Electronic mail confirmation system and electronic mail system, communication terminal, internet connection device and electronic mail server device for using the same electronic mail confirmation system
First Claim
1. An electronic mail confirming system whereby a user'"'"'s communication terminal capable of sending/receiving an electronic mail over an Internet or a private network make a call by a dial-up connection to either a special called-only telephone number attached to an internet connection device storing electronic mails transmitted over the Internet or a special called-only telephone number attached to a server device storing electronic mails transmitted over the private network and the internet connection device or the server device receives the call from the user'"'"'s communication terminal and can recognize said call as an inquiry call for inquiring about the existence/absence therein of newly-arrived or unopened emails addressed to the user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic mail confirming system enabling a user to confirm the existence of newly-arrived and unopened emails with no charge for communication through a public telecommunication network is realized. A user'"'"'s communication terminal, e.g., an internet facsimile apparatus sends an inquiry call by dialing a connection through a public telecommunication network to a specified telephone number of an internet connection device that in turn identifies the calling user by a caller telephone number notified by the public telecommunication network and immediately disconnects the call connection. The internet connection device uses different calling numbers for informing of the existence of emails and the absence of emails and sends a response call by dialing a connection to the user'"'"'s communication terminal that in turn confirms the existence or absence of emails by caller information provided by the public telecommunication network and immediately disconnects the call connection.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. An electronic mail confirming system whereby a user'"'"'s communication terminal capable of sending/receiving an electronic mail over an Internet or a private network make a call by a dial-up connection to either a special called-only telephone number attached to an internet connection device storing electronic mails transmitted over the Internet or a special called-only telephone number attached to a server device storing electronic mails transmitted over the private network and the internet connection device or the server device receives the call from the user'"'"'s communication terminal and can recognize said call as an inquiry call for inquiring about the existence/absence therein of newly-arrived or unopened emails addressed to the user.
Specification