JPH10229421A - Electronic conference system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic conference system, in which a user receives optimum service distribution depending on the mail processing capability and the status of the user and it is prevented that important person-to-person mails are embedded in a mail list ML, even when the user is busy. SOLUTION: A distribution table managing number of mails is provided in a mail service 31 in the electronic conference system, making mail exchange and the user of each terminal 34 instruct number of mails for a prescribed time distributed by the mail server 31 and the mail server 31 refers to the distribution table to make automatic distribution of the mailing list, based on the instructed item number.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic conference system, and more particularly, to an electronic conference system using electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, an e-mail system using a local area network (LA @) system has been widely used. The system using these e-mails is constructed so that an electronic conference or the like can be performed. For example, in a system called a conference room system, an end user reads out a specific conference room, and inputs opinions and various messages there. Is added to the title list.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic mail system to which a conventional LA @ system is applied, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the title list.

In FIG. 5, an e-mail system includes a mail server 11 serving as a center, a file 12 on a mail server 11 which stores mails (documents, texts, etc.) and can be retrieved at any time, LA # 13, and LA # 1.
3 connected to a plurality of personal computers (P
C) etc. and a mail terminal 14.

[0005] An electronic conference using a large number of personal computers (PCs) or the like to hold a conference based on documents or texts is a combination of electronic mail and an electronic bulletin board, and is a many-to-many communication mode.

As shown in FIG. 5, when an end user of a certain mail terminal 14 accesses the mail server 11 and reads out a specific conference room shown in FIG. 6 and writes opinions and various messages, it is added to a title list. Is done.

[0007] When another user logs in and enters the conference room, he or she selects and reads the written opinion or message while looking at the title list, further adds an opinion to a specific message, or makes a comment. Can also be written. Thereafter, when another user enters the meeting room, the user can read the opinions, the opinions, the comments, and the like of the other people in order.

On the other hand, there is a message delivery system generally called a mailing list system.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional mailing list (hereinafter referred to as M
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system (referred to as L), and FIG.

In FIG. 7, the ML system is based on a mail server 21 serving as a center, a file 22 on the mail server 21 which can store and retrieve mails (documents, texts, etc.) at any time, LA # 23, and LA # 23. And a mail terminal 24 including a plurality of personal computers (PCs) connected thereto.

The ML method is used when a specific agenda item is handled by a specific group or for ensuring information transmission. As shown in FIG. 8, a list of user names of a specific group is placed on the mail server 21 and a representative mail address of this group is given. Each user sends an e-mail to this representative address, and the mail server 2
1 automatically according to the corresponding user list 21a
By distributing to each user, the system is such that users registered in the mailing list can be directly delivered to all members of the group without fail.

When a specific group shares information or discusses a specific agenda, the ML system is often used because it is convenient and reliable.

[0013]

However, such a conventional ML-based electronic conference system has the following disadvantages.

That is, when discussions become active, mail is frequently exchanged between users, and a large amount of mail is temporarily delivered.
L overflows, and a situation occurs in which the check of general mail such as an individual-to-individual mail that arrives during that time is delayed. Also, finding and checking important general e-mails can be a burdensome task. In particular, when subscribing to a plurality of MLs, there may be cases where the number of MLs becomes 100 or more per day.

However, in the conference room system, the user must access and read the conference room one by one, and when the user happens to be busy, for example, the visit to the conference room is stopped for a while. There was a problem that important information was lost for a while.

According to the present invention, it is possible to receive an optimum distribution according to the user's mail processing ability and situation, and important inter-personal mail is buried in the ML even when the user is busy. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic conferencing system capable of preventing the problem.

[0017]

An electronic conference system according to the present invention includes a mail server for controlling mail delivery, and a plurality of mail terminals connected to the mail server for controlling mail transmission and reception. In an electronic conferencing system in which a mail terminal exchanges mail, the mail server includes, for each mail terminal, an instruction unit for indicating the number of mails to be delivered by a mail server within a predetermined time. Configure to deliver mail.

The mail distribution may be automatic distribution of a mailing list based on the designated number of mails.

The instruction means includes a distribution table managed on a mail server. The distribution table has an identification code part for identifying its own terminal, and a maximum value corresponding to the identification code part and distributed within a predetermined time. The mail server may be a processing number part in which the number of mails is registered, and the mail server may perform mail distribution based on the number of mails specified by referring to the distribution table.

Further, the electronic conference system according to the present invention comprises:
In an electronic conference system in which a mail server that controls mail delivery and a plurality of mail terminals that are connected to the mail server and control mail transmission and reception, and the mail server and the mail terminals exchange mail, mail processing of each mail terminal is performed. There is provided recording means for recording the time, and transmission means for transmitting the recorded contents to the mail server, and the mail server is configured to perform mail distribution at predetermined intervals based on the transmitted information.

[0021] The transmitting means may automatically transmit the recorded contents to the mail server at regular intervals.

The recording means includes a management table for recording a reception time of the mail transmitted from the mail server and a reading time when the mail is read from the mail terminal. The mail terminal refers to the management table. A time difference between the reception time and the read time may be calculated, and the time difference may be automatically transmitted to the mail server at predetermined time intervals as an average time required for reading the mail.

Further, the electronic conference system according to the present invention comprises:
In a teleconference system in which a mail server that performs mail distribution control and a plurality of mail terminals that are connected to the mail server and perform mail transmission and reception control, and the mail server and the mail terminal exchange mail, the mail server Instruction means for instructing each mail terminal to temporarily stop e-mail distribution, and the mail server prohibiting automatic distribution to the corresponding e-mail terminal based on information from the instruction means, and treating the distribution mode as a conference room Means for storing the information of the conference room by redesignating the information, and means for notifying the number of stored mails to the corresponding mail terminal by e-mail by storing more than a predetermined number of e-mails in the conference room. The distribution mode is switched according to an instruction from the mail terminal.

The instruction means has a distribution table managed on a mail server, and the distribution table has an identification code section for identifying its own terminal, and a mode record for recording a distribution mode corresponding to the identification code section. The mail server refers to the distribution table and stores more than a predetermined number of mails in the conference room mode by referring to the distribution table. It may be a notice.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The electronic conference system according to the present invention can be applied to an electronic conference system using electronic mail.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the electronic conference system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an electronic mail system includes a mail server 31 for managing mails based on a distribution table 40 described later, and a mail server 31 for storing mails (documents, texts, and the like) and extracting the mails at any time. The file 32 includes an upper file 32, an LA # 33, and a mail terminal 34 including a plurality of personal computers (PCs) connected by the LA # 33.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a distribution table managed on the mail server 31.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 40 denotes a distribution table (distribution table A) managed on the mail server 31. The distribution table 40 includes a user ID section 41 and a mail server 31 corresponding to the user ID section 41. It is composed of a processing number table 42 in which the number of mails within a certain time to be distributed is registered.

Hereinafter, the operation of the electronic conference system configured as described above will be described.

It is assumed that the distribution table 40 shown in FIG. 2 is managed on the mail server 31.

The user transmits the maximum value of the number of mails delivered by ML to himself / herself within a certain period of time from the terminal 34 to the mail list management of the mail server 31 for registration. The management system on the mail server 31 rewrites the value of the processing count table 42 of the distribution table 40 corresponding to the mailing list by receiving the message from the user. For example, when a request mail with a processing number of 3 is received from a user named YAMADA1, the
The value of the table of 1 is rewritten to 3.

Thereafter, the number of distributions (time) of the ML distribution is controlled so that three or more ML distributions are not performed for a user named YAMADA1 in a certain period of time.

As described above, in the electronic conferencing system according to the first embodiment, in the electronic conferencing system for exchanging e-mails, the mail server 31 is provided with the distribution table 40 for managing the number of e-mails. The user instructs the number of mails within a certain period of time to be delivered by the mail server 31, and the mail server 31 refers to the delivery table 40 and performs automatic delivery of the mailing list based on the instructed number. Can directly instruct the system on the number of required deliveries that are suitable for him, so depending on the user's email processing capacity and situation,
You can receive optimal distribution. Also, when the user is busy, it is easy to reduce the number of distributions,
The mail between important individuals is not buried in the ML.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a distribution table of the electronic conference system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The overall configuration of the electronic conference system according to this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.
This is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the mail terminal has a reception / read management table.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 50 denotes the mail terminal 34
This is a reception / reading management table for managing reception and reading on the side. The reception / reading management table 50 includes a reception mail table 51, a reception time table 52, and a reading time table 53.

Hereinafter, the operation of the electronic conference system configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 3 shows the reception / read management table 50 on the mail terminal 34 side. The various mails transmitted from the mail server 31 are distributed to the user's mail terminal and arrive as shown in FIG. The user is a mail terminal 3
When the mail is read out from FIG. 4, it is displayed as shown in FIG. 3 together with the reception time.

When the user actually reads this mail,
It is recorded together with the read time. In this case, depending on the mail system, the read time may be returned to the transmission destination.

The system at the mail terminal 34 calculates the time difference between the received mail time and the read time at regular intervals,
For example, the average time required to read ten mails is automatically transmitted to the mail server 31 at regular intervals. The mail server 31 records the result in the processing count table 42 of the distribution table 40 shown in FIG. 1 as needed, so that the mail server 31 distributes the ML mail at intervals suitable for the user. be able to.

As described above, in the electronic conference system according to the second embodiment, the reception time of the mail transmitted from the mail server 31 and the read time when the mail is actually read from the mail terminal 34 are set. Record receiving
The mail terminal 34 includes a read management table 50,
The time difference between the reception time and the read time is calculated with reference to the reception / readout management table 50, and this time difference is automatically transmitted to the mail server 31 at regular time intervals. Since the mail distribution is performed at regular intervals at 34, the system automatically adjusts and increases the number of distributions when the user becomes more and more efficient in processing mails and can efficiently process many mails. Therefore, it is possible to receive the distribution of the number of mail processes corresponding to the user's proficiency and the busyness at that time. Further, when exchanging information between a plurality of ML members, even if there is an individual difference in mail processing, information can be exchanged without any problem.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a distribution table of the electronic conference system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The overall configuration of the electronic conference system according to the present embodiment
And the distribution table A is replaced with the distribution table B.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a distribution table managed on the mail server 31.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 60 denotes a distribution table (distribution table B) managed on the mail server 31. The distribution table 60 corresponds to the user ID section 61 and the user ID section 61, ΜL / meeting room table 62 for recording which mode of the room is used, and an unread number table 6 for recording the unread number of the user corresponding to the user ID section 61 among the received MLs as supplementary information
3

The operation of the electronic conference system configured as described above will be described below.

The user who has received the e-mail beyond its own processing capacity temporarily suspends $ L and switches to the conference room mode, and sends a command to the mail server 31 to that effect. This method can be realized by sending an e-mail containing the contents of a command to an e-mail management system address.

Mail server 31 receiving this command
Changes the $ L / meeting room table 62 area corresponding to the user ID, which records the $ L / meeting room, as shown in the distribution table 60 (distribution table B), for example, from ML to the meeting room. . In the conference room mode, the ML received thereafter records the unread number of the user as additional information in the unread number table 63, and manages how many unread MLs the user has. After changing to the conference room mode, the user goes to the conference room when his / her time is available,
The contents of the ML can be read.

Further, when the user does not go to the conference room for a certain period of time and a considerable number of ΜL accumulates, the mail server 31 sends a notice mail stating how many unread MLs are present. Sent to the user at intervals,
The meeting room can be checked.

The user who has received the notification mail can return to the ML mode by issuing an instruction for restoring to the ML mode in the reply mail to the notification mail, and as a result, unread mails are sent simultaneously. Can be automatically distributed to the user as an ML. After that,
The functional operation is resumed as a normal ML.

As described above, in the electronic conference system according to the third embodiment, the distribution table 60 for managing the distribution mode and the number of unread mails on the mail server 31.
Each mail terminal 34 user instructs the mail server 31 to temporarily stop the mailing list, and based on the information, the mail server 31
Instead of automatically distributing to the user, the system is configured to store the information of the conference room by designating it as a conference room, and the mail server 31 refers to the distribution table 60 and stores more than a predetermined amount of mail in the conference room mode. In this case, the number of cases is notified to the mail terminal 34 by e-mail at regular intervals, and further, the distribution mode is automatically switched according to the instruction of the mail terminal 34 user. When desired, the mode can be switched to the conference room mode by transmitting a command, so that the ML can be stored according to the busyness of the user, and the flexible ML can be stored.
Can be operated.

Further, since the user of the ML can flow information at $ L without regard to the situation of the partner, an efficient system can be constructed.

Further, if the user in the conference room mode has not read the contents of the ML for a long period of time, the system automatically transmits the number of unread messages in the form of a notice, so that the user may inadvertently transmit the unread number. Thus, it is possible to prevent a situation where the user forgets to read the conference room and important ML information is not transmitted to the user.

In this case, it is easy to compose the mail for ML for which the urgency is specified so that it can be forcibly distributed as ML even though the ML user specifies the conference room mode. Needless to say.

The electronic conference system according to each of the above embodiments is an example in which the present invention is applied to an electronic conference system using the ML method. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is an apparatus to which a plurality of terminals for exchanging mail are connected. Needless to say, any system may be used. In this case, any system may be used as long as a plurality of mail terminals are connected, and the mail server does not necessarily have to be fixed. Further, although the terminals are connected via the LAN 33, any communication line or wireless communication may be used.

In the above configuration, a personal computer is used as the mail terminal. However, any terminal capable of sending and receiving mail can be applied, and it goes without saying that a dedicated terminal may be used.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, data is recorded in a table and referred to, but a table need not be used as long as the same purpose can be realized. The invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0057]

According to the electronic conferencing system of the present invention, in the electronic conferencing system for exchanging e-mails, each e-mail terminal is provided with instruction means for instructing the number of e-mails to be distributed by the e-mail server within a predetermined time. Since the server is configured to perform mail distribution based on the instructed number of mails, the server can receive optimum distribution according to the user's mail processing capacity and situation, and can perform ML even when the user is busy. It is possible to prevent important personal emails from being buried in the Internet.

In the electronic conferencing system according to the present invention, the electronic conferencing system for exchanging e-mails includes recording means for recording the mail processing time of each mail terminal, and transmitting means for transmitting the recorded contents to the mail server. , The mail server is configured to deliver mail at predetermined intervals based on the transmitted information.
It is possible to receive the distribution of the number of mail processes corresponding to the busyness at that time, and when exchanging information between multiple ML members, it is possible to exchange information without any problem even if there are individual differences in mail processing. it can.

In the electronic conferencing system according to the present invention, in the electronic conferencing system for exchanging mail, instructing means for instructing the mail server to temporarily stop mail distribution by each mail terminal, and instructing means Means that the mail server prohibits automatic distribution to the corresponding mail terminal based on the information from the server, changes the delivery mode to a conference room, accumulates the information of the conference room, Means for notifying the corresponding mail terminal of the number of stored cases by e-mail when the mail has been stored.
Since the distribution mode is switched, MLs can be accumulated according to the busyness of the user, and flexible ML operation can be performed. In addition, since information can be transmitted at $ L without worrying about the situation of the partner, an efficient system can be constructed, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which important ML information is not transmitted to the corresponding user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic conference system according to a first embodiment to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a distribution table of the electronic conference system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a management table of an electronic conference system according to a second embodiment to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a distribution table of an electronic conference system according to a third embodiment to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional conference room type electronic conference system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a title list of a conventional conference room type electronic conference system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional mailing list type electronic conference system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation example of a conventional mailing list type electronic conference system.

[Explanation of symbols]

31 Mail server 31, 32 files, 33 LA
３４, 34 mail terminal, 40, 50 distribution table, 4
1,51 User ID part, 42 Processing number table, 5
0 reception / read management table, 51 reception mail table, 52 reception time table, 53 reading time table, 62 L / meeting room table, 63 unread number table

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electronic conference system comprising: a mail server that controls mail delivery; and a plurality of mail terminals connected to the mail server and that controls mail transmission and reception, wherein the mail server and the mail terminal exchange mail. , For each mail terminal, the mail server comprises instruction means for instructing the number of mails to be delivered within a predetermined time, wherein the mail server performs mail delivery based on the instructed number of mails. Electronic conferencing system. 2. The electronic conference system according to claim 1, wherein the mail distribution is an automatic distribution of a mailing list based on a designated number of mails. 3. The instruction means includes a distribution table managed on the mail server, wherein the distribution table has an identification code unit for identifying its own terminal, and corresponds to the identification code unit within a predetermined time. 2. The mail server according to claim 1, further comprising a processing count section for registering a maximum number of mails to be distributed, wherein the mail server performs mail distribution based on the number of mails specified by referring to the distribution table. Electronic conferencing system. 4. An electronic conference system, comprising: a mail server that controls mail distribution; and a plurality of mail terminals connected to the mail server and that controls mail transmission and reception, wherein the mail server and the mail terminal exchange mail. A recording unit that records a mail processing time of each mail terminal; and a transmission unit that transmits the recorded contents to the mail server. The mail server distributes mail at predetermined intervals based on the transmitted information. An electronic conference system characterized by performing. 5. The electronic conference system according to claim 4, wherein said transmitting means automatically transmits said recorded contents to said mail server at a constant interval. 6. The recording means includes a management table for recording a reception time of the mail transmitted from the mail server and a reading time when the mail is read from the mail terminal. A time difference between the reception time and the read time is calculated with reference to a management table, and the time difference is automatically transmitted to the mail server at predetermined time intervals as an average time required for reading mail. The electronic conference system according to claim 4. 7. An electronic conferencing system comprising: a mail server that controls mail distribution; and a plurality of mail terminals connected to the mail server and that controls mail transmission and reception, wherein the mail server and the mail terminal exchange mail. Instructing means for instructing each mail terminal to temporarily stop mail distribution to the mail server; and performing automatic distribution to the corresponding mail terminal by the mail server based on information from the instruction means. Means for prohibiting, changing the mode of distribution to the treatment of a conference room, and accumulating information on the conference room, and storing more than a predetermined number of e-mails in the conference room. Means for informing by e-mail, wherein the mail server switches the mode of distribution according to an instruction from the e-mail terminal. Characteristic electronic conference system. 8. The instruction means includes a distribution table managed on the mail server, wherein the distribution table includes an identification code unit for identifying the terminal itself, and a distribution mode corresponding to the identification code unit. The mail server comprises: a mode recording unit for recording; and an unread number unit for recording the number of unread items. 8. The electronic conference system according to claim 7, wherein the terminal is notified by e-mail at regular intervals.