Computer system and job transfer method using electronic mail system

• US 5,557,736 A
• Filed: 01/21/1994
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Electronics Services Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Electronics Services Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Itoh, Tsutomu, Namba, Hideki, Sasaki, Shigeru, Ueoka, Atsushi, Nakamura, Kazuyuki, Yamagishi, Tadashi, Hirano, Michio, Hirosawa, Toshio, Kokunishi, Motohide, Fujita, Fujio, Ishimaru, Masahiko, Ichikawa, Yoshikazu, Kozuma, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fisch, Alan M.
• Application Number:
  US08/184,069
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 395/575, 395/600, 395/625, 395/185.09, 395/185.1, 395/183.17, 395/182.02, 395/182.03
• US Class Current: 714/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/549 Remote execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/547 Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

In an electronic mail associated type computer system network equipped with a computer system for executing a job and a general-purpose electronic mail system, a user of an electronic mail can freely recognize a condition of an execution result of a job performed in the computer system and a job execution result. Also, these results are available from a desired output device for the user. When a mail processing unit employed in the computer system analyzes a mail statement about the job execution derived from the electronic mail system, and the job execution is completed, this mail processing unit sends to the electronic mail system, such a mail statement for the completion of the job execution containing information about fail/safe execution result. Upon receipt of this report, the user designates the output device into a response mail so as to output the job execution result from the designated output device.

Claims

1. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, a plurality of output devices connected to said computer system and said electronic mail system, and a monitor apparatus connected between said computer system and said electronic mail system;

said job transfer method comprising the steps of;

requesting an execution of said job by a first mail from the electronic mail system to the computer system by relaying said monitor apparatus;

monitoring said job executed in the computer system by said monitor apparatus;

storing an execution result of said job into a memory device of the computer system when the job execution by the computer system is completed;

reporting an ending condition of said job from said computer system to said electronic mail system which has requested to execute the job;

transmitting and receiving a mail statement about said ending condition of the job and a mail for requesting to output an execution result of the job corresponding to said mail statement between said computer system and said electronic mail system which has requested to execute the job by relaying said monitor apparatus;

instructing a request to output the result of said job execution by a second mail from said electronic mail system which has received the report about the ending condition of the job; and

transferring the result of said job execution stored in the memory device to at least one of said plural output devices based upon said output instruction.

2. A job transfer method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending query mail from a mail terminal, before requesting to output an execution result of the job, to obtain status information of the job so that a user can determine whether to request the execution result.

3. A job transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

22. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step for requesting the output of the job execution result from said electronic mail system further comprises the steps of:

forming a mail statement of an output instruction containing information used to designate an output device for outputting the job execution result in said electronic mail system;

sending said mail statement to said computer system; and

outputting said job execution result to the output device designated based on the instruction of said mail statement.

23. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the output destination instruction issued from a user of said electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion of said job execution, further comprises the steps of:

transmitting said job execution result as a mail statement from said computer system to said electronic mail system;

storing said job execution result into a mail box within said electronic mail system; and

storing said job execution result into a file connected to a mail terminal of said electronic mail system.

4. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, a plurality of output devices connected to said computer system and said electronic mail system, and communication line for connecting said computer system, said electronic mail system, and said plural output devices,

said job transfer method comprising the steps of:

requesting the computer system to execute the job by a first mail from the electronic mail system via the communication line;

storing an execution result of the job into a memory device of the computer system when the job execution by the computer system is accomplished;

reporting a completion of said job execution from the computer system to the electronic mail system which has requested to execute the job;

instructing a request to output the result of said job execution by a second mail from said electronic mail system which has received the report about an ending condition of said job; and

transferring the result of said job execution stored in the memory device to at least one of said plural output devices based upon said output instruction.

5. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the request for outputting the job execution result from said electronic mail system, further comprises the step of:

deriving the relevant job execution result from a spool file of the overall computer system among said job execution results, and immediately sending the derived job execution result to said output device.

6. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said report about the end condition of said job contains information about a normal end of said job execution and an abnormal end of said job execution.

7. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the output destination instruction issued from a user of said electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion condition of said job execution, further comprises the steps of:

transmitting said job execution result as a mail statement from said computer system to said electronic mail system;

storing said job execution result into a mail box within said electronic mail system; and

storing said job execution result into a file connected to a mail terminal of said electronic mail system.

8. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the instruction to output the job execution result derived from the electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion condition of said job execution, further comprises the step of:

directly outputting said job execution result from said computer system via the communication line to an electronic mail terminal unit of said electronic mail system.

9. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the request for outputting the job execution result from said electronic mail system, further comprises the step of:

outputting said job execution result to the output device connected to said computer system.

10. A job transfer method according to claim 4, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

11. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, a plurality of output devices connected to said computer system and said electronic mail system, and a monitor apparatus connected between said computer system and said electronic mail system,

said job transfer method comprising the steps of:

requesting an execution of said job by a first mail from the electronic mail system to the computer system by relaying said monitor apparatus;

monitoring said job executed in the computer system by said monitor apparatus;

storing an execution result of said job into a memory device of the computer system when the job execution by the computer system is completed;

transmitting and receiving a mail statement about a completion of the job execution and a mail for requesting to output an execution result of the job corresponding to said mail statement between said computer system and said electronic mail system which has requested to execute the job by relaying said monitor apparatus;

designating at least one of said plural output devices as output destination by a second mail from said electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion of said job execution; and

transferring said result of the job execution stored in said memory device to said designated output device based on said output designation.

12. A job transfer method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of sending query mail from a mail terminal, before requesting to output an execution result of the job, to obtain status information of the job so that a user can determine whether to request the execution result.

13. A job transfer method according to claim 11, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

14. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, a plurality of output devices connected to said computer system and said electronic mail system, and a communication line for connecting said computer system, said electronic mail system, and said plural output devices,

said job transfer method comprising the steps of:

requesting the computer system to execute the job by a first mail from the electronic mail system via the communication line;

storing an execution result of the job into a memory device of the computer system when the job execution by the computer system is accomplished;

reporting a completion of said job execution from the computer system to the electronic mail system which has requested to execute the job;

designating at least one of said plural output devices as output destination by a second mail from said electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion of said job execution; and

transferring said result of the job execution stored in said memory device to said designated output device based on said output designation.

15. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the output destination instruction issued from a user of said electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion of said job execution, further comprises the steps of:

transmitting said job execution result as a mail statement from said computer system to said electronic mail system;

storing said job execution result into a mail box within said electronic mail system; and

storing said job execution result into a file connected to a mail terminal of said electronic mail system.

16. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the request for outputting the job execution result from said electronic mail system, further comprises the step of:

outputting said job execution result to the output device connected to said computer system.

17. A job transfer method according to claim 14, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

18. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, a plurality of output devices connected to said computer system and said electronic mail system, and a monitor apparatus connected between said computer system and said electronic mail system,

said job transfer method comprising the steps of:

requesting an execution of said job by a first mail from the electronic mail system to the computer system by relaying said monitor apparatus;

monitoring said job executed in the computer system by said monitor apparatus;

storing an execution result of said job into a memory device of the computer system when the job execution by the computer system is completed;

transmitting and receiving a mail statement about the completion of the job execution and a mail for requesting to output an execution result of the job corresponding to said mail statement between said computer system and said electronic mail system which has requested to execute the job by relaying said monitor apparatus; and

transferring said execution result of the job stored into said memory device to the designated output device among said plurality of output devices based upon an output designation made by a second mail from the electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion of said job execution.

19. A job transfer method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of sending query mail from a mail terminal, before requesting to output an execution result of the job, to obtain status information of the job so that a user can determine whether to request the execution result.

20. A job transfer method according to claim 18, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

21. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, a plurality of output devices connected to said computer system and said electronic mail system, and a communication line for connecting said computer system, said electronic mail system, and said plural output devices,

said job transfer method comprising the steps of:

requesting the computer system to execute the job by a first mail from the electronic mail system via the communication line;

storing an execution result of the job into a memory device of the computer system when the job execution by the computer system is accomplished;

reporting a completion of said job execution from the computer system to the electronic mail system which has requested to execute the job; and

transferring said execution result of the job stored into said memory device to the designated output device among said plurality of output devices based on an output designation made by a second mail from the electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion of said job execution.

24. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the instruction to output the job execution result derived from the electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion of said job execution, further comprises the step of:

directly outputting said job execution result from said computer system via the communication line to an electronic mail terminal unit of said electronic mail system.

25. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the request for outputting the job execution result from said electronic mail system, further comprises the step of:

outputting said job execution result to the output device connected to said computer system.

26. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the request for outputting a list of the job execution results from said electronic mail system, further comprises the step of:

deriving the relevant job execution result from a spool file of the overall computer system among said job execution results, and immediately sending the derived job execution result to said output device.

27. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the instruction to output the job execution result derived from the electronic mail system which has received the report about the completion of said job execution, further comprises the step of:

directly outputting said job execution result from said computer system via the communication line to an electronic mail terminal unit of said electronic mail system.

28. A job transfer method in an electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said step for outputting said job execution result in response to the request for outputting the job execution result from said electronic mail system, further comprises the step of:

deriving the relevant job execution result from a spool file of the overall computer system among said job execution results, and immediately sending the derived job execution result to said output device.

29. A job transfer method according to claim 21, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

30. An electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, a plurality of output devices connected to said computer system and said electronic mail system, and a communication line for connecting said computer system, said electronic mail system, and said plural output devices;

wherein

said computer system includes a monitor apparatus interposed between said computer system and said electronic mail system, said monitor apparatus monitoring said job executed in said computer system, and a processing means for relaying a mail statement between said computer system and said electronic mail system;

wherein one of said plurality of output devices is selected by a first mail from the electronic mail system that is separate from a second mail used to request the job.

31. A job transfer method according to claim 30, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

32. An electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, and a communication line for connecting said computer system and said electronic mail system, for requesting an execution of said job by a first mail from said electronic mail system to said computer system;

wherein

said computer system includes a monitor apparatus interposed between said computer system and said electronic mail system;

said monitor apparatus includes a processing means for monitoring and controlling an operation of said computer system, and a processing means for said electronic mail system; and

said electronic mail associated type computer system further includes a processing means for relaying a mail statement related to said job between said electronic mail system and said computer system, and a plurality of output devices from which one output device is selected by a second mail from said electronic mail system.

33. A job transfer method according to claim 32, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

34. An electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, a plurality of electronic mail systems for delivering documents, and a communication line for connecting them with each other, for requesting an execution of said job by a first mail from said electronic mail system to said computer system;

wherein

said electronic mail associated type computer system includes a monitor apparatus interposed between said computer system and said plurality of electronic mail systems;

said monitor apparatus includes a processing means for monitoring and controlling an operation of said computer system, a processing means of said electronic mail systems, and a processing means for distributing mail statements related to said job among the respective electronic mail systems and said computer system, and a plurality of output devices from which one output device is selected by a second mail from said electronic mail system.

35. A job transfer method according to claim 34, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

36. An electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job, an output device connected to said computer system, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, an electronic mail terminal, an output device connected to said electronic mail terminal, for requesting an executing of said job by a first mail from the electronic mail terminal of said electronic mail system to said computer system, wherein said electronic mail system includes:

a processing means for producing a mail statement for requesting to output a job executing a result to at least one designated output device of said plural output devices in response to a demand for obtaining said job execution result from said electronic mail terminal, and for transferring said mail statement to said computer system, wherein the mail statement is separate from the first mail; and

said computer system includes a spool file for storing said job execution result, and a processing means for outputting said job execution result of said spool file to the output device designated by said mail state.

37. A job transfer method according to claim 36, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

38. An electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job according to a first mail, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, and a plurality of output devices;

wherein

said computer system includes;

storage means for storing data about a corresponding relationship between a user name of said computer system and a user name of said electronic mail system;

a spool file for holding said job execution result when the execution of said job executed in said computer system is completed;

retrieval means for retrieving communication destination of a user who has requested to execute the job;

report means for reporting both the completion of said job execution and a completion condition thereof to said communication destination of the user of the electronic mail system; and

means for outputting said job execution result from said spool file to said output device in response to a request for outputting said job execution result by a second mail from said electronic mail system.

39. A job transfer method according to claim 38, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

40. An electronic mail associated type computer system equipped with a computer system for executing a job according to a first mail, a plurality of electronic mail systems for delivering documents, and a plurality of output devices, comprising:

a monitor apparatus interposed among said computer system, and first and second electronic mail systems;

a spool file for holding a job execution result when the execution of the job executed in said computer system is completed; and

retrieval means for retrieving a user name of said first electronic mail system, said user requesting the execution of the job within said computer system;

wherein a mail statement indicating that the execution of the job designated to said user is accomplished, is once relayed from said computer system by said monitor apparatus;

processing means where said monitor apparatus functions as a branch of said second electronic mail system;

processing means for delivering said mail statement indicative of the completion of said job execution from said second electronic mail system to said first electronic mail system;

instruction means for issuing an instruction from said monitor apparatus to said computer system, while the mail statement from said electronic mail system is received by said monitor apparatus, based upon the instruction to output said job execution result by a second mail from said first electronic mail system in response to the report about the completion of said job execution; and

processing means for outputting said job execution result to the output device designated by said computer system based on said instruction.

41. A job transfer method according to claim 40, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.

42. An electronic mail associated type computer system comprising a computer system for executing a job according to a first mail, a result of executing the job being stored in a storage means of the computer system and being output in response to a second mail, an electronic mail system for delivering a document, and an electronic mail terminal to said computer system,

wherein said electronic mail system includes a first processing means for forming a mail statement about a check of a job execution condition from said electronic mail system in response to interrogation about the job execution condition in said computer system derived from said electronic mail terminal;

and

said computer system includes a second processing means for producing a condition mail statement of said job by checking said job execution condition, and for sending said condition mail to the electronic mail terminal which has requested to send the mail.

43. An electronic mail associated type computer system as claimed in claim 42, wherein said second processing means is constructed in such a manner that a selection is made of a mail statement for indicating that either said job execution is ended under normal condition, or said job execution is ended under abnormal condition, while the job of said user is executed, based upon the condition mail statement of said job and said job condition within said computer system.

44. A job transfer method according to claim 42, wherein the first mail and the second mail are sent from a mail terminal connected to the electronic mail system.