Electronic mail system, computer device, and remote notification method

• US 6,237,027 B1
• Filed: 06/10/1997
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Namekawa, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLETT, STEPHAN F
• Application Number:
  US08/872,146
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/225, 709/229, 709/244, 455/403, 455/412, 455/413
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

In an electronic mail system, including a computer device and an arrival notification method, a user can confirm an arrival of electronic mail regardless of where he is and a drop in operating time of a portable information terminal device can be prevented. The computer device has a first communication unit for receiving and transmitting the electronic mail from/to other computer devices and detecting the arrival of electronic mail, a second communication unit for communicating with the portable information terminal device through a predetermined communication circuit, a memory wherein identification information of the portable information terminal device is stored, and a communication controller for informing the arrival of electronic mail to the portable information terminal device based on the identification information when the arrival of electronic mail is detected. Since the arrival of electronic mail is informed to the portable information terminal device side from the computer device side, the arrival of electronic mail can be informed to the user who is away from the computer device side, thus making the access from the portable information terminal device side unnecessary so that, wasteful consumption of battery power can be avoided.

Claims

1. A computer device for use in an electronic mail system including a computer network to provide an electronic mail service and a plurality of said computer devices connected to said computer network to receive said electronic mail service, said computer device comprising:

first communication means for receiving and transmitting electronic mail from/to another of said plurality of computer devices connected to said computer network;

second communication means connected to a radio communication station and radio communication net through a telephone line for communicating with a portable information terminal device through said radio communication station and radio communication net via said telephone line;

storage means in which sender identification information of at least one predetermined sender and identification information of said portable information terminal device are stored; and

communication control means for detecting an arrival of said electronic mail from said another of said plurality of computer devices connected to said computer network, for determining whether said electronic mail is transmitted from said at least one predetermined sender, when the arrival of said electronic mail is detected, by comparing identification information detected at a predetermined position in said electronic mail with the sender identification information stored in said storage means, and for controlling, when it is determined that said received electronic mail is from said at least one predetermined sender, said second communication means to communicate the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device, to which said electronic mail is addressed, through said radio communication station and radio communication net via said telephone line based on said identification information,

wherein if said second communication means fails on a first attempt to communicate the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device, said second communication means attempts to connect to said portable terminal device repeatedly at predetermined intervals until the arrival of said electronic mail is successfully communicated or until a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts is reached, and a record is compiled of successful transmissions and unsuccessful attempts along with corresponding times and sender identification information for viewing by a user, and

wherein when said portable information terminal device is a portable telephone the arrival of said electronic mail is communicated to said user by a warning sound that differs from a calling sound of the portable telephone, said warning sound being a voice message comprising speech data.

2. The computer device for use in an electronic mail system according to claim 1, wherein

said communication control is operative in a case where it is judged with reference to said identification information that said portable information terminal device includes a character display unit when the arrival of said electronic mail is detected for informing the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device by literal information.

3. The computer device for use in an electronic mail system according to claim 2, wherein

said communication control means includes means for informing the arrival of said electronic mail and and for transmitting said arrived electronic mail to said portable information terminal device.

4. The computer device for use in an electronic mail system according to claim 1, wherein

said communication control means is operative in a case where it is judged with reference to said identification information that said portable information terminal device has an audio output unit when the arrival of said electronic mail is detected for informing the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device by means of speech information.

5. The computer device for use in an electronic mail system according to claim 1, wherein:

said second communication means includes means for informing the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device and for detecting a control signal transmitted from said portable information terminal device; and

said communication control means includes means for transmitting a specified response message by said first communication means to said another computer device which is an originating source of said electronic mail in response to said detected control signal.

6. A computer device connected to a computer network to provide an electronic mail service and for receiving said electronic mail service from said computer network, said computer device comprising:

first communication means for receiving and transmitting electronic mail from/to another computer device connected to said computer network;

second communication means connected to a radio communication station and radio communication net through a telephone line for communicating with a portable information terminal device through said radio communication station and radio communication net via said telephone line;

storage means in which sender identification information of at least one predetermined sender and identification information of said portable information terminal device are stored; and

communication control means for detecting an arrival of said electronic mail from one of a plurality of computer devices connected to said computer network, for determining whether said electronic mail is transmitted from said at least one predetermined sender, when the arrival of said electronic mail is detected, by comparing identification information detected at a predetermined position in said electronic mail with the sender identification information stored in said storage means, and for controlling, when it is determined that said received electronic mail is from said at least one predetermined sender, said second communication means to communicate the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device through said radio communication station and radio communication net via said telephone line based on said identification information,

wherein if said second communication means fails on a first attempt to communicate the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device, said second communication means attempts to connect to said portable terminal device repeatedly at predetermined intervals until the arrival of said electronic mail is successfully communicated or until a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts is reached, and a record is compiled of successful transmissions and unsuccessful attempts along with corresponding times and sender identification information for viewing by a user, and

wherein when said portable information terminal device is a portable telephone the arrival of said electronic mail is communicated to said user by a warning sound that differs from a calling sound of the portable telephone, said warning sound being a voice message comprising speech data.

7. The computer device according to claim 6, wherein

said communication control means is operative in a case where it is judged with reference to said identification information that said portable information terminal device has a character display unit when the arrival of said electronic mail is detected for informing the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device by literal information.

8. The computer device according to claim 7, wherein

said communication control means includes means for informing the arrival of said electronic mail and for transmitting said arrived electronic mail to said portable information terminal device.

9. The computer device according to claim 6, wherein

said communication control means is operative in a case where it is judged with reference to said identification information that said portable information terminal device has an audio output unit when the arrival of said electronic mail is detected for informing the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device by means of speech information.

10. The computer device according to claim 6, wherein:

said second communication means includes means for informing the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device and for detecting a control signal transmitted from said portable information terminal device; and

said communication control means includes means for transmitting a specified response message by said first communication means to said another computer device which is an originating source of said electronic mail in response to said detected control signal.

11. An arrival notification method for a computer device operating an electronic mail system to notify a personal information terminal device through a radio communication station and radio communication net connected to said computer device via a telephone line when electronic mail from a predetermined sender arrives at said computer device, comprising the steps of:

detecting an arrival of electronic mail at said computer device which is transmitted from another computer device connected to a computer network to provide an electronic mail service;

determining whether said electronic mail is transmitted from said predetermined sender, when the arrival of said electronic mail from said another computer device is detected, by comparing identification information detected at a predetermined position in said electronic mail with sender identification information of said predetermined sender stored in a storage means of said computer device;

when it is determined that said electronic mail is from said predetermined sender, connecting said computer device with said portable information terminal device through said radio communication station and radio communication net via said telephone line using recorded identification information of said portable information terminal device, and communicating the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device through said radio communication station and radio communication net via said telephone line;

attempting, if said second communication means fails on a first attempt to communicate the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device, to connect to said portable terminal device repeatedly at predetermined intervals until the arrival of said electronic mail is successfully communicated or until a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts is reached;

compiling a record of successful transmissions and unsuccessful attempts along with corresponding times and sender identification information for viewing by a user; and

when said portable information terminal device is a portable telephone, communicating to a user the arrival of said electronic mail by emitting a warning sound that differs from a calling sound of the portable telephone, said warning sound being a voice message comprising speech data.

12. The arrival notification method according to claim 11, comprising the further steps of:

referring to said identification information when the arrival of said electronic mail is detected; and

informing the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device by means of literal information when it is judged that said portable information terminal device has a character display unit.

13. The arrival notification method according to claim 12, comprising the further steps of:

informing the arrival of said electronic mail; and

transmitting said arrived electronic mail to said portable information terminal device.

14. The arrival notification method according to claim 11, comprising the further steps of:

referring to said identification information when the arrival of said electronic mail is detected; and

informing the arrival of said electronic mail to said portable information terminal device by means of speech information when it is judged that said portable information terminal device has an audio output unit.