JPH0981480A - Information equipment and simple electronic mail transmitting and receiving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information equipment and a simple electronic mail transmitting and receiving method which enable anybody to easily make good use of electronic mail without requiring any mail server. SOLUTION: A digital telephone function part 22 is used to decide whether or not sent data are electronic mail, and when it is decided that the data are the electronic mail, the mail data are received directly and stored in an INBOX 23. Mail data are generated are stored in an OUTBOX 24 by generating the mail data by utilizing the memo function, etc., of a PIM function part 21 and the mail data stored in this OUTBOX 24 are sent directly to the opposite party.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to PDA (pers).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information device such as an electronic digital assistance), and more particularly to an information device that can easily use e-mail and a simple e-mail transmission / reception method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, e-mail using a personal computer, a word processor, or the like has rapidly spread to companies and individuals as a new means of communication. However, for that purpose, a host computer for e-mail is installed in the company, and commercial e-mail (NI) is used.
It is a prerequisite to subscribe to a personal computer communication service such as FTY.

[0003] Here, in the conventional e-mail, exchanged e-mails (character string data) are stored in a large-capacity storage device of an e-mail computer in a company called a mail server or a computer for a commercial e-mail service. However, both the sender and the receiver mainly access the mail server via a telephone line (make a call).

FIG. 5 shows a conventional electronic mail system. In the figure, 1a to 1c are information devices using a conventional method (here, P
DA) 2 is a mail server. In the conventional method, the PDAs 1a to 1c exchange mail via the mail server 2, respectively.

For example, when sending a mail from the PDA 1a to the PDA 1b, the PDA 1a first sends the mail server 2
And sends the mail data addressed to the PDA 1b to the mail server 2. On the other hand, the PDA 1b accesses the mail server 2 in the same manner and receives mail data addressed to itself from the mail server 2.

[0006]

As described above, a conventional e-mail requires a mail server (computer) for storing and exchanging mail data. That is, in order to exchange mail data between information devices, a mail server must be accessed. For this reason,
There was a problem that nobody could use e-mail easily.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an information device and a simple electronic mail transmission / reception method that enable anyone to easily use electronic mail immediately without the need for a mail server. The purpose is to

[0008]

According to the present invention, a digital telephone function is used, and at the time of reception, it is determined whether or not the data transmitted to the telephone function is an electronic mail, and the data is an electronic mail. When it is determined, the mail data is directly received and stored in the input buffer.

Further, at the time of sending, by creating mail data to be sent by a memo function or the like, the mail data is stored in an output buffer, and the mail data stored in this output buffer is directly sent to the destination by the telephone function. Try to send.

Thus, a simple electronic mail can be realized without the need for an electronic mail computer in the company or a commercial electronic mail service, and anyone can immediately use the electronic mail easily.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This information device is a PHS (personal hand)
yphonesystem) PDA with built-in telephone function
Consists of

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as MPU), which controls the entire PDA and the PHS module. Reference numeral 12 denotes a fixed storage device (hereinafter, referred to as a ROM), which stores a program code, a dictionary for kana-kanji conversion, and the like.
The ROM 12 also stores software corresponding to the PIM function unit 21 and the telephone function unit 22 of FIG. 2 described later.

Reference numeral 13 is a main storage device (hereinafter referred to as RAM).
Here, various data necessary for the processing of the MPU 11 are stored. Further, the RAM 13 is provided with a buffer area corresponding to INBOX 23 and OUTBOX 24 of FIG. 2 described later.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an infrared communication unit (hereinafter, IrD
A) and exchanges data with another PDA.
15 is a PC card interface unit (hereinafter, PC
MCIA), and various PC cards can be used. 16 is a tablet for pen input (hereinafter referred to as TABL)
This is referred to as ET), and data is input with a pen.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as an LCD), which displays data.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a PHS radio telephone unit, which is a portion for transmitting and receiving data by a general digital telephone. Reference numeral 19 denotes a light emitting element (hereinafter, referred to as an LED), which is used here for notifying a reception state of an e-mail.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of the information equipment in the embodiment. In this information device, a digital (PHS) telephone function unit 22 is added or built in, in addition to a PIM function unit 21 for managing personal information such as a schedule function, an address function, and a memo function. . It is assumed that the telephone function unit 22 is added, for example, when a PC card is used.

The telephone function unit 22 has a function of transmitting / receiving mail data to / from another device, in addition to an original call function. In this case, mail data transmitted from another device is stored in the INBOX 23 which is an input buffer. Also, mail data addressed to the other party created by the memo function or the like of the PIM function unit 21 is stored in the OUTBOX 24 which is an output buffer.

Here, in order to facilitate understanding, an electronic mail of this system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an electronic mail of this method. 10 in the figure
a to 10c are information devices using this method (here, PDA
Is called). Each of the PDA's 10a to 10c is provided with a function for directly transmitting / receiving an electronic mail to / from a partner device. Therefore, in this method, the PDA 10 can be used without using the mail server as in the conventional case (see FIG. 5).
Emails can be freely exchanged between a to 10c.

In this case, it is assumed that the telephone function unit 22 can operate independently of other functions, and if the information device of this system is set in the e-mail receiving state, the information device is in operation. Even if there is, the electronic mail is automatically received in the telephone called there, and the mail data is stored in the INBOX provided inside. After that, when the user operates the information device and confirms the reception state of the electronic mail, the mail data in the INBOX can be immediately viewed on the screen.

In the mail transmission, mail data is created online by using the memo function of the PIM function provided in the information device, and after selecting the other party by using the telephone book function or the like (plural number is allowed). ), OUT the mail data
Put it in the BOX and put it in a transmission standby state.

When some mail data is stored, the mail transmission function is activated, the connection state with the information device of the other party is confirmed, and if it is in a transmission possible state, OUTB
The mail data (standby mail) in the OX is automatically transmitted to the other party in order. After that, the transmission status can be known by checking the OUTBOX state. At this time, the mail data that could not be transmitted can be retransmitted (automatic retransmission) to the other party.

Further, it can be used in combination with a conventional mail server type electronic mail, and the electronic mail can be utilized more flexibly. Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a processing operation at the time of receiving a calling packet in the embodiment. MPU
First, the device 11 determines whether or not the data sent from the other device to the telephone function unit 22 of the device is an electronic mail (step S11). In this case, information for identifying whether the data is electronic mail or voice is provided in the call packet. By confirming this identification information, it is possible to know whether the call was made by telephone or e-mail.

If it is not an electronic mail, that is, if a telephone call is received (step S11)
Yes), MPU 11 is PHS wireless telephone unit 18
A ringing tone is issued via the telephone (step S12), and the conversation state by the telephone function unit 22 is set (step S1).
3).

On the other hand, if it is an electronic mail (No in step S11), the MPU 11 directly receives the mail data via the PHS wireless telephone unit 18 and stores the mail data in the INBOX 23 (step S14).
At this time, the MPU 11 turns on the LED 19 and notifies the user of the reception status of the electronic mail (step S15).

As a result, when the user confirms the reception state of the electronic mail, the mail data currently stored in the INBOX 23 can be displayed on the LCD 17 and the contents can be viewed.

Further, the MPU 11 accesses the OUTBOX 24 and confirms whether or not mail data addressed to the other party is stored in the OUTBOX 24 (step S1).
6). This mail data is created by a memo function or the like in the PIM function unit 21.

If there is mail data addressed to the other party (Yes in step S16), the MPU 11 sets P
The mail data is transmitted to the other party via the HS wireless telephone unit 18 (step S17).

As a result, when there is mail data waiting to be sent (that is, when the OUTBOX 24 contains mail data), when an electronic mail is received from the other party, the waiting mail is automatically sent to the other party. be able to.

On the other hand, when the mail data is transmitted, if the other party has a standby mail addressed to me, it can be received. After the processing is completed, the MPU 11 disconnects the telephone line and puts it in a standby state (step S18).

In this way, by adding or incorporating a digital telephone function and utilizing it, a simple electronic mail is realized without the need for an electronic mail computer in the company or a commercial electronic mail service. be able to.
This makes it easy for anyone to use e-mail immediately.

In the case where the transmission partner is an information device capable of receiving a conventional mail server type e-mail, for example, when the communication is not succeeded even after trying this system two or three times. It is also possible to have a function such as automatically sending mail data to the other party's mail server.

In the above embodiment, the telephone line is assumed as the communication route, but if there is a direct communication route, it can be applied to electronic mail other than the telephone line. For example, it is also possible to use an e-mail in the PHS communication between slave units.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, since mail data is directly transmitted and received between information devices having a digital telephone function added or built-in, it is possible to access a mail server like a conventional one. E-mail will be readily available to anyone without needing it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of an information device according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when a calling packet is received in the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an electronic mail of this method.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a conventional electronic mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... MPU, 18 ... PHS wireless telephone unit, 19 ... LED, 21 ... PIM function part, 22 ... Telephone function part, 23 ... INBOX, 24 ... OUTBOX.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An information device to which a digital telephone function is added or built in, and a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the data transmitted to the telephone function is an electronic mail, and an electronic mail by the discriminating means. Receiving means for directly receiving the mail data, an input buffer for accumulating the mail data received by the receiving means, and a mail creating means for creating the mail data to be transmitted, An information device comprising an output buffer for accumulating the mail data created by the mail creating means, and a sending means for directly sending the mail data accumulated in the output buffer to the other party by the telephone function. . 2. A simple electronic mail transmitting / receiving method for an information device having a digital telephone function added or built-in, at the time of reception, it is determined whether or not the data transmitted to the telephone function is an electronic mail, and an electronic mail is sent. If it is determined that the mail data is directly received and stored in the input buffer, the mail data to be sent is stored in the output buffer when sending, and the mail data stored in this output buffer is stored in the above. A simple e-mail transmission / reception method characterized by sending directly to the other party by telephone function.