Electronic mail system and device

• US 6,816,835 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Kiyoko
• Primary Examiner(s): MCFADDEN, SUSAN IRIS
• Application Number:
  US09/800,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 704/208, 704/275, 704/251, 704/258, 704/278, 704/770, 709/206, 709/260, 707/101
• US Class Current: 704/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

Insertion of an attachment file identifying character code in a text of an electronic mail enables an electronic mail device to automatically reproduce (display) data from the attachment file during vocal reproduction of the text. When a text of a received electronic mail was selected and a vocal reproduction start key of the device was pressed, the device stores vocally readable text data to be sent to a voice synthesis control portion and attached reproducible music data in a buffer portion of a random access memory. The device then transmits a voice synthesis and reproduction command to a voice synthesis control portion to vocally reproduce the text. When the device detected an attachment file identifying character code in the text being displayed and vocally reproduced, it converts the text sentence into voice synthesis/reproduction command data and sends the command data to the control portion to vocally reproduce the text. On completion of reproduction of the textual portion of the electronic mail, the device automatically reproduces music data of the attached music file and image data of the attached image file referring to the corresponding files by detected reference codes.

Claims

1. An electronic mail device for an electronic mail text with an attachment file attached thereto, comprising:

a memory for storing the electronic mail text and attachment file;

a display portion for displaying characters and images;

a speaker or said display portion for reproducing the attachment file; and

a character, a pictorial symbol or an icon for representing the attachment file, the character, the pictorial symbol or the icon being inserted in the electronic mail text to designate the timing when the attachment file should be reproduced, the inserted character, pictorial symbol or icon not representing a control program;

wherein when the electronic mail device recognizes the character, the pictorial symbol or the icon inserted in the electronic mail text is detected, the electronic mail device discriminates the kind of the attachment file in the memory and reproduces the attachment file according to the result of the discrimination.

2. The electronic mail device as defined in claim 1, wherein the character, the pictorial symbol or the icon is inserted in the electronic mail text during a preparation of the electronic mail text whereby a user selects the attachment file from a menu of available options.

3. The electronic mail device as defined in claim 2, wherein the character, the pictorial symbol or the icon is indicated in brackets.

4. An electronic mail device having function of vocal reproduction for an electronic mail text with a music data file attached thereto, comprising:

a memory for storing electronic mail text data and attachment file data;

an input portion;

a liquid crystal display portion for displaying characters and images;

a voice synthesis control portion for controlling synthesis of voice; and

a speaker;

wherein if the mail device recognizes in vocal reproduction of the electronic mail text that a character, a pictorial symbol or an icon designating the music data file is inserted in the electronic mail text, the electronic mail device reproduces the music data in the music data file in the memory, wherein the inserted character, pictorial symbol or icon does not represent a control program.

5. An electronic mail device as defined in claim 4, wherein if the reproduction of the attached music data file is finished or interrupted, the electronic mail device returns to vocal reproduction of the electronic mail text and repeats vocal reproduction of the text data and reproduction of music data of a next attachment file.

6. An electronic mail device having function of vocal reproduction for an electronic mail text with an image data file attached thereto, comprising:

a memory for storing electronic mail text data and attachment file data;

an input portion;

a liquid crystal display portion for displaying characters and images;

a voice synthesis control portion for controlling synthesis of voice; and

a speaker;

wherein if the mail device recognizes in vocal reproduction of the electronic mail text that a character, a pictorial symbol or an icon designating the music data file is inserted in the electronic mail text, the electronic mail device reproduces the music data in the music data file in the memory, wherein the inserted character, pictorial symbol or icon does not represent a control program.

7. An electronic mail device as defined in claim 6, wherein if the reproduction of the attached image data file is finished or interrupted, the electronic mail device returns to vocal reproduction of the electronic mail text and repeats vocal reproduction of the text data and displaying image data of a next attachment file.