WO2001028172A1

WO2001028172A1 - Electronic mail system

Info

Publication number: WO2001028172A1
Application number: PCT/JP2000/007081
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yasushi Ueshima
Original assignee: Comsquare Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-10-13
Filing date: 2000-10-12
Publication date: 2001-04-19
Also published as: AU7685000A

Abstract

An electronic mail system (1) comprises a database server (2), a CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) server (3), a WEB server (4), and a mail server (5). The database server (2) includes an address data storage (21) that stores information such as destination addresses. The external address data storage (21) is accessed to find a desired destination address so that the destination address can be input. Mail addresses can be easily input if there are a lot of destinations.

Description

Specification

E-mail equipment Technical field

The present invention relates to an electronic mail device, and more particularly to an electronic mail device that can easily send an electronic mail from a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone. Background art

In recent years, e-mail has been widely used as an information transmission tool. E-mail is usually sent and received using a personal computer (hereafter referred to as a “no-sound computer”) installed at work or at home. However, with the expansion of applications, there is a growing demand for sending and receiving e-mail even on the go. ing. Examples of such a portable device that can transmit and receive e-mail include a portable information terminal such as a portable personal computer and a portable telephone. To use e-mail on such a device, you must enter the e-mail address of the recipient. At this time, it is relatively easy to input the e-mail address on a device equipped with a normal keyboard, such as a portable personal computer, but the number of keys is small and the operability of character input is low, like a mobile phone With devices, there is a problem that inputting e-mail addresses and text is troublesome and difficult.

In particular, a certain number of e-mail addresses can be stored in advance in the memory of the mobile phone and can be selected.However, the number of addresses that can be recorded is limited. There is a problem that operability cannot be improved for users with many users. A first object of the present invention is to provide an e-mail device that can easily input a mail address even when there are many destinations.

In addition, there is a problem that even if an e-mail address can be selected, the input of the e-mail text becomes more difficult.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of easily inputting the contents of a mail body. An object of the present invention is to provide a mail device. Disclosure of the invention

The e-mail device of the present invention relates an address data storage device in which a destination address is recorded, a destination address data selected from the address data storage device, and sender data obtained by performing the selecting operation. A transmission data storage device for registering the transmission data, a transmission information registration device for registering the mail content information from the sender in association with the sender data registered in the transmission data storage device, and a selected transmission device. And a mail transmission device for transmitting an e-mail to the destination address.

At this time, the transmission information registration device described above is configured such that when a call is made from a sender registered in the transmission data storage device using a telephone, the voice information can be registered as mail content information. Is preferred. According to the present invention, when the sender inputs the destination address, the sender directly accesses the externally provided address data storage device, and transmits the address stored in the address data storage device. By searching from the destination addresses and selecting the desired destination address, the destination address can be entered, so even if there are many destinations, the destination e-mail address can be easily entered. It becomes possible.

In addition, for example, due to restrictions on destination addresses that can be recorded in the memory of a mobile phone or the like due to a large number of destination addresses, a destination address that had to be separately keyed is also stored in the address data storage device. If this is the case, no key entry is required by accessing the address data storage device, and from this point, the e-mail address of the transmission destination can be easily entered.

Furthermore, since the destination address is stored in the external address data storage device, the destination address recorded in the address data storage device is continuously used even when a new mobile phone is purchased or the model is changed. In addition to this, it is not necessary to re-register the destination address in a new or changed mobile phone, so that the convenience of the mobile phone can be improved. Furthermore, if the voice information, which is the body of the mail, can be registered as mail content information with the transmission information registration device, the mail body will be sent in the voice of the sender, compared to the case where the body of the mail is entered using the key provided on the telephone. Since the text can be input, the contents of the text of the mail can be easily input, especially on a telephone having low operability of character input.

Also, if the voice information that becomes the body of the mail is automatically converted to a voice file by the transmission information registration device and this voice file is registered as mail content information, the voice information is converted to a voice file on the telephone side. Since there is no need for conversion, the operation can be simplified accordingly, e-mail transmission can be performed in a short time and easily, and an audio file conversion function need not be added to the telephone. Therefore, the cost of the telephone can be reduced, and the telephone can be inexpensive.

In addition, simply by accessing the e-mail device, you can enter the address of the destination, associate and register the address data and the sender data of the destination, and associate and register the mail content information with the sender data. Since it is possible to perform the work of transmitting to the transmission destination, only one access destination is required, and from this point, it is possible to transmit the e-mail in a short time and easily. Further, the above-mentioned telephone is a portable information terminal, and this portable information terminal is configured to be able to access the address data storage device via the bucket communication network to search for the destination address data, and after the search, It is desirable to be configured so that voice information can be registered automatically by making a call to the transmission information registration device.

When making a call automatically, set a Phone To Tag that records the telephone number of the transmission information registration device on the address data search screen or another screen, and automatically perform outgoing call processing by selecting this Phone To Tag And other technologies are available.

In this way, when the sender uses a portable information terminal to send an e-mail, the sender accesses (addresses) the address data storage device of the e-mail device to search and select the destination address data. Automatically sent by pressing a specific key.Since the telephone can be connected to the information registration device and voice information can be registered, it is possible to perform a series of operations from address data selection to mail content information registration. In simplicity From this point, the transmission of the e-mail can be performed easily in a short time. Note that the “Phone To Tag” is a software button or the like that is set to automatically call the telephone number when selected. The process by Phone To Tag is a series of processes for making a call to that number, such as reading out the phone number recorded in this Phone To Tag, setting the calling method, and sending (calling) the number. May be automatically executed, or the telephone number read out may be displayed on the screen, temporarily stopped, and the transmission may be confirmed. At this time, it is better to have many automatic processes to save labor, but it is effective to provide a confirmation process to ensure safety. Further, it is preferable that the above-mentioned address data storage device includes an address search means capable of searching for a transmission destination address via the Internet.

In this way, if there is a function capable of displaying Internet information, the address of the destination can be searched and selected, so that the address data can be stored without adding a special function even to a mobile phone with a browser function. The destination address recorded in the device can be searched on the monitor screen, and the destination address can be visually checked. This makes it possible to improve the certainty of the destination address. Further, the above-mentioned mail transmitting apparatus has a transmitting function of transmitting an e-mail including mail content information to a destination address, a message indicating that the mail content information is registered in the destination address, and the mail It is desirable to have a notification function to send an e-mail with a telephone number recorded to access the content information.

In this way, for example, when the mail content information is composed of an audio file, if the recipient uses a computer or the like that can open the audio file, the electronic mail including the mail content information is transmitted by the transmission function. If you send an e-mail and the recipient uses a telephone or the like that cannot open the sound file even if you receive an e-mail with the sound file attached, the mail content information is registered by the notification function It is possible to send an e-mail in accordance with the terminal, such as sending an e-mail in which the information has been recorded and a telephone number for accessing the e-mail content information. This makes it possible to send the mail content information to the recipient without fail.

Furthermore, after receiving the e-mail from the e-mail device, the recipient who received the message on the telephone etc. can listen to the e-mail content information from the sender by calling the telephone number recorded in the e-mail Becomes This makes it easy to obtain mail content information even if the recipient uses a telephone or the like that cannot open the voice file even when receiving an email with a voice file attached. As soon as it becomes possible, the telephone number recorded in the e-mail can be recalled, so that the contents of the e-mail can be heard at any time at the convenience of the recipient.

Also, if the telephone number recorded in the e-mail is recorded in the Phone To Tag format, it is possible to make a call directly from the state in which the e-mail is opened, thereby simplifying the operation of the recipient It becomes possible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the address data storage device in the embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an electronic mail device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The e-mail device 1 transmits an e-mail transmitted from a mobile phone 14 which is a portable information terminal by a sender (not shown) to a terminal of the receiver according to a terminal used by the receiver. It includes a database server 2, a CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) server 3, a web server 4, and a mail server 5, which is a mail sending device. These database server 2, CTI server 3, WEB server 4, and mail server 5 are connected to a network such as LAN (Local Area Network). Connected at 6.

Here, one end of the network 6 is connected to an external network 11 such as an Internet-to-bucket communication network via a router 12 connecting the networks 6 and 11.

As the e-mail, a destination address part 52 for inputting a destination address which is a recipient's e-mail address, a mail part 53 for inputting e-mail content information serving as e-mail text to be transmitted to the recipient, etc. What is comprised including is employ | adopted. The database server 2 includes an address data storage device 21 in which information such as a destination address is recorded, and organizes and manages information recorded in the address data storage device 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the address data storage device 21 includes, in addition to the transmission destination address, a terminal type indicating what kind of terminal has this transmission destination address, and each transmission destination address. The name, address, telephone number, etc. corresponding to are recorded.

The WEB server 4 transmits information in the form of a home page displayed on a monitor screen on the Internet and on the Internet, and transmits the information stored in the address data storage device 21 to the destination. It is configured to include an address search device 41 as an address search means for searching an address and the like, and an address input device 42 for additionally recording a destination address and the like in the address data storage device 21. .

More specifically, for example, when additionally storing a destination address or the like in the address data storage device 21, a personal computer (not shown) on the network 6, an external personal computer 13 on the external network 11, or a mobile phone 14 is performed through the address input device 42 of the WEB server 4.

At this time, the screen of the personal computer (not shown) on the network 6 or the external personal computer 13 or the mobile phone 14 on the external network 11 is displayed on the screen of the address input form incorporated in the address input device 42. Is displayed. The input user only has to input for each item described in this address input form, so that an additional recording operation to the address data storage device 21 can be easily performed. Also, when searching for and selecting the address data of the other party to be transmitted from a plurality of destination addresses recorded in the address data storage device 21, a personal computer (not shown) on the network 6 or an external network 1 This is carried out from an external computer 13 or mobile phone 14 on the device 1 via the address search device 41 of the WEB server 4.

At this time, the screen of the personal computer (not shown) on the network 6 or the screen of the external personal computer 13 or the mobile phone 14 on the external network 11 is displayed on the screen of the address search form incorporated in the address search device 41. Is displayed. By specifying one of the items described in the address search form, the sender can search and select the address data of the other party to be transmitted.

The CTI server 3 is an automatic answering system having a voice processing function for processing voices from a mobile phone 14 or the like, and includes a transmission data storage device 31 and a transmission information registration device 32. A Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 15 for receiving voice from mobile phones 14 is connected.

The transmission data storage device 31 registers the data of the transmission destination address selected by the address data storage device 21 and the data of the sender who has performed the selection operation in association with each other. As a result, the recipient of the sender is determined, and it is possible to later confirm who sent the e-mail to whom.

Here, the data of the sender includes, for example, a sender identification such as a caller ID notification transmitted from the mobile phone 14 when the sender calls the electronic mail device 1 with the mobile phone 14. The symbols (hereafter, caller ID) are used.

The transmission information registration device 32 registers the mail content information transmitted from the sender to the recipient in association with the sender data registered in the transmission data storage device 31.

Here, the above-mentioned public telephone exchange network 15 is connected to the transmission information registration device 32. For this reason, the transmission information registration device 32 sends a voice to the microphone of the mobile phone 14 when the sender sends an e-mail using the mobile phone 14. It is possible to register a mail body consisting of information as mail content information.

Further, the transmission information registering device 32 has a function of automatically converting audio information into an audio file, so that the audio file is finally registered as mail content information.

The mail server 5 includes a sender ID section 51 for inputting the sender ID of the sender and a destination address section 5 for inputting a desired destination address selected in the address data storage device 21. 2, a mail section 53 to which the mail content information registered in the CTI server 3 is input, and a terminal type section 54 to which the terminal type corresponding to the transmission destination address is input, are created as one e-mail in association with each other. The e-mail is sent to the recipient.

The mail server 5 has a transmission function for directly transmitting an e-mail including a mail part 53 into which mail content information including a voice file created by the sender is input to a recipient terminal, and an e-mail server. A notification function is provided for notifying that the device 1 has mail content information composed of a voice file.

Specifically, when sending an e-mail to the recipient's mobile phone, the mobile phone cannot open the mail content information consisting of audio files.

For this reason, when the address search device 41 determines that the desired destination address is an address registered in the mobile phone according to the terminal type when searching by the terminal type, the mail section 53 of the mail server 5 is sent to the mail section 53. Is the guidance mail content information that records that the mail content information in the form of a voice file is registered in the transmission information registration device 32, and that the phone number in Phone To Tag format for accessing this voice file is recorded. Is input. Then, the mail server 5 transmits an e-mail including a mail part 53 to which the guide mail content information is input by a notification function. When a recipient who receives such an e-mail on a mobile phone calls the phone number in Phone To Tag format from the mobile phone, the CTI server 3 obtains the caller ID from the mobile phone and verifies the phone number. Check and play the audio file to be identified and played. This allows the recipient to retrieve the text of the email as an audio file. It is possible.

If the receiving terminal is a personal computer, etc., it has a function to open and listen to the e-mail content information consisting of voice files, so the e-mail section 53 directly stores the e-mail content information consisting of the voice file. It may be input and transmitted by the transmission function of the mail server 5. Also, if the voice file is converted to a text file in the e-mail device 1, it can be opened not only on a personal computer but also on a mobile phone. The mail content information may be input and sent by the sending function of the mail server 5.

Therefore, when the transmission destination is a personal computer or the like, the e-mail can be transmitted by the transmission function of the mail server 5 regardless of whether the e-mail content information is a voice file or a text file. On the other hand, if the destination is a mobile phone, etc., the e-mail is transmitted by the transmission function of the mail server 5 if the e-mail content information is composed of a text file, and if the e-mail content information is composed of a voice file. The e-mail is transmitted by the notification function of the mail server 5.

On the other hand, the sender's mobile phone 14 transmits data such as caller ID to the e-mail device 1 via a bucket communication network, which is the external network 11, and transmits the data via the public telephone exchange network 15. Audio information is transmitted.

In order to perform these two transmissions in one connection, the mobile phone 14 accesses the address data storage device 21 of the e-mail device 1 to search for the data of the desired destination address. After selection, voice information can be automatically registered by the transmission information registration device 32 by pressing a specific key or the like.

Next, a procedure for using the electronic mail device 1 using the mobile phone 14 will be described below. First, there are many destination addresses in advance, and the destination addresses that had to be separately keyed in are stored in the address data storage device 21 due to restrictions on the destination addresses that can be recorded in the memory of the mobile phone 14. Let it be. Specifically, address data is stored from a personal computer (not shown) on the network 6 or an external computer 13 or a mobile phone 14 on the external network 11 via the address input device 42 of the web server 4. The transmission destination address and the like are additionally recorded in the device 21. This destination address is managed for each individual sender according to the use of the destination address, It may be set so that only the sender concerned can search, or it may be managed by a corporation and set so that all employees of this corporation can search.

Then, when sending an e-mail to a mobile phone having a destination address not recorded in the memory of the mobile phone 14, the mobile phone 14 sends the e-mail to the address data storage device 21 via the address search device 41. Access and enter keywords such as address and name in the address search form to search and select the desired destination address. Upon selection, the desired destination address is loaded into the sender's mobile phone 14. Here, when the electronic mail device 1 is accessed from the mobile phone 14, the caller ID notification transmitted from the mobile phone 14 is registered in the transmission data storage device 31 as the sender ID. Further, when a desired destination address is selected, the destination address is registered in association with the sender ID in the transmission data storage device 31.

After selecting the desired destination address, press a specific key (for example, key) to enter the voice information registration state. Then, the sender inputs the text of the mail to be transmitted as voice to the transmission information registration device 32 via the public telephone exchange network 15. The input voice information is automatically converted to a voice file, and registered in the transmission information registration device 32 as mail content information in relation to the sender ID.

The sender ID registered in the transmission data storage device 31 and the transmission information registration device 32, the desired destination address, and the fact that the mail content information as a voice file has been registered in the transmission information registration device 32 , And the information content of the guide mail that records the phone number in Phone To Tag format for accessing this audio file, and the terminal type of the recipient are the sender ID part 51 of the mail server 5 and the destination, respectively. It is input to the address part 52, the mail part 53, and the terminal type part 54, and is created as one related e-mail. Then, the e-mail is transmitted to the recipient via the router 12 and the external network 11. Thus, the e-mail is sent.

The recipient calls the phone number in Phone To Tag format with the received mobile phone, and obtains the text of the email with the voice file.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, the address data storage device 21 provided outside is accessed, and a plurality of transmission destination addresses recorded in the address data storage device 21 are accessed. By selecting a desired destination address by searching from the list, the destination address can be input. Therefore, even when there are many destinations, the e-mail address of the destination can be easily input.

In addition, there are many destination addresses, and due to restrictions on the destination addresses that can be recorded in the memory of the mobile phone 14, the destination addresses that had to be separately keyed in are also stored in the address data storage device 21. Since the address is stored, no key input is required by accessing the address data storage device 21. From this point, the e-mail address of the transmission destination can be easily input.

Further, since the destination address is in the external address data storage device 21, for example, even if a new mobile phone is purchased or the model is changed, the transmission address recorded in the address data storage device 21 is changed. The destination address can be used continuously, and it is not necessary to re-register the destination address to a new or changed mobile phone, thereby improving the convenience of the mobile phone.

Also, the voice information, which is the text of the mail, can be registered as mail content information by the transmission information registration device 32, so that the sender can be compared with the case where the text of the mail is input using the key provided on the mobile phone 14. The text of the e-mail can be entered with the voice of the user.Especially on a mobile phone 14 with low operability of character input, the contents of the e-mail text can be easily input, and a voice file conversion function can be added to the mobile phone 14. Since it is not necessary to add a mobile phone, the cost of the mobile phone 14 can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

In addition, the voice information used as the body of the mail is automatically converted into a voice file by the transmission information registration device 32, and this voice file is registered as mail content information. There is no need to convert to an audio file, which simplifies the operation and makes it possible to send e-mail in a short time and easily.

In addition, simply by accessing the e-mail device 1, the user inputs a desired destination address, associates and registers the data of the destination address with the sender data, associates / registers the e-mail content information with the sender data, Since it is possible to perform operations such as transmitting these data to the transmission destination, only one access destination is required. Can be transmitted in a short time and easily.

Further, the mobile phone 14 accesses the address data storage device 21 to search and select the data of the desired destination address, and then presses a specific key to automatically transmit the voice to the transmission information registration device 32. Since the information can be registered, the operation of selecting the address data and registering the e-mail content information can be performed in a series, simplifying the operation. It can be done easily.

Also, since the address search device 41 of the web server 4 can be used to search a plurality of destination addresses recorded in the address data storage device 21 on an Internet homepage, desired transmission can be performed. The destination address can be visually checked, thereby improving the certainty of the destination address.

Further, since the e-mail is transmitted using the transmission function and the notification function of the mail server 5, the e-mail can be transmitted according to a terminal such as a personal computer or a mobile phone.

In addition, since the e-mail containing the guidance mail content information is sent to the destination address, the recipient receives the e-mail from the e-mail device 1 and records it in the guidance mail content information. You can listen to the e-mail content information from the sender by calling the telephone number provided. This allows the recipient to easily obtain the text of the e-mail even if the e-mail content information consisting of the audio file is received on a mobile phone that cannot open the e-mail, and the telephone number recorded in the e-mail By calling again, you can always listen to the mail content information at the convenience of the recipient.

Furthermore, since the telephone number recorded in the e-mail is recorded in the Phone To Tag format, it is possible to make a call directly from the state where the e-mail is open, thereby simplifying the operation of the recipient. it can.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes other configurations and the like that can achieve the object of the present invention, and includes the following modifications and the like. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the guide mail content information is included in the e-mail. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When sending an e-mail, the e-mail content information consisting of an audio file may be directly included without including the guidance e-mail content information.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when searching the address data storage device 21, the address search device 41 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the voice processing function of the CTI server 3 is used. Thus, the address data storage device 21 may be searched by the voice of the user, or the address search device 41 may not be provided if the address data storage device 21 can be searched directly. Les ,.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, after searching the address data storage device 21, the voice information is automatically registered in the transmission information registration device 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The step of searching for the device 21 and the step of registering voice information in the transmission information registration device 32 may be performed separately.

In the above-described embodiment, the sender's voice information is converted into a voice file by the transmission information registration device 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be converted to a file.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the sender's voice information is converted into a voice file and stored in the transmission information registration device 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the voice file is converted into a text format by a CTI server. By providing a voice recognition function, the data may be stored in text format. By converting to text format in this way, it can be sent directly to mobile phones by e-mail as mail content information.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the telephone number recorded in the e-mail is called from the received mobile phone. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Content information may be acquired. Industrial applicability

The e-mail device of the present invention can be used particularly as an e-mail device for handling e-mails transmitted and received from portable information terminals such as mobile phones, and can be used to easily input a mail address even when there are many destinations. Or, it is suitable to easily input the contents of the mail body.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. Address data storage device in which the destination address is recorded, destination address data selected from this address data storage device, and transmission data storage for associating and registering the sender data subjected to the selection operation A device, a transmission information registration device for registering mail content information from the sender in association with the sender data registered in the transmission data storage device, and an electronic mail to the selected destination address. An e-mail device, comprising: a mail transmitting device for transmitting.

2. The electronic mail device according to claim 1,

The transmission information registration device is configured to be able to register voice information as the mail content information when a telephone call is made from a sender registered in the transmission data storage device using a telephone. An electronic mail device characterized by the above-mentioned.

3. The electronic mail device according to claim 2,

The telephone is a portable information terminal. The portable information terminal is configured to be able to access the address data storage device via a bucket communication network to search for the destination address data, and to automatically perform the search after the search. An e-mail device characterized in that voice information can be registered by calling a transmission information registration device.

4. The electronic mail device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the address data storage device includes address search means capable of searching for a destination address via the Internet. E-mail device characterized.

5. The e-mail device according to claim 1, wherein the e-mail transmission device transmits an e-mail including the e-mail content information to the destination address; A destination address having a notification function of transmitting an electronic mail in which the mail content information is registered and a telephone number for accessing the mail content information are recorded. Mail device.