Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-29
2001-02-06
Matar, Ahmad F. (Department: 2758)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
C709S202000, C709S203000, C709S218000, C709S235000, C379S093030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185605
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic mail system, an electronic mail server, and a communication terminal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional electronic mail system, an electronic mail is transmitted from a transmitting communication terminal and the transmitted electronic mail is stored in an electronic mail server. A receiving communication terminal accesses the electronic mail server so as to retrieve the electronic mail addressed to the receiving communication terminal from the electronic mail server.
The electronic mail server registers and manages address information of the receiving communication terminals. The transmitting communication terminal adds the address information to an electronic mail and transmits the addressed electronic mail to the electronic mail server. The electronic mail server stores the received electronic mail in a mail box corresponding to the address information added to the electronic mail.
The receiving communication terminal asks the electronic main server for an electronic mail addressed to the receiving communication terminal. When the electronic mail server has stored an electronic mail addressed to the receiving communication terminal, the receiving communication terminal sends an electronic mail retrieval request to the electronic mail server and receives the electronic main therefrom.
In such an electronic mail system, when the electronic mail server has received an electronic mail addressed to a receiving communication terminal, the receiving communication terminal cannot be informed of the electronic mail stored in the mail box of the electronic mail server. Thus, the receiving communication terminal cannot receive an urgent electronic mail.
In order to solve such a problem, when the electronic mail server has received an electronic mail addressed to a receiving communication terminal or pager registered in the electronic mail server, it informs the registered receiving communication terminal or pager of the reception of the electronic mail. Thus, the user of the registered receiving communication terminal or pager can know that the electronic mail server has received the electronic mail addressed to the user. This electronic mail system has been proposed in, for example, JPA-5-110596 and JPA-2-21969.
However, the conventional electronic mail system having such a reception informing function only informs the reception-side-user of the fact that the electronic mail server has received an electronic mail addressed to the user. Thus, the reception-side-user needs to transmit an electronic mail retrieval request to the electronic mail server and receive the electronic mail therefrom. Consequently, in the conventional electronic mail system, the reception-side-user needs to perform complicated operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic mail system, an electronic mail server, and a communication terminal that enables a receiving communication terminal to automatically receive an electronic mail addressed thereto in real time.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic mail system, which comprises: a transmitting communication terminal for transmitting an electronic mail to which an address is added; an electronic mail server for storing a electronic mail transmitted from the transmitting communication terminal; and a receiving communication terminal for receiving a electronic mail having an address thereof from the electronic mail server, wherein the electronic mail server comprises: managing means for managing an address and call number of the receiving communication terminal; receiving means for receiving an electronic mail from the transmitting communication terminal; storing means for storing the electronic mail received by the receiving means; retrieving means for retrieving a call number of the receiving communication terminal managed by the managing means corresponding to an address added to the electronic mail received by the receiving means; and distributing means for transmitting the electronic mail received by the receiving means to the receiving communication terminal having the call number retrieved by the retrieving means, and wherein the receiving means comprises: receiving means for receiving the electronic mail distributed by the distributing means.
In such an electronic mail system, when the electronic mail server has received an electronic mail from a transmitting communication terminal, the electronic mail server retrieves a call number such as a telephone number registered corresponding to address added to the electronic mail and automatically distributes the received electronic mail to the receiving communication terminal having the call number. The receiving communication terminal receives the electronic mail from the electronic mail server. Thus, the receiving communication terminal can automatically receive the electronic mail from the transmitting communication terminal.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic mail server, which comprises: managing means for managing an address and call number of a receiving communication terminal; receiving means for receiving an electronic mail from a transmitting communication terminal; storing means for storing the electronic mail received by the receiving means; retrieving means for retrieving a call number of the receiving communication terminal managed by the managing means corresponding to an address added to the electronic mail received by the receiving means; and distributing means for transmitting the electronic mail received by the receiving means to the receiving communication terminal having the call number retrieved by the retrieving means.
When such an electronic mail server has received an electronic mail from a transmitting communication terminal, the electronic mail server retrieves a call number registered corresponding to address added to the electronic mail and automatically distributes the received electronic mail to a receiving communication terminal having the call number. Thus, the receiving communication terminal can automatically receive the electronic mail from the transmitting communication terminal.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal whose address and call number are managed by an electronic mail server having distributing means, which terminal comprises: electronic mail creating means for creating an electronic mail; electronic mail storing means for storing the electronic mail; electronic mail transmitting means for transmitting the electronic mail to the electronic mail server; receiving means for receiving an electronic mail from the electronic mail server and storing the electronic mail to the electronic mail storing means; and electronic mail displaying means for displaying the electronic mail.
In case that such a communication terminal transmits an electronic mail, an electronic mail creating means creates the electronic mail, adds address information to the created electronic mail, and transmits the resultant electronic mail to an electronic mail server having an automatic distributing means. When the communication terminal receives an electronic mail from the electronic mail server having the automatic distributing function, the communication terminal automatically receives the electronic mail, stores the electronic mail in an electronic mail storing means, displays the electronic mail on an electronic mail displaying means, and informs the user of the reception of the electronic mail. Thus, the receiving communication terminal can automatically receive an electronic mail from the transmitting communication terminal and inform the reception-side-user of the reception of the electronic mail.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the best mo
Matar Ahmad F.
NEC Corporation
Nguyen Thu Ha
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
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