JPH11187067A - Electronic mail device and medium recording electronic mail program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve mail transferring efficiency by storing a replying time of each mail address based on past receiving result, reading the replying time by referring to the destination address of a transmission mail, giving a receiving instruction at a time point when this replying time passes, so as to reduce the burden of a server side. SOLUTION: When a transmitting person's address SAD of a stored mail is registered in an address area AD, a transmitting time TT included in the address is subtracted from the receiving time TIME of a received mail to calculate a difference time DT from the transmission of the mail to the reception of a replying mail to determine a replying time HT based on this calculated difference time DT. This replying time HT by each addressee is estimated from a past receiving result in advance, an optimum replying time HT corresponding to the addressee is timer-set at the time point of transmitting the mail and an interruption processing is performed for 'receiving processing' when a replying time HT passes. Consequently, useless access to a server is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail apparatus and a medium recording an electronic mail program suitable for use in a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) connected to a network by wireless or wired communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an electronic mail apparatus for transmitting and receiving electronic mail via the Internet and an intranet. In particular, in recent years, a PHS terminal and an electronic mail apparatus have been combined and connected to a network by wireless communication. Email exchanges have also been put to practical use.

[0003] Such an electronic mail device, when dial-up-connected to a mail server computer (hereinafter abbreviated as "server") constituting a network, first inquires of the server whether there is any new mail, and when there is new mail, the server side. Will have the new mail addressed to your address delivered, store it in your own mailbox and open the mail. On the other hand, when connecting to a dedicated line, the server directly delivers the mail to the receiving mailbox of the e-mail device each time the mail arrives, or accesses the receiving mailbox provided on the server by the e-mail device itself. To check for incoming mail.

[0004]

By the way, in the conventional e-mail apparatus, if the form is such that the server is accessed at predetermined time intervals and the presence or absence of incoming mail is inquired, the number of users increases. The frequency of access for inquiries becomes frequent, so that the line is congested and the load on the server increases, and as a result, there is a risk that the mail transfer efficiency may be reduced.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an electronic mail apparatus and a medium on which an electronic mail program is recorded, which can reduce the load on the server side and improve the mail transfer efficiency. It is an object.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mail transmitting means for transmitting a mail, and a mail receiving means for accessing a server computer according to a receiving instruction to receive a mail. Means, a reply time storage means for storing a reply time for each mail address set based on past reception results, and, when mail is transmitted by the mail transmitting means, the reply is made by referring to a destination address of the transmitted mail. It is characterized by comprising a reception control means for reading a reply time of a corresponding mail address from the time storage means and, when the reply time elapses, giving a reception instruction to the mail receiving means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium recording a program for exchanging e-mail with a server computer, wherein an average reply time for each recipient is set based on past reception results. It is characterized in that when the reply time corresponding to the destination of the mail elapses from the time of sending the mail, the server computer is accessed to inquire whether there is a reply mail.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the transmission time storing means for storing the transmission time for each mail address, and accessing the server computer in response to the execution instruction to inquire whether the mail has arrived. If so, a mail receiving means for receiving the mail, and a sending time at which the mail was sent to the mail address from the sending time storage means with reference to the sender address of the mail received by the mail receiving means, and the read transmission Reply time determining means for determining a reply time from sending the mail to receiving the reply mail according to the time and the receiving time of the mail received this time by the mail receiving means, and the reply time determining means determines the reply time. The reply time is set at the time of sending the mail, and the destination address of the sent mail is referred to Mail sending means for updating the sending time for the corresponding mail address in the sending time storage means, and receiving control means for giving an execution instruction to the mail receiving means when the reply time set by the mail sending means has elapsed. It is characterized by having.

According to the invention described in claim 4 dependent on claim 3, the reply time determining means accumulates a difference time obtained by subtracting the transmission time from the reception time for each mail transmission and reception, and calculates the difference time. It is characterized in that the return time is determined by dividing by the number of receptions.

According to the present invention, an average reply time for each recipient is set based on past reception results, and when the reply time corresponding to the destination of the mail has elapsed from the time of sending the mail, the server computer is set up. To request a reply email. Therefore, the number of mail receiving operations that have been frequently interrupted at regular intervals in the past is limited, and unnecessary access to the server computer is reduced, thereby reducing the load on the server computer and reducing the mail load. Transfer efficiency is improved.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electronic mail device according to the present invention
The present invention can be applied not only to a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) connected to a network by wireless communication or wired communication, but also to a server computer constituting the network. Hereinafter, an e-mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described as an example with reference to the drawings.

A. 1. Configuration of Embodiment (1) Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mail system to which an electronic mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a server computer (hereinafter, abbreviated as a server) connected to the network NT, which manages mail transfer for each mail address under its own domain. In the case of this embodiment, when the server 1 receives a mail, the server 1 stores the received mail in a folder corresponding to the destination address of the mail, and receives the mail in response to an inquiry for a new mail from the terminal 2 of the destination address. Forward e-mail.

Reference numerals 2-1 to 2-N denote portable information terminals (hereinafter abbreviated as PDAs) to which the electronic mail device according to the present invention is applied, and servers on a network via a dedicated line network LC such as a LAN. Connected to 1. This PDA2-
1-2-N have a plurality of independent processing functions such as a scheduler function and a timekeeping (calendar) function like a well-known electronic organizer, and when an e-mail function is selected and executed among them, The server 1 is inquired of the new mail, and receives the mail transferred from the server 1 in response to the inquiry, or transmits the created mail to the server 1.

The PDAs 2-1 to 2-N are composed of elements 2a to 2g
Consists of Reference numeral 2a denotes a CPU for controlling each unit of the apparatus, and its characteristic operation will be described later. 2b is CP
A ROM for storing various control programs loaded into the U2a and screen data for forming various display screens related to sending and receiving mails. Some of the various screen data stored in the ROM 2b are transferred to a RAM 2c described later. The various program data stored in the ROM 2b may be stored in a magnetic recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium and read out by an external storage device (not shown) corresponding to the medium. Alternatively, a rewritable nonvolatile solid-state memory such as a flash memory or the like may be used. RAM2c is CPU2
While it is used as a work area, it has various storage areas used for sending and receiving mails such as a mail creation area, and stores data necessary for sending and receiving mails, such as received mails and a plurality of destination addresses. The detailed memory configuration will be described later.

Reference numeral 2d denotes a display unit constituted by an LCD panel or the like, which displays various screens (described later) relating to mail transmission / reception based on a display control signal supplied from the CPU 2a. 2e is a keyboard for key input, and 2f is a mouse for clicking various icons. 2g is CP
A communication control unit that controls transmission and reception of mail with the server 1 according to a predetermined protocol under the instruction of U2a.

(2) Memory Configuration of RAM 2a Next, a main memory configuration of the RAM 2a will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, MS is a mail creation area in which various data necessary for mail creation, that is, a destination address AAD, a sender address SAD, a subject KM, and a body HB are stored. The mail creation area MS has an area for storing screen data for forming a mail creation screen, which will be described later, and also has a mail buffer used when creating a mail.

AD is an address area which stores a mail address for each individual and addresses (1) to (N) consisting of information accompanying the mail address. This address area A
This is referred to when a desired mail address is selected from D and registered as the destination address AAD of the transmitted mail. The addresses (1) to (N) are the transmission time TT, the number of receptions RT, the response time HT, the data NAME, and the data A, respectively.
DDRESS and data TYPE. Here, the transmission time TT is the time at which the mail was sent to the corresponding mail address, the number of receptions RT is the number of times the mail was received from the corresponding mail address, and the reply time HT was the reply to the mail from the corresponding mail address. Are stored respectively. The transmission time T
The intention of T, the number of receptions RT, and the return time HT will be described later. The data NAME stores an individual name or a handle name, the data ADDRESS stores an electronic mail address, and the data TYPE stores information indicating an attribute (character code type, presence / absence of an attached file, etc.) of a transmitted mail.

JM is a received mail store area corresponding to a mailbox, and stores received mails MAIL (1) to (N) received from the server 1. Each mail MA
IL (1) to (N) are the sender addresses SAD, respectively.
(Including personal name or handle name), Subject KM, Body H
B, TIME representing the reception time, and an opening flag KAIFUF for identifying opening / unopening. The open flag KAIFUF is a flag that becomes “0” when the mail is opened and “1” when the mail is not opened.

B. Next, various operations implemented by the embodiment having the above configuration will be described. In the following, when the server 1 receives an e-mail, the server 1 stores the received e-mail in a folder corresponding to the destination address of the e-mail, and forwards the received e-mail in response to an inquiry for a new arrival mail from the terminal 2 of the destination address. Or send outgoing mail from the PDA 2 to the destination address. Therefore,
Here, the processing operation of the server 1 will not be described in detail, and only the characteristic operation of the PDA 2 will be described.

(1) Outline of Operation As described above, the PDA 2 has a plurality of independent various processing functions such as a scheduler function and a timekeeping (calendar) function like a well-known electronic organizer. For example, the timekeeping (calendar) function counts the timer clock at all times by a timer interrupt to advance the current time (including the date), and the current time (date and time) is set according to the power supply of the apparatus. Is included in the display unit 2d. Such a timekeeping (calendar) function also operates in parallel when an e-mail function described later is executed. Specifically, the time at which an e-mail is transmitted and received is measured.

Now, when the e-mail function is executed,
That is, when a mail icon (not shown) is pointed and clicked with the mouse 2f in a state where a startup menu screen (not shown) is displayed on the display unit 2d, the PDA 2 implements an e-mail function. Timer interrupt (reception processing) "and" main routine "are executed.

"Timer interrupt (reception processing)"
This is a timer interrupt process in which an interrupt is executed at a timing corresponding to a timer value set in the timer. When an interrupt execution timing at which the timer value becomes “0” is reached, a reception process is started and the server 1 is accessed to newly arrive. An inquiry is made as to whether or not there is a mail, and if there is a new mail, reception of the mail is started. At this time, the storage state of the received mail store area (mail box) JM in the RAM 2c is determined, and if the area JM is empty, the received mail is stored as it is, and if the area JM is full, the received mail stored is stored. Delete the oldest one of them and store the newly received mail.

Then, the sender address SAD of the received mail is stored in the address area AD (see FIG. 2).
, The transmission time TT included in the address is subtracted from the reception time TIME of the received mail, and a difference time DT from the transmission of the mail to the reception of the reply mail is calculated. The return time HT is determined based on the difference time DT thus obtained.

The reply time HT indicates the time from when a mail is transmitted to a destination to when the reply mail is returned. In other words, the time from sending an e-mail until the reply e-mail is returned depends on the personality of the recipient, for example, while some respond immediately after receiving the e-mail, while others reply after a while. (Such as meticulousness) and busyness, and the time is often determined for each recipient.

Therefore, the present invention focuses on these points,
The reply time HT for each recipient is inferred from past reception results, and at the time of sending a mail via a “main routine” described later, the optimal reply time HT corresponding to the recipient is determined.
Is set as a timer, and the "reception process" is interrupted when the return time HT has elapsed. By doing so, the operation of the “reception process”, which has conventionally been executed uniquely at regular time intervals, is restricted, so that unnecessary access to the server 1 is reduced, and as a result, the load on the server side is reduced. Therefore, the mail transfer efficiency is improved. On the other hand, in the “main routine”, a function of opening and displaying the mail received in the above “reception processing”,
A series of "reception display processing" for performing a mail creation process for setting the above-mentioned optimal reply time HT by a timer at the time of mail deletion, mail creation and transmission is called.

(2) Specific Operation Next, a series of processing operations for implementing the above-described e-mail function will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, first, a "timer interrupt routine" executed by interruption will be described, and then a "reception processing routine" called from the "timer interrupt routine" will be referred to, followed by a "main routine" and a "main routine". A series of processing operations forming a “reception display processing routine” called from the “routine” will be sequentially described.

A. Operation of Timer Interrupt Routine When the PDA 2 is powered on, the CPU 2a executes the timer interrupt routine shown in FIG.
The process proceeds to step Sa1, and the timer is first decremented. Next, in step Sa2, it is determined whether or not the decremented timer value is “0”. If the timer value is not "0", it is not under the timing to execute the reception processing routine described later, so the determination result is "NO", and in this case, this routine is completed without performing any processing.

On the other hand, when the timer value becomes "0", the result of the determination in step Sa2 becomes "YES", the process proceeds to the next step Sa3, and a predetermined time is set in the timer. The predetermined time set in the timer is a temporary timer value until a return time HT, which will be described in detail later, is set in the timer. Next, when a predetermined time, which is a temporary timer value, is set by a timer, the CPU 2a proceeds to step S
The process proceeds to a4, and a reception processing routine is executed.

B. Operation of Reception Processing Routine When the reception processing routine is interrupted through step Sa4, the CPU 2a executes step Sb1 shown in FIG.
Then, the server 1 is accessed to determine whether there is any new mail. Here, if there is a new mail, the determination result is “YES”, and the process proceeds to step Sb2 and thereafter. If there is no new mail, the determination result is “N”.
O ", the routine is completed once, and the process returns to the timer interrupt routine.

(A) Storing of Received Mail When mail reception is started, the CPU 2a advances the process to step Sb2, sets the value of the pointer register n to an initial value "1", and in subsequent step Sb3, It is determined whether or not the mail area MAIL (n) in the received mail store area JM (see FIG. 2) corresponding to the value of the pointer register n is free.

When there is a vacancy in the mail area MAIL (n) If there is a vacancy in the mail area MAIL (n), the judgment result in the above step Sb3 becomes "YES", the process proceeds to the next step Sb4, and the pointer register n The received mail received from the server 1 is stored in the mail area MAIL (n) in the received mail store area JM (see FIG. 2) corresponding to the value of.

Next, when the process proceeds to step Sb5, the CPU
2a is the opening flag KAI of the mail area MAIL (n).
FUF (n) is set to "0" to indicate an unopened state. Subsequently, in step Sb6, the mail area MA
The reception time (including the date) is stored in the register TIME (n) of IL (n), and the process proceeds to step Sb7 described below.

When there is no free space in the mail area MAIL (n) On the other hand, when there is no free space in the mail area MAIL (n), the determination result in the above-described step Sb3 becomes "NO", the process proceeds to step Sb8, and the pointer register The value of n is incremented by one and incremented, and in a succeeding step Sb9, it is determined whether or not the maximum number of mails that can be stored in the received mail store area JM has been exceeded. Here, if the maximum number of emails is not exceeded, the determination result is “NO”,
The process returns to step Sb3 described above, and it is determined again whether or not the mail area MAIL (n) is empty.

On the other hand, all mail areas MAIL
When the received mail is stored and the received mail store area JM (mailbox) is full, the result of the determination in step Sb9 is “YES”, and the process proceeds to step Sb10. In step Sb10, a mail having the oldest reception time TIME (hereinafter, referred to as the oldest mail) is searched from the mail group stored in the received mail store area JM (mail box).

In step Sb11, the oldest mail that has been searched is deleted, while the number of the oldest mail that has been deleted is set in the pointer register n. Thereafter, the above-mentioned steps Sb4 to Sb6 are executed, the newly received mail is stored in the area of the oldest mail that has been deleted, the opening flag KAIFUF (n) of the mail is set to “0”, and the register TIME ( The reception time (including the date) is set in n).

(B) Setting of the reply time HT When the processing for storing the received mail in the received mail store area JM (mail box) is completed, the CPU
2a advances the process to step Sb7, where the sender address SAD of the stored received mail is stored in the address area A described above.
D (see FIG. 2), and if not, the result of determination in step Sb12 is "NO".
In this case, this routine is completed without setting a reply time HT described later.

On the other hand, the sender address SAD of the received mail
Is registered in the address area AD, the step S
The determination result of b12 becomes “YES”, and the next step S
The process proceeds to b13, and it is determined whether data is set at the transmission time TT (see FIG. 2) in the corresponding address data. Here, if the transmission time TT is not set, the response time HT cannot be set, so the determination result is “NO” and the routine is completed. , The determination result is “YES”, and the process proceeds to the next step Sb14.

In step Sb14, the period from the time when the previous mail was sent to the time when the reply mail was received this time, that is, the reception time TIM of the currently received mail
A difference time DT obtained by subtracting the transmission time TT from E is calculated, and in a succeeding step Sb15, the past reception time is calculated by an average value calculation formula of {difference time DT + reception time RT × reply time HT} / (1 + reception time RT). The response time HT based on the results is determined.

The reply time HT indicates the time from when a mail is transmitted to a destination to when the reply mail is returned. In other words, the time from sending an e-mail until the reply e-mail is returned depends on the personality of the recipient, for example, while some respond immediately after receiving the e-mail, while others reply after a while. (Roughness and looseness)
In most cases, the time is determined for each recipient, and by paying attention to these points, the optimal reply time HT for each recipient is estimated from past reception results (calculation of average value). ). After calculating the reply time HT, the process proceeds to step Sb16, where the address area A
The number of receptions RT in the corresponding address in D is incremented and the step is advanced, and in the following step Sb17, the transmission time TT is cleared and the present routine is completed.

[0040] c. Operation of Main Routine Next, the operation of the main routine will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the PDA 2 is powered on, the CPU
2a loads a predetermined control program stored in the ROM 2b, executes the main routine shown in FIG. 5, advances the process to step Sc1, resets various register flags provided in the RAM 2c to zero, and sets initial values. Thereafter, a start menu (not shown) is displayed on the display unit 2d on the screen.

When the process proceeds to step Sc2 while the start menu is displayed on the screen, it is determined whether or not the ON flag stored in the register ONF is set to "1".
That is, it is determined whether or not the mail icon (not shown) is selected and executed by an operation such as a click and the electronic mail function is being executed. If the e-mail function is not being executed, the on flag is “0”, so the result of the determination in step Sc2 is “NO”, and step Sc3
The processing proceeds to "Other processing". Here, the “other processes” refer to various processes executed in the PDA 2 and include, for example, a scheduler function and an address book management function.

When the "other processing" is completed, the CP
When the process of U2a proceeds to step Sc4, it is determined whether or not a mail icon (not shown) in the start menu screen is selected and executed by an operation such as a click. Here, when an icon for selecting and executing another process other than the mail icon is clicked, the determination result is "NO", and the process proceeds to step Sc5 to perform the selected and executed "other process". When the mail icon is clicked, the determination result is "YES", the process proceeds to step Sc6, and the ON flag stored in the register ONF is set to "1".

As a result, the result of the determination in step Sc2 becomes "YES", and the flow advances to step Sc7 to execute a reception display processing routine. This reception display processing routine is based on the reception mail store area JM (mail box) by the above-described reception processing routine (see FIGS. 6 to 8).
A series of “Receive display” such as a function to open and display the received mail stored in the server, a process to set the optimal reply time HT set by the above-described reception processing routine at the time of mail deletion, mail creation / transmission, etc. Call "process". As described above, in the main routine, the reception display processing routine is executed in response to the click of the mail icon. When the reception display processing routine is started, the reception processing routine described above and the current time (current time) are executed. (Including year, month and day).

[0044] d. Operation of Reception Display Processing Routine Next, the operation of the reception display processing routine will be described with reference to FIGS. When a mail icon (not shown) in the startup menu screen (not shown) is selected and executed by an operation such as a click, the CPU 2a executes the reception display shown in FIG. 6 through step Sc7 (see FIG. 5) of the main routine described above. The processing routine is executed, the processing proceeds to step Sd1, and the reception screen RMD is displayed.

Here, the configuration of the reception screen RMD will be described with reference to an example shown in FIG. The reception screen RMD displayed on the display unit 2d includes a group of icons for selecting functions drawn at the top of the screen, and a display column LIST for displaying a list of received mails. The icon group for selecting a function includes an opening icon KF that is clicked when a desired received mail is specified and opened, a mail creation icon ME that is clicked when a new mail is created, and a click that is input when an address is input. It comprises an address input icon AI, a delete icon DEL clicked when deleting a mail, and a cancel icon CAN for clearing the display of the reception screen RMD.

In the display column LIST, each line in the column functions as a mail list icon ML, while each line has a display area KFM, NAME, SUB, and RT. The mail list icon ML is used to specify the received mail in the corresponding line, and the display mode of the line changes (for example, the display dot is inverted) to indicate the specified state according to the click. Has become.

In the display area KFM, a mark indicating an unopened state is displayed when the open flag KAIFUF included in the received mail is "0". In the display area NAME, the sender name or sender address is displayed based on the sender address SAD included in the received mail.
In the display area SUB, the subject KM included in the received mail
Is displayed as the mail title. In the display area RT, based on the reception time TIME included in the received mail,
The mail reception time (including the date) is displayed.

When such a reception screen RMD is displayed, the CPU 2a advances the processing to the next step Sd2.
The value of the pointer register n is set to "1", and in the subsequent step Sd3, the received mail MAIL (n) is read from the received mail store area JM (mail box) in accordance with the value of the pointer register n, and the received mail is read. Sender address SAD, subject KM and TIME
Are displayed in the display areas NAME, SUB and RT, respectively.

Next, in step Sd4, it is determined whether or not the opening flag KAIFUF (n) of the received mail MAIL is "0", that is, whether or not the mail is in an unopened state. Here, if it is in the unopened state, the determination result is “YES”, and the process proceeds to the next step Sd5. In step Sd5,
An unopened mark is displayed in the display area KFM, and the process proceeds to the next step Sd6. On the other hand, if the mail has already been opened, the determination result in step Sd4 is “NO”, and the flow advances to step Sd6.

In step Sd6, the value of the pointer register n is incremented by one to increment the value so that the next received mail is displayed in a list. In the following step Sd7, the value of the pointer register n is read out according to the value of the incremented pointer register n. It is determined whether or not the received mail MAIL (n) is empty. Here, if it is empty, the judgment result is “YE
S ", and in this case, there is no need to read the received mail thereafter, so the process proceeds to step Sd9 described later.

On the other hand, the read received mail MAI
If L (n) is not empty, the determination result is “NO”.
And the process proceeds to step Sd8 to determine whether all the received mails have been read. If the reading is being performed, the determination result is “NO”, and the process returns to step Sd3 to read the received mail.

On the other hand, when all the received mails have been read, the judgment result is "YES", and step Sd9 is performed.
Processing proceeds to When the process proceeds to step Sd9, the CPU 2a
Sets the value of the counter register A for counting the number of display lines in the display column LIST to "1", and then proceeds to step S
At d10, the display area of the mail number (A) corresponding to the value of the counter register A is highlighted.

In step Sd11, a cursor corresponding to the mouse 2f is displayed on the reception screen RMD. In subsequent steps Sd12 to Sd13, the display position of the cursor is moved on the reception screen RMD in accordance with the pointing operation of the mouse 2f. Let it. Thereafter, step Sd14
The process proceeds to steps Sd12 to Sd12 until one of the above-mentioned function selection icons is clicked.
By repeating d13, the display position of the cursor is moved.
On the other hand, if the mouse 2f has been clicked, step S is executed to process the function corresponding to the clicked icon.
The process proceeds after d15. In the following, the operation will be described for each type of clicked icon.

When the mail list icon ML is clicked Now, for example, it is assumed that, in the display column LIST, the cursor is pointed to the line to select the mail displayed on the second line and then clicked. Then, the decision result in the step Sd15 becomes "YES", the process is advanced to the next step Sd16, and the mail number (A) of the pointed cursor position is stored in the counter register A.

Next, in step Sd17, the display mode of each display area KF, NAME, SUB and RT of the mail MAIL (A) corresponding to the value of the counter register A is changed (for example, inverted display), and the following step Sd1
At step 8, the mail list ML other than the pointed mail list ML is displayed normally, and thereafter, the process returns to step Sd12 described above. As a result, only the respective display areas on the second line are highlighted, so that it is clear at a glance that the mail on that line has been selected.

When the open icon KF is clicked In order to open the mail selected by clicking the mail list icon ML, the cursor is moved to the open icon KF.
When the user points upward and clicks, the result of the determination in step Sd15 is “NO”, the process proceeds to step Sd19 shown in FIG. 7, and the result of the determination is “YES”. Then, the CPU 2a determines in step Sd
The process proceeds to step S20, and a mail display processing routine described later is executed to display the contents of the mail on the screen. Then, the process returns to step Sd12 (see FIG. 6).

When the mail creation icon ME is clicked To create a new outgoing mail, the cursor is pointed on the mail creation icon ME and clicked. Then, the respective determination results of the above-described steps Sd15 and Sd19 become “NO”, and FIG.
The process proceeds to step Sd21 shown in (1), and the determination result here is "YES". Then, the process proceeds to step Sd22, in which a mail creating process routine described later is executed to create an outgoing mail, and then the process returns to step Sd12.

When the address input icon AI is clicked Next, the cursor is pointed on the address list icon AL and clicked in order to register a new address. When the cursors are clicked, the results of the above-described steps Sd15, Sd19 and Sd21 are all determined. "NO", the process proceeds to step Sd23, and the determination result is "YE
S ". Then, the process proceeds to the next step Sd24, executes an address input processing routine described later to register a new address, and then returns to the above-described step Sd12.

When the delete icon DEL is clicked Next, in order to delete the mail selected in the received mail list displayed on the reception screen RMD (see FIG. 8), the cursor is pointed on the delete icon DEL and clicked. , The above-described steps Sd15, Sd19, Sd2
Each of the determination results of 1 and Sd23 is “NO”, the process proceeds to step Sd25, and the determination result here is “YES”.

Then, the process proceeds to the next step Sd26, in which the selected mail MAIL (A) is deleted (erased) from the received mail store area JM (mail box), and in the subsequent step Sd27, the received mail store area JM is deleted.
The other mail groups remaining in the (mailbox) are sorted in the order of the reception time TIME. After this, the CPU 2a
Returns the process to step Sd12 described above.

When the Cancel Icon CAN is Clicked Next, the cursor is pointed on the cancel icon CAN and clicked in order to close the reception screen RMD (see FIG. 8) and complete the reception display processing. , Sd19, Sd21, S
Each of the determination results of d23 and Sd25 is “NO”
And the process proceeds to step Sd28, where the determination result is "YES". Then, the next step Sd2
9, the display is cleared and the reception screen RMD is closed, and the process proceeds to the next step Sd30, where the on-flag O
The NF is reset to zero to complete the reception display processing routine, and the processing returns to the main routine (see FIG. 5).

[0062] e. Operation of Mail Display Processing (Mail Open) Next, the operation of the mail display processing routine will be described with reference to FIGS. Receive screen RMD (see Fig. 8)
Open icon K to open the mail selected in
When F is clicked, the mail display processing routine shown in FIG. 9 is executed via step Sd20, and the process proceeds to step Se1. Proceeding to step Se1,
The CPU 2a first displays a mail display screen MDD.

The mail display screen MDD has areas DE1 to DE4 for respectively displaying a sender address (or name), a destination address (or name), a subject, and a body, as shown in an example shown in FIG. A cancel icon CAN that is clicked when the display is cleared and a delete icon DEL that is clicked when the displayed mail is deleted from the received mail store area JM are provided.

When the mail display screen MDD is displayed, C
The PU 2a advances the process to step Se2, and sets the sender address SAD (or name) of the mail MAIL (A) selected by clicking the mail list icon ML in the area DE1 and the destination address (or name) in the area DE2. Are displayed, and in the subsequent step Se3, the subject KM is displayed in the area DE3. Next, in step Se4, the mail MAIL (A) is added to the body area DE4.
Display the text data of Thereafter, the CPU 2a advances the process to step Se5, and sets the opening flag KAIFUF (A) included in the mail MAIL (A) to "1" to indicate the opened state.

Next, at step Se6, a cursor corresponding to the mouse 2f is displayed, and at steps Se7 and Se8, the cursor is moved and displayed according to the pointing operation of the mouse 2f. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step Se9,
Until either the cancel icon CAN or the delete icon DEL provided on the mail display screen MDD is clicked, the above steps Se7 to Se8 are repeated, and the cursor is moved and displayed according to the pointing operation of the mouse 2f. When the mouse 2f is clicked, the process proceeds to Step Se10 and the subsequent steps to process a function corresponding to the clicked icon. Hereinafter, the operation will be described for each clicked icon.

When the Cancel Icon CAN is Clicked When the cancel icon CAN is clicked, the result of the determination in step Se10 becomes "YES", the flow advances to the next step Se11, the mail display screen MDD is cleared, and this routine is completed. .

When the delete icon DEL is clicked On the other hand, when the delete icon DEL is clicked, the result of the determination in step Se10 is "NO", and the flow advances to step Se12, where the result of the determination is "YES". The process proceeds to step Se13. In step Se13,
The displayed mail MAIL (A) is deleted (erased) from the received mail store area JM (mail box), and in subsequent step Se14, the reception time TI is set for another mail group remaining in the received mail store area JM (mail box).
Sort in ME order. Thereafter, step Se11
, The display of the mail display screen MDD is cleared, and this routine is completed.

F. Operation of Mail Creation Processing Next, the operation of the mail creation processing routine will be described with reference to FIGS. When the mail creation icon ME is clicked on the reception screen RMD (see FIG. 8), the mail creation processing routine shown in FIG. 11 is executed via the above-described step Sd22 (see FIG. 7), and the process proceeds to step Sf1. When the process proceeds to step Sf1, C
The PU 2a displays a mail creation screen MED on the display unit 2d based on the mail creation screen data read from the mail creation area MS.

In the mail creation screen MED, as shown in the example of FIG. 14, an area SIE in which a sender address (including a name) is automatically set and a destination address (including a name) are individually input. Address input area AIE
And a subject input area KIE for individually inputting a subject and a text input area HIE for inputting a text. Further, the mail display screen MED is provided with an address list icon AL which is clicked when specifying a destination address from the address list, a transmission icon TM which is clicked when transmitting a mail, and a cancel icon CAN.

When the mail creation screen MED is displayed, the CPU 2a advances the process to step Sf2 to display a character cursor in the address input area AIE, and in a subsequent step Sf3, displays a cursor corresponding to the mouse 2f on the screen. . Next, in steps Sf4 to Sf5, the cursor is moved and displayed according to the pointing operation of the mouse 2f, and in step Sf6, the presence or absence of a click is determined. When the button is clicked, the result of the determination is “YES”, and the process proceeds to step Sf7 and subsequent steps.
Executes processing according to the clicked position on the screen.
Hereinafter, the processing will be described in different cases.

When the address input area AIE is clicked. When the address input area AIE is clicked to input a destination address, the result of the determination in step Sf7 is "YE
S ", the process proceeds to the next step Sf8, the character cursor is moved to the address input area AIE, and a state of waiting for address input is set.

When a key input (data input) is performed in this state, the process proceeds to step Sf27 via step Sf26 shown in FIG. 13, and it is determined whether or not the position of the character cursor is in the address input area AIE. to decide. In this case, since the input in the address input area AIE is waiting, the determination result is “YES”, and the next step S
Through f28 to Sf30, data (characters, numbers, and symbols) keyed in is displayed in the address input area AIE, and the keyed data is displayed in the mail creation area MS.
The character cursor is moved and displayed in accordance with the key input, while being stored at the destination address AAD (see FIG. 2). When the input of the destination address is completed, the CPU 2a returns the process to the above-described step Sf4.

When the Subject Input Area KIE is Clicked When the subject input area KIE is clicked to input a subject, the process proceeds to step Sf7 through step Sf7.
The process proceeds to 9. Then, in this case, step Sf9
Is "YES", and the next step Sf10
Then, the character cursor is moved to the subject input area KIE, and a state of waiting for the subject input is set.

When a key input (data input) is performed in the state of waiting for a subject input, steps Sf26 and Sf26 shown in FIG.
The process advances to step Sf31 via f27 to determine whether or not the position of the character cursor is in the subject input area KIE. In this case, since the input is waiting in the subject input area KIE, the determination result is “YES”, and the next step S
Through f32 to Sf34, while the key input data is displayed in the subject input area KIE, the character cursor is moved according to the key input while storing the data in the subject KM of the mail creation area MS (see FIG. 2). indicate. Thus, when the input of the subject is completed, the CPU 2a returns the process to the above-described step Sf4.

When the text input area HIE is clicked When the text input area HIE is clicked to input a mail text, the process proceeds to step Sf11 via steps Sf7 and Sf9. In this case, the result of the determination in step Sf11 is "YES", the process proceeds to the next step Sf12, the character cursor is moved to the text input area HIE, and the text input wait state is set.

When key input (data input) is performed in a state of waiting for text input, steps Sf26 and Sf26 shown in FIG.
The process proceeds to step Sf35 via f27 and Sf31, and determines whether the position of the character cursor is in the text input area HIE. In this case, the text input area HI
Waiting for input in E, the judgment result is "YES",
Through the following steps Sf36 to Sf38, the key input data is displayed in the text input area HIE, and the data is displayed in the text HB of the mail creation area MS (see FIG. 2).
While the character cursor is moved and displayed according to the key input. Thus, when the input of the subject is completed, the CPU
2a returns the process to step Sf4 described above.

When the address list icon AL is clicked Next, when the address list icon AL displayed on the mail creation screen MED is clicked, the above-described step Sf
The process proceeds to step Sf13 shown in FIG. 12 via 7, Sf9, and Sf11. In this case, the result of the determination in step Sf13 is "YES", the process proceeds to the next step Sf14, and a list of the addresses (1) to (N) stored in the address area AD of the RAM 2c is displayed, An address list display processing routine for registering a new address in the address area AD is executed. The details of the address list display processing routine will be described later.

When the transmission icon TM is clicked When the transmission icon TM is clicked in a state where necessary items are entered in the respective input areas AIE, KIE and HIE on the mail creation screen MED (see FIG. 14),
Steps Sf7, Sf9, Sf11 and Sf13
The process proceeds to Step Sf15 via. In this case, the result of the determination in step Sf15 is "YES", the process proceeds to the next step Sf16, and the own address (including name) is stored in the sender address SAD of the mail creation area MS. Thereafter, steps Sf17, Sf
After waiting for the completion of sending the created mail to the server 1 through step 18, the process proceeds to step Sf19 upon completion of the sending to clear the display of the mail creation screen MED.

When the transmission of the created mail is completed,
The CPU 2a advances the process to step Sf20, and sets the transmission time counted when the mail transmission is completed in the address area AD (see FIG. 2) in the address data corresponding to the destination address AAD of the mail transmission.
Store in T. Then, in a step Sf21, it is determined whether or not the data is set at the return time HT in the address data. If the “reply time HT” has already been set in the data by the processing of the above-described reception processing routine, the determination result is “YES”, and step S
Proceeding to f22, the "reply time HT" is set by a timer.

By doing so, at the time when a reply to the mail transmitted this time is expected to be sent, that is, when the "reply time HT" has elapsed, the above-described timer interrupt processing routine (see FIG. 3) ) Activates the reception processing routine to receive the reply mail.
As a result, the number of operations of the reception processing routine, which has conventionally been interrupted at regular intervals, is limited.
This reduces unnecessary access to the server, reduces the load on the server side, and improves mail transfer efficiency. If the "reply time HT" is not set in the corresponding address data, the result of the determination in step Sf21 is "NO". In this case, the process proceeds to step Sf23,
A temporary "predetermined time" is set on a timer to complete this routine.

When the Cancel Icon CAN is Clicked Now, in order to cancel the mail creation, the cancel icon C is clicked.
If AN is clicked, the above steps Sf7, Sf
The process proceeds to step Sf24 via f9, Sf11, Sf13, and Sf15. Then, in this case, the determination result in step Sf24 becomes “YES”, the process proceeds to the next step Sf25, and after clearing the mail buffer in the mail creation area MS, the mail creation screen MED
Is cleared and this routine is completed.

G. Operation of Address List Display Processing Next, the operation of the address list display processing routine will be described with reference to FIGS. Mail creation screen M
Address list icon A in the ED (see FIG. 14)
When L is clicked, the address list display processing routine shown in FIG. 15 is executed via the above-described step Sf14 (see FIG. 12), and the process proceeds to step Sg1. In step Sg1, the CPU 2a first displays an address list display screen ALD on the display unit 2d.

The address list display screen ALD is shown in FIG.
, A display column ALIST for scrolling the addresses (1) to (N) registered in the address area AD of the RAM 2c, a new input icon NI and a delete icon DEL arranged at the top of the screen. , A confirmation icon OK and a cancel icon CAN.

In the display column ALIST, each line in the column functions as an address list icon AL, while each line is provided with a display area NAME and ADDRESS. The address list icon AL is used when selecting and specifying the address of the corresponding row, and the display mode of the row changes (for example, inversion display for inverting the display dot) according to the click. In the display areas NAME and ADDRESS, a personal name or a handle name corresponding to each address (1) to (N),
Each email address is displayed.

When such an address list display screen ALD is displayed, the CPU 2a advances the process to step Sg2, sets an initial value "1" in a pointer register m, and in a subsequent step Sg3, sets the pointer register m From address area AD according to the value of (m)
Is read, and NAME and ADDRESS forming the address (m) are displayed in the display area NAME and ADDRESS in the first row of the display column ALIST.

Next, when the process proceeds to step Sg4, the value of the pointer register m is incremented by one and is incremented. In step Sg5, it is determined whether or not the incremented value of the pointer register m is larger than the maximum number. It is determined whether the reading for the address (m) has been completed. If the reading has not been completed, the determination result is “NO”, the process returns to the step Sg3 to proceed with the reading, and if completed, the determination result is “YES”. And the next step Sg
The process proceeds to 6.

Then, in step Sg6, the display field ALI is displayed.
"1" is set in the counter register A for counting the number of display lines in ST, and in the subsequent step Sg7, the drawing bits of the display areas NAME and ADDRESS of the first line in the display column ALIST are inverted corresponding to the value of the counter register A. Is displayed in reverse. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step Sg8, and a cursor corresponding to the mouse 2f is displayed on the address list display screen ALD.

Next, in steps Sg9 to Sg10,
The cursor is moved and displayed in accordance with the pointing operation of the mouse 2f, and it is determined in step Sg11 whether there is a click. Then, when the button is clicked, the result of this determination is “YES”, and step Sg shown in FIG.
The process proceeds to step 12 and thereafter, and a process corresponding to the clicked position on the screen is executed. Hereinafter, the processing will be described in different cases.

When the Address List Icon AL is Clicked When any one of the address list icons AL corresponding to each line in the display column ALIST is pointed and clicked, the result of the determination in step Sg12 becomes “YES”, and the next step Sg13 is executed. The process proceeds, and the address number of the clicked row is set in the counter register A. Then, in step Sg14, the display areas NAME and ADDR corresponding to the value of the counter register A are set.
ESS is highlighted.

Subsequently, in step Sg15, the address list AL other than the pointed address list AL is normally displayed, and thereafter, the process returns to step Sg9 described above. As a result, the display areas NAME and ADDRESS of the clicked line are highlighted, indicating that the name and address displayed on the line have been selected.

When the New Input Icon NI is Clicked When the new input icon NI is clicked to newly register an address, the process proceeds to step Sg16 via the above-described step Sg12, and the determination result is “YES”, and the next The process proceeds to step Sg17. Step S
When proceeding to g17, the CPU 2a executes an address input processing routine to be described later to register a new address in the address area AD, and thereafter returns to step Sg1 to display a list including the newly registered address. .

When the cancel icon CAN is clicked When the cancel icon CAN is clicked, the process proceeds to step Sg18 via the above-described step Sg16, and the determination result is "YES", and the next step Sg
The process proceeds to 19, where the address list display screen ALD is cleared and the present routine is completed.

When the delete icon DEL is clicked When the delete icon DEL is clicked, the process proceeds to step Sg20 via the above-described step Sg18, and the determination result is "YES", and the next step Sg2
The process proceeds to 1. In step Sg21, the currently selected address, that is, the address corresponding to the address number (A) highlighted in step Sg14 is deleted from the address area AD, and the subsequent step Sg21 is executed.
At 22, the remaining addresses after the deletion are sorted and rearranged. Thereafter, the process returns to step Sg1 described above, and the rearranged addresses after the deletion are displayed again in a list.

When the OK icon is clicked Now, in the display column ALIST, the above-described step S
To confirm the address number (A) highlighted in g14 as the destination address of the created e-mail, click the OK icon. When the confirmation icon OK is clicked, the process proceeds to step Sg23 via step Sg20.
The determination result here is “YES”, and the process proceeds to the next step Sg24. In step Sg24, the data of the address number (A) is set in the mail buffer of the mail creation area MS. Thus, the address data of the highlighted address number (A) is set and displayed in the address input area AIE of the above-described mail creation screen MED (see FIG. 14). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step Sg25, where the display of the address list display screen ALD is cleared and the present routine is completed.

[0095] h. Operation of Address Input Processing Next, the operation of the address input processing routine will be described with reference to FIGS. On the address list display screen ALD (see FIG. 17), the new input icon NI
Is clicked, the aforementioned step Sg17 (FIG. 1)
6), the address input processing routine shown in FIG. 18 is executed, and the process proceeds to step Sh1. When proceeding to step Sh1, the CPU 2a first sets an initial value "1" in the pointer register m, and then in step Sh2, determines whether the address (m) corresponding to the value of the pointer register m is not empty.

(A) When there is no vacancy in the address area AD If the address (m) is not vacant, the decision result in the above-mentioned step Sh2 is "YES", the process proceeds to the next step Sh3, and the value of the pointer register m is changed. Increment by one increment. Then, in step Sh4, it is determined whether or not the incremented value of the pointer register m is larger than the maximum number, that is, whether or not all the addresses (1) to (m) stored in the address area AD are free. It is determined whether or not the processing has been completed.

When the search for the availability of all the addresses (1) to (m) is completed, that is, when there is no availability in the address area AD, the determination result is “YE”.
S ", the process proceeds to the next step Sh5, and a warning is displayed to the user for a fixed time indicating that there is no space in the address area AD and a new address cannot be registered, and then this routine is completed.

(B) When there is a vacancy in the address area AD On the other hand, when there is a vacancy in the address area AD, in the process of searching for the presence or absence of a vacancy for the addresses (1) to (m), the judgment in the above-mentioned step Sh2 is made. The result is "NO",
Proceeding to step Sh6, the address input screen AID is displayed on the display unit 2d.

As shown in FIG. 20, the address input screen AID is an input area Name, address, type for inputting data NAME, data ADDRESS and data TYPE forming an address.
In addition, a confirmation icon OK for confirming the input and a cancel icon CAN for canceling the input are provided.

When such an address input screen AID is displayed, the CPU 2a advances the process to the next step Sh7, and displays a cursor corresponding to the mouse 2f on the address input screen AID. Set in the input area Name. Next, in Steps Sh9 to Sh10, the cursor is moved and displayed in accordance with the pointing operation of the mouse 2f, and Step Sh1 is performed.
At 1, it is determined whether or not there is a click. When the button is clicked, the result of the determination is “YES”, the process proceeds to step Sh12 and thereafter, and the process corresponding to the clicked position on the screen is executed. Hereinafter, the processing will be described in different cases.

When Clicking on Input Area Name When the input area Name on the address input screen AID is clicked to input the "name" at the new address, the CPU 2a proceeds to step Sh16 shown in FIG. 19 via steps Sh12 and Sh14. The processing proceeds to step Sh17, where the character cursor is moved to the input area Name.

When a key input (data input) is performed in this state, the process proceeds to step Sh22 (see FIG. 19) via step Sh11 shown in FIG. 18, and the determination result is "YES", and step Sh23 is performed. Processing proceeds to In step Sh23, it is determined whether or not the character cursor is in the input area Name. In this case, since the key input is in the area, the determination result is "YES",
Proceed to step Sh24. In step Sh24, the keyed data is displayed in the input area Name, and in the subsequent step Sh25, the keyed data is stored in the data NAME at the address (m). And
The process proceeds to step Sh26, in which the character cursor is moved and displayed in the input area Name in accordance with the key input, and then the process returns to step Sh9 described above.

When clicked on input area address In the same manner as described above, when input area address is clicked to input a new mail address, CPU 2a proceeds to steps Sh12, Sh14 and S14.
Through h16, the process proceeds to step Sh18 shown in FIG. 19, where the determination result is "YES", the process proceeds to step Sh19, and the character cursor is moved to the input area addre.
Move to ss.

When a key input (data input) is made in this state, the result of the determination in step Sh22 is "YE
S ", and goes to step Sh27 via step Sh23.
Processing proceeds to In step Sh27, it is determined whether or not the character cursor is located in the input area Address. In this case, since the key input is in the area, the determination result is "YES", and the flow advances to the next step Sh28. In step Sh28, the key-input data is displayed in the input area address. In the following step Sh29, the key-input data is displayed as the data A of the address (m).
Store in DDRESS. Thereafter, Step Sh26
After the character cursor is moved and displayed via, the process returns to step Sh9 described above.

When clicked on input area type When input area type is clicked to input "type (mail attribute)" of a new address, CPU 2a
Are the steps Sh12, Sh14, Sh16 and Sh1
8 through step Sh20 shown in FIG. 19, and the determination result is “YES”, and the
Proceed to h21, and move the character cursor to the input area type.

When a key input (data input) is made in this state, the result of determination in step Sh22 is "YE
S ", and the process proceeds to the step Sh30 via the steps Sh23 and Sh27. In step Sh30, it is determined whether or not the character cursor is in the input area type. In this case, since the key input is in that area, the determination result is "YES", and the flow advances to the next step Sh31.
In step Sh31, the key-input data is displayed in the input area type. In the following step Sh32, the key-input data is displayed as the data TY of the address (m).
Store in PE. Thereafter, the character cursor is moved and displayed through step Sh26, and then the above-described step Sh26 is performed.
The process is returned to 9.

When the Confirmation Icon OK is Clicked In the address input screen AID, when the registration of the new address is completed and the confirmation icon OK is clicked, the result of the determination in step Sh12 shown in FIG. 18 becomes “YES”, and the next step Proceeding to Sh13, the address input screen AID is cleared and the present routine is completed, and the process returns to the address list display processing routine (see FIG. 15).

When Cancel Icon CAN is Clicked On the other hand, when interrupting new address registration, the cancel icon CAN is clicked. In this case, the result of the determination in step Sh14 shown in FIG. 18 is "YES", and the next step Sh15 Proceed to. In step Sh15, after clearing each content of the data NAME, data ADDRESS and data TYPE of the address (m), the display of the address input screen AID is cleared via step Sh13, and after completing this routine, the address list is displayed. Return processing to the processing routine.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
If the address data matching the sender address SAD of the received mail stored in the received mail store area JM is registered in the address area AD, the transmission time TT included in the address data (the time when the mail was previously sent to the address) ) Is the reception time TI of the mail received this time.
A difference time DT from when the mail is transmitted to when the reply mail is received is calculated, and an average reply time HT is determined based on the calculated difference time DT and the past reception results. If a reply time HT corresponding to the address is set by a timer when a mail is newly sent to the address, when a reply mail responding to the mail transmission is expected to arrive, that is, the reply time HT When the time elapses, the reception processing routine is interrupted and the server 1 is queried for the presence or absence of incoming mail. As a result, the number of operations of the reception processing routine, which has been frequently interrupted at regular intervals in the past, is limited, so that unnecessary access to the server 1 is reduced. As a result, the load on the server side is reduced, and mail is transferred. Efficiency is improving.

In this embodiment, an average reply time HT for each recipient is set based on the past reception results, and when the reply time HT elapses from the mail transmission time, the presence or absence of a reply mail is determined. Is sent to the server 1, but instead, for example, a desired reply time is provided in a header or the like of a transmitted mail, and the transmitted mail is stored in its own transmitted folder upon completion of transmission.
The receiving side prompts the reply time by displaying the desired reply time included in the reception. On the other hand, the transmitting side sets the desired reply time included in the sent mail stored in the sent folder after sending the mail. When the time comes after the search, the server 1 is accessed to inquire whether there is a reply mail. This realizes a so-called auto-pilot-like process from sending the mail to receiving the reply mail, reducing unnecessary access to the server 1, reducing the load on the server side, and improving mail transfer efficiency. Can contribute.

C. Modifications Although the above-described embodiment has been described with reference to an example applied to an electronic mail device, the gist of the present invention can be applied to a browser function of accessing a server that provides a homepage on the Internet and browsing the homepage. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the mail server is accessed at a timing when a reply to the transmitted mail is expected to be received, whereas in this modified example, the server is accessed in anticipation of the homepage update date. is there.

More specifically, initially, a desired homepage is accessed at predetermined intervals to check for updates, and if there is an update, the update interval of the homepage is recorded.
After creating an update history list in which update intervals are recorded for a plurality of homepages to be browsed in this way, refer to the update history list, and select an “homepage with a high possibility of being updated” sequentially to perform an autopilot browse. Just do it. By doing so, the homepage of the updated content can always be browsed, so that unnecessary access can be reduced and the line efficiency can be improved.

[0113]

According to the present invention, the average reply time for each recipient is set based on the past reception results, and the time when the reply time corresponding to the destination of the mail has elapsed from the time of sending the mail. Therefore, since the server computer is accessed to inquire whether a reply mail exists, the number of mail reception operations that were frequently interrupted and executed at regular intervals in the past is limited, and unnecessary access to the server computer is reduced. Thus, the load on the server computer can be reduced, and the mail transfer efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mail system to which an electronic mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a memory map for explaining a main memory configuration of a RAM 2c configuring the PDA 2.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of a timer interrupt processing routine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a reception processing routine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a main routine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a reception display processing routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a reception display processing routine.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reception display screen RMD.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of a mail display processing routine.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a mail display screen MDD.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of a mail creation processing routine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation of a mail creation processing routine.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of a mail creation processing routine.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mail creation screen MED.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation of an address list display processing routine.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation of an address list display processing routine.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of an address list display screen ALD.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an operation of an address input processing routine.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an operation of an address input processing routine.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of an address input screen AID.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server computer 2 Personal digital assistant (PDA) 2a CPU 2b ROM 2c RAM 2d Display part 2e Keyboard 2f Mouse 2g Communication control part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A mail sending means for sending a mail, a mail receiving means for accessing a server computer in response to a receiving instruction and receiving a mail, and a reply time for each mail address set based on past receiving results. Reply time storage means for storing, When mail transmission is performed by the mail transmission means, read the reply time of the corresponding mail address from the reply time storage means with reference to the destination address of the transmitted mail,
An e-mail device comprising: a reception control unit that gives a reception instruction to the mail reception unit when the return time elapses. 2. A medium in which a program for exchanging e-mails with a server computer is recorded, wherein an average reply time for each recipient is set based on past reception results, and a time period from when the mail is transmitted is set. A medium in which an e-mail program is recorded, wherein when the reply time corresponding to the destination of the mail has elapsed, the server computer is accessed to inquire whether a reply mail exists. 3. A transmission time storage means for storing a transmission time for each mail address, and accessing a server computer according to an execution instruction;
Inquiring whether or not mail has arrived, if there is any mail that has arrived, a mail receiving means for receiving the mail, and referring to the sender address of the mail received by the mail receiving means, and from the transmission time storage means to the mail address Reply time determination for reading the transmission time of the mail transmission and determining the response time from sending the mail to receiving the reply mail according to the read transmission time and the reception time of the mail received this time by the mail receiving means. Means for setting the reply time determined by the reply time determining means at the time of mail transmission, and updating the transmission time for the corresponding mail address in the transmission time storage means with reference to the destination address of the transmitted mail. E-mail sending means, and a reply time set by the e-mail sending means elapses. Once the e-mail apparatus characterized by comprising a receiving control means for giving an execution instruction to said mail receiving means. 4. The reply time determining means accumulates a difference time obtained by subtracting a transmission time from a reception time for each mail transmission / reception, and divides the difference time by the number of receptions to determine the reply time. The electronic mail device according to claim 3, wherein