JPH11112550A - Electronic mail system terminal and electronic mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the electronic mail system terminal and the electronic mail system in which an electronic mail is sent or the like by using a telephone set. SOLUTION: The electronic mail system terminal 11 connects to a LAN connection mail server 14 and a MODEM connection mail server 17 for the transmission/reception of an electronic mail. The operator of a telephone set 19 logs in the electronic mail system terminal 11 and selects a destination of the electronic mail by using its handset and pushbuttons to allow the terminal to send the electronic mail by entry of a mail text in voice or the like. The mail is sent in the form of text information as a result of speech recognition or added as binary data. The electronic mail system terminal 11 has an automatic pilot function, receives the mail and sends the mail in voice to a specific telephone set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail system terminal device as a terminal device for transmitting or receiving an electronic mail and an electronic mail system using the same. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electronic mail system terminal device and an electronic mail system that are convenient when sending and receiving electronic mails using the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of the Internet and the construction of networks in offices, electronic mail has become an important means of communication. An e-mail system for transmitting and receiving e-mail is established by connecting an e-mail system terminal device such as a personal computer or a computer terminal to an e-mail server via a local area network (LAN) or a telephone line. The e-mail server side prepares an e-mail account for each person who uses e-mail, and e-mail addressed to each person is stored in the nonvolatile storage unit in a location corresponding to each account. It has become.

[0003] A person who uses the electronic mail system accesses the electronic mail server from his / her own electronic mail system terminal device, for example. And your own ID (identifica
is checked by inputting a password, for example. When the identity is confirmed by checking the ID, each individual can receive his / her own e-mail and read it on the e-mail system terminal device side. Further, it is also possible to transfer, reply or transmit an e-mail from these e-mail system terminals via an e-mail server.

In order to use an e-mail system in an office or home, an e-mail system terminal device such as a relatively large desktop personal computer can be used. However, it is virtually impossible to carry such a terminal when sending and receiving e-mail at a business trip. Therefore, several portable or notebook type electronic mail system terminals have been commercialized. However, such electronic mail system terminals typically weigh a few kilograms and require considerable patience to carry along with other necessary documents and the like. Of course, smaller and lighter terminals have appeared, but there is also a problem that it is difficult to operate due to the small size.

[0005] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-300253 proposes an e-mail system in which an e-mail can be received at a place where a telephone exists. In this proposal, a login ID is input from a telephone via a telephone line. Then, the corresponding e-mail device connected to the telephone line reads the e-mail corresponding to the ID from the hard disk, sends the text information to the text voice processing device, and performs the voice synthesis process. The synthesized voice is transmitted to the corresponding telephone through the telephone line. As a result, the telephone operator can hear the e-mail received by himself / herself by voice. When a plurality of e-mails are received for the same e-mail account, the number of the e-mail to be listened to is designated by a designation means such as a telephone button. As a result, only the desired e-mail can be selected and its contents can be heard.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-14406 discloses a technique in which when an electronic mail is received, it is notified by telephone. In this technology, it is first determined whether the recipient of the e-mail should be notified to the recipient by telephone. When notifying, the recipient is notified by voice synthesized with the telephone number registered in advance by the telephone number registration device. I'm trying to do it. When the notified telephone wants to know the content of the e-mail, the user inputs a password by operating a button. If the password matches the content registered in advance, the content of the e-mail is converted to a voice signal and sent to the telephone.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4-10734 discloses that, when an electronic mail is selected to be displayed by voice, the voice information of the sender of the already stored electronic mail is extracted and the content of the received electronic mail is expressed by the voice of the sender. A technique to be displayed is disclosed. With this technology, the electronic mail system terminal device reproduces audio by converting the received electronic mail character information into audio information.

[0008]

As described above, in the conventional e-mail system terminal device, when a request is made from the telephone device to the terminal device, the received e-mail can be read out and sent to the telephone device as a synthesized sound. However, when a reply is made to the received e-mail, or when a new e-mail is created and transmitted, processing may be performed from a telephone or a pager (hereinafter simply referred to as a telephone). No, it is necessary to carry around a heavy, portable e-mail system terminal as before, or to spend a lot of time creating e-mail with a lightweight e-mail system terminal that has problems with the display area and operation. Was.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic mail system terminal device capable of transmitting an electronic mail by using a telephone and an electronic mail system using the terminal device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic mail system terminal device which makes it possible to transmit and receive electronic mail more conveniently by using a telephone, and an electronic mail system using this terminal device. is there.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, (a) a signal transmitted from a telephone through a telephone line is received and whether or not login is possible is determined based on whether or not the signal matches a predetermined confirmation number. (B) e-mail text storage means for storing the text of an e-mail sent from the telephone set determined to be log-in possible by the log-in judgment means, and (c) destination of the e-mail. Address storage means stored in advance;
Destination selection instructing means for allowing the telephone set determined to be capable of login to select the destination of the e-mail stored in the address storage means; and (e) accessing the mail server and storing the e-mail stored in the e-mail text storage means. The electronic mail system terminal device is provided with electronic mail transmitting means for transmitting the text of the mail to the destination selected by the instruction of the destination selection instruction means.

That is, in the electronic mail system terminal device according to the first aspect, whether or not the operator of the telephone has a legitimate access right to the electronic mail system terminal device is determined by the login determination means. The user inputs the text of the e-mail from the telephone set determined to be possible, selects the destination of the e-mail, and transmits the e-mail to the destination by the e-mail transmission means provided in the terminal device itself. Thus, the electronic mail can be transmitted only by operating the telephone.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, (a) an e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail addressed to itself by accessing a mail server when a set time comes, and (b) receiving the e-mail receiving means Means for storing the received e-mail, (c) voice synthesizing means for decoding the destination and body of the received e-mail and synthesizing it into voice, and (d) new means for automatically receiving e-mail storage means. When the electronic mail is stored, the destination and the body of the electronic mail are synthesized by the voice synthesizing means, and the electronic mail system terminal device is provided with an automatic dialing means for dialing and sending out a predetermined telephone.

That is, according to the present invention, the electronic mail system terminal device is provided with a so-called auto-pilot function for automatically receiving an electronic mail.
A voice synthesizing means for decoding the text of the received e-mail and synthesizing it into voice is prepared, and the newly received e-mail is converted into a synthesized sound by this voice synthesizing means and transmitted to a predetermined telephone, The contents of the e-mail can be heard from the telephone.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, (a) an e-mail receiving means for accessing a mail server to receive an e-mail addressed to itself when the set time comes, and (b) receiving the e-mail receiving means Means for automatically storing the received e-mail, (c) voice synthesizing means for decoding the destination and body of the received e-mail and synthesizing it into voice, and (d) sent from the telephone through a telephone line. A login discriminating means for receiving the signal and discriminating whether or not the login is possible according to whether or not it matches a predetermined confirmation number; and (e) a request sent from a telephone which is determined to be able to log in by the login discriminating means. The destination and body of the e-mail stored in the automatic e-mail storage means are synthesized by the voice synthesis means in accordance with A mail voice output means is provided in the e-mail system terminal device.

That is, in the third aspect of the invention, unlike the second aspect, the electronic mail system terminal 1
The electronic mail automatically received by the telephone number 1 can be listened to from the telephone set whose login has been determined to be possible by the login determining means.

According to the present invention, there is provided (a) a login discriminating means for receiving a signal transmitted from a telephone through a telephone line and discriminating whether or not a login is possible based on whether the signal matches a predetermined confirmation number. (B) voice recognition means for recognizing voice sent from the telephone set determined to be capable of login by the login determination means;
(C) destination selection instructing means for causing a telephone determined to be capable of login to select the destination of the e-mail stored in the address storage means, and (d) address storage means for pre-stored the e-mail destination. (E) an e-mail text storage means for storing the text of an e-mail sent from the telephone recognized by the voice recognition means, and (e) an e-mail stored in the e-mail text storage means by accessing the mail server. The e-mail system terminal device is provided with an e-mail transmission means for transmitting the body of the message to the destination selected by the instruction of the destination selection instruction means.

That is, in the invention according to claim 4, the electronic mail system terminal device according to claim 1 is further embodied, and voice recognition means for recognizing voice transmitted from the telephone is arranged, and the terminal is transmitted from the telephone. It recognizes the voice and uses it to compose the body of the e-mail.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic mail system terminal device according to the first or fourth aspect, the transmitted electronic mail includes a voice binary file obtained by converting voice transmitted from a telephone into binary data. Is attached. By allowing the voice to be transmitted directly to the other party, it is possible to save the trouble of converting the voice transmitted from the telephone into text information.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, (a) an e-mail server, (b) a telephone, and (c) the electronic mail server and the telephone are connected to each other via a transmission path to transmit the contents of the e-mail from the telephone. When received by voice, it is recognized by the built-in voice recognition means and converted to text information to assemble an e-mail and send it to the mail server, while decoding the text information of the e-mail received from the e-mail server and voice information And an electronic mail system terminal for transmitting the contents of the electronic mail to the specified telephone.

That is, in the invention according to claim 6, the electronic mail system is composed of the electronic mail server, the telephone, and the electronic mail system terminal device provided with the voice recognition device. You can also send and receive emails from there.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of an electronic mail system using an electronic mail system terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This email system
E-mail system terminal device 11 and its LAN (local area network) interface circuit 12
A LAN connection mail server 14 connected via a LAN 13 to a modem, a modem connection mail server 17 connected via a telephone line 16 to a modem 15 in the electronic mail system terminal device 11, and a telephone line 18 It is composed of a telephone 19 connected via the telephone. Here, the LAN interface circuit 12 connects the LAN connection mail server 14 and the e-mail system
This is an interface for connecting with N. Modem 15
Is an interface for connecting the modem connection mail server 17 and the telephone 19 with the telephone line 16 or the case 8.

The electronic mail system terminal device 11 has a control unit 21 for performing overall control. The control unit 21 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) and a ROM (Read Only
Memory) and a working RAM (random access memory). The control unit 21 is connected to the LAN interface circuit 12 and the modem 15 as described above, and further includes a voice synthesis voice recognition control unit 22 for controlling voice synthesis and recognition, a volatile memory 23 and a nonvolatile nonvolatile memory. Unit 24. The memory 23 and the non-volatile storage unit 24 are provided with the control unit 21
May be a part of the above-described ROM or RAM.

The voice synthesis voice recognition control unit 22 outputs a voice for guiding the apparatus and performs a process for voice-synthesizing the contents of the text data. It is connected to a voice recognition unit 27 that performs a process for converting to. The voice synthesizing unit 26 and the voice recognizing unit 27 are connected to the memory 26 and the nonvolatile storage unit 24 for performing these processes.

FIG. 2 shows an outline of a process for accessing the electronic mail system terminal of this embodiment from outside by using a telephone. An operator who is away from the e-mail system terminal device 11 (FIG. 1) on a business trip or the like makes a call to this terminal using the telephone 19 (FIG. 1) and connects the telephone line (step S101).
The electronic mail system terminal device 11 may be in a state where power is supplied inside the device while waiting for a telephone call, but this may unnecessarily consume power. Therefore, power is supplied to a minimum circuit part including a receiving circuit part (not shown), and power is supplied to the remaining parts in a state where there is an incoming call.
It is desirable that the device be capable of “ke Up”.

When a line is connected between the electronic mail system terminal device 11 and the telephone 19, the control unit 21 shown in FIG. 1 transmits the text data of the login voice guide stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 24 in advance. This is read out and given to the speech synthesis unit 26. Speech synthesis speech recognition control unit 22
Instructs the voice synthesizer 26 to synthesize the login voice guide by voice and sends it to the telephone 19 via the modem 15 (step S102).

The operator of the telephone 19 listens to the login voice guide and inputs a login name and a password for logging in to the electronic mail system. These inputs may be made by voice from a handset or by inputting a push button signal or dial pulse using a push button or dial of the telephone 19. When the ID and the password as the login name are sent to the electronic mail system terminal device 11 side (step S103: Y), the control unit 21 checks whether they match (step S104). Even if the login names match, if the passwords do not match (step S105: N), the control unit 21 controls the nonvolatile storage unit 24 and the speech synthesis voice recognition control unit 22 to Are not matched, the voice guidance to disconnect the line is created. Then, the voice guidance is transmitted to the telephone line 18 via the modem 15 to inform the operator that the line is disconnected (step S105). Thereafter, the line is disconnected (step S106), and the process ends (end).

On the other hand, if the passwords match in step 104 (Y), the initial menu guide of the electronic mail system is performed by voice using the voice synthesis voice recognition control unit 22. In this embodiment, an e-mail is read out as the initial menu (step S107).
And a menu for receiving an e-mail (step S108) and transmitting an e-mail (step S109). The e-mail system terminal device 11 reads out these three initial menus in order with synthetic sounds, presses the push button "1" when selecting e-mail reading, and selects e-mail reception. Presses the push button "2", and instructs the user to press the push button "3" when selecting transmission of an e-mail. Then, in this case, by checking which number of the push button is selected, which menu is selected by the operator is determined by the selection signal. In the case of a dial pulse, it is similarly determined.

The selection for the initial menu can also be realized by the operator performing voice input. In the case of this example, after the e-mail system terminal device 11 reads out the three menus and instructs the corresponding numbers, the operator may say the corresponding numbers, or the respective menus are read out in order. At this point, “high” may be uttered for a desired menu. In the e-mail system of the present embodiment, in order to enable high-precision voice recognition without imposing a burden on the e-mail system terminal device 11, each process for prompting the operator to select other than a password is performed by voice guidance. The answer is "yes" or "no," or the question is a number. To make the operator confirm the recognized contents, the recognition result is synthesized again by voice, and the synthesized sound is transmitted to the telephone 19 of the operator, and a confirmation such as "high" or "no" is made. Should be obtained.

If the operator desires to read out the e-mail (step S107) (Y), an e-mail reading mode, which will be described in detail below, is executed (step S110). If it is desired to receive an e-mail (Step 108: Y), an e-mail reception mode, which will be described in detail later, is executed (Step S111). If the user wants to send an e-mail (step S109:
Y), an e-mail transmission mode described in detail later is executed (step S112). If none of these menus is selected, or if all desired modes have been selected (step S113:
Y), proceeding to step S106, the line is disconnected. In some cases, it may not be possible to select a plurality of modes or respond to the initial menu, such as voice, in a timely manner. If there is no intention to end the initial menu (step S113: N), Returning to S107, the voice guidance of the initial menu is performed again.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of control in the electronic mail reading mode shown in FIG. When the e-mail reading mode is selected, the e-mail system terminal device 11 shown in FIG. 1 performs voice guidance to read out the title of the e-mail (step S).
201). This voice guidance is also performed by reading voice guidance data stored in advance in the non-volatile storage unit 24 shown in FIG. 1 and synthesizing the voice by the voice synthesis unit 26.

When reading out the title of an e-mail, the time until a desired e-mail is selected depends on the order in which a plurality of e-mails are read out. Therefore, in the e-mail system of the present embodiment, when moving or copying the e-mail to the non-volatile storage unit 24 shown in FIG. The "e-mail information" is defined and the storage location is set for each e-mail information so that the desired one of the e-mail information is quickly read.

Here, the “e-mail information” includes, for example, a management number, the arrival date and time of the e-mail, whether the e-mail is unread or read, a mark added to the e-mail by the sender or the e-mail recipient, and related contents. Means various types of information such as folders. Whether or not the transmission-suspended e-mail whose transmission is described later is suspended is also one of the e-mail information. Regarding how to select the mode of reading out the title of the e-mail, the e-mail system terminal device 11 is configured to instruct the operator's reply in voice, for example, in association with the number. As an example, the oldest date and time of arrival of the e-mail is “1”, and the newest date is “2”.
And unread is set to “3”. In the case of this example, if the operator selects "1" and "3", the titles of unread e-mails will be read aloud in chronological order. When the operator selects the reading order of the titles, the electronic mail system terminal device 11 sorts the electronic mails stored in the non-volatile storage unit 24 in the reading order,
One title is read aloud using synthesized sounds in the selected order (step S203). However, the content to be read out may be performed by adding information other than the title. For example, if information such as the arrival date and time or the name of the sender is added in addition to the title and the text is read out, a desired e-mail can be selected relatively easily even when a plurality of titles having the same name exist. Will be able to do it.

When one title is read aloud in this way, if other information included in the e-mail information is also read aloud, the amount of information read for each e-mail increases, and it takes time to select. Might be. In some cases, it may not be possible to determine whether or not the electronic mail is the desired one based on the title or other information of the electronic mail. Further, there is a case where the user wants to reconsider the title of the past e-mail once read out and make a selection. In some cases, it is determined that the read e-mail of the title is in a desired mode. Therefore, the e-mail system terminal device 11
In the state where the titles of the e-mails or the additional information for the e-mails are read out one by one, an interruption to the titles can be accepted and the processing for reading out the titles can be changed.

For example, when the operator requests to read out the content of the electronic mail by uttering a specific number or inputting it from the push button (step S204: Y), the reading out of the title is immediately stopped. Then, the reading of the content of the e-mail whose title has been read aloud is started (step S205). This work is realized by reading out the text information of the location of the content of the e-mail, synthesizing the text information by the voice synthesizing unit 26, and transmitting the synthesized text to the telephone line 18.

When the reading of the e-mail is completed, the e-mail system terminal device 11 asks by voice whether it is necessary to reply to the e-mail or whether the e-mail needs to be forwarded to another person ( Step S206). When a response indicating that at least one of these is necessary is received from the operator (Y),
The management number of the read-out e-mail is recorded, a flag indicating the recording is set (step S207), and the corresponding process is executed (step S208). Details of the processing such as the reply will be described later.

In step S206, if no processing is required for the read e-mail (N), or if the interrupt processing of the request to read out the content has not been performed in step S204, another interrupt processing is performed. It is checked whether or not there is a request to read out the title of the next e-mail (step S20).
9). The operator can switch to reading out the e-mail information for the next e-mail when the e-mail is found to be irrelevant even during the reading of the title and the additional information following it. Emails can be searched quickly. If this request is met (Y), the voice output of information about the currently read e-mail is immediately interrupted, and step S20 is performed.
Proceed to 3 to start reading information such as the title of the next e-mail.

The e-mail system terminal device 11 also checks whether there is any other request to change the reading order of the titles (step S210). When reading out the titles one after another, the user may notice that the e-mail of the previously read out title is in the desired mode.Although the reading order has been changed once, This is because it may be understood that it is better to return to. If the change of the reading order of the title is requested (Y), the process proceeds to step S202 and the process is performed.

As described above, the reading of the title or the content of the desired e-mail is performed. However, when the reading of the title is requested by the operator, or when the reading of a series of e-mail titles or the like is completed, the reading is completed. (Step S211: Y), the reading process in the e-mail reading mode shown in FIG. 3 ends (END).

FIG. 4 shows the flow of control in the e-mail receiving mode shown in step S111 of FIG. When the operator instructs the transition to the e-mail reception mode, the e-mail system terminal 1 shown in FIG.
The first side first performs a voice guidance for receiving an e-mail (step S301). Thereafter, the LAN connection mail server 14 and the modem connection mail server 17 shown in FIG. 1 are accessed using the password transmitted from the telephone 19 in step S103 in FIG. 2 (step S302). In FIG. 4, the processing of receiving an e-mail is shown as one processing flow for simplicity, but a case where an e-mail is received by accessing a plurality of types of mail servers as in this embodiment. For example, LAN
A series of receiving processes are performed for the connected mail server 14,
Thereafter, the modem connection mail server 17 may be accessed. Of course, it is also possible to make two processes parallel in time division.

After accessing the corresponding LAN connection mail server 14 or modem connection mail server 17, it is checked whether there is any new e-mail which has not been received yet (step S303). If a new e-mail exists (Y), the number of these e-mails is checked, a sentence indicating the existence of the new e-mail and the number of them is assembled, and the sentence is expressed by the speech synthesis voice recognition control unit 22. Is converted to a synthesized sound and transmitted to the telephone 9 (step S304). If a new e-mail does not exist, the corresponding fixed phrase is read from the non-volatile storage unit 24 to perform voice synthesis, and the operator is notified by voice that there is no new e-mail (step). S305).

When the user is notified that a new e-mail exists, the e-mail stored in the LAN connection mail server 14 or the modem connection mail server 17 is moved to the e-mail system terminal device 11 side. The operator confirms whether or not to make a copy (step S306). Here, the movement means the LAN connection mail server 14 or the modem connection mail server 17.
When the e-mail stored in the e-mail system is sent to the e-mail system terminal device 11, the e-mail in the original storage location is deleted, and the copy is stored in the e-mail mode of the original storage location. That means. Unless the e-mail stored in the LAN connection mail server 14 or the modem connection mail server 17 is moved or copied to the e-mail system terminal device 11, the e-mail reading process described with reference to FIG. Of course you can't do that. When an instruction to move or copy an e-mail is issued, the new e-mail is moved or copied from the LAN connection mail server 14 or the modem connection mail server 17 to the non-volatile storage unit 24 of the e-mail system terminal. (Step S307).

After the processing in step S307 is completed, or after notifying that there is no new electronic mail in step S305, an inquiry about whether new setting or change of the autopilot function is necessary is sent to the electronic mail system. The voice is output from the terminal device 11 (step S308). Here, the autopilot function is
This function automatically confirms the arrival of future e-mails. E-mail system terminal device 1 using this function
The specific operation 1 will be described below. When the autopilot function is set (Y), the operator is set to a time at which the arrival of the e-mail is confirmed (step S).
309). In addition, if an e-mail has arrived, a setting is made as to whether the e-mail should be notified by telephone (step S310). If the notification is to be made by telephone (Y), the operator can also input the telephone number of the notification destination, and the input is made from step 19 (step S311). In addition, when the operator is to notify the telephone currently being dialed, it is possible to omit the input of the telephone number by giving an instruction to that effect in a predetermined case.

FIG. 5 is for explaining the auto-pilot function in this embodiment. In the state where the auto-pilot function is set, step S30 in FIG.
Waiting for the time set in step 9 (step S
401). When the set time comes (Y), the corresponding L
An access is made to the AN connection mail server 14 or the modem connection mail server 17 (step S402). Then, it is confirmed whether there is a newly arrived e-mail (step S403). If no new e-mail has arrived (N), the work by the autopilot function ends (END). In the autopilot function, the corresponding portion of the electronic mail system terminal device 11 does not operate until the set time comes. Therefore, as described above, except for the circuit part that monitors the set time similarly to the power consumption saving of the modem, it is necessary to turn off the power of the other parts and wait until the set time, on the terminal device side. It is desirable from the viewpoint of saving power consumption.

If a new e-mail has arrived (Y), the e-mail is moved or copied to the e-mail system terminal device 11 in accordance with the contents specified in advance (step S404). Thereafter, the control unit 21 shown in FIG. 1 refers to the same information registered in the non-volatile storage unit 24 and determines whether it is necessary to notify that the e-mail has arrived at the specific telephone. A determination is made (step S405). If notification is necessary (Y), the telephone number specified by the input is dialed in step S311 in FIG. 4 (step S406). If the call is made to the other party (step S407: Y), the fact that a new electronic mail has arrived is notified by a synthetic sound in accordance with a preset fixed phrase (step S408). At this time, the number of newly arrived e-mails and the title may be notified by voice.

If the call cannot be made to the other party in step S407, after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S409: Y), the process returns to the discard 406 again to dial the designated telephone, and Attempt to notify mail arrival.

FIG. 6 shows the flow of control on the terminal device side in the e-mail transmission mode outlined in step S112 of FIG. When the mode shifts to the e-mail transmission mode, first, the voice synthesis voice recognition control unit 22 of the e-mail system terminal device 11 performs voice guidance for transmission of the e-mail (step S501). This voice guidance may be unnecessary for a person who is familiar with the system, for example, like the voice guidance for receiving an e-mail in step S301 in FIG. Therefore, these voice guidances can be immediately stopped by the operator of the telephone 19 by performing a specific operation of the specific voice or the push button, and the process can be shifted to the next processing.

When the voice guidance is completed, one of the following steps is sequentially performed by the electronic mail system terminal device 11 to newly create an electronic mail, reply to the electronic mail, transfer the electronic mail to another location, or transmit the held electronic mail. The selection is made by the operator's selection by sequential reading out by voice or by transmitting the number assigned to each of these modes (steps S502 to S505). When creation of a new e-mail is selected (step S502: Y), a new mail creation mode is executed (step S50).
6). This will be described below. When the reply of the e-mail is selected (step S503: Y), the reply mode is executed (step S507). This will be described later. When the transfer of the e-mail is selected (step S504: Y), the transfer mode is executed (step S508). This will also be described later. If the transmission of the transmission hold mail is selected (step S505: Y), the transmission mode of the transmission hold mail is executed (step S509). This will also be described later.

When each of these modes is executed (steps S506 to S509), a voice guidance as to whether or not to return to the mail transmission menu is sent from the electronic mail system terminal device 11 to the telephone set 19 (step S51).
0). This is based on the assumption that electronic mail is processed in several modes. If the operator of the telephone 19 has instructed to return to the mail transmission menu (Y), the process returns to step S501. If such an instruction has not been issued (step S510: N),
The control on the terminal device side in the e-mail transmission mode ends (END).

FIG. 7 shows details of the control in the new mail creation mode in FIG. In the new mail creation mode, voice guidance for newly creating an electronic mail is provided (step S601). In this guidance, the list in which names and e-mails are associated is divided into a plurality of groups, for example, for business use or private use, and the numbers of those groups are informed to the operator of the telephone 19 by voice. Is done. The operator directly designates the designated group by voice. You may make it input from a push button. When the destination group is selected in this way (step S602:
Y), the operator utters “1” when the tip of the destination name belongs to the “a” line, and utters “2” when the tip of the destination name belongs to the “ka” line. In the same way, specify the first line of the name with a number.

On the electronic mail system terminal device 11 side,
It is determined whether the destination corresponding to the number is registered in the electronic mail list (step S603). If the destination has not been registered, voice guidance as to whether or not to select the destination is performed. If it is instructed to specify the destination again (step S604: Y), step S6 is performed.
Return to 01 and change the group or try to specify another email address based on the name of the holder.
If the destination is not re-designated in step S604, the creation of a new e-mail is abandoned, and the process is terminated (END). Of course, depending on the e-mail system, in such a case, the name and address of a new destination of the e-mail may be input.

If it is determined in step S603 that one or a plurality of destinations are registered in the corresponding line (Y), the electronic mail system terminal device 11 transmits the one or more destinations registered in the line. Are read aloud in order, and the destination is selected by the number assigned to them (step S605). If the destination does not exist, a number to that effect is selected. When the operator speaks the corresponding number, check that the address is correct,
Alternatively, it is confirmed again whether or not the destination exists (step S606). When the final destination is determined in this way, a format for a newly created mail is prepared (step S607). In other cases (step S606: N), the process proceeds to step S604, and the destination is selected again or the process is terminated.

The format of the e-mail prepared in step S607 is for distinguishing from a format for creating a reply of an e-mail and a format for creating a transfer, which will be described later, and may have basically the same contents. However, each individual prepares the format in advance. For example, if the format of the reply e-mail is used, the content of the body of the e-mail that is the basis of the reply is formatted so that it can be added after the body of the reply e-mail so that it can be distinguished. For example, it is formatted in the attached form. If there is a sentence to be entered in a fixed form at the beginning of the e-mail, preparing the sentence in advance can save the trouble of inputting.

When the format of the electronic mail is prepared, the electronic mail system terminal device 11 inquires whether to attach a voice binary file to the electronic mail. When the operator of the telephone 19 gives a response that affirms this (step S608: Y), a task of attaching a voice file to the e-mail is executed as described in detail next (step S609). On the other hand, if the operator does not affirm that the voice itself is sent to the destination (step S608: N), the operator is asked whether to convert the voice to a text file and attach it,
If this is affirmed (step S610: Y),
As will be described later in detail, an operation of creating a voice text file is performed (step S611). If the operator replies that a text file cannot be attached, the creation of a new e-mail is abandoned because of the special circumstances of creating an e-mail from the telephone 19 (end). ).

FIG. 8 shows the flow of the audio binary file creation process described in step S609 of FIG. First, the e-mail system terminal device 11 performs voice guidance for creating a binary file (step S701). In order not to make the attached file too large, the time of voice input is limited to a certain time in advance, and it is notified as the content of the guidance that the warning sound will be output before that time and before that time . At the same time as the start of voice input, the electronic mail system terminal 11 converts the voice sent from the telephone 19 into a binary file (step S70).
2). The conversion into the binary file is performed until a signal indicating the end of the voice input is input from the telephone 19 or the above-mentioned time comes (step S703).

After the voice is converted into a binary file in this manner, the binary file is attached to an electronic mail for transmission (step S704). In addition, when a voice binary file is attached when replying or forwarding an electronic mail described later, the binary file is similarly attached to the corresponding electronic mail.

The e-mail system terminal device 11 asks the operator whether the e-mail attached with the audio binary file should be immediately transmitted to its destination (step S705). In the case of (Y), access is made to the corresponding LAN connection mail server 14 or modem connection mail server 17 to immediately transmit the created e-mail (step S70).
6). If there is no reply indicating that the transmission of the e-mail should be performed immediately (step S705: N), it is inquired whether to temporarily suspend the transmission of the created e-mail, and if the answer to the suspension is met. Is (Step S7
07: Y), save the created e-mail for later transmission (step S708), and end the work (end). Otherwise (step S707: N),
The created e-mail will be destroyed.

When a voice binary file is attached to an electronic mail, it is generally preferable to attach a description to the effect that the voice binary file is attached to the body of the mail. This is because the e-mail may not be able to be reproduced on the receiving side, and may need to be reproduced on another device.

FIG. 9 shows a specific flow of the voice text file creation processing described in step S611 of FIG. First, the e-mail system terminal device 11 provides voice guidance for creating a text file (step S801). Subsequently, a voice is input from the telephone 19, and the voice is recognized and converted into a text file (step S802). The conversion into the text file is performed until a signal indicating the end of the voice input is input from the telephone 19 (step S).
803).

When the input voice is converted into a text file in this way, the electronic mail system terminal device 11 reads out the created text file with a synthesized voice and prompts the operator of the telephone 19 to confirm the contents (step). S804). As a result, if it is determined that it is necessary to re-create the body of the e-mail message due to an error in the content itself or voice recognition (step S805:
Y), the process returns to step S801 and the process is performed again. If the text needs to be partially corrected, for example, when reading out the content in step S804, a number is shown for each paragraph,
It is also possible to have the operator indicate the number to be corrected and correct only that paragraph.

The text file obtained by converting the voice is represented by hiragana as phonetic characters. If it is a short sentence or sentence, it seems that there is no particular problem in the hiragana notation in consideration of the specialty of the e-mail sent from the telephone. Therefore, it is considered preferable to add a sentence indicating that the e-mail was sent from the telephone to the body in order to obtain the other party's understanding. Of course, it is possible to convert the input voice from hiragana to kanji and send it as an electronic mail, and a sentence mixed with kanji and kana is more preferable for reading. However, a sentence containing a mixture of Chinese characters and kana or a sentence in which English is added to the sentence complicates the operation of checking the sentence in step S804, and in the case of a long sentence, there is a problem that a communication fee increases. In addition, it is often much more difficult to grasp the meaning of the operator from a sentence that has been incorrectly converted than to read the sentence in a hiragana state. When converting speech to Hiragana text information, inserting punctuation marks or symbols indicating temporal blanks at places where utterance is interrupted can improve sentence compared to sentences in which Hiragana is written continuously. It seems that it is easy to grasp the intention.

If it is determined in step S805 that the body of the e-mail does not need to be corrected (N), the e-mail system terminal 11 determines whether the e-mail attached with the text file should be immediately transmitted to its destination. To the operator (step S806), and if a reply to the effect that transmission is to be made immediately matches (Y), the corresponding LAN connection mail server 14 or modem connection mail server 17 is sent.
And immediately transmits the created e-mail (step S807). If there is no response indicating that the e-mail should be sent immediately (step S80)
6: N) Inquiring whether to temporarily suspend the transmission of the created e-mail and, if the answer to the suspension is met (step S808: Y), to send the created e-mail later. The operation is saved (step S809), and the operation is ended (end). Otherwise (step S808: N), the created e-mail is discarded.

FIG. 10 specifically shows how the reply mode for replying to the e-mail received in step S507 of FIG. 6 is executed. In this case, guidance for replying to the e-mail is first performed (step S901). When replying an e-mail, it is checked whether a management flag is set in the received e-mail (step S902). If the management flag is set, the operator of the telephone 19 is checked whether to add a destination other than the sender of the e-mail (step S903). When replying to only the sender of the e-mail (step S903: N), the management flag is reset and an e-mail format for preparing a reply is prepared (step S904).

When the e-mail format is prepared, the e-mail system terminal 11 inquires whether to attach a voice binary file to the e-mail. When the operator of the telephone 19 gives a response that affirms this (step S905: Y), a task of attaching a voice file to the e-mail is executed (step S905).
906). On the other hand, when the operator does not affirm that the voice itself is transmitted to the destination (step S90).
5: N), ask the operator whether to convert the voice to a text file and attach it. If this is affirmative (step S907: Y), the operation of creating a voice text file is executed (step S907). S908). If the operator replies that a text file cannot be attached, the creation of a new e-mail is abandoned because of the special circumstances of creating an e-mail from the telephone 19 (end). ). For audio binary file or text file creation processing,
This is as described with reference to FIGS.

If an instruction to add a destination is found in step S903 (Y), an additional destination is specified from the registered list using voice (step S90).
9). This specification of the destination is performed in step S6 in FIG.
This is the same as the method of specifying a destination group when creating a new e-mail or specifying the first line of the name of a destination in a group described in 02. Therefore, a detailed description of specifying the destination is omitted here. If the specified destination is registered (step S910: Y), the destination is confirmed (step S911). If there is no mistake in the destination (step S912: Y), step S90
The flag described in 2 is reset to prepare a format for reply creation electronic mail (step S904). The format of the e-mail is also the same as that described in step S607 of FIG. After preparing the format of the e-mail, the process proceeds to step S905 and the subsequent steps to create the e-mail.

When it is determined in step S910 that the destination is not registered, and when it is determined in step S912 that the destination is incorrect (step S910:
N, S912: N), and asks the operator of the telephone 19 whether to reselect the destination (step S914). Then, when the operator replies that the destination is not selected (N), the series of processing is terminated by giving up the creation of the reply e-mail (END). When the operator replies that the destination is selected again (step S914:
Y), the process returns to step S903 and starts again from the destination addition.

If the flag is not set in step S902 (N), the e-mail system terminal device 11 cannot determine which e-mail to reply to. Therefore, in this case, a voice guidance to shift to a mode for reading out the received e-mail is given (step S915), and the e-mail reading mode described in FIG. 3 is executed (step S915).
916). Then, a flag is set in step S207, and the process returns to step S902 to start a reply process for the e-mail with the flag set.

FIG. 11 specifically shows how the electronic mail transfer mode is executed in step S508 in FIG. In this case, guidance for transferring the e-mail is first performed (step S100).
1). Next, in the case of a reply of an e-mail (step S90)
As in 2), it is determined whether or not the flag recording the management number is on (step S1002). If the management flag is set, the destination of the e-mail is selected from the registered list as described above (step S1003). If the destination is registered (step S1004: Y), the destination is confirmed (step S1005). If there is no mistake in the destination (step S1006: Y), step S1002
The format described above is reset to prepare a format for the transfer creation e-mail (step S1007). The format of the e-mail is also the same as that described in step S607 of FIG.

After preparing the e-mail format,
The electronic mail system terminal device 11 inquires whether to attach a voice binary file to the electronic mail. When the operator of the telephone 19 gives a positive response (step S1008: Y), a task of attaching a voice file to the e-mail is executed (step S1).
009). On the other hand, when the operator does not affirm that the voice itself is sent to the destination (step S10).
08: N), the operator is asked whether to convert the sound into a text file and attach it. If the answer is affirmative (step S1010: Y), the operation of creating the sound text file is executed (step S1010). S1011). If the operator replies that the text file cannot be attached, the transfer of the e-mail is abandoned (end). The process of creating the audio binary file or text file is as described with reference to FIGS.

If it is determined in step S1004 that the destination is not registered, and if it is determined in step S1006 that the destination is incorrect (N), the telephone 1
The operator inquires of the operator of No. 9 whether or not to reselect the destination as the transfer destination (step 1012). If the operator replies that the destination is not selected (N), the series of processing is terminated by giving up the transfer of the e-mail (END). If the operator replies that the selection of the destination is redone (step S1012: Y), the process proceeds to step S1.
003, and restarting from the destination addition.

If the flag is not set in step S1002 (N), the e-mail system terminal device 11 cannot determine which e-mail to transfer. Therefore, in this case, voice guidance is given to shift to a mode for reading out the received e-mail (step S1013), and the e-mail reading mode described with reference to FIG. 3 is executed (step S1014). Then, a flag is set in step S207, and the process returns to step S1002 to start the transfer process for the e-mail with the flag set.

FIG. 12 shows details of the mode for transmitting the transmission hold mail described in step S509 of FIG. In this mode, first, the e-mail system terminal device 11 provides voice guidance on transmission of the held e-mail (step S1101). Based on this guidance, the operator of the telephone 19 replies whether to confirm the text of the held mail by voice. If there is a reply to confirm (step S1102: Y), the voice guidance to shift to the mail reading menu is performed to confirm the contents of the held mail by voice (step S1103). Then, the e-mail reading mode described with reference to FIG. 3 is executed (step S1104). Thereafter, an e-mail to be transmitted is selected (step S11).
05).

On the other hand, if there is a response in step S1102 that the confirmation of the text of the held mail itself is not necessary (N), a held mail to be transmitted is selected in step S1105. In this case, the e-mail system terminal device 11 sequentially reads out e-mail information such as creation date and time and title of the pending e-mail, and the operator of the telephone 19 selects an e-mail to be transmitted from among them.
In the case where a plurality of e-mails held up to now are transmitted at once, the held e-mails to be transmitted may be selected as "all".

When the e-mail to be transmitted is selected, it is confirmed again whether or not the e-mail is to be transmitted. On the other hand, when the operator gives an instruction to transmit (step S1106: Y), the corresponding LAN connection mail server 14 or modem connection mail server 1
7 to transmit the suspended e-mail (step S1107). If there is a response not to transmit the e-mail (step S1106:
N), end the process without sending an e-mail (END).

In the above-described embodiment, two types of transmission of an e-mail, either immediate transmission or suspension, have been described. However, the electronic mail system terminal device 11 has a function of independently transmitting and receiving. Using what you do,
For example, it is also possible to issue an instruction from the telephone 19 to transmit or receive the held e-mails at the same time using a time period in which the nighttime communication charge is discounted or fixed on a monthly basis.

[0078]

As described above, claims 1 to 6 are described.
According to the described invention, since the user logs in to the electronic mail system terminal device using the telephone, the terminal device is controlled using a push button signal, a dial signal, or voice, and various controls related to the electronic mail are performed. It is possible to do. That is, it is possible to use not only a normal telephone but also a pager without directly operating the electronic mail system terminal device, and to utilize the electronic mail system without being conscious of where the user is. Can be. Furthermore, by equipping the e-mail system terminal device with a voice recognition device and a voice synthesis device, the voice synthesis device can be connected to the speaker without a modem, even if the telephone does not directly access each personal terminal via a telephone line. In addition, by connecting the voice recognition device to the microphone, the electronic mail system can be controlled using voice.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the address of the destination of the e-mail is stored in the address storage means, and the destination of the e-mail is selected from the telephone operator. Therefore, there is an advantage that the destination address of the e-mail can be set quickly and reliably under the limited condition of the input from the telephone.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the electronic mail system terminal device is provided with a so-called auto-pilot function for automatically receiving an electronic mail.
Since the voice synthesizing means for decoding the text of the received e-mail and synthesizing it into voice was prepared, the newly received e-mail was converted into a synthesized sound by this voice synthesizing means and transmitted to a predetermined telephone. There is an effect that a newly arrived e-mail can be received each time by a telephone such as an answering machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of an electronic mail system using an electronic mail system terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of a process in a case where an electronic mail system terminal device of the present embodiment is accessed from outside using a telephone.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of control in an electronic mail reading mode shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of control in an e-mail receiving mode shown in step S111 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control by an autopilot function in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of control on the terminal device side in an e-mail transmission mode outlined in step S112 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of control in a new mail creation mode in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the audio binary file creation process described in step S609 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a specific flow of a speech text file creation process described in step S611 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart specifically showing how a reply mode for replying to the e-mail received in step S507 of FIG. 6 is executed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart specifically showing a state in which an e-mail transfer mode is executed in step S508 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of a mode for transmitting a transmission hold mail described in step S509 of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 E-mail system terminal device 14 LAN connection mail server 17 Modem connection mail server 19 Telephone 21 Control unit 22 Voice synthesis voice recognition control unit 23 Memory 24 Nonvolatile storage unit 26 Voice synthesis unit 27 Voice recognition unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI // H04M 3/42

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A login discriminating means for receiving a signal transmitted from a telephone through a telephone line and discriminating whether or not a login is possible according to whether or not the password matches a predetermined confirmation number. E-mail text storage means for storing the text of the e-mail sent from the telephone determined to be an address, address storage means for pre-stored the destination of the e-mail, and A destination selection instructing means for selecting a destination of the e-mail stored in the address storage means; and a mail server accessing the mail server to select the text of the e-mail stored in the e-mail text storage means by the instruction of the destination selection instructing means. E-mail system terminal device, comprising: e-mail transmission means for transmitting to an address. . 2. An e-mail receiving means for accessing a mail server to receive an e-mail addressed thereto when a set time comes, and an automatic receiving e-mail storing means for storing the e-mail received by the e-mail receiving means. Voice synthesis means for decoding the destination and text of the received e-mail and synthesizing them into speech, and when a new e-mail is stored in the automatic reception e-mail storage means, the e-mail destination and text are converted to the voice. An e-mail system terminal device comprising: automatic dialing means for synthesizing by a synthesizing means, dialing a predetermined telephone, and transmitting the dialed telephone. 3. An e-mail receiving means for accessing a mail server when a set time comes and receiving an e-mail addressed thereto, and an automatic reception e-mail storing means for storing the e-mail received by the e-mail receiving means. Speech synthesis means for decoding the destination and body of the received e-mail and synthesizing it into speech, and receiving a signal sent from the telephone through the telephone line and logging in according to whether it matches the predetermined confirmation number Log-in discriminating means for judging whether or not the e-mail is stored in the automatic receiving e-mail storing means in accordance with a request sent from a telephone which is judged to be log-in by the log-in discriminating means. E-mail voice output means for synthesizing by the synthesizing means and sending it to the telephone. E-mail system terminal device. 4. A login discriminating means for receiving a signal transmitted from a telephone through a telephone line and discriminating whether or not to log in based on whether or not the signal coincides with a predetermined confirmation number. Voice recognition means for recognizing voice sent from the telephone determined to be an address, address storage means for storing an e-mail destination in advance, and storing in the address storage means for the telephone determined to be capable of login. Destination selection instructing means for selecting the destination of the received e-mail; e-mail text storage means for storing the text of the e-mail sent from the telephone recognized by the voice recognition means; The text of the e-mail stored in the e-mail text storage is selected by the instruction of the destination selection instructing means. E-mail system terminal apparatus characterized by comprising an electronic mail transmission means for transmitting to the destination. 5. The electronic mail system terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic mail to be transmitted is attached with a voice binary file obtained by converting voice transmitted from a telephone into binary data. . 6. An electronic mail server, a telephone, and connected to the electronic mail server and the telephone via a transmission line, and when an electronic mail transmission content is received from the telephone by voice, the content is recognized by built-in voice recognition means. While converting the text into text information and assembling an e-mail and sending it to the mail server, the text information of the e-mail received from the e-mail server is decoded and converted into voice information, and the contents of the e-mail are transmitted to the specified telephone. An e-mail system comprising: an e-mail system terminal device.