JP2863062B2 - Chart e-mail system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a diagram electronic mail system, and more particularly to a diagram electronic system for transmitting and receiving a diagram data composed of a geometric figure (including an image image) represented by two-dimensional coordinates and a character or a character string. It concerns the mail system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, data that can be transmitted and received in an electronic mail system is limited to character information represented by a character code.

However, in recent years, the development of a protocol of an electronic mail system for exchanging information other than character information has been progressing.
The exchange of multimedia information such as audio and video has become possible.

On the other hand, in addition to characters, a diagram creating tool which can relatively easily create various straight lines and curves, or a figure obtained by combining these, or a specific pattern, or a two-dimensional figure such as an area filled with a specific pattern or an image image. Is widely used.

[0005] These two-dimensional figures are input from a terminal device using a device such as a keyboard or a mouse.
It can be edited and used as presentation materials and figures in documents.

Further, a network has been constructed to exchange information on chart data created by a user at a remote place by using electronic mail.

[0007] When such chart data as a two-dimensional figure is transmitted by e-mail, the recipient who has received the e-mail edits the chart data and sends it back to the first sender. Alternatively, a case where retransmission is performed to another user is assumed.

[0008] This is done by writing comments or the like on the recipient side for the chart data held by the first e-mail in the same chart data, or by transferring the chart data held by the first e-mail to a plurality of chart data. There is an effect that the user can correct and reuse it.

In this case, the recipient who has received the e-mail including the edited chart data needs to recognize which part (or which figure) has been newly edited.

[0010] When this work is repeated transmission and reception in a chain between a plurality of users using e-mail, the newly edited portion (or figure) is
Each user needs to recognize which user has edited at what stage.

Further, when reusing the chart data edited through a plurality of stages (users), a case is conceivable in which the chart data in the editing stage most suitable for the user is extracted and used.

[0012] These are required even in the conventional text e-mail. In the case of the text e-mail, when reusing the contents of the received e-mail, special characters are added to the beginning of every line of the text created by the sender. By inserting and reusing a symbol (for example, an inequality sign “>”), the recipient of the edited e-mail can easily recognize the portion added by each step (user).

[0013] Further, by changing the number of symbols to be inserted or by inserting the name of the added user in the line immediately above the added sentence, it is easy to recognize at which stage the added symbol has been added. .

Further, regarding editing operations such as deletion and insertion, the part to be edited is copied to the input part of the receiver and edited, and the edited contents can be easily recognized by arranging the sentences before the editing before and after. I can do it.

[0015]

However, the above-mentioned 2
When sending and receiving dimensional figures as chart data by e-mail, unlike sending and receiving text data,
A method for realizing the above effects has not been described.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to manage the sent and received chart data in a user unit, a time order and an editing order in a process in which a plurality of users repeatedly send and receive chart data by an electronic mail system. It is to provide a chart electronic mail system.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an editing step identification for identifying an editing step for each user for each graphic element in chart data transmitted and received between a plurality of users. Transmitting means for adding and transmitting information;
There is provided reception display means for displaying a graphic in a predetermined display format for distinguishing the editing stage according to each graphic element in the chart data received from another and the editing stage identification information for each user.

[0018]

According to the above means, the chart data transmitted by the transmitting means in the present system has editing step identification information for identifying an editing step for each user added to each graphic element in the figure data, and the next user Sent to.

Further, the chart data received by the receiving and displaying means in the present system is displayed in a predetermined display format for distinguishing the editing stage according to each graphic element therein and the editing stage identification information for each user. You.

As a result, even in the case of chart data transmitted / received via a plurality of users, it is possible to identify at which stage (user) and which part (graphic) has been edited.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
100 is a chart electronic mail system according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as
101 is a terminal device used in the present system.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a display device for displaying an arbitrary two-dimensional figure, and reference numeral 103 denotes an auxiliary storage device for storing chart data transmitted by chart electronic mail. 104
Is a keyboard for inputting character data and the like.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a mouse for inputting chart data and menu selection to the mail system 100, and 106 denotes a network to which a plurality of mail systems 100 are connected.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the data structure of each figure element of the chart data. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a data table for each graphic element in the chart data handled by the present system, and includes a graphic element entry identification number 201, an edit stage identification number 202, an edit execution date and time 203, an edit execution user identification name 204, a graphic It comprises an element identification number 205, a graphic type identification number 206 and a graphic attribute 207.

The graphic element entry identification number 201 is a number that uniquely indicates all graphic element entries included in the chart data, and the editing stage identification number 202 indicates at which stage (user) the graphic element was edited. It is a number that indicates whether the item is an object.

For example, the editing stage identification number 202 at the stage of editing for the first time is set to “1”, and when any editing is performed thereafter, “1” is sequentially added, and this is set as a serial number.

The edit execution date and time 203 indicates the date and time when the contents of the chart data were edited, and the edit execution user identification name 204 is the name of the user who edited the data. For this, for example, a user's e-mail address is used.

The graphic element identification number 205 is a unique number assigned from the time a specific graphic element is input to the time it is deleted, and does not change due to an editing operation such as a change in attribute.

Therefore, graphic elements having the same graphic element identification number 205 but different graphic element entry identification numbers 201 may exist.

The graphic type identification number 206 is a number indicating the type of a graphic element. Based on this number, the combination and type of the graphic attributes of the graphic element are determined.

The graphic attribute 207 has various graphic attribute data such as the size of a graphic and the thickness of a line. The configuration of the figure attribute 207 held here differs depending on the type of figure.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a screen of the display device 102 of the embodiment. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a display screen A, and reference numeral 301 denotes a received chart data area.

Reference numeral 302 denotes a menu showing a list of users who have edited the chart data in the past and the dates and times of the editing.

Reference numeral 303 denotes a chart data area 301 at a certain point in time.
Is a menu for instructing a display switching command, such as displaying the state immediately before or after the chart data displayed in.

FIG. 4 shows the mail system 1 in the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when chart data is received. Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the mail system 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 4, first, the network 106
The chart data is received as an e-mail from another mail system 100 via the e-mail (step 401). For all of the graphic elements in the received diagram data, the editing stage identification number 202 and the graphic element identification number 205 are extracted, and the graphic elements having the same editing stage identification number 202 or the same graphic element identification number 205 are classified and stored. (Step 402).

Next, based on the editing execution date / time 203, the editing stage identification numbers 202 are arranged in accordance with the new / old time order of the chart data (step 403). Next, the editing execution date and time 203 and the editing execution user identification name 204 are displayed on the menu 302 in order from the top (step 404). Then, the graphic element whose edit execution date and time 203 is the latest is displayed in the chart data area 3.
01 (step 405), and waits for an instruction / input by the user using the terminal device 101 (step 40).
6).

Here, when the user uses the mouse 105 to select the display of a chart in a specific editing stage from the menu 302 and instructs the mail system 100 (step 407), the user is prompted to enter the currently displayed editing stage. All graphics are deleted from the screen (step 408), and all graphics elements having the editing stage identification number 202 designated by the user are displayed (step 408).

In step 407, when the user instructs the menu 302 to retrieve the currently displayed graphic data at the editing stage (step 410), the user selects all the graphic elements having the editing stage identification number 202. Then, the figure type identification number 206 and the figure attribute 207 are stored as files on the auxiliary storage device 103 (step 411).

In step 410, the user edits the currently displayed diagram data in the editing stage, such as adding a comment or modifying it, and then retransmits or returns it. When instructed by the menu 302 (step 412), first, the graphic attributes 207, the graphic type identification numbers 206, and the graphic element identification numbers 205 are the same for each graphic element of the chart data having the editing stage identification number 202,
A graphic element entry is automatically created such that the edit execution user identifier 204, which is the edit stage identification information, is the current user name, and the edit stage identification number 202 is a new number (step 413).

Here, a waiting state for input from the user is entered (step 414).

When the user operates the mouse 105 or the keyboard 104
Is used to edit the diagram data (step 415), if a new graphic element is input (step 418), a new graphic element data entry is created and the graphic attributes 207 and the like are recorded. Then, a new graphic element identification number 205 not existing in the original chart data is created and recorded in the chart data (step 419).

In step 418, if the operation of changing the graphic attribute 207 already existing in the chart data (NO) (step 420), the data of the graphic attribute 207 of the corresponding graphic element is changed (step 421).

If it is determined in step 420 that the graphic attribute 207 is not changed (NO) and the operation is to delete a specific graphic element (step 422), the graphic element data entry itself is deleted (step 423).

When all the editing processes have been completed and the user has designated transmission of the chart data by the mail system 100 (step 416: YES), the editing execution date and time 203 in the chart data is changed to the current date and time. Is executed by the mail system 100 (step 41).
7).

After the transmission, the chart data with the latest edit execution date 203 is displayed again (step 405), and the user performs the following operation by referring to another chart data or stops using the mail system 100. Repeat until instructed to do so.

As a result, it is possible to manage the chart data in each user, that is, in each editing stage.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a description will be given of an embodiment in which a part additionally input in each editing stage and a user who has performed editing are identified by the display color of the chart data.

The system configuration and the data configuration are the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a display screen of the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a display screen B, for the sake of convenience, in which color differences are represented by the thickness of the drawing lines (FIG. 5).
Thin line 502, medium thick line 503 in menu 501 inside
And bold line 504).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the second embodiment. In FIG. 6, first, the embodiment is performed up to the processing procedure (step 602) in which the chart data is received as an electronic mail (step 601), and all the graphic elements are classified according to the editing step by the editing step identification number 202 in each figure data. Same as 1.

In FIG. 6, in the process of displaying the chart data, the display colors corresponding to the edit stage identification numbers 202 whose edit execution date and time 203 are older than the latest edit stage or the edit stage designated by the user are determined. (Step 603), and all graphic element entries are displayed in order from the one with the oldest edit execution date and time 203 (Step 6).
04-606).

Here, any display color may be used as long as each editing stage can be uniquely determined. However, a method in which the older the editing execution date / time 203 with the same display color is, the lighter the display color is.

At the same time, the corresponding figure (figure A50 in FIG. 5) is displayed on the menu 501 at each editing stage (the thin line 502, the medium thick line 503, and the thick line 504 in FIG. 5).
5, the display colors of FIG. B506 and FIG. C507) allow the user to easily identify or select each editing step.

In some cases, it is difficult to recognize a graphic element entry by deleting all graphic element entries or changing the type of line (solid line, broken line, etc.). A method for making these identifiable is also conceivable.

Instead of displaying all the editing stages, there may be a method in which the editing stages up to a certain point in the past are limitedly displayed according to the editing execution date and time 203 or the total number of the entire editing stages.

Thus, the temporal order relation of the chart data can be managed.

(Embodiment 3) Next, for a specific graphic element in the chart data, deletion or attribute (size, line thickness, etc.) is performed.
An example will be described in which, when a change is made, the state before and after the editing of the graphic element is automatically and alternately displayed, thereby recognizing the edited portion and the edited content.

The system configuration and the data configuration are the same as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a change in the display screen according to the third embodiment.

Reference numeral 702 denotes a display example of the chart data in the editing stage. On the other hand, reference numeral 701 denotes a display example of the chart data in the immediately preceding editing stage. Here, for convenience, the display screen C70
0 is shown on the same plane.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the third embodiment.

In FIG. 8, in the process of displaying the chart data, first, a list of all the graphic element identification numbers 205 in the chart data 702 in the editing stage, a list of the graphic element identification numbers 205 in the immediately preceding editing stage, and Compare (Step 8
01).

The ratio of the magnitude of the difference between the lists appearing due to addition or deletion is determined (step 80).
2) If the ratio exceeds a certain value with respect to the whole (step 802: YES), most of the portions changed between the two editing stages, that is, the user changes the points by the method of the third embodiment. It is determined that it is not necessary to recognize the (edited portion), and only the chart data 702 in the editing stage is displayed (step 803), and an instruction input from the user is waited.

On the other hand, when the ratio of the magnitude of the difference is less than a predetermined value with respect to the whole (step 802: NO), all of the graphic elements changed by addition, deletion, and attribute change in the editing stage The chart data 702 and the chart data 701 in the immediately preceding editing stage are alternately displayed at regular intervals (steps 803 to 806).

Thus, the chart data 702 in the editing stage is obtained.
And the chart data 701 of the immediately preceding editing stage are displayed alternately.
3 and the thickness of the drawing line as shown in FIG.
05 and the figure data 702, the size of the figure is changed as shown in FIG. 706, or the figure data 702, like the figure H 707 in the figure data 701, makes it possible to easily recognize the deleted figure.

In this case, instead of displaying the graphic elements in the two editing stages at the same time, the display time of the chart data 701 in the immediately preceding editing stage is shortened, so that
A method is also conceivable in which it is easy to see which of the displays is from the previous editing stage.

It is also conceivable to increase the number of identifiable graphic elements in combination with the first and second embodiments.

(Embodiment 4) Next, the edited part and the editing were performed by displaying the entire chart data of each editing stage slightly overlaid and superimposed, and recognizing it as a stereoscopic image using parallax. An example in which a user is identified will be described.

The system configuration and the data configuration are the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an example of a display screen used in this embodiment. The screen Da-901 and the screen D-b902 are two screens that realize a stereoscopic screen using parallax. Here, for convenience, the display screen D900 is shown on the same plane.

In FIG. 9, in the process of displaying chart data, first, all graphic elements in the chart in the editing stage immediately before the editing stage to be displayed are displayed on both the screen Da-901 and the screen D-b 902. (FIG. I903 on the screen D-a901 and FIG. J90 on the screen D-b902).
4).

Next, all graphic elements in the editing stage to be displayed are superimposed and displayed with a slight shift (the graphic K 905 and the screen D-b in the screen Da-901).
Figure L906 in 902).

At this time, the shift widths of the graphic I903 and the graphic K905 and the graphic J904 and the graphic L906 are set to different sizes.

By changing the shift width in this way, stereoscopic viewing becomes possible. When the user looks at this display screen, 2
Since the diagram data in one editing stage looks three-dimensional, the addition and deletion of graphic elements and
It becomes possible to visually recognize the object as a three-dimensional object.

A method of stereoscopically viewing three or more editing stages is also considered, and it is possible to see the history of editing by three or more users.

As described above, according to the chart e-mail system according to the present invention, even if the chart data is received through a plurality of editing steps, at which stage (user), which part (graphic) is It is possible to easily recognize when (editing date) the data has been edited, and to easily extract the chart data in the editing stage required by the user.

Further, it is possible to obtain various kinds of information which cannot be obtained by the conventional information exchange using only text data.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A transmitting unit for adding editing step identification information for identifying an editing step for each user to each graphic element in the chart data transmitted / received between a plurality of users, and transmitting the figure elements in the chart data received from others; Receiving and displaying means for displaying the graphic in a predetermined display format for distinguishing the editing step according to the element and the editing step identification information for each user, so that even if the chart data is received through a plurality of users, The effect is that at the stage (user), it is possible to easily recognize which part (figure) has been edited.

Since the receiving and displaying means displays the editing stage by changing the display color of the chart data, it is easy to recognize the editing stage of the received chart data from the difference in the display colors. There is an effect that can be.

Since the receiving and displaying means alternately displays the chart data before and after the editing, the editing part of the received chart data can be easily recognized from the alternately displayed chart data. There is an effect that can be.

Since the receiving and displaying means shifts and displays the chart data for each editing step, it is easy to recognize the editing step of the received chart data from the superimposed displayed chart data. There is an effect that can be.

Therefore, for each graphic element in the chart data, the editing stage identification information added for each user gives
Even if the chart data is repeatedly transmitted and received by a plurality of users, there is an effect that the chart data can be easily managed in user units, time order and editing order.

Further, there is an effect that the required chart data in the past editing stage can be easily extracted from the received chart data.

[0086] As a result, an effect can be expected that, like the conventional text data, the conversion of the chart data including the geometric figure represented by the two-dimensional coordinates into electronic mail is promoted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a data table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display screen A according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display screen B according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display screen C according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display screen D according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Chart and table e-mail system (mail system),
Reference numeral 101: terminal device, 103: auxiliary storage device, 104: keyboard, 105: mouse, 106 network, 20
0: Data table, 300: Display screen A, 500: Display screen B, 700: Display screen C, 900: Display screen D

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A chart e-mail system for transmitting and receiving chart data including a geometric figure represented by two-dimensional coordinates as electronic mail between a plurality of users, wherein each of the chart data in the chart data transmitted and received between the plurality of users is provided. Transmitting means for adding, to the graphic element, editing stage identification information for identifying an editing stage for each user, and transmitting the graphic in accordance with each graphic element in the chart data received from another and the editing stage identification information for each user. A chart e-mail system comprising: a reception display unit for displaying in a predetermined display format for distinguishing an editing stage. 2. The chart electronic mail system according to claim 1, wherein said receiving and displaying means displays an editing step by changing a display color of the chart data. 3. The chart electronic mail system according to claim 1, wherein said reception display means alternately displays chart data before and after editing. 4. The chart electronic mail system according to claim 1, wherein said reception display means shifts and displays the chart data for each editing stage.