JPH0468731A - Electronic mail equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm the arrival of an electronic mail based on plural protocols simultaneously by providing an electronic mail processing means, an electronic mail incoming call state detection means and a control means and executing electronic mail reception processing of plural optional electronic mail protocols in parallel. CONSTITUTION:An electronic mail reception section 12 executes the processing of reception of electronic mails of protocols A, B. An electronic mail incoming monitor section 22 for protocols A, B being a component of an electronic mail incoming state detection means monitors the arrival of the electronic mail to a control means for each electronic mail protocol and displays the arrival of the mail onto an electronic mail arrival state display section 21. Electronic mail control sections 31, 32 of the protocols A, B being components of the control means control the transmission reception of the electronic mail with a network via a network low-order control section 35 and network protocol control sections of the protocols A, B. Thus, the arrival of plural mails confirms the arrival of plural mails based on the plural protocols reached simultaneously.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides an information processing network system that processes incoming e-mails in parallel based on a plurality of e-mail protocols supplied via the network. This invention relates to an executable e-mail device.

[Conventional technology]

E-mail is a means of sending and receiving messages addressed to specific users between workstations or computers connected to an information processing network system, and is a typical application example of a local area network system (LAN).

In a distributed system such as a LAN, many users access the system, so e-mail is used to prevent other users from accessing messages sent to a specific user. , an envelope similar to regular mail (list of recipient users) and its contents (
Notification matters).

For example, in e-mail in a network system known as XNS (Xerox Corporation, Xerox Network System), e-mail functionality is distributed throughout the network, is not concentrated on any particular hardware (such as a workstation), and is It has a configuration that sends and receives mail via a connected e-mail server (hereinafter referred to as a mail server), and has the concept of a mailbox (a mailbox is a box), so users can Users can access their own mailbox on the mail server connected to the network from any workstation and receive and receive messages addressed to them.

Sending and receiving e-mails is performed based on an e-mail protocol (hereinafter referred to as a specific protocol; in the XNS, a mailing protocol) specific to the network system.

The prior art related to this type of e-mail is disclosed in "Local Area Network" edited by Akihiro Uetani (November 30, 1985, published by Maruzen, No. 26).
The descriptions on pages 5 to 284 can be mentioned.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above conventional technology, in a network system, a specific e-mail protocol (specific protocol) is used.
E-mail functions based on (checking the incoming e-mail status, receiving e-mails.

Even if an email is received from another network system based on another email protocol other than the specific protocol mentioned above, the incoming email will not be received while the email function of the specific protocol is being executed. The problem was that it was not possible to confirm the

Furthermore, even if the system is configured to use e-mail functions based on multiple e-mail protocols,
In order to receive e-mails based on different e-mail protocols, it is necessary to perform so-called protocol conversion, so there was a problem that it was not possible to confirm the receipt of e-mails based on multiple e-mail protocols at the same time. .

An object of the present invention is to provide an e-mail device that can constantly grasp and display incoming e-mails of multiple e-mail protocols without being aware of which e-mail protocol is being used. .

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an e-mail processing means (1 in FIG. 1) that sends and receives e-mails compatible with a plurality of e-mail protocols; an e-mail incoming status display means (2 in FIG. 1) that monitors incoming e-mails compatible with the plurality of e-mail protocols and displays the incoming e-mail status; and a network compatible with the plurality of e-mail protocols. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a control means (3 in FIG. 1) that controls the protocol and executes e-mail reception processing of arbitrary plural e-mail protocols in parallel.

The e-mail processing means includes an e-mail transmitter (11 in FIG. 2) that is compatible with a plurality of e-mail protocols.
．． 111 and 112 in Figure 3) and the e-mail receiving section (second
12 in the figure. 121, 122, and 123 in FIG. 3), and the e-mail transmission processing unit (13 and 1 in FIG.
4) and an e-mail reception processing section (15 and 16 in FIGS. 2 and 3).

The e-mail incoming status display means includes an e-mail incoming monitoring unit (22 and 23 in FIGS. 2 and 3) compatible with the plurality of e-mail protocols mentioned above, and an e-mail incoming status display unit (22 and 23 in FIGS. 2 and 3). 21) in FIG. 3, and the control means includes a network protocol control section (21) in FIGS.
3 and 34) and the e-mail control unit (Part 2, 31 in Figure 3)
and 32), and a network lower-level control unit (35 in FIGS. 2 and 3) that controls lower-level programs between the network and the network.

[Operation] E-mail transmitting unit (second
11 in the figure. The e-mail transmission instruction section 111 and the outgoing e-mail editing section 112 in FIG.
Send an email using two email protocols (Protocol A and Protocol B).

The e-mail receiving section (12 in FIG. 2; the received e-mail display section 121, the received e-mail storage section 122, and the e-mail reception instruction section 123 in FIG. 3) processes the reception of e-mails using protocols A and B. Execute.

The e-mail incoming monitoring unit for protocol A and protocol B that constitutes the e-mail incoming status display means (Figs. 2 and 3)
22 and 23) in the figure monitor the incoming e-mail in the control means for each e-mail protocol, and when an incoming call is received, it is displayed on the e-mail incoming status display section (21 in Figs. 2 and 3). indicate.

The e-mail control unit for protocols A and B (31 and 32 in FIGS. 2 and 3) constituting the control means is connected to the network lower control unit (35 in FIGS. 2 and 3) and each protocol A,
The transmission and reception of e-mails to and from the network is controlled via the network protocol control unit of B (33 and 34 in FIGS. 2 and 3).

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of an e-mail device according to the present invention, in which 1 is an e-mail processing means, 2
3 is an e-mail incoming status display means, and 3 is a control means.

The e-mail processing means 1 executes processing of sending and receiving e-mails using a plurality of e-mail protocols, and the e-mail incoming status display means detects when the e-mail incoming monitoring section detects the incoming e-mail. In such cases, a message to that effect will be displayed.

The control means 3 performs transmission/reception control for each of a plurality of e-mail protocols and network protocol control for coupling the plurality of e-mail protocols to a network.

Incoming e-mails are constantly monitored regardless of the type of e-mail protocol, and even if the e-mail processing means 1 is executing e-mail transmission/reception processing of a specific protocol, e-mails of other e-mail protocols will be monitored. The incoming call is displayed on the e-mail incoming status display means 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention showing the configuration of FIG. 1 in detail.

The e-mail processing means (hereinafter simply referred to as mail processing means) 1 includes an e-mail transmission section 11. E-mail receiving section 12
．． An e-mail transmission processing unit (hereinafter simply referred to as mail transmission processing unit) 13 of e-mail protocol A (hereinafter simply referred to as protocol A), a mail transmission processing unit 14 of protocol B, and an e-mail reception processing unit of protocol A ( It consists of a mail reception processing section 15 (hereinafter simply referred to as a mail reception processing section) and a protocol B mail reception processing section 16.

This mail processing means 1 executes sending and receiving processes of e-mails of a plurality of protocols (here, two protocols A and B).

The e-mail incoming status display unit (hereinafter simply referred to as the e-mail incoming status display unit) 2 includes an e-mail incoming status display section (
Hereinafter, mail reception status display section) 21. Mail reception monitoring section of protocol A 22. It consists of a protocol B mail incoming monitoring section 23.

This e-mail incoming status display means 2 periodically makes inquiries to the mail control section of the protocol A and protocol B of the control means 3, and constantly monitors the incoming e-mails of protocols A and B. When reported by the mail control unit, this fact is displayed in the mail reception status display unit 2.
Display on 1.

The control means 3 includes a protocol A mail control section 31, a protocol B mail control section 32. Network protocol A that controls the network protocol of protocol A
IIJ jBB2S3 Network protocol B control unit 34 that controls the network protocol of protocol B
．． and a network lower control unit 35 that controls interfaces of lower layers including the physical layer of this system.

When sending an e-mail, the protocol A is selected according to the protocol specified by the e-mail sending section 11 of the e-mail processing means 1.
The transmission processing unit 13 or the protocol B transmission processing unit 14 establishes a protocol, and the protocol A mail control unit 31 or the protocol B mail control unit 32 of the control I 13 receives the mail of this protocol, and sends it to the network lower control unit 35. to follow.

The network lower control unit 35 controls an interface (not shown) (network driver, etc.) to send the mail to the network 4.

On the other hand, the mail received from the network 4 is taken in from the network lower control unit 35 of the control means 3, and the network protocol A control unit 33 that controls the network protocol of protocol A or the network that controls the network protocol of protocol B according to the protocol. Protocol B control unit 34, protocol A mail control unit 31, or protocol B mail control unit 3
2, is received by the protocol A reception processing unit 15 or the protocol B reception processing unit 16 of the mail processing means 1, and is input to the mail reception unit 12.

At this time, the protocol A mail incoming monitoring section 22 and the protocol B mail incoming monitoring section 2 of the incoming mail status display means 2
3, the mail control section 31 of the protocol A or the mail control section 32 of the protocol B of the control means 3 reports the arrival of the mail.

Based on this report of mail arrival, the mail arrival status display section 21 displays the fact that the mail has arrived on a display window (not shown) or the like.

Incoming mail messages are stored in a mailbox folder (mail folder) of a mail server (not shown) connected to the network 4.

In the mail folder, contents corresponding to the above-mentioned envelope, such as the address of the received mail, are written and displayed on the window of the user interface.

The e-mail message stored in the mailbox is forwarded to the user interface window of the user's workstation (at this time, the workstation is functioning as an e-mail device) at the direction of the recipient user. Received.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention showing the configuration of FIG. 2 in further detail.

In the figure, 111 is a mail sending instruction section, 112 is a sending mail editing section, 121 is a received mail display section, 122 is a received mail storage section, 123 is a mail reception instruction section, 5 is a user interface, and 51 is a window of the user interface. , 52 is a keyboard, and 53 is a window display control unit. Then, the mail sending section 11 is controlled by the mail sending instruction section 111 and the sending mail editing section 112, and the received mail display section 121. The received mail storage section 122 and the mail reception instruction section 123 constitute the mail receiving section 12.

In addition, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 indicate the same functional parts as in the same figure.

In FIG. 3, a received mail display section 121 retrieves the contents of received mail transferred from a mail server from a received mail storage section 122 and displays them on a window 51 of the user interface 5 message by message. The received mail storage unit 122 includes a storage device and has a function of storing the content (message) of the mail received from the mail server in the storage device.

The email reception instruction section 123- is the user interface 5
It receives instructions from the user through input means such as the keyboard 52, which is an input device, and instructs the mail reception processing sections 15 and 16 of each protocol to execute processing. Note that the input device is not limited to the keyboard 51, but may be an input device using a mouse operation on a window.

Protocol A mail reception processing unit 15, which is a mail reception processing unit for each protocol. Protocol B mail reception processing section 1
6 is a user's instruction based on the display of the mail reception status display unit 21, and the mail addressed to the user stored in the mail server is sent to the user's workstation (at this time, the workstation functions as an e-mail device). The received mail is transferred to the received mail storage unit 122.

Note that the mail transmission instruction section 111 accepts instructions from the input device (keyboard 52, etc.) of the user interface 5, and instructs the mail transmission processing sections 13 and 14 of each protocol to execute processing.

Protocol A mail transmission processing section 13. The protocol B mail transmission processing unit 14 receives and receives mail (destination, message) from the transmission mail editing unit 112, analyzes the protocol type, destination, etc., and relies on the control means 3 for mail transmission processing. The mail sent to the network 4 is sent to the destination mail server (not shown).

On the other hand, the mail incoming status display section 21 displays the incoming status of the email addressed to the user on the user interface 5 based on the notification of the incoming status from the protocol A mail incoming monitoring section 23.24.
window 51.

In this way, when sending and receiving emails using multiple protocols, and even if an email using another protocol arrives while an email using one protocol is being received, this will be displayed on the user interface, so the user can easily understand the differences between the protocols. You can know when emails with different protocols arrive without being aware of it.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the mail arrival status display means in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.

In the figure, when the protocol A mail incoming monitoring section 22 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is notified of the arrival of a protocol mail from the protocol A mail control section 31 of the control means 3, (
S-1), this fact is displayed on the mail reception status display section 21 (S-3). Similarly, when the protocol B mail incoming monitoring unit 23 is notified of the arrival of protocol B mail from the protocol B mail control unit 32 of the control means 3 (S-2
), this fact is displayed on the mail reception status display section 21 (
S-4).

The mail incoming status display means 2 periodically inquires of the control means 3 as to whether there is an incoming mail, and as soon as the incoming mail is notified as described above, it is displayed on a display means (not shown).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the mail receiving operation in FIG. 3.

The mail receiving operation is an operation for a user who is a recipient to receive an incoming mail message stored in a mailbox of a mail server (not shown).

Here, a case is shown in which the window of the user interface of a certain user's workstation displays that a protocol A mail and a protocol B mail have arrived.

In FIG. 5, mail of protocol A is transferred from the mailbox of the mail server to the received mail storage unit 122 of the own workstation (S-11).

Next, the protocol B mail is transferred from the mailbox of the mail server to the received mail storage unit 12 of the workstation.
2 (FIG. 3) (S-12).

This means that the email addressed to the above user has been received, so update the mail server's mail folder by deleting the display of received mail and displaying other mail arrivals (S-13). .

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a display example of the mail arrival status displayed on the window of the user interface by the mail reception status display section.

In the figure, 61 is a display showing the mail function of the workstation, 62 is a destination display for sending and receiving, 63 is a cursor position selected when viewing incoming calls, and 64 is a cursor position selected when sending mail.

The display shown in the figure shows that an email addressed to Mr. MURAs has arrived at NA.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of received mail displayed on the window of the user interface, in which the entire mail 75 stored in the mail folder 73 in the mailbox of the mail server can be viewed.

Here you can see that three emails have arrived. If you want to receive the third email message from Mr. NAKAMURAm, move the cursor to the third email, select it, and instruct Display in process item 74 to display the message number (#) in the window.
3) 71 and its message 72 are displayed.

As described above, the user does not have to be aware of which protocol the incoming email is based on, even if an email with another protocol arrives while the email is receiving an email with a specific protocol. , the fact that the call has arrived can be known, and the reception process can be executed in parallel.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional techniques are solved, and the reception of multiple emails based on multiple protocols that arrive simultaneously can be confirmed, and the reception processing can be executed in parallel, so that the user can It is possible to receive incoming mail by issuing an instruction to display the mail message in the user interface window without overlooking the incoming mail of a protocol different from the one in which the receiving process is currently being performed. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram explaining the basic configuration of an e-mail device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention showing the configuration of FIG. 1 in detail, and FIG. 3 is the configuration of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the mail reception status display means in FIGS. 2 and 3, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the mail reception operation in FIG. Flowchart to explain, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a display example of the mail reception status displayed on the window of the user interface by the mail reception status display unit,
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of received mail displayed on the window of the user interface. 1... E-mail processing means, 2... E-mail reception status display means, 3... Control means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] E-mail processing means for transmitting and receiving e-mails compatible with a plurality of e-mail protocols; and monitoring the arrival of e-mails compatible with the plurality of e-mail protocols, and monitoring the reception status of e-mails. and control means for controlling a network protocol corresponding to the plurality of e-mail protocols and executing e-mail reception processing for any plurality of e-mail protocols in parallel. e-mail device.