JPH11163918A - Electronic mail equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable reading an electronic mail in another location even in the case that a normally used electronic mail equipment is not directly connected from the other location by transmitting a movement schedule to the electronic mail equipment of the other location when the movement schedule is registered by means of an electronic mail user. SOLUTION: A user B previously registers the movement schedule in a data base 104b which is held by a mail server 103b. The electronic mail of the user A is transmitted from the mail server 103a to the mail server 103b by way of routers 105a and 105b and read by the request of the user B who uses a mailer 102b. The mail server 103b refers to the data base 104 so as to transfer the electronic mail to the mail sever 103c in accordance with a movement schedule table which is set by the user B. The mail server 103c which receives the transferred electronic mail and the movement schedule table re-transfers the read electronic mail to the movement destination in accordance with the movement schedule table.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic mail apparatus using a computer, and more particularly to transfer of the electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a diagram showing transmission and reception of an electronic mail by a conventional electronic mail device. In the figure, 200
a, 200b, and 200c are networks; 201 is a WAN such as the Internet; 202a is a sender mailer (mail reader); 202b is a receiver mailer;
2c is the mailer used by the recipient at the destination, 203a is the mail server of the mailer 202a, 203b is the mailer 202
b, the mail server 203c is the mail server of the mailer 202c used at the destination, 205a, 205b, 205
c is the network 200a, 200b, 200c and WA
N201. The arrow in FIG.
[21] to [24] show the flow of e-mail.

[0003] Next, a conventional e-mail transfer operation will be described. First, an e-mail sent from a user A (userA@osaka.co.jp) using the mailer 202a to a user B (userB@tokyo.co.jp) using the mailer 202b is sent to a mail server. 203a to router 20
5A, the user B (userB@tokyo.co.jp) that is temporarily spooled to the mail server 203b via the WAN 201 and the router 205b ([21] in FIG. 5) and uses the mailer 202b.
(22 in FIG. 5). And
The mail server 203b stores the user B (userB@tokyo.co.j
When the e-mail is read according to p), the fact that the read mail has already been read is recorded.

[0004] Here, the user B is userB@tokyo.co.jp
To read mail addressed to the mail server 203b
Must be connected to. Therefore, user B
When the user B cannot connect to the mail server 203b or moves to a network where connection is not permitted, the user B cannot read the mail addressed to userB@tokyo.co.jp.

[0005] Therefore, conventionally, when user B cannot connect to the mail server 203b or moves to a network where connection is not permitted, the user B is sent to the mail server 203b.
B@tokyo.co.jp) to the destination given by user B on the destination network (userB@hokkaido.c
o.jp), and the user B is spooled to the mail server 203b by transferring the e-mail to the mail server 203c that can be connected to the destination network ([23] in FIG. 5). User B (userB@tokyo.c
o.jp) (see [24] in FIG. 5).

[0006]

However, in the conventional e-mail apparatus, when the user B moves to a network where the connection to the mail server 203b normally used is not permitted, the user B needs to make an e-mail before moving. Server 2
03b must be set to transfer to the destination used at the destination. That is, every time the destination is changed, the transfer destination of the mail server 203b must be set.

[0007] Therefore, the user B sends the mail server 2
If the user repeatedly moves without returning to the network connectable to the network 03b, there is a problem that the transfer destination cannot be set and the electronic mail cannot be transferred. Also, all of the planned destinations
By forwarding mail to erB@tokyo.co.jp, it is possible to read e-mails at all destinations, but there was a problem of increasing unnecessary traffic.

[0008]

The electronic mail device according to the present invention has means for registering a transfer schedule including information on the destination and transfer time for each electronic mail user, and a transfer schedule registered by the electronic mail user. Then
Means for transmitting the transfer schedule to the destination e-mail device based on the destination information of the transfer schedule; and means for transferring the received e-mail to the destination e-mail device based on the transfer schedule. It is provided.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing transmission and reception of an electronic mail by an electronic mail device according to an embodiment. In the figure, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d are networks, 101 is a WAN such as the Internet, 102
a is a mailer (mail reader) on the sender side, 102b is a mailer on the receiver side, 102c and 102d are mailers used by the recipient at the destination, 103a is a mail server of the mailer 102a, 103b is a mail server of the mailer 102b, 1
03c and 103d are mailers 1 to be used at the destination, respectively.
02c and 102d mail servers, 104a and 104
Reference numerals b, 104c, and 104d denote databases each storing a user's travel schedule and an e-mail transfer destination.
05a, 105b, 105c and 105d are routers. Arrows [11] to [16] in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of the e-mail, and arrows [17] and [18] indicate the transmission of the transfer schedule table.

In FIG. 1, a user A (userA@osaka.co.jp) using the mailer 102a receives a mailer 10a.
This indicates that an e-mail is to be sent to the user B (userB@tokyo.co.jp) using 2b. Further, the user B uses the database 1 stored in the mail server 103b.
04b, a movement schedule is registered. And
The registered transfer schedule is notified to all transfer destination mail servers. In Table 1 below,
The transfer schedule set by the user B in the database 104b held by the mail server 103b is shown.

[0011]

[Table 1]

The transfer schedule is entered for each user, and the entry of the user B holds a transfer start time, a transfer end time, and a transfer destination. A plurality of transfer destination addresses can be specified.

It is also permitted to provide a margin for the traveling time, that is, when it is undecided which location is at a certain time, the transfer start time and the transfer end time are set in two places. May be set. In the example shown in Table 1, the e-mail received from 15:00 to 18:00 on March 10, 1997 is userB@hokkaido.c
It is forwarded to user B of o.jp and userB@okinawa.co.jp.

The electronic mail is sent to the mail server 103.
a to the mail server 103b via the routers 105a and 105b ([11] in FIG. 1).
It is read out at the request of the user B (userB@tokyo.co.jp) who uses b ([12] in FIG. 1). Further, the mail server 103b refers to the database 104b and transfers the e-mail to the mail server 103c in accordance with the transfer schedule table set by the user B ([13] in FIG. 1). The mail server 103c receiving the table re-transfers the unread e-mail to the next destination according to the transfer schedule table ([15] in FIG. 1), and the user B sends the mail server 103c.
The e-mail addressed to user B (userB@tokyo.co.jp) spooled at the destination is read out at the destination ([16] in FIG. 1). If there is no next transfer destination, after the transfer end time has elapsed, the mail is returned to the transfer source mail server.

The mail server transfers the unread electronic mail that has already arrived to the transfer destination address by a timer interrupt generated at the transfer start time. Here, the unread e-mail is the mail server 10
The electronic mail is not read out by the mailer connected to 3b and the electronic mail is not transferred to another mail server.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment when receiving an e-mail, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment when the transfer start time comes. This shows an operation in which the user B using the mail address (userB@tokyo.co.jp) on the mail server 103b transfers the e-mail to the destination according to the transfer schedule of the database 104b.

First, an operation when an electronic mail addressed to the user B arrives at the mail server 103b will be described. First, the travel schedule is registered by the user B (S301), and the entry of the user B is transferred to each destination by referring to the entry of the user B in the registered travel schedule table (S302). Then, the e-mail addressed to the user B is received (S303), and the received e-mail is held in the mail spool (S304). Then, referring to the transfer schedule table of the database 104b, it is determined whether or not there is an entry of the user B (S305), and S3 is performed.
If it is determined that there is no user B entry in the transfer schedule table in 05, the transfer operation is not performed and the process ends. If it is determined in S305 that there is an entry for user B in the transfer schedule table, the entry of user B is deleted. Read one line at a time (S
306).

Then, it is determined whether or not the current time is between the transfer start time and the transfer end time of the read entry (S).
307), if it is determined in S307 that the time is between the transfer start time and the transfer end time of the read entry, the mail is transferred to the transfer destination address of the read entry (S307).
308), it is determined whether or not it is the end of the entry of the user B (S311).

If it is determined in step S307 that the time is not between the transfer start time and the transfer end time of the entry read, it is determined whether the transfer end time has passed (S3).
09), if it is determined in S309 that the transfer end time has passed, the entry is deleted (S310), and it is determined whether or not the entry is the end of the entry of the user B (S311), and S3
If it is determined in 09 that the transfer end time has not passed,
It is determined whether the entry is the end of the entry of the user B (S31).
1).

If it is determined in S311 that the entry is not the end of the entry, the process returns to S306. If it is determined in S311 that the entry is the end of the entry, the electronic mail held in S304 is transmitted to the electronic mail transferred in S308. The mail is discarded (S312), and the process ends.

The mail server is provided by the user
When a new transfer schedule is set for an entry, a timer interrupt is set at the transfer start time of that entry, and a timer interrupt occurs at the transfer start time of the transfer schedule entry for each user. It is supposed to. Next, the operation when a timer interrupt occurs, that is, when the transfer start time of the entry of the user B has been reached will be described.

First, a timer interrupt wait state is set (S401). If a timer interrupt occurs due to the entry of the user B in S401, is there any unread e-mail held in the mail spool? It is determined whether or not there is no unread e-mail (S402). If it is determined in S402 that there is no unread e-mail, the process is terminated. If it is determined in S402 that there is an unread e-mail, the entry of the user B is read line by line. (S403).

Then, it is determined whether or not the current time is between the transfer start time and the transfer end time of the read entry (S).
404), if it is determined that the time is between the transfer start time and the transfer end time of the entry read in S404, the mail is transferred to the transfer destination address of the read entry (S404).
405), it is determined whether or not it is the end of the entry of the user B (S406).

If it is determined in S404 that the time is not between the transfer start time and the transfer end time of the entry read, it is determined whether the transfer end time has passed (S4).
15) If it is determined in S415 that the transfer end time has passed, the entry is deleted (S416), and it is determined whether the entry is the end of the entry of the user B (S406), and S4 is performed.
If it is determined at 15 that the transfer end time has not passed,
It is determined whether it is the end of the entry of the user B (S40).
6).

If it is determined in S406 that the entry is not the end of the entry, the process returns to S403. If it is determined in S406 that the entry is the end of the entry, the electronic mail stored in the mail spool is transferred in S405. The electronic mail is discarded (S407), and the process ends.

Next, a description will be given of the flow of electronic mail transfer and processing at the transfer destination in this embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the transfer of electronic mail and the processing flow at the transfer destination in this embodiment, and shows a case where user B does not read the electronic mail at the transfer destination.

First, the travel schedule is registered by the user B (S501), the entry of the travel schedule of the user B is read out line by line, and the travel schedule of the user B is transmitted to all the registered destinations (S502). , S503). Then, the e-mail arrives (S504), the e-mail is transferred to the mail server 103c according to the transfer schedule (S505), and the transferred e-mail is discarded (S506).

Then, at the mail server 103c, at the transfer start time to the destination 103d set in the transfer schedule table (for example, recognition by receiving a timer interrupt), the electronic mail is transferred to the next destination mail server 103d (S507). ), When the transfer end time of the e-mail to 103c is reached based on the transfer schedule table (for example,
The electronic mail transferred in S507 is discarded (S508).

In the mail server 103d, when the transfer end time of the e-mail to the 103d is reached (for example, it is recognized by receiving a timer interrupt) based on the transfer schedule table, the entry of the next transfer destination is registered in the transfer schedule. Since it has not been sent, it is returned to the first mail server 103b (the mail server that transmitted the user B's travel schedule table) (S509), and the transferred e-mail is discarded (S510).

In this embodiment, if the movement schedule and the destination e-mail address are known in advance,
By having each mail server that you plan to move manage the move schedule, you can forward e-mail to the destination mail server. By connecting to an e-mail server, e-mail can be read and e-mail can be transferred from one mail server to the destination without transferring e-mail to all destinations. It is possible to suppress undesired traffic. Furthermore, when the transfer end time comes, the unread e-mail is returned to the transfer source, so that the mail server saves the area for storing the e-mail.

In this embodiment, the transfer schedule registered in the mail server is notified to all transfer destination mail servers, but the first electronic mail is transferred according to the transfer schedule. sometimes,
The transfer schedule of the user of the e-mail is notified to the transfer destination mail server, and the transfer destination mail server transmits the e-mail when the e-mail is first transferred again according to the notified transfer schedule. The user's transfer schedule may be notified to the transfer destination mail server.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, a transfer schedule including information on the destination and transfer time is registered for each electronic mail user, and when the transfer schedule is registered by the electronic mail user, the transfer schedule is registered. The moving schedule is transmitted to the destination e-mail device based on the destination information of the moving schedule, and the received e-mail is transferred to the destination e-mail device based on the moving schedule. Even if you cannot directly connect to the e-mail device you normally use from the beginning, you can read the e-mail by connecting to the e-mail device of the destination, and you can send e-mail from one e-mail device to all the destinations E-mail can be forwarded to the destination without transferring the traffic. It has the effect of that.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating transmission and reception of an electronic mail by an electronic mail device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of receiving an e-mail according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a transfer start time is reached according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating transfer of electronic mail and a processing flow at a transfer destination according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing transmission and reception of an electronic mail by a conventional electronic mail device.

[Explanation of symbols]

100a, 100b, 100c, 100d Network 101 WAN 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d Mailer 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d Mail server 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d Database 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d Router

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A means for registering a transfer schedule including information on a transfer destination and a transfer time for each electronic mail user, and when the transfer schedule is registered by the electronic mail user, information on a transfer destination of the transfer schedule. And a means for transmitting the received e-mail to the destination e-mail device based on the transfer schedule. Email device. 2. A device for transferring an e-mail transferred from another e-mail device to a destination e-mail device based on information on a destination of a transfer schedule received from another e-mail device. 2. The electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A means for registering a transfer schedule including information on the transfer destination and transfer time for each electronic mail user; and transferring the received electronic mail to a transfer destination electronic mail device based on the transfer schedule; Means for transmitting a transfer schedule of the electronic mail user to a destination electronic mail apparatus when the electronic mail is first transferred to the electronic mail apparatus. 4. An e-mail transferred from another e-mail device is transferred to a destination e-mail device based on destination information of a transfer schedule received from another e-mail device, and the e-mail is transferred to the destination e-mail device. 4. The electronic mail apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: means for transmitting a transfer schedule of the electronic mail user to a transfer destination electronic mail apparatus when the electronic mail is first transferred to the mail apparatus. 5. The electronic mail device according to claim 1, further comprising means for deleting the transferred electronic mail after transferring the electronic mail. 6. When there is no more information on the destination of the transfer schedule received from another e-mail device, the e-mail transferred from the other e-mail device is transferred to the e-mail device as the transfer source of the e-mail. 6. The electronic mail device according to claim 1, further comprising a transfer unit.