Method and apparatus for sending E-mail, method and apparatus for receiving E-mail, sending/receiving method and apparatus for E-mail, sending program supplying medium, receiving program supplying medium and sending/receiving program supplying medium

• US 7,178,095 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: So-Net Entertainment Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: So-Net Entertainment Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hachiya, Kazuhiko, Otaki, Namie, Koki, Takashi, Kitamura, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon; Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKWELL, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US10/039,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20020095467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/512, 709/206, 709/202, 434/350, 345/473
• US Class Current: 715/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sending or receiving an E-mail using animated representation as if a pet were going out of or coming into a GUI picture simulating the insides of both a sender'"'"'s room and a receiver'"'"'s room for letter delivery and dispatch. Moreover, the pet, represented by animation, is virtually kept. Specifically, agent data updated responsive to experiences acquired by the pet is sent as annexed papers to the E-mail, while the receiver returns only pet data. Thus, animation represented on a GUI picture simulating the insides of both a sender'"'"'s room and a receiver'"'"'s room for imparting an impression as if a pet were going out of or coming into a GUI picture simulating the insides of both the sender'"'"'s room and the receiver'"'"'s room for letter delivery and dispatch. The agent data determining the behavior of the electronic pet are updated responsive to the mouse actuation by the user, such as caressing the pet or serving refreshments to the pet, for varying the behavior of the pet, represented by animation, depending on the maintenance environment. The operating states of the mouse are reflected on representation of a pointing cursor.

Claims

1. A method for sending an E-mail wherein an agent of a sender of the E-mail is displayed on a screen and the behavior of the agent of the sender is managed by agent parameters;

and wherein on accepting a sending command for commanding sending of an E-mail, agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender are annexed to the main text of the mail having an appended mail header for sending the E-mail;

and wherein after the E-mail is sent, the agent of the sender is not displayed on the screen and the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender is not appended to the E-mail, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent until a pre-set time elapses.

2. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender are automatically generated after lapse of the pre-set time.

3. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 1 wherein a single E-mail is sent by a single agent of the sender.

4. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 2 wherein the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender include the sending date and time information and can be annexed to the main text of an E-mail sent next after lapse of the pre-set time based on the sending date and time information.

5. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent parameters are changed by learning function.

6. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 1 wherein the behavior of the agent of the sender is managed by the agent parameters including environmental information.

7. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 1 wherein a sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender and a sending command for designating sending plural E-mails by a single second agent of the sender are selectively accepted;

and wherein on accepting the sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender, the agent parameters determining the agent behavior are annexed to the main text of the E-mail for sending the E-mail.

8. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 1 wherein when the agent of the sender whose behavior is determined by the agent parameters is absent, the E-mail is sent by the second agent of the sender which can be designated sending plural E-mails.

9. An E-mail sending method wherein an agent of a sender of the E-mail is displayed on a screen and the behavior of the agent of the sender is managed by agent parameters;

and wherein on accepting a sending command for commanding sending of an E-mail, agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender are annexed to the main text of the mail having an appended mail header for sending the E-mail;

and wherein after the E-mail is sent, the agent of the sender is not displayed on the screen and the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender is not appended to the E-mail, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent until the agent parameters are sent back from a recipient of the E-mail.

10. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 9 wherein the agent parameters sent are changed and the agent parameters thus changed are sent back from the recipient.

11. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 9 wherein an absent state of the agent of the sender is set by a flag showing the agent of the sender is absent or not.

12. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 9 wherein a sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender and a sending command for designating sending plural E-mails by a single second agent of the sender are selectively accepted;

and wherein on accepting the sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender, the agent parameters determining the agent behavior are annexed to the main text of the E-mail for sending the E-mail.

13. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 12 wherein when the agent of the sender whose behavior is determined by the agent parameters is absent, the E-mail is sent by the second agent of the sender which can be designated sending plural E-mails.

14. An E-mail sending method wherein an agent of a sender of the E-mail is displayed on a screen and the behavior of the agent is managed by agent parameters;

and wherein on accepting a sending command for commanding sending of an E-mail, agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender are annexed to the main text of the mail having an appended mail header for sending the E-mail;

and wherein if the agent parameters are not sent back within a pre-set time, the agent parameters are automatically generated, and the agent of the sender is not displayed on the screen and the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender is not appended to the E-mail, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent after the E-mail is sent until the agent parameters are automatically generated;

if the agent parameters are sent back within the pre-set time, the agent of the sender is not displayed on the screen and the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender is not appended to the E-mail, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent after the E-mail is sent until the agent parameters are sent back from a recipient of the E-mail;

and wherein a single E-mail is sent by a single agent of the sender.

15. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 14 wherein the agent parameters sent are changed and the agent parameters thus changed are sent back from the recipient.

16. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 15 wherein the agent parameters are changed by learning function.

17. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 14 wherein an absent state of the agent of the sender is set by a flag showing the agent of the sender is absent or not.

18. A method for sending an E-mail wherein an agent of a sender of the E-mail is displayed on a screen and the behavior of the agent is managed by agent parameters;

and wherein on accepting a sending command for commanding sending of an E-mail, agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender are annexed to the main text of the mail having an appended mail header for sending the E-mail;

and wherein after the E-mail is sent, the agent of the sender is made not to send the E-mail;

and wherein a single E-mail is sent by a single agent of the sender.

19. The method for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 18 wherein a sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender and a sending command for designating sending plural E-mails by a single second agent of the sender are selectively accepted;

and wherein on accepting the sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender, the agent parameters determining the agent behavior are annexed to the main text of the E-mail for sending the E-mail.

20. An apparatus for sending an E-mail, comprising:

an agent manager for displaying an agent of a sender of the E-mail on a screen and for managing the behavior of the agent of the sender depending on agent parameters;

a sending command accepting means for accepting a sending command designating sending an E-mail; and

a mail sending means which, on accepting a sending command designating sending an E-mail by said sending command accepting means, is controlled by said agent manager for appending the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender to the mail header or to an annexed main text of the E-mail for sending the E-mail,

wherein said agent manager does not display the agent of the sender on the screen and does not control said mail sending means for appending the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender, so that sets the agent of the sender is set to be absent after sending the E-mail until a pre-set time elapses.

21. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 20 wherein said agent manager automatically generates the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender after lapse of the pre-set time.

22. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 20 wherein said agent manager sends an E-mail by the single agent of the sender from said mail sending means.

23. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 21 wherein said agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender includes the sending date and time information;

and wherein said agent manager can append the agent parameters to the main text of an E-mail sent next by said mail sending means after lapse of the pre-set time from the sending date and time based on the sending date and time information.

24. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 20 wherein the agent parameters are changed by learning function.

25. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 20 wherein said agent manager manages the behavior of the agent of the sender by the agent parameters including an environmental information.

26. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 20 wherein said sending command accepting means selectively accepts a sending command for designating sending of a single E-mail by a single agent of the sender or a sending command for designating sending of a plurality of E-mails by a single second agent of the sender and wherein on accepting the sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender, said agent manager annexes the agent parameters determining the agent behavior to the main text of the E-mail by said mail sending means for sending the E-mail.

27. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 26 wherein when the agent of the sender whose behavior is determined by the agent parameters is absent, said agent manager makes the second agent of the sender which can be designated sending plural E-mails send the E-mail.

28. An apparatus for sending an E-mail, comprising:

an agent manager for displaying an agent of a sender of the E-mail on a screen and for managing the behavior of the agent of the sender depending on agent parameters;

a sending command accepting means for accepting a sending command designating sending an E-mail; and

a mail sending means which, on accepting a sending command designating sending an E-mail by said sending command accepting means, is controlled by said agent manager for appending the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender to the mail header or to an annexed main text of the E-mail for sending the E-mail,

wherein said agent manager does not display the agent of the sender on the screen and does not control said mail sending means for appending the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent after sending the E-mail until the agent parameters are sent back from a recipient of the E-mail.

29. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 28 further comprising an agent parameters receiving means for receiving the agent parameters changed and sent back from the recipient of the E-mail.

30. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 29 wherein said agent manager manages an absent state or the agent of the sender by a flag showing the agent of the sender is absent or not.

31. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 28 wherein said sending command accepting means selectively accepts a sending command for designating sending of a single E-mail by a single agent of the sender or a sending command for designating sending of a plurality of E-mails by a single second agent of the sender and wherein on accepting the sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender, said agent manager annexes the agent parameters determining the agent behavior to the main text of the E-mail by said mail sending means for sending the E-mail.

32. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 31 wherein when the agent of the sender whose behavior is determined by the agent parameters is absent, said agent manager makes the second agent of the sender which can be designated sending plural E-mails send the E-mail.

33. An apparatus for sending an E-mail, comprising:

an agent manager for displaying an agent of a sender of the E-mail on a screen and for managing the behavior of the agent of the sender depending on agent parameters;

a sending command accepting means for accepting a sending command designating sending an E-mail; and

a mail sending means which, on accepting a sending command designating sending an E-mail by said sending command accepting means, is controlled by said agent manager for appending the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender to the mail header or to an annexed main text of the E-mail for sending the E-mail,

wherein if the agent parameters are not sent back within a pre-set time, said agent manager automatically generates the agent parameters, and said agent manager does not display the agent of the sender of the screen and does not control said mail sending means for appending the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent after the E-mail is sent until said agent manager automatically generates the agent parameters, if the agent parameters are sent back within the pre-set time, said agent manager does not display the agent of the sender on the screen and does not control said mail sending means for appending the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent after the E-mail is sent until the agent parameters are sent back from a recipient of the E-mail;

and wherein a single E-mail is sent by a single agent of the sender.

34. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 33 further comprising an agent parameters receiving means for receiving the agent parameters changed and sent back from the recipient of the E-mail.

35. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 33 wherein the agent parameters are changed by learning function.

36. The apparatus for sending an E-mail as claimed in claim 33 wherein said agent manager manages an absent state of the agent of the sender by a flag showing the agent of the sender is absent or not.

37. An E-mail sending program product that can be computer including:

a program code module which displays an agent of a sender of the E-mail on a screen and manages the behavior of the agent of the sender by agent parameters; and

a program code module which annexes, on accepting a sending command for commanding sending of an E-mail, agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender to the main text of the mail having an appended mail header for sending the E-mail;

and wherein after the E-mail is sent, the agent of the sender is not displayed on the screen and the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender is not appended to the E-mail, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent until a pre-set time elapses.

38. The program product of claim 37 wherein the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender are automatically generated after lapse of the pre-set time.

39. The program product of claim 37 wherein a single E-mail is sent by a single agent of the sender.

40. The program product of claim 38 wherein the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender include the sending date and time information and can be annexed to the main text of an E-mail sent next after lapse of the pre-set time based on the sending date and time information.

41. The program product of claim 37 wherein the agent parameters are changed by learning function.

42. The program product of claim 37 wherein the behavior of the agent of the sender is managed by the agent parameters including environmental information.

43. The program product of claim 37 wherein a sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender and a sending command for designating sending plural E-mails by a single second agent of the sender are selectively accepted;

and wherein on accepting the sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender, the agent parameters determining the agent behavior are annexed to the main text of the E-mail for sending the E-mail.

44. The program product of claim 43 wherein when the agent of the sender whose behavior is determined by the agent parameters is absent, the E-mail is sent by the second agent of the sender which can be designated sending plural E-mails.

45. An E-mail sending program products that can be executed by a computer including:

a program code module which displays an agent of a sender of the E-mail on a screen and manages the behavior of the agent of the sender by agent parameters; and

a program code module which annexes, on accepting a sending command for commanding sending of an E-mail, agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender to the main text of the mail having an appended mail header for sending the E-mail;

and wherein after the E-mail is sent, the agent of the sender is not displayed on the secreen and the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender is not appended to the E-mail, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent until the agent parameters are sent back from a recipient of the E-mail.

46. The program product of claim 45 wherein the agent parameters sent are changed and the agent parameters thus changed are sent back from the recipient.

47. The program product of claim 45 wherein an absent state of the agent of the sender is set by a flag showing the agent of the sender is absent or not.

48. The program product of claim 45 wherein a sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender and a sending command for designating sending plural E-mails by a single second agent of the sender are selectively accepted;

and wherein on accepting the sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender, the agent parameters determining the agent behavior are annexed to the main text of the E-mail for sending the E-mail.

49. The program product of claim 48 wherein when the agent of the sender whose behavior is determined by the agent parameters is absent, the E-mail is sent by the second agent of the sender which can be designated sending plural E-mails.

50. An E-mail sending program product that can be executed by a computer including:

a program code module which annexes, an agent of a sender of the E-mail on a screen and manages the behavior of the agent of the sender agent parameters; and

a program code module which annexes, on accepting a sending command for commanding sending of an E-mail, agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender to the main text of the mail having an appended mail header for sending the E-mail;

and wherein if the agent parameters are not sent back within a pre-set time, the agent parameters are automatically generated, and the agent of the sender is not displayed on the screen and the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender is not appended to the E-mail, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent after the E-mail is sent until the agent parameters are automatically generated, if the agent parameters are sent back within the pre-set time, the agent of the sender is not displayed on the screen and the agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender is not appended to the E-mail, so that the agent of the sender is set to be absent after the E-mail is sent until the agent parameters are sent back from a recipient of the E-mail;

and wherein a single E-mail is sent by a single agent of the sender.

51. The program product of claim 50 wherein the agent parameters sent are changed and the agent parameters thus changed are sent back from the recipient.

52. The program product of claim 50 wherein the agent parameters are changed by learning function.

53. The program product of claim 50 wherein an absent state of the agent of the sender is set by a flag showing the agent of the sender is absent or not.

54. An E-mail sending program product that can be executed by a computer including:

a program code module which displays an agent of a sender of the E-mail on a screen and manages the behavior of the agent of the sender agent parameters; and

a program code module which annexes, on accepting a sending command for commanding sending of an E-mail, agent parameters determining the behavior of the agent of the sender to the main text of the mail having an appended mail header for sending the E-mail;

and wherein after the E-mail is sent, the agent of the sender is made not to send the E-mail;

and wherein a single E-mail is sent by a single agent of the sender.

55. The program product of claim 54 wherein a sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender and a sending command for designating sending plural E-mails by a single second agent of the sender are selectively accepted;

and wherein on accepting the sending command for designating sending an E-mail by a single agent of the sender, the agent parameters determining the agent behavior are annexed to the main text of the E-mail for sending the E-mail.

56. A method for receiving an E-mail wherein on accepting a receiving command for commanding receiving of an E-mail, the E-mail with which agent parameters for managing a behavior of an agent of a sender of the E-mail are annexed is received;

and wherein the agent of the sender is displayed on a screen, the behavior of the agent of the sender is controlled according to the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail;

and wherein the agent parameters are automatically sent back to a sender of the E-mail.

57. The method for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 56 wherein the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail received are changed and automatically sent back to the sender of the E-mail.

58. The method for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 57 wherein the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail received are changed based on an event generated and automatically sent back to the sender of the E-mail.

59. The method for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 56 wherein the agent parameters are changed based on an interaction with an agent of the recipient and automatically sent back to the sender of the E-mail.

60. The method for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 56 wherein the agent parameters are changed by learning function.

61. The method for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 56 wherein a receiving date and time of the E-mail is checked and it is judged whether it is within a lifetime period of the E-mail or not based on a sending date and time information and a mail lifetime information included in the agent parameters annexed to the E-mail;

and wherein if it is within the lifetime period of the E-mail, the agent parameters changed is automatically sent back to the sender of the E-mail.

62. The method for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 56 wherein a message showing that the E-mail, with which the agent parameters for managing the behavior of the agent of the sender is annexed, is received is further automatically sent to the sender of the E-mail.

63. The method for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 56 wherein agent parameters of a recipient is changed based on an interaction with the agent of a sender.

64. The method for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 56 wherein when the agent of the sender is displayed on the screen and the behavior of the agent of the sender is controlled according to the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail, if image data of the agent of the sender corresponding to the agent parameters is not stored at a recipient side, a pre-set character is displayed in place of the agent of the sender.

65. An apparatus for receiving an E-mail comprising:

a reception command accepting means for accepting a command for receiving an E-mail;

a reception means for receiving an E-mail with which agent parameters for managing a behavior of an agent of a sender of the E-mail are annexed on accepting the reception command commanding reception of the E-mail by said reception command accepting means;

an agent manager for controlling the behavior of the agent of the sender according to the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail received by said reception means for displaying the agent of the sender on a screen; and

an agent parameters replying means for automatically sending back the agent parameters to a sender of the E-mail.

66. The apparatus for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 65 further comprising:

an operation input means for inputting an operation to the agent of the sender displayed on the screen by a user; and

an agent parameters changing means for changing the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail received by said reception means according to the user operation by said operation input means;

wherein said agent parameters replying means automatically sends back the agent parameters changed by said agent parameters changing means to the sender of the E-mail.

67. The apparatus for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 66 wherein said agent parameters changing means changes the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail received based on an event generated.

68. The apparatus for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 67 wherein said agent manager changes the agent parameters by said agent parameters changing means based on an interaction with an agent of the recipient displayed on the screen and the agent of the sender whose behavior is controlled according to the agent parameters.

69. The apparatus for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 68 wherein the agent parameters are changed by learning function.

70. The apparatus for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 68 wherein said agent parameters replying means checks a receiving date and time of the E-mail and judges whether it is within a lifetime period of the E-mail or not based on a sending date and time information and a mail lifetime information included in the agent parameters annexed to the E-mail;

and wherein if it is within the lifetime period of the E-mail, said agent parameters replying means automatically sends back the agent parameters changed to the sender of the E-mail.

71. The apparatus for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 65 further comprising a confirmation message replying means for automatically sending back a message showing that the E-mail, with which the agent parameters for managing the behavior of the agent of the sender is annexed, is received to the sender of the E-mail.

72. The apparatus for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 65 wherein said agent manager changes the agent parameters of a recipient based on an interaction with the agent of a sender.

73. The apparatus for receiving an E-mail as claimed in claim 65 wherein said agent manager, when displaying the agent of the sender on the screen and controlling the behavior of the agent of the sender according to the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail, if image data of the agent of the sender corresponding to the agent parameters is not stored at a recipient side, displays a pre-set character in place of the agent of the sender.

74. An E-mail receiving program product that can be executed by a computer including:

a program code module which receives, on accepting a receiving command for commanding receiving of an E-mail, the E-mail with which agent parameters for managing a behavior of an agent of the sender are annexed

a program code module which displays the agent of the sender on a screen, and controls the behavior of the agent of the sender according to the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail;

a program code module which automatically sends and wherein the agent parameters are automatically sent back to a sender of the E-mail.

75. The program product of claim 74 wherein the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail received are changed and automatically sent back to the sender of the E-mail.

76. The program product of claim 75 wherein the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail received are changed based on an event generated and automatically sent back to the sender of the E-mail.

77. The program product of claim 74 wherein the agent parameters are changed based on an interaction with an agent of the recipient and automatically sent back to the sender of the E-mail.

78. The program product of claim 75 wherein the agent parameters are changed by learning function.

79. The program product of claim 75 wherein a receiving date and time of the E-mail is checked and it is judged whether it is within a lifetime period of the E-mail or not based on a sending date and time information and a mail lifetime information included in the agent parameters annexed to the E-mail;

and wherein if it is within the lifetime, period of the E-mail, the agent parameters changed is automatically sent back to the sender of the E-mail.

80. The program product of claim 74 wherein a message showing that the E-mail, with which the agent parameters for managing the behavior of the agent of the sender is annexed, is received is further automatically sent to the sender of the E-mail.

81. The program product of claim 74 wherein agent parameters of a recipient is changed based on an interaction with the agent of a sender.

82. The program product of claim 74 wherein when the agent of the sender is displayed on the screen and the behavior of the agent of the sender is controlled according to the agent parameters annexed to the main text of the E-mail, if image data of the agent of the sender corresponding to the agent parameters is not stored at a recipient side, a pre-set character is displayed in place of the agent of the sender.