Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2003-01-21
Von Buhr, Maria N. (Department: 2125)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C709S207000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06510438
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic mail system that sends and receives electronic mails to which musical tone control information is attached, a method of sending and receiving such electronic mails, and a storage medium that stores a program for sending and receiving the electronic mails.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, in order to send and receive musical sound or voice with an electronic mail, voice data produced by converting a voice signal representing the voice or sound into digital data has been used as an attached file to the electronic mail.
In the known electronic mail system as described above, however, the attached file is formed of voice data that contains a large quantity or volume of data, and therefore it takes a long time to send and receive an electronic mail to which such a file is attached. In particular, when a relatively low-speed modem is used, or a communication line is busy, it is undesirable to send or receive the electronic mail with the attached file containing voice data, because the communication line is kept occupied over a long period of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide an electronic mail system which is capable of sending and receiving an electronic mail along with high-quality, small-quantity musical tone or voice data, a method of sending and receiving such an electronic mail, and a storage medium that stores a program for sending and receiving such an electronic mail.
To attain the object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving terminal connected to a communication line, for receiving, through the communication line, an electronic mail that is sent by a transmitting terminal connected to the communication line, comprising a receiving device that receives the electronic mail which is sent by the transmitting terminal, and to which song data comprising musical tone control information is attached, an opening device that opens the received electronic mail, and a reproducing device that automatically reproduces the song data attached to the electronic mail when the electronic mail is opened by the opening device.
Preferably, the song data comprising musical tone control information is MIDI data.
According to the first aspect, there is also provided a receiving terminal control method of controlling a receiving terminal connected to a communication line, for receiving, through the communication line, an electronic mail sent by a transmitting terminal connected to the communication line, comprising the steps of receiving the electronic mail which is sent by the transmitting terminal, and to which song data comprising musical tone control information is attached, opening the electronic mail, and automatically reproducing the song data attached to the electronic mail when the electronic mail is opened.
According to the first aspect, there is also provided a storage medium that stores commands readable by a machine, the commands causing the machine to execute a receiving terminal control module for controlling a receiving terminal connected to a communication line, for receiving, through the communication line, an electronic mail that is sent by a transmitting terminal connected to the communication line, the receiving terminal control module comprising a module that receives the electronic mail which is sent by the transmitting terminal, and to which song data comprising musical tone control information is attached, a module that opens the received electronic mail; and a module that automatically reproduces the song data attached to the electronic mail when the electronic mail is opened.
According to the first aspect as defined above, the receiving terminal receives the electronic mail sent by the transmitting terminal, along with song data comprising musical tone control information attached to the mail, the song data attached to the electronic mail is automatically reproduced when the electronic mail is opened. Therefore, since the song data comprising musical tone control information is attached to the electronic mail and sent to the receiving terminal, high-quality musical tone or voice represented by a small quantity of data can be transmitted and received along with the electronic mail. Further, upon opening of the electronic mail, the user need not open the attached file containing song data, and start an appropriate application for reproducing the song data in the opened file, thus assuring improved efficiency with which the user operates the receiving terminal.
A typical example of the musical tone control information is MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) data. The musical tone control information, however, is not limited to MIDI data, but may be any type of data whose quantity or volume is smaller than that of the original musical tone or voice, and which enables high-quality musical tone or voice to be reproduced.
The term “electronic mail” used in the appended claims means not only character data, but may also include image or picture data and/or a small quantity of voice data produced by converting a voice signal into digital data, in addition to the character data.
To attain the object, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal connected to a communication line, for receiving, through the communication line, an electronic mail sent by a transmitting terminal connected to the communication line, and transferring the received electronic mail to a receiving terminal connected to the communication line and corresponding to an address of the electronic mail, comprising a receiving device that receives, from the transmitting terminal, the electronic mail to which song data comprising musical tone control information is attached, a storage device that stores the received electronic mail to which the song data is attached, a notifying device that notifies the receiving terminal of receipt of the electronic mail when receiving the electronic mail from the transmitting terminal, and a transfer device that retrieves the electronic mail and the song data attached to the mail from the storage device, and transfers the electronic mail and the song data to the receiving terminal, when the receiving terminal requests receipt of the electronic mail in response to notification by the notifying device.
According to the second aspect, there is also provided a communication terminal control method of controlling a communication terminal connected to a communication line, for receiving, through the communication line, an electronic mail sent by a transmitting terminal connected to the communication line, and transfers the received electronic mail to a receiving terminal connected to the communication line and corresponding to an address of the electronic mail, comprising the steps of receiving, from the transmitting terminal, the electronic mail to which song data comprising musical tone control information is attached, storing the received electronic mail to which the song data is attached in a storage device, notifying the receiving terminal of receipt of the electronic mail when receiving the electronic mail from the transmitting terminal, and retrieving the electronic mail and the song data attached to the mail from the storage device, and transferring the electronic mail and the song data to the receiving terminal, when the receiving terminal requests receipt of the electronic mail in response to notification by the communication terminal.
According to the second aspect, there is further provided a storage medium that stores commands readable by a machine, the commands causing the machine to execute a communication terminal control module for controlling a communication terminal connected to a communication line, for receiving, through the communication line, an electronic mail that is sent by a transmitting terminal connected to the communication line, and transfers the received electronic mail to a receiving terminal connected to the com
Morrison & Foerster / LLP
Von Buhr Maria N.
Yamaha Corporation
LandOfFree
Electronic mail system, method of sending and receiving... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electronic mail system, method of sending and receiving..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electronic mail system, method of sending and receiving... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3027504