JPH10222447A - Communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm the termination of electronic mail by a user. SOLUTION: A line is connected to a host computer (data base) handling the electronic mail at every set time and according to a request, a mail ID and a password are transmitted and connected to a mail box (ST18, ST19 and ST1-ST12). Then, the data of character strings showing the termination of electronic mail is detected out of data sent from the host computer so that the termination of electronic mail can be confirmed. When it is confirmed, it is reported by emitting an LED (ST13 and ST15). Thus, the user can easily confirm the termination of electronic mail without performing any complicated operation such as to perform prescribed operation by turning on the power source of personal computer to read out electronic mail.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device suitable for application to a modem or the like. For details, connect the line with the host computer that handles e-mail, detect the character string data indicating that there is an incoming e-mail from the data sent from the host computer, and detect that there is an incoming e-mail. The present invention relates to a communication terminal device which enables a user to easily confirm that an e-mail has arrived by checking and notifying without turning on a personal computer for reading the e-mail. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a communication processing system between personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as "personal computers") currently used, an electronic mail system (EMS: Electron System) is known.
ic Mail System).

In this electronic mail system, a data storage area (hereinafter, referred to as a "mailbox") corresponding to a user is prepared in a host computer (database) of a center which provides the system, and the data is transmitted through the mailbox. In this system, users exchange information in a mail format. In this e-mail system, information from a sender is temporarily stored in a mailbox of the receiver, so that the sender can transmit the mail at the convenience of the sender without restraining the receiver in real time. In addition to the above, the receiver can read the mail arriving in the mailbox at a convenient time. Then, only when the user wants to perform transmission or reception processing, the user connects the line to the host computer in the center.

The operation when using the above-described electronic mail system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in steps ST31 and ST32, the user uses a personal computer and a modem (MODEM: MOd
ulator DEModulator).

Next, in step ST33, a communication program of the electronic mail system is started, and in step ST34.
Then, processing for line connection with the host computer (database) is performed by the line connection command of the communication program. In step ST35, it is determined whether there is a mail ID (IDentifire) transmission request from the host computer, and the mail ID from the host computer is determined.
If there is no transmission request, the process proceeds to step ST41,
Perform line disconnection processing. If there is a mail ID transmission request from the host computer, step ST36
The user moves from the personal computer to the mailbox
Send D. In step ST37, it is determined whether or not there is a password transmission request from the host computer. If there is no password transmission request from the host computer, the process proceeds to step ST41 in the same manner as described above, and the line disconnection processing is performed. And if there is a password input request from the host computer, step ST38
Then, the user transmits the password from the personal computer.

[0007] This connects to the mailbox of the host computer, and proceeds to step ST39 to enable communication. In this case, when an e-mail is received, character string data indicating that the e-mail is received is sent from the host computer and displayed on the screen of the personal computer. Then, when an e-mail is received, the user can read the e-mail by performing a reading operation from the personal computer. In this communication, an e-mail can be transmitted. This communication is performed in step ST.
Communication with the host computer is possible until it is determined at 40 that the end operation has been performed. When there is an end operation,
The process shifts to step ST41 to perform a line disconnection process, and then ends the communication program in step ST42.

[0008]

As described above, the user needs to turn on the power of the personal computer and the modem in order to confirm whether or not an electronic mail addressed to the user has arrived. For this reason, it was not easy to confirm that an e-mail was received.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a communication terminal device that allows a user to easily confirm that an electronic mail has arrived.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a memory for storing at least a telephone number of a host computer which handles an e-mail and character string data indicating that an e-mail has arrived. A line connection means for connecting a line with the host computer using the telephone number stored in the memory, and detecting a character string data stored in the memory from data transmitted from the host computer to send an e-mail And an incoming call notifying means for notifying that the incoming e-mail has been received by the incoming call checking means.

In the present invention, a line with a host computer is connected using a telephone number stored in a memory. This line connection is performed, for example, periodically or when there is an operation for confirming whether or not the user has received an e-mail.

When an electronic mail arrives, a line with the host computer is connected, and character string data indicating the arrival of the electronic mail is sent from the host computer. Therefore, by detecting the character string indicating the arrival of the e-mail sent from the host computer, it is confirmed that the e-mail has arrived, and the notification is visually or audibly notified.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a modem 10 as an embodiment.

This modem 10 is a DTE such as a personal computer.
(Data Terminal Equipment) interprets the meaning of the command and controls the operation of each part of the system by a CPU 11 (Central Processing Unit) and a DTE.
And a driver 13 and a receiver 14 that constitute an RS232C interface unit disposed between the CPU 11 and the connector 12.

The modem 10 has terminals 15 and 16 for telephone line connection, terminals 17 and 18 for telephone connection connected to the terminals 15 and 16, respectively, and terminals 15 and 16.
And an incoming call detection circuit 20 that is connected via a DC cut capacitor 19 to detect an incoming call by detecting a calling signal. The detection output of the incoming call detection circuit 20 is supplied to the CPU 11 described above.

The modem 10 has a modem IC 21 including an AFE (analog front end) section, a modulation / demodulation section, a tone signal generation section, and the like. The AFE unit performs a two-wire to four-wire conversion while maintaining impedance matching with the line side, a call progress tone such as a busy tone and a ringback tone on the telephone line, and a response that the other modem responds. It is composed of a filter for detecting an answer tone to be sent out for notification, and an analog amplifier.

The modulation / demodulation unit is disposed between the hybrid circuit and the CPU 11 and processes (modulates) a digital signal from the DTE into an analog signal to supply the analog signal to the 4-wire side (transmission) of the hybrid circuit. Has the function of restoring (demodulating) an analog signal obtained on the 4-wire side (reception) of the hybrid circuit into a digital signal and supplying the digital signal to the DTE.

The modem 10 includes a line transformer 22 disposed between the terminals 15 and 16 and the two-wire side of the hybrid circuit of the modem IC 21 for isolating a telephone line, and a terminal 15 and a line transformer 22. And a relay 23 for activating the switch (off-hook), restoring (on-hook), and generating a pulse-type selection signal (dial pulse). The operation of the relay 23 is controlled by the CPU 11.

The modem 10 has an EP-ROM (Erasable Programmable ROM) in which an operation program is stored.
24 and an S-RAM (Static RA) for buffering data.
M) 25 and information for connecting to a host computer (database) that handles e-mails, and a character string indicating that there is an incoming e-mail sent from the host computer when there is an incoming e-mail A nonvolatile memory 26 in which data and the like are stored in advance;
EP-ROM 24, S-RAM 2
5, an address decoder 27 for supplying the nonvolatile memory 26 and the modem IC 21. The information for connecting to the mailbox includes telephone number data, mailbox ID, mailbox password, a character string indicating that there is a mail ID transmission request from the host computer, and a password from the host computer. A character string indicating that there is a transmission request is given.

CPU 11, modem IC 21, EP-RO
A data bus 28 and a control bus 29 are connected between the M24, the S-RAM 25, the nonvolatile memory 26, and the address decoder 27, and the CPU 11 and the modem IC 21, the EP-ROM 24, the S-RAM 25, the nonvolatile memory 26, The address bus 30 is connected between them.

The modem 10 has a speaker 32 for confirming a call progress tone on the line and a sound at the start of communication between the modems, and a buffer amplifier 31 for amplifying the speaker output. The buffer amplifier 31 and the speaker 32 are connected to the modem IC 21.

The modem 10 also stores a light emitting diode display 33 as a notifying means for notifying that an electronic mail has arrived, and stores the above-mentioned telephone number of the host computer (database) in the nonvolatile memory 26. An input unit 34 is provided for performing operations, setting and canceling an incoming mail confirmation mode described later, and performing operations such as turning the power on and off.

In the above-described modem 10, the CPU 11 performs a process of connecting a line with a communication partner in accordance with a command from a DTE such as a personal computer connected to the connector 12. Then, after the line connection, the digital signal as transmission data from the DTE is supplied to the modem IC 21 via the receiver 14 and the CPU 11. The above-described digital signal is processed (modulated) into an analog signal by the modem section of the modem IC 21, and the analog signal is transmitted to the telephone line via the hybrid circuit of the modem IC 21, the line transformer 22, and the terminals 15 and 16. Sent out. The analog signal supplied from the communication partner to the terminals 15 and 16 via the telephone line is supplied to the modulation / demodulation unit via the hybrid circuit of the line transformer 22 and the modem IC 21 to be restored (demodulated) into a digital signal. The digital signal is supplied to the DTE via the CPU 11, the driver 13, and the connector 12. Then, after the predetermined communication is completed, the CPU 11 performs a line disconnection process according to a command from the DTE.

Next, the operation when the modem 10 is set to the e-mail incoming confirmation mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the e-mail arrival check mode is set, first, in step ST1, the line connection processing count n _{1 is set} to 0.
Is set, and in step ST2, a line connection process with a host computer (database) handling electronic mail is performed using the telephone number stored in the nonvolatile memory 26.

Then, the process proceeds to step ST3 to determine whether or not the line is connected. If the line is not connected, the process proceeds to step ST4, and after the line connection processing frequency n ₁ is incremented, the process proceeds to step ST5, is compared with the retry setting number n ₁ and the line connection processing count n ₁ stored in the nonvolatile memory 26, when the line connection processing number n ₁ is less than the retry setting number n ₁ is
Returning to step ST2, line connection processing is performed again.
If it is determined in step ST5 that the number of line connection processes n ₁ is equal to or greater than the set number of retries N ₁ , the process proceeds to step ST16 to perform a line disconnection process.

If the line is connected in step ST3, the process proceeds to step ST6, where it is determined whether or not the data sent from the host computer includes the character string data of the mail ID transmission request. If there is no character string data of the ID transmission request, the process proceeds to step ST7 to determine whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step ST16 to disconnect the line. Perform processing. If the data sent from the host computer includes the character string data of the mail ID transmission request, the process proceeds to step ST8, where the mail ID stored in the nonvolatile memory 26 is transmitted.

Then, in step ST9, it is determined whether or not the data sent from the host computer includes character string data of the password transmission request. S
The process proceeds to T10 to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step ST16 to perform a line disconnection process. On the other hand, when the data sent from the host computer includes the character string data of the password input request, the process proceeds to step ST11, where the password stored in the nonvolatile memory 26 is transmitted.

As a result, the connection is made to the mailbox of the host computer, and the process proceeds to step ST12 to enable communication. In this case, when an e-mail is received, data of a character string indicating that the e-mail is received (hereinafter, referred to as “incoming data”) is sent from the host computer.

Then, the process shifts to step ST13 to determine whether or not the character string data sent from the host computer includes incoming data. This determination is made by comparing incoming data stored in the non-volatile memory 26 with data sent from the host computer.

If no incoming data is detected in step ST13, the process proceeds to step ST14 to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed.
The process proceeds to step ST16 to perform a line disconnection process.
If the incoming data is detected, step ST1 is executed.
The process proceeds to step 5, where the light-emitting diode display 33 for notifying that an e-mail has arrived is turned on. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step ST16 to perform a line disconnection process.

Then, the process shifts to step ST17 to judge whether or not the display of the incoming mail has already been performed. If the display has already been performed, the process shifts to step ST20 to terminate the e-mail incoming confirmation mode. . On the other hand, if not already displayed, the process proceeds to step ST18 to start a timer for confirming the arrival of the next electronic mail. Then, the process proceeds to step ST19, where it is determined whether or not the set time has elapsed. If the set time has elapsed, the process returns to step ST1 to perform the above-described e-mail arrival check operation again.

The set time can be set in advance by the user using the input unit 34. This set time is stored in the nonvolatile memory 26.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in the e-mail incoming confirmation mode, the line is automatically connected to the host computer at set time intervals, and the e-mail is received from the data transmitted from the host computer. By detecting the data of the character string indicating that the e-mail has arrived, if it is confirmed that the e-mail has arrived, the light emitting diode display unit 3
3 is turned on to visually notify the user.
Therefore, the user can easily confirm whether or not an electronic mail has arrived without a complicated operation such as turning on the personal computer and performing a predetermined operation.

In the above-described embodiment, in the e-mail incoming call confirmation mode, the incoming call is automatically confirmed at every set time. However, only when the user operates a key or the like, the electronic mail is confirmed. Confirmation of incoming mail may be performed.

In the above-described embodiment, the above-described modem 10 turns on the light-emitting diode display unit 33 to notify that there is an incoming e-mail. May be used to notify the user in characters, or may be notified audibly using a sounding element such as a buzzer or a speaker.

Further, even if not described above, the light emitting diode display section 33 is turned on when a reset command is supplied from a personal computer as a DTE for reading out an electronic mail.
Alternatively, it is canceled when an e-mail is read out on the personal computer.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a modem. However, the present invention relates to another communication terminal device such as a terminal adapter or a DSU (Digita
It is needless to say that the present invention can be similarly applied to (Service Unit).

[0039]

According to the present invention, a line is connected to a host computer that handles electronic mail, and character string data indicating that an electronic mail has arrived is detected from data sent from the host computer. It confirms that there is an incoming e-mail and notifies the user. Therefore, the user can easily confirm that there is an incoming e-mail without performing a troublesome operation such as turning on the power of the personal computer for reading out the e-mail and performing a predetermined operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a modem as an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a control example of a modem in an electronic mail arrival check mode.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when using the e-mail system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 CPU 12 Connector 13 Driver 14 Receiver 20 Incoming Detecting Circuit 21 Modem IC 22 Line Transformer 23 Relay 24 EP-ROM 25 S-RAM 26 Nonvolatile Memory 27 Address Decoder 28 Data Bus 29 Control Bus 30 Address Bus 33 Light Emitting Diode Display 34 Input section

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 1/00 H04L 13/00 309A 11/00 303

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A memory for storing at least a telephone number of a host computer handling an electronic mail and data of a character string indicating that the electronic mail has arrived, and a telephone number stored in the memory. Line connection means for connecting a line with the host computer using the host computer; detecting the character string data stored in the memory from data transmitted from the host computer; A communication terminal device, comprising: an incoming call confirming means for confirming that there is an incoming call; and an incoming call notifying means for notifying the incoming call when the incoming call confirming means confirms that there is an incoming electronic mail. 2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein said line connection means performs a line connection operation with said host computer periodically. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the incoming call confirming means confirms that the e-mail has arrived, the line connecting means stops the subsequent line connecting operation with the host computer. 3. The communication terminal device according to 2. 4. An operation means for confirming whether or not the electronic mail has arrived, wherein the line connection means performs a line connection operation with the host computer when the operation means is operated. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the incoming notification unit has a display element and visually notifies the incoming of the electronic mail by the display element. 6. The communication terminal device according to claim 5, wherein said display element is a light emitting element. 7. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the incoming call notifying unit is configured to include a sound emitting element, and notifies the incoming of the electronic mail audibly by the sound emitting element. 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the notification of the arrival of the electronic mail by the incoming notification unit is stopped by supplying a reset command from a personal computer that reads the electronic mail. Communication terminal device. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the notification of the arrival of the electronic mail by the incoming notification unit is stopped when the personal computer that reads the electronic mail reads the electronic mail. Communication terminal device.