the mail has arrived at the mail center 1 and reads this mail. At this time, the user turns the display device 3-8 off by operating a switch, for example, manually.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 4A is a sequence diagram when a mail is written in the mailbox, and FIG. 4B is a sequence diagram when the mailbox is empty. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, when the mail is stored in the mailbox of the mail center 1, the display device lights up to inform the user, and when the user reads the mail and becomes empty, the display device is automatically activated. It is something to turn off.

In FIG. 3, the same symbols as those in the other figures indicate the same parts. In FIG. 3, S / with a calling number of # 0 is sent to mail center 1.
In addition to the T point interface section 1-1, another S / T point interface section 1-4 having a calling number of #P is provided. In addition, the terminal adapter 3-0 has a telephone number holding unit 3-11 holding the telephone number #P in addition to the telephone number holding unit 3-6 holding the telephone number # 0.

And when the mailbox is empty,
Since the mail center 1 transmits SETUP with the calling number #P to the terminal adapter, when the terminal adapter detects this, it turns off the display device 3-8.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The control to turn on the display device of the terminal adapter of the corresponding user when mail is written in the mailbox is
Since it is the same as that in the case of FIG. Therefore, for example, the control when the mailbox 2-10 becomes empty will be described.

(1) As described above, when the display device 3-8 is turned on, the user sees this and recognizes the existence of the mail addressed to him / herself, and the mail center 1 reads this mail. When the mailbox 2-10 becomes empty due to this, the CPU 1-2 of the mail center 1 detects this, and this time, the S / T point interface section 1-of the calling number #P 1-
4 causes the user terminal 31 to send SETUP.

(2) At this time, the S / T point interface section 1-4 sends an SDN to the ISDN network 40 with a calling number #P.
Send ETUP. As a result, the ISDN network 40 sends the incoming call request SETUP with the calling number #P to the called number # 1, that is, to the terminal adapter 3-0.

(3) When this SETUP is received by the S / T point interface section 3-2 of the terminal adapter 3-0, the CPU 3-5 outputs its calling number to the telephone number holding section 3-6.
And a telephone number held in the telephone number holding unit 3-11. And this is the phone number holder 3
When it matches the one held in -11, the CPU 3-5
Is a display device 3-8 through the display interface 3-7.
Turn off. Along with this, the CPU 3-5 is ISD
The ALERT during the call to the N network 40 is controlled by the S / T point interface unit 3-2.

(4) When the mail center 1 receives the ALERT via the ISDN network 40, it issues a disconnect DISC to disconnect the call. As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when a mail is entered in the mailbox, the display device of the corresponding user can be turned on to notify the presence of the mail in the mailbox. ..

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, not only the presence of mail is automatically notified, but also when the mailbox becomes empty, the display device can be automatically turned off. it can.

Further, since the terminal adapter itself consumes less power, it can be used by always turning on the power, and depending on the configuration, it can also be used for power feeding to the station and can be used with the power always on.

Moreover, although the calling number is used as a method of notifying an incoming call, since the call itself is controlled so that it is not established, communication charges can be saved.

[0036]

According to the present invention, when a mail arrives at the mail center, it can be automatically notified to the user in real time. Therefore, the user can regularly access the mail center to send mail. Not only is it unnecessary to confirm the existence, but the user can promptly respond to the mail.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation sequence of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 mail center 2 user storage device 31 to 3N user terminal

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A mail system comprising a mail center having a storage means having a user's mailbox and a terminal connected to a network through a terminal adapter, wherein the mail center (1) has a telephone number for each mailbox. User telephone number holding means (2-11-2-N) for holding
1) and a notification means (1-1) for outputting a signal to which the telephone number of the mail center is added, and the terminal adapter (3-0) holds the telephone number of the incoming notification source of the mail center (1). A telephone number holding means (3-6) and a display means (3-8) are provided, and when a mail is entered in the mailbox, the user is notified of the incoming call with the incoming call notification telephone number. In a mail system characterized in that the display means (3-8) is controlled to be displayed when it is sent from the center and the holding number of the telephone number holding means (3-6) of the terminal adapter matches the incoming call notification source telephone number. Incoming mail notification method. 2. The mail center (1) according to claim 1.
Is further provided with line notification means (1-4), and the terminal adapter (3-0) is provided with this line notification means (1-4).
Second telephone number holding means (3-1) for holding the telephone number of
Equipped with 1), when the mailbox is empty, the mail center (1)
Makes a notification from the line notification means (1-4), and the terminal adapter (3-0) writes the telephone number written in this notification in the second telephone number holding means (3-11). A mail arrival notification method in a mail system, characterized in that the display means (3-8) is controlled when the mails match.