JP2000003316A - Mail device and recording medium with mail processing program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a mail device for efficiently exchanging mails in an electronic mail system to easily prepare and transmit return mails. SOLUTION: When an automatic return selection button displayed in a command bar on a window W, 'Yes', is operated in a state where an received mail is opened and the mail window W is made to display its contents, a mail affirmative message 'This is Nakamura. It is OK' stored in advance is read, a return (Yes) mail G1 writing attached to a leading part of the received mail is generated and displayed, and a transmission origin address of the received mail is specified and transmitted. When the automatic return selection button 'No' is operated, a mail negative message 'This is Nakamura. Unfortunately, it is No' is read, a return (No) mail G2 writing attached to the leading part of the received mail is generated and displayed, the transmission origin address of the received mail is specified and is transmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail apparatus for efficiently exchanging mail in an electronic mail system and a recording medium recording a mail processing program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the case of sending a reply to a mail received at a certain computer terminal in an electronic mail system, it is necessary to create and send the entire reply mail by the recipient himself.

That is, in a mail reply procedure according to a conventional mail processing function mounted on a computer terminal, a received mail is opened and displayed, and a reply button is operated to set a reply mail input / edit state. It is necessary to enter a reply message, create an e-mail, and operate the send button to send the e-mail reply.

[0004]

As described above, in the mail processing function of the conventional e-mail system, a reply mail to a received mail must be created and transmitted as a new mail through the above-mentioned procedures. .

[0005] For this reason, in response to a mail such as a notice of a meeting schedule or the like, regardless of whether the mail is attendance or absence, the entire mail must be created and transmitted one by one. However, there is a problem that it is not easy to create and send a reply mail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a mail apparatus and a recording medium on which a mail processing program is recorded, which makes it possible to easily create and transmit a reply mail. Aim.

[0007]

That is, a mail apparatus according to the present invention comprises a received mail display means for opening and displaying a received mail, and a simple reply instructing means for instructing a simple reply by selecting affirmative or negative. When affirmative is selected by the simple reply instruction means and a simple reply is instructed, a predetermined positive message is returned to the sender of the received mail, and negative is selected and the simple reply is instructed. And reply mail generating means for replying a predetermined negative message to the sender of the received mail.

As described above, in the mail apparatus according to the present invention, when affirmative or negative is selected and the simple reply is instructed for the mail displayed as received and opened, when the affirmative is selected and the simple reply is instructed, A predetermined affirmative message is returned to the sender of the received mail, and when negative is selected and a simple reply is instructed, a predetermined negative message is returned to the sender of the received mail. Therefore, as a response to the destination when a simple received mail is opened, such as confirmation of attendance, simply instructing a simple reply of affirmation or denial, a reply mail with a positive or negative message automatically added is generated. Will be replied.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a personal computer according to an embodiment of a mail apparatus of the present invention.

This personal computer has a control unit (CPU) 11 composed of a computer or the like. The control unit (CPU) 11 activates a system program stored in a ROM in the storage device 13 in accordance with various input data input from an input device 12 having a keyboard and a mouse (not shown), or A computer control program stored in the recording medium 14 or a computer control program received via the communication device 15 is read into the RAM in the storage device 13 and started up.
The operation of each part of the circuit is controlled using the AM 16 as a work memory.

The control unit (CPU) 11 is connected to a display device 17 in addition to the input device 12, the storage device 13, the communication device 15, the RAM 16, and the like. The keyboard of the input device 12 uses, for example, the same kind of keyboard as a general-purpose personal computer, and includes numeric keys, character keys, an execution key, a cursor key, various function keys, and the like.

The storage device 13 has an R
In addition to having an OM, a reading device for the external recording medium 14 such as a floppy disk driver and a RAM such as a hard disk device are provided.

For example, in the ROM of the storage device 13, system program data that governs the entire processing in the electronic circuit of the personal computer is stored in advance, and a reply mail is created and transmitted when the received mail is opened. For example, control program data, which is subprogram data for performing various control processes such as a mail opening process shown in FIG. 3, is stored in advance.

The ROM of the storage device 13 is provided with an automatic reply message memory 13a in which message data of a fixed text used for automatic creation of a reply mail accompanying the mail opening process is stored in advance.

FIG. 2 shows the RO of the personal computer.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a storage state of message data in an automatic reply message memory 13a provided in M. In the automatic reply message memory 13a, the automatic reply selection buttons "Yes (Yes)" and "No (N)" shown on the mail window W (see FIG. 5) accompanying the start of the mail opening process are displayed.
o)), the reply write message "Nakamura. OK." and "Nakamura. Unfortunately, NO."

When the reply message is selected and the automatic reply selection button "Yes (Yes)" is selected and the contents of the reply mail are displayed, the reply message is displayed at the head of the reply mail. A reply message is automatically created by writing the message "I am Nakamura. OK.", And selecting "No (No)", the reply message "Nakamura I am. No. "is written and a reply mail is created automatically.

In the RAM 16, the RO of the storage device 13 is stored.
M is provided with a memory area for temporarily storing various types of data necessary for executing various control processing programs stored in advance in M. For example, an address for storing a mail address of a communication destination necessary for mail transmission / reception processing A memory area for lists, a memory area for storing mail data for transmission, reception and reply, a memory area for schedule data, a memory area for ToDo data, and the like are also provided.

The communication device 15 is connected to a communication network N, and performs data communication (e.g., transmission and reception) of electronic mail and the like with another computer terminal device connected via the communication network N.

Next, the operation of the personal computer having the above-described configuration when creating and transmitting a reply mail in association with the opening processing of the received mail will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a mail opening process in the personal computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display state of the received mail list display screen G accompanying the mail opening processing of the personal computer. FIG. 5 is a view showing a display state of a mail window W accompanying the mail opening process of the personal computer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display state of an automatic reply mail creation screen accompanying the mail opening processing of the personal computer. FIG. 6A shows a reply (Yes) mail creation for affirming the received mail. FIG. 14B shows a display state of the screen G1. FIG. 14B shows a reply for rejecting the received mail (No).
It is a figure showing the display state of mail creation screen G2.

First, when a mailbox on the command bar displayed on the display screen of the display device 17 is designated and clicked, a mail processing program stored in advance in the ROM in the storage device 13 is read. , FIG.
When the received mail opening process is started, all the mail data received by specifying the mail address of the computer terminal is stored in the RAM 16 as shown in FIG.
The received mail list display screen G in which the date and time, destination, and title of each received mail are arranged is displayed on the display device 17 while being stored in the received mail memory area (step S1).

When any received mail is selected and clicked while the received mail list display screen G is displayed on the display device 17, the contents of the selected received mail are displayed as shown in FIG. Read out, mail window W
Is displayed on the display device 17 (step S2 → S
3).

The command bar 2 of the mail window W
Reference numeral 1 denotes command buttons required for normal mail processing, such as a reply button 22 for creating and sending a reply mail, a transfer button 23 for creating and sending a forward mail, and a reply to the received mail. Automatic reply selection button "Yes (Yes)" for automatically creating and sending mail
24a and "No (No)" 24b are provided.

In this mail window W, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, while a received mail for prompting confirmation of attendance / absence by designating date and time and place is displayed.
When the automatic reply selection button "Yes" 24a provided on the command bar 21 is operated, it is stored in the automatic reply message memory 13a (see FIG. 2) in the storage device 13 in response to the operation. The reply writing message "Nakamura. OK" is read out for the affirmation of the mail, and as shown in FIG. 6 (A), the reply writing message "Nakamura. OK." Reply (Yes) mail G written at the beginning of the content and added
1 is generated and displayed, and this reply (Yes) mail G1 is transmitted from the communication device 15 by specifying the mail address to which the corresponding received mail is transmitted (step S4 → S
5, S6).

Then, icons for menu selection of schedule and ToDo are displayed on the display device 17. For example, when an icon for menu selection of schedule is selected and clicked, it is described in the received mail (see FIG. 5). The mail data including the date, time, place, title, etc., is registered in the schedule memory provided in the RAM 16 as schedule data (step S7,
S8 → S9).

The schedule and ToDo menu selection icons displayed on the display device 17 are described in the received mail (see FIG. 5) when, for example, the ToDo menu selection icon is selected and clicked. The mail data including the date and time, place, title, and the like are registered in the ToDo memory provided in the RAM 16 as ToDo (by what time and what to do) data (steps S7, S8 → S9).

On the other hand, in step S4, when the automatic reply selection button "No (No)" 24b provided on the command bar 21 on the mail window W is operated, the automatic reply in the storage device 13 is correspondingly operated. The reply message "Nakamura, unfortunately NO" stored in the reply message memory 13a (see FIG. 2) is read out as shown in FIG. 6 (B).
This reply writing message "Nakamura. Unfortunately it is NO." Is written at the top of the received mail and added and a reply (No) mail G2 is generated and displayed. This reply (No) mail G2 is The mail is sent from the communication device 15 by designating the mail address that is the destination of the corresponding received mail (steps S4 → S10, S11).

In step S4, when the reply button 22 on the mail window W is designated and clicked, the process shifts to a normal mail reply process for creating and transmitting the entire mail contents (step S4). → S1
2). A transfer button 2 on the mail window W
When 3 is designated and clicked, the flow shifts to a normal mail transfer process (step S4 → S13).

Therefore, according to the function of creating and sending a reply mail accompanying the opening processing of the received mail in the personal computer having the above-mentioned configuration, any received mail is opened and the contents thereof are displayed in the mail window W. ,
When the automatic reply selection button "Yes" 24a displayed on the command bar 21 of the mail window W is operated, a reply write message for mail confirmation stored in the automatic reply message memory 13a in advance is displayed. The reply is "Yes". The reply G1 is written and added to the top of the received mail, a mail G1 is generated and displayed, and it is transmitted by specifying the mail address to which the received mail is sent. Also, when the automatic reply selection button "No (No)" 24b is operated, a reply message "Nakamura. It is unfortunately NO." Is stored in the automatic reply message memory 13a. A reply (No) mail G2 that is output and written at the beginning of the received mail and added is generated and displayed, and the mail destination of the received mail is displayed. When a simple received e-mail is opened, such as confirmation of attendance at a meeting or the like, a response to the call destination is sent by specifying the automatic reply selection button “Yes ( Y
es) By simply operating "24a" or "No" 24b, it is very easy to generate and send a reply mail to which a positive or negative message is automatically added.

In the reply mail creation and transmission functions in the mail opening process of the first embodiment, an automatic reply selection button "Yes (Yes)" 24a or "No ( No) "24b, a reply mail to which only a positive or negative message is added is created and transmitted. However, as described in the second embodiment, an automatic reply selection button" Even if "No (No)" 24b is operated, a configuration may be provided that has a function of automatically generating and transmitting a reply mail to which a message that is affirmatively added is added.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a mail opening process according to a second embodiment in which a part of the mail opening process of the first embodiment in FIG. 3 is changed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display state of a No-mail creation screen G3 with automatic reply conditions accompanying the mail opening process of the second embodiment. In other words, in the state where the contents of the received mail are opened and displayed on the display device 17 as the mail window W (see FIG. 3), it is inconvenient, for example, between 10:00 and 12:00 of the time specified by the received mail. However, if it is convenient from 4:00 to 5:00 PM, enter `` PM 4:00 to 5:00 '' at the beginning of the received mail and correct the mail, then select the automatic reply selection button `` No (No) 24b is operated, it is determined that there is a change in the mail content on the mail window W, and the changed portion "PM4: 00
~ 5: 00 "is applied to the fixed phrase" Nakamura. It is NO, but ... is OK. "Stored in the storage device 13 in advance, and the reply message is" Nakamura. It is NO, but PM4:
00-5: 00 is OK. Is created, and as shown in FIG. 8, this reply message is added to the head of the received mail and transmitted to the sender as a reply condition No mail G3 (steps S3, S4a → A1 → A2, S11).

On the other hand, when the automatic reply selection button "No (No)" 24b is operated in a state where there is no change in the mail content in the mail window W, the same as in the first embodiment, In response to this, the reply write message for rejecting the mail "Nakamura. Unfortunately, NO." Stored in the automatic reply message memory 13a (see FIG. 2) in the storage device 13 is read out, and FIG.
As shown in (B), the reply write message “Nakamura. Unfortunately, NO.” Is written at the top of the content of the received mail and added, and a reply (No) mail G2 is generated and displayed. This reply (No) mail G2 is transmitted from the communication device 15 by specifying the mail address to which the corresponding received mail is transmitted (Steps S3 and S3).
4a → A1 → A3, S11).

Therefore, according to the function of creating and transmitting a reply mail associated with the mail opening process of the second embodiment,
The content of the received mail opened and displayed on the mail window W is corrected and changed by inputting a desired time “PM4: 00 to 5:00”, for example, and an automatic reply selection button “No (No)” 2
When you operate 4b, the fixed phrase "Nakamura is the pre-stored change part" PM4: 00-5: 00 "is NO.
K. To generate a conditional reply message that is sent to the sender as a reply message prepended to the received message.
In this case, too, it is very easy to automatically add a positive or negative message and generate and send a reply mail, as well as to add a message such as conditional affirmative or conditional negative depending on the type of fixed phrase stored in advance. It is possible to easily generate and send the reply mail.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the open display of the received mail such as the meeting attendance confirmation or the like is confirmed by the selection operation of the two automatic reply selection buttons "Yes (Yes)" 24a or "No (No)". A message type reply mail or a negative message type reply mail is automatically generated and sent.However, at the time of opening display of received mail such as confirmation of empty schedule etc., use the schedule function to select a convenient date and time. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which this is created and transmitted as a simple reply message.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a mail opening process of a third embodiment in which a part of the mail opening process of the first embodiment in FIG. 3 is changed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display state of an automatic reply schedule mail creation screen G4 accompanying the mail opening processing of the third embodiment. In this case, in addition to the reply button 22, the transfer button 23, and the automatic reply selection buttons 24a and 24b, calendar data registered and managed on the schedule function is read and displayed on the command bar 21 on the mail window W. A schedule button is also provided.

That is, in the mail window W in which the contents of the received mail have been opened, for example, when the received mail for asking for a convenient date and time, such as "When will you meet?" When the schedule button provided on the PC 21 is operated, the RAM 1 is displayed on the schedule function of the personal computer.
6 is read and displayed on the display device 17 (steps S3, S4b →).
B1).

Here, when a convenient date and time is selected and designated, the designated date and time, for example, “March 25 PM 1: 00-
"3:00" is applied to the fixed phrase "Nakamura .... OK" stored in the storage device 13 in advance, and the reply message "Nakamura. March 25 PM 1: 00-3: 00 OK is created. As shown in FIG. 10, this reply message is added to the head of the received mail and transmitted to the sender as a reply schedule mail G4 (step B).
2, B3).

Along with this, new schedule data generated from the specified date and time “March 25 PM 1:00 to 3:00” and the content of the received mail “When will you meet?” Is stored and registered in the schedule memory in the RAM 16 (step B4).

Therefore, according to the function of creating and transmitting a reply mail accompanying the mail opening process of the third embodiment,
When the schedule button provided on the command bar 21 on the mail window W is selected and displayed at the time of opening the received mail for asking for a convenient date and time, the calendar data managed on the schedule function is read out. When a convenient date and time is specified based on the displayed date and time, a simple reply message indicating that the specified date and time is OK is generated and transmitted to the sender as a reply mail added to the head of the received mail. So, in this case,
It is very easy to generate and send a reply mail by automatically adding an affirmative or negative message, and also to generate and send a reply mail with a convenient schedule easily for received mail such as schedule confirmation become able to.

Note that the method described in each of the above embodiments, that is, the mail opening process of the first embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and FIG.
Each method such as the mail opening process of the second embodiment, which is a combination of the flowcharts of FIG. 3, and the mail opening process of the third embodiment, which is a combination of the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the flowchart of FIG. 9, can be executed by a computer. Possible programs include a memory card (ROM card, RAM card, etc.), a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-RO
M, DVD, etc.), and can be distributed by being stored in an external recording medium 14 such as a semiconductor memory. The computer, which is the control unit (CPU) 11 of the personal computer, reads the program recorded on the external recording medium 14 by a recording medium reading unit (for example, the storage device 13), and the operation is controlled by the read program. Accordingly, the automatic creation and transmission function of the reply mail accompanying the mail opening processing described in each of the embodiments can be realized, and the same processing by the above-described method can be executed.

[0044]

As described above, according to the mail apparatus of the present invention, when affirmative or negative is selected and a simple reply is instructed for the mail displayed as received and opened, affirmative is selected and the simple reply is sent. When instructed, a predetermined positive message is returned to the sender of the received mail,
If a negative reply is selected and a simple reply is instructed, a predetermined negative message is returned to the sender of the received mail. By simply instructing a simple affirmative or negative response, a reply mail to which a positive or negative message is automatically added is generated and returned. Therefore, according to the present invention, creation of a reply mail,
Transmission can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a personal computer according to an embodiment of a mail device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a storage state of message data in an automatic reply message memory provided in a ROM of the personal computer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a mail opening process in the personal computer.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing a display state of a received mail list display screen G accompanying a mail opening process of the personal computer.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing a display state of a mail window W accompanying a mail opening process of the personal computer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display state of an automatic reply mail creation screen accompanying the mail opening processing of the personal computer, and FIG. 6A shows a reply (Y) for affirming the received mail.
es) A diagram showing a display state of a mail creation screen G1, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a display state of a reply (No) mail creation screen G2 for denying a received mail.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a mail opening process according to the second embodiment in which a part of the mail opening process according to the first embodiment in FIG. 3 is changed;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view showing a display state of a No-mail creation screen G3 with automatic reply conditions accompanying the mail opening processing of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a mail opening process according to the third embodiment in which a part of the mail opening process according to the first embodiment in FIG. 3 is changed;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display state of an automatic reply schedule mail creation screen G4 associated with the mail opening processing of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Control part (CPU), 12 ... Input device, 13 ... Storage device, 13a ... Automatic reply message memory, 14 ... External recording medium, 15 ... Communication device, 16 ... RAM, 17 ... Display device, N ... Communication network, 21: Command bar, 22: Reply button, 23: Forward button, 24a: Automatic reply selection button "Yes (Yes)", 24b: Automatic reply selection button "No (No)", G: Received mail list display screen, G1 … Reply (Yes) mail creation screen, G2… Reply (No) mail creation screen, G3… Conditional No mail creation screen, G4… Scheduled mail creation screen.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A received mail display means for opening and displaying a received mail, a simple reply instruction means for selecting affirmative or negative and instructing a simple reply, and a simple answer when affirmative is selected by the simple reply instruction means. When a reply is instructed, a predetermined affirmative message is returned to the sender of the received mail, and when negative is selected and a simple reply is instructed, a predetermined negative message is transmitted to the received mail. A reply mail generating means for replying to the sender of the mail. 2. The reply mail generating means, when affirmative is selected by the simple reply instruction means and a simple reply is instructed, adds a predetermined positive message to the received mail and sends it to the sender. Reply mail generating means for replying and, when negation is selected and simple reply is instructed, adding a predetermined negative message to the received mail and replying to the sender. The mail device according to claim 1. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a correction unit configured to correct the received mail displayed by the received mail display unit; and a correction determination unit configured to determine whether the received mail is corrected by the correction unit. The e-mail generating means, when affirmative or negative is selected by the simple reply instructing means and the simple reply is instructed, and when the correction judging means judges that the received mail has been corrected, a predetermined positive or negative 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second reply mail generating unit configured to generate a message in which a fixed form of the negative is combined with a correction part of the received mail and reply to the sender. Mail device. 4. A received mail display means for opening and displaying a received mail, a scheduler means for activating a schedule management function during mail display by the received mail display means, and setting a schedule by the scheduler means. A reply message generating means for generating a fixed message including the set time information in accordance with the request and transmitting the reply message to the sender of the displayed mail as a reply mail to the mail. . 5. A recording medium storing a mail processing program for controlling a computer having a mail communication function, wherein said computer displays a received mail by opening and displaying a received mail. Simple reply instructing means for instructing a simple reply by selecting a simple reply. When affirmative is selected by the simple reply instructing means and a simple reply is instructed, a predetermined positive message is returned to the sender of the received mail. In addition, when negation is selected and simple reply is instructed, a record in which a mail processing program for functioning as a reply mail generating means for replying a predetermined negative message to the sender of the received mail is recorded. Medium.