JPH0773123A - Electronic mail processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide technology for efficiently transmitting a document generated through the use of an editor function with a simple operation. CONSTITUTION:An electronic mail processing system is provided with an editing means 3 editing input information of an operator on a terminal 1, a communication connection means 4 holding identification information and the password of the operator executing a terminal operation and executing a connection procedure to a host computer 2, and a communication control means 5 interrupting the editing processing of the editing means 3 during the operation of the editing means 3, urging the input of identification information on a mail transmission destination, starting the communication connection means, sequentially transmitting and registering a mail and mail transmission destination identification information to the host computer 2 and resuming editing work by the editing means 3 after a mail transmission procedure terminates.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail processing system for transmitting a document created by editing work as a mail to a host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the improvement of information processing technology and communication technology, a communication technology called personal computer communication, which uses a personal computer to transmit and receive data, has been receiving attention.

Since personal computer communications can be carried out using commercially available personal computers, word processors, etc., the number of subscribers tends to increase regardless of age or sex. Along with this, there has been a demand for a technology that enables simple operations such as creating / editing a document and sending an email.

In personal computer communication, a user activates an application dedicated to communication on a personal computer and composes and sends a mail according to this application software. This application program is an editor program and a mail for creating and editing a mail. Is configured independently from the mail sending program that sends the mail, the user starts the document creation editor program to create a document, and after the document is created, the start of the document creation editor program is temporarily terminated and the mail sending program is executed. It is necessary to start and send the mail created in the document editor to the host computer. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation is complicated and inefficient.

Further, there is a method of sending a mail by using the editor function of the personal computer and the mail sending function of the application software, but the operation is complicated when using the editor function.
There is a problem that a beginner takes time to process.

[0006]

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for efficiently transmitting a document created by using an editor function with a simple operation. And

[0007]

The present invention has been made as follows in order to solve the above problems. This will be described based on the principle diagram of FIG.

A system in which a host computer 2 having a mailbox for storing mails to individual subscribers is connected to a terminal 1 via a communication line, and mails are transmitted / received to / from other terminals 1 via the mailbox. In each terminal 1, the editing means 3 for editing the operator's input information, the communication connection means 4 for transmitting the information edited by the editing means 3 to the host computer 2 together with the destination identification information, the editing means 3, and the communication connection. The communication control means 5 for monitoring and controlling the means 4 is provided.

The function of each component will be described in detail below. The editing means 3 edits the operator's input information on the terminal 1, for example, the document data to be sent as an email.

The communication connection means 4 has a function of holding identification information and a password for specifying an operator who operates the terminal 1, and a function of executing a connection procedure to the host computer 2. The connection procedure of the host computer 2 is a procedure for making a call to the host computer 2, a procedure for transmitting the identification information of the sender operator and a password, and a procedure for transmitting an email, and the communication connection means 4 sequentially performs these procedures. Run.

The communication control means 5 has a function of interrupting the editing process of the editing means 3 and prompting the input of identification information of the mail destination when a mail transmission instruction is given while the editing means 3 is in operation.
It has a function of confirming the input of the identification information and activating the communication connection means 4. When the communication connection means 4 is started, a call instruction to the host computer 2, a transmission instruction of identification information of a sender and a password, and a mail transmission instruction are issued. Also, after confirming the completion of the mail transmission procedure on the host computer 2, it has a function of issuing a communication connection disconnection instruction to the communication connection means 4 to the host computer 2. Further, it may have a function of issuing a work restart instruction of the editing means 3 after disconnection of communication.

Further, the communication control means 5 calls the host computer 2 while the editing means 3 is not operating,
A function of preliminarily acquiring the identification information of the broadcast mail delivery destination with respect to the transmission source identification information registered in the host computer 2 may be provided.

[0013]

In the electronic mail processing system of the present invention, when the operator inputs a mail transmission instruction while the editing means 3 is operating, the communication control means 5 recognizes this and interrupts the editing processing of the editing means 3. Then, the operator is prompted to input the identification information of the mail transmission destination.

The communication control means 5 confirms the input of the identification information of the mail transmission destination and activates the communication connection means 4. Here, the communication connection unit 4 sequentially executes a call instruction to the host computer 2, a transmission instruction of the identification information of the sender and a password, and a mail transmission instruction.

When executing the mail transmission instruction, the editing means 3
The editing information at the time of interruption is registered in the host computer 2 as a mail, and the identification information of the transmission destination is registered in the host computer 2.

After confirming the completion of the above mail transmission procedure, the communication connection means 4 disconnects the communication connection between the host computer 2 and the terminal 1.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a personal computer will be described as an example of the terminal of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the internal configuration of the personal computer in this embodiment.

The personal computer stores a mail created by the CPU 6 via the CPU 6 for creating and sending mail, a storage device 7 for storing a program defining a procedure for mail creating and sending processing carried out by the CPU 6, and a line interface 9. The transmitting / receiving device 8 for transmitting to the host computer, the image processing device 11 for converting the document information output from the CPU 6, the document creation information, and the mail transmission information into screen information and displaying the screen on the CRT 13 via the CRT control device 12, the operator A keyboard 10 for inputting document information and a mail transmission command is provided.

The function of each component will be described in detail below. The storage device 7 stores an editor program 7a, a communication connection program 7b, and a communication control program 7c (see FIG. 3), and the editor program 7a is a program that defines a procedure for editing information input by an operator.

The communication connection program 7b is a program that defines a procedure for transmitting / registering information edited by the CPU 6 according to the editor program 7a as a mail to the host computer.

The communication control program 7c is a program for monitoring and controlling the edit processing operation and communication connection operation of the CPU 6. The function of the CPU 6 will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

The CPU 6 comprises a document edit processing section 6a, a command analysis section 6b, a message output processing section 6c, a communication connection processing section 6d, an image management section 6e, and a communication control section 6f.
The document edit processing unit 6a uses the above-mentioned editor program 6a.
Edit the document information entered by the operator based on.

The command analysis section 6b analyzes a command input by the operator from the keyboard 10 and determines whether the command is a command related to document editing or a command related to mail transmission. In this case, it is determined whether or not the command input while the editor program 7a is operating is a mail transmission command.

The message output processing unit 6c sends a message prompting the user to select the transmission mode and a message prompting the input of the destination identification information in response to the input of the mail send command on the CRT 13.
To output from the screen.

The communication connection processing unit 6d makes a call to the host computer, communication connection / disconnection with the host computer,
And to send mail. The communication connection processing unit 6d holds the identification information and the password 100 of the operator who operates the personal computer, and transmits the identification information and the password when making a call to the host computer. It should be noted that the communication connection processing unit 6d in the present embodiment is assumed to be capable of executing three transmission modes of mail transmission, broadcast transmission, and fax transmission to a (single) destination.

The image management unit 6e includes a communication control program 7
The display screen of the CRT 13 is controlled according to c. Specifically, when the mail is transmitted during the document editing process, the mail transmission information is displayed in the window while the editing screen being processed is held on the CRT 13 screen.

The communication control section 6f monitors and controls the operation of each section based on the communication control program 7c. The communication control unit 6f uses the broadcast mail delivery destination information (for example, address book) corresponding to the identification information of the operator of the host computer to arbitrarily read the broadcast group name and the users belonging to the broadcast group. It holds a broadcast group list 200 that stores identification information. When the operator selects the broadcast transmission, the broadcast group list 200 is sent via the message output processing unit 6c.
A message prompting the user to select a broadcast group name to send an email from among the group names registered in CRT13
To display on the screen. This broadcast group list 200 is displayed when the editor program 7a is inactive (the document edit processing unit 6
It is created in advance when (a) is not activated. That is, the communication control unit 6f makes a call to the host computer when the document edit processing unit 6a is not operating, arbitrarily reads out the broadcast group name and the identification information of the belonging user from the broadcast mail destination information, Register in the list. The process of creating the broadcast group list will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

After confirming that the document edit processing unit 6a has not been operated, the communication control unit 6f activates the communication connection processing unit 6d to call the host computer and at the same time transmits the identification information and the password 100 (step 501). ).

Then, the connection of the communication line is confirmed and a request for access to the broadcast mail delivery destination information is transmitted (step 502). Here, access permission is given from the host computer to access the broadcast mail delivery destination information, and the information regarding the arbitrary broadcast group (the broadcast group name and the identification information of the belonging user) is read (step 503). Download to list 200 (step 5)
04).

The operation process of the personal computer when sending a mail from the document edit processing state will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the document creation processing state, the document editing processing section 6a edits character information input by the operator from the keyboard 10 based on the editor program 7a, and at the same time, the communication control section 6f monitors the document editing processing according to the communication control program 7c ( Step 601). When the operator inputs a mail transmission command in this state, the command analysis unit 6b determines whether this command is a mail transmission command (step 602) and notifies the communication control unit 6f of the determination result.

The communication control unit 6f suspends the operation of the document edit processing unit 6a at the time when it is notified by the command analysis unit 6b of the input of the mail transmission command, and holds the current display screen of the CRT 13 in the image management unit 6e. Instruct to that effect.

The image management unit 6e uses the image processing device 11 and the CRT control device 12 to operate the CRT 13 at the present time.
The display screen of is locked (see FIG. 7). Further, the communication control unit 6f activates the message output processing unit 6c and notifies the image management unit 6e of a message prompting the user to select the transmission form and input the destination identification information of the mail. Upon receiving the message, the image management unit 6e sends a CR via the image processing device 11.
The message is displayed in the window on the locked document edit screen at T13 (step 603) (see FIG. 8).

In accordance with the message displayed on the screen of the CRT 13, the operator selects a transmission mode, that is, a desired transmission mode from broadcast transmission, fax transmission and destination transmission (step 604). Here, when the operator selects the broadcast transmission, the communication control unit 6f reads the broadcast group name registered in the broadcast group list 200 and displays it on the CRT 13 screen via the message output processing unit 6c. Display (step 605).

When the operator selects an arbitrary broadcast group name from the list of broadcast group names, the communication control section 6f
Notifies the communication connection processing unit 6d of the broadcast group name selected by the operator and the call processing instruction to the host computer.

The communication connection processing unit 6d first makes a call to the host computer (step 609), and transmits the identification information and password of the sender operator to the host computer (step 610). Next, the edited document on the locked edit processing screen is sent as a mail to the host computer for registration (step 611), and the destination broadcast group name is sent to the host computer (step 612) (see FIG. 9).

When the communication control section 6f receives the mail registration completion notice from the host computer, the communication connection processing section 6d.
Then, the communication line between the host computer and the personal computer is disconnected (step 613). At this time, the message output processing unit 6c outputs a transmission end message on the CRT 13 screen (see FIG. 10).

Then, the communication control section 6f terminates the operation of the communication connection processing section 6d, restarts the editor program, and restarts the interrupted editing processing of the document editing processing section 6a (step 614).

If the operator does not select the broadcast transmission in step 604, that is, if the operator selects the fax transmission or the transmission to a single destination, the message output processing unit 6c displays the CRT13 screen. A message prompting the user to input the destination identification information of the mail is output (step 607).

When the operator inputs the destination identification information from the keyboard 10 according to the message, the communication control section 6f notifies the communication connection processing section 6d of the destination identification information input by the operator and the call processing instruction to the host computer. (Step 608).

Thereafter, as in the case of the broadcast transmission, the processing after step 609 is performed to transmit the mail. In step 614, the operator may be allowed to select whether or not to restart the editor program 7a. That is, the message output processing unit 6c may be activated after disconnecting the communication line with the host computer, and a message prompting the user to select whether or not to restart the document editing process may be output on the CRT 13 screen.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the operator is
Immediately after creating a document, the created document can be sent as an email.

[0042]

According to the present invention, when sending a mail created on the document editor, the user can quickly send the mail with a simple operation without terminating the document editor. As a result, even a beginner can easily send an email.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration block diagram of a personal computer according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an internal configuration block diagram of a storage device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a CPU in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a broadcast group information acquisition process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation process of the personal computer in this embodiment.

FIG. 7: Display example of CRT screen (1)

FIG. 8: Display example of CRT screen (2)

FIG. 9: Display example of CRT screen (3)

FIG. 10: Display example of CRT screen (4)

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Terminal 2 ... Host computer 3 ... Editing means 4 ... Communication connection means 5 ... Communication control means 6 ... CPU 6a ... Document edit processing section 6b ... Command analysis section 6c ... Message output processing section 6d ··· Communication connection processing unit 6e ·· Image management unit 6f · · Communication control unit 7 · · Storage device 7a · · Editor program 7b · · Communication connection program 7c · · Communication control program 8 · · Transmitter / receiver device 9 · · Line Interface 10 ... Keyboard 11 ... Image processing device 12 ... CRT control device 13 ... CRT 100 ... Identification information, password 200 ... Broadcast group list

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A host computer (2) equipped with a mailbox for storing mail addressed to an individual subscriber and a terminal (1) are connected via a communication line to connect another terminal (1) and the mailbox. In a system for transmitting and receiving mail via an editing means (3) for editing input information of an operator on the terminal (1), holding identification information and a password of an operator who operates the terminal, and a host computer The communication control means (4) for executing a connection procedure to (2), and the communication control means (5) for monitoring and controlling the editing means (3) and the communication connection means (4), the communication control The means (5) interrupts the editing process of the editing means (3) when a mail transmission instruction is given during the operation of the editing means (3) and prompts the input of identification information of the mail transmission destination. When it is confirmed that the identification information of the mail transmission destination has been input, the communication connection means (4) is activated, a call is made to the host computer (2), the identification information of the transmission source and the password are transmitted, And sequentially executing instructions for sending mail, registering the editing information at the interruption point in the editing means (3) as a mail in the host computer (2), and registering the identification information of the mail destination. An electronic mail processing system, characterized in that the steps (1) and (2) are sequentially executed, and after confirming that the mail transmission procedure on the host computer (2) is completed, the communication connection with the host computer (2) is disconnected. 2. The communication control means (5) makes a call to the host computer (2) while the editing means (3) is not operating, and is registered in the host computer (2). The electronic mail processing system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pieces of identification information of the broadcast mail delivery destination for the identification information of the sender are acquired in advance.