JPH02128546A - email system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily totalize responses by providing a means, where response data is automatically stored simultaneously with the end of response input, and a means which automatically collectively transmits stored response data to the transmission source simultaneously with the end of reception and response input of the last receiver of a multi-address transmission mail. CONSTITUTION:Response produces are formally described after mail generation, and a pair of the mail and response procedure description data are multi-address transmitted to designated destinations. When this mail is received, the mail text is displayed and the response is prompted in accordance with designation of response procedure description data, and reinput is requested when erroneous data is inputted, and therefore, data is kept uniform. When response input is completed, this response data is returned but is automatically temporarily preserved, and all preserved response data is collectively returned as the response mail to the transmission source at the time of the end of reception and response of the last receiver. Thus, monitor of recovery conditions and the collecting work or recovered data are easily performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an electronic mail system, and is particularly suitable for electronic mail systems that require responses such as questionnaires.

Regarding the mail system.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional e-mail systems include Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-2062.
There was a method, such as No. 44, that automatically entered reply mode as soon as the email was received, and that the reply was automatically sent as soon as the reply email was created.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, the reply mode is activated at the same time as receiving multiple e-mails sent by broadcast transmission, but there are no particular restrictions on inputting reply data. Some people answered 1,
Response data becomes inconsistent. Additionally, since the response data is returned in pieces, the sender monitors whether all the response data has been collected, and once all the response data has been collected, any inconsistencies in the response data can be corrected, making it easier to process later.

It is inconvenient to have to reorganize it into a table-like format.

There are nine.

An object of the present invention is to provide an e-mail system that solves these problems. 5 [Means for solving the problem] The above purpose is in addition to the technical means used in the conventional technology.

A method for creating, transmitting, and storing data that describes the procedure for a recipient to respond to a received email in association with the email, and prompting the recipient to respond according to the above steps at the same time as receiving the email, and responding at the same time as the input of the answer is completed. A means of automatically accumulating data, and the last recipient of a broadcast email received,
This can be achieved by providing means for automatically transmitting the answer data accumulated by the above means to the sender at the same time as the answer input ends.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, after composing the e-mail, an answer such as ``enter either ``attendance'' or ゞabsentance'' in the exclusive column of the text is in progress.

Write the order in a formal manner, and then send this mail to the specified destination.

- broadcast the answer procedure description data as a pair. When you receive this email, the email text will be displayed and at the same time you will be prompted to specify the response procedure description data above.

You will be prompted to answer accordingly. If incorrect data is entered, it will be treated as an error and the user will be asked to re-enter the data, thus ensuring data consistency. Once you have completed entering your answers, this answer data will not be sent back, but will be automatically temporarily stored. When the last recipient receives and replies.

At this point, all the stored response data is collected and sent back to the sender as a response email. If this reply mail can be distinguished from other general mail when displaying the list of received mails, and can be easily correlated with the mail that the user sent, it will be easier to monitor the reply status at the sender.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to a system configuration diagram (Fig. 1).
, a processing flow (FIG. 2), and a conceptual diagram (FIG. 3) 1.

In Figure 1, 11 is for storing mail data, etc.

12 is a central storage device for transferring mail data, etc.

Now central processing unit, 15 (17, 18,...) is mail de.

- a processing device that performs interactive processing with the user such as creating data;
14 and 15 are the keyboard and day for each.

16 is a storage device for storing a program 162 for performing the above-mentioned interactive processing, mail data 161 to be sent, etc., and 17 is a communication line serving as a transfer path for mail data. In the central storage device 11.

A mail management section 111 that is set for each user, and a sent mail body storage section 11 that stores the body of the sent mail.
2.Answer specification storage unit 115 for storing reply procedure information for sent emails, and an answer data storage unit 11 for temporarily storing data answered by each recipient.
4. There is a user management section 115 that includes information such as user numbers, passwords, and the like. The outgoing email management unit 1111 in the user management unit 111 contains information such as sending date and time, destination, pointer to the email body, pointer to email response specification data, and reception deadline, and provides a list of emails sent by the user. Used for display, etc. The received mail management unit 1112 has information on sending and receiving mail.

date and time, sender, pointer to the email body, and email address.

- Contains information such as pointers to email response specification data and reception deadlines, and is used to display a list of emails sent to you.

The operation of the e-mail system having the above system configuration will be explained. First, in step 211, the body of the mail such as 51 is created. This is created using the word processing function built into the 162's mail program section.

Next, in step 212, an answer specification is written. In this example, the first item is the character string entered after the 5th line and 10th column in mail 51, and if a character string other than "attendance" or "absent" is entered, it will be treated as an error and a re-entry request will be made. The description of the answer specification "Yes" is expressed in item number 1 of No. 52. The cursor can be moved only in the area specified by the answer specification; other areas cannot be edited.

Next, in step 213, a destination for broadcast transmission is specified. The destination is 115
Managed by the user management department. Select the destination from among the users registered here.

In the example shown in Figure 5, three people, A, B, and C, are selected as recipients.

selected. Next, in step 214, the mail is broadcasted.

The mail body 31 is sent via the processing device 13, the communication line 17, and the central processing unit 121 to the outgoing mail body storage unit 11.
2. In the same way, answer specification 32 is also sent by mail 5.
The answer specifications are stored in the answer specification storage section 115. Additionally, sender Z
Only the destination is different (A,
B, C) Register transmission backup management information for 5 records.

Conversely, the received mail management unit 11 for five recipients A, B, and C
12, each person also registers the reception management information of the mails that they have received for each code.

Next, in step 221, it is assumed that the person selects the management information corresponding to one of the broadcast mails 55 from among the mail management information addressed to himself registered in his received mail management section 1tt2. Then, 112. The outgoing mail body and the outgoing mail response specifications are respectively taken out from 115 and transferred to the memory of the processing unit 15 via the central processing unit 12 and the communication line 17. Next, this mail 55 is displayed on the screen to prompt the user to input items. At that time, data input position.

All areas outside of mass sales are locked, and the cursor cannot be moved anywhere other than 551° and 352. For example, 2
If you enter ``attendance'' in 551 at 22, it will be determined as an error in 225 (you cannot input anything other than 5 attendance, 1 absence'), and try again.

If you input "attendance" in step 222, your input will be accepted. Similarly, inputting 1' in 5521 completes data input for all items. Next, the data input in this way (A1. Attendance, present) 'i 224 smell.

and stored in the answer data storage section 114. Next, the sending/receiving mail management unit 11 corresponding to the above-mentioned mail received by A
11. Delete the mail management information in 1112 at 227.

Similarly, when B receives the email, the data (B, absent, absent) is additionally registered in 114.

When the last recipient C of the broadcast email receives the email and enters the data of the necessary items, all the response data for the email sent by Z will be 11 as shown in 561C.
It is accumulated in 4. 225 automatically sends this answer data to Z.
from 114 at the same time as sending to.

Then, in step 226, the outgoing mail body and outgoing mail reply specifications are each added in step 112. Delete from 115.

Note that the reply data 36 automatically returned to Z is displayed separately from other normal numbers when Z displays a list of received mail.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to easily perform tasks such as collecting responses, such as in a questionnaire. .

To summarize the specific effects, 1. (1) Since it is possible to specify the response method and the type of data to be answered at the time of transmission, it is possible to standardize the format of the data to be answered, and the data after collection is Processing becomes easier.

(2) As soon as the message is received, it automatically enters reply mode and prompts for a response, eliminating the possibility of missing a response.

(3) Once all the data is collected, the response data will be returned to you all at once, so you can monitor the collection status,
This makes it easier to compile the collected data.

・　d　　・ 4,

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of processing at the time of transmission and reception. FIG. 5 is an explanation showing the flow of a specific process. It is a diagram. 51
1...Central storage device 12...Central processing unit 15...Processing unit 14...Keyboard 15...Display 16...Storage device 17...Communication line

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Means for creating e-mails, means for accumulating user management information, means for broadcasting e-mails to one or more recipients,
In an electronic mail system having a means for storing sent mail and a means for receiving mail, means for creating, transmitting, and storing data in association with the mail, which describes a procedure for a recipient to respond to the received mail; A means for distinguishing the presence or absence of the above procedure data, and a means for prompting the recipient to answer according to the above procedure at the same time as receiving the above procedure data, if there is the above procedure data, and automatically accumulating the answer data at the same time as the answer input is completed. When the last recipient of the information transmission email finishes receiving and inputting responses, there is a means for automatically transmitting the answers of all recipients accumulated by the above means to the sender, and the above response data reply email is sent to the sender. An e-mail system characterized by comprising means for distinguishing.