JP3863537B2 - Network terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network terminal, and more particularly to a network terminal such as a PC having a function of transmitting / receiving e-mail sent via a network such as the Internet and a telephone control function.

  Conventionally, e-mail is displayed with software having a mail function of a client terminal (network terminal) via a network such as the Internet or via a mail server device having functions such as SMTP and POP. Input, transmission and reception are performed.

  The network terminal can also have a telephone control function by connecting a handset.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a sending terminal that creates an e-mail sends information indicating a callback destination attached to the mail, and a receiving terminal that receives the e-mail sends this information when this information is attached. A technique of using and calling back is disclosed. According to this technology, it is possible to notify mail arrival confirmation without delay.
JP 2000-209257 A

  By the way, IP telephones using a TCP / IP network to send voice are becoming popular. This can be done from a network terminal such as a PC to which the handset is connected by SIP, H. Dialing is performed using the H.323 protocol or the like. As a result, conversations with IP phones and ordinary analog phones are possible. More specifically, the network terminal has software having a telephone control function, and the dial number of the call destination is input from the screen. In order to save the trouble of dial input, it is a common practice to perform a refined search from a telephone directory database using a name collation function or the like. If the destination dial number is not registered in the phone book database, enter the phone number from the screen or handset and perform a call operation.

However, the network terminal having the conventional telephone control function has the following problems.
(1) E-mail is a means of storing and exchanging until it gets tired, and in the event of an emergency, it is necessary to contact by telephone. At that time, it is troublesome to input the telephone number while indexing the telephone number from the mail address.
(2) Regarding the outgoing call history, generally only the outgoing telephone number remains. For this reason, it is difficult to manage the history without knowing what and where it originated.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a network terminal that can solve the above-described problems and can easily perform an outgoing call operation. It is another object of the present invention to provide a network terminal capable of leaving information related to a call telephone number as a call history.

  The above object is a network terminal having a function of displaying a list of e-mails received via a network and a telephone control function, and having an address book in which telephone numbers corresponding to e-mail addresses of the e-mails are registered. , An e-mail of a specific sender who desires to make a call can be selected in the e-mail list, and when the e-mail of the specific sender is selected, the e-mail of the selected e-mail is selected. This is achieved by a network terminal that reads a telephone number corresponding to an address from the address book and makes a call. Here, if the telephone number corresponding to the mail address of the selected e-mail is not registered in the address book, a search is made as to whether a telephone number is described in the mail body of the selected e-mail. When a telephone number is detected in the mail text, a call can be made using the detected telephone number.

The network terminal according to the present invention has a function of displaying a list of e-mails received via the network and a telephone control function, and wishes to make a call in the e-mail list. A specific source email can be selected, and when the specific source email is selected, a search is made as to whether a telephone number is described in the email body of the selected email. When a telephone number is detected in the mail text, a telephone call is made using the detected telephone number.
Here, the identification information of the selected e-mail can be stored in association with the call origination date and time and the call telephone number.

  In addition, the program according to the present invention has a function of enabling selection of an e-mail of a specific sender who desires to place a call in a list of e-mails received via a network, the e-mail of the specific sender Is selected, the computer is realized with the function of calling the telephone by reading the telephone number corresponding to the selected e-mail address from the address book in which the telephone number corresponding to the e-mail address is registered. Is for. Furthermore, when a telephone number corresponding to the mail address of the selected e-mail is not registered in the address book, a function for searching whether or not a telephone number is described in the mail body of the selected e-mail When a telephone number is detected in the mail text, a program for causing a computer to implement a function of making a call using the detected telephone number can be provided.

Furthermore, the program according to the present invention has a function of enabling selection of an e-mail of a specific sender who desires to make a call from a list of e-mails received via a network, the e-mail of the specific sender Is selected, a function for searching whether or not a telephone number is described in the mail body of the selected e-mail. When a telephone number is detected in the mail body, a call is made by the detected telephone number. This is to make the computer realize the function of sending.
Furthermore, it is possible to provide a program for causing a computer to realize a function of storing the identification information of the selected electronic mail in association with the call origination date and time and the call telephone number.

According to the present invention, a network terminal having the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A telephone call operation can be easily performed. For example, from the selected state of the e-mail of the specific sender who wants to make a call, press the call reply (return) button on the display screen of the network terminal to call from the address book from the e-mail address. The number can be indexed (read out) to make a call. Thereby, the operativity of telephone transmission can be improved.
(2) When a telephone number is not registered in the address book as described above, by recognizing the telephone number in the body of the e-mail, the telephone number can be transmitted simultaneously with the registration of the telephone number in the address book. Thereby, the operativity of telephone transmission can further be improved.
(3) It is possible to store e-mail identification information such as a corresponding e-mail title together with a call telephone number in a call history. This can be used for history management after calling.

An embodiment of a network terminal according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a network system including a network terminal according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, this network system includes a server device 1, a plurality of network terminals 2 connected to the server device 1 via a local area network (LAN), a handset 3 connected to each network terminal, and a server device. 1 is connected to the Internet 4, a gateway 5 connected to the Internet 4, a PBX 6 connected to the gateway 5, and a plurality of telephones 7 connected to the PBX 6.

  In FIG. 1, a server device 1 is for connecting a network terminal 2 provided in an office or the like to the Internet 4 and has a mail server function and an IP telephone call incoming / outgoing control function. In FIG. 1, one server device 1 is displayed, but the functions may be shared by a plurality of server devices. The network terminal 2 is a computer connected to the network, such as a personal computer (PC), and has a softphone function by connecting the handset 3 thereto. The handset 3 has a microphone and a speaker for a soft phone that performs transmission and reception. The gateway 5 performs signal system conversion between a general public line network and an IP telephone network. The telephone 7 is, for example, a conventional analog telephone, but is not limited thereto, and may be a network terminal having a similar softphone function as a communication partner with the network terminal 2 or an IP telephone.

As described above, the network terminal 2 has a softphone function (telephone control function) as well as a function of displaying a list of e-mails received via the Internet 4. The network terminal 2 includes an address book in which a telephone number corresponding to an e-mail address is registered, and can select an e-mail of a specific transmission source that desires to make a call from the e-mail list. it can. When the e-mail of this specific transmission source is selected, the telephone number corresponding to the e-mail address of the selected e-mail can be read from the address book to make a call. Here, if the telephone number corresponding to the mail address of the selected e-mail is not registered in the address book, search whether the telephone number is described in the mail body of the selected e-mail, When a telephone number is detected in the mail text, a call is made using the detected telephone number. Details of these will be described later.
In the present embodiment, the address book is first referred to. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is searched whether the telephone number is directly described in the mail text without referring to the address book, and based on that. A telephone call may be made.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the network terminal 2 shown in FIG. As illustrated, the network terminal 2 includes a CPU 201 that controls the network terminal 2, a memory 202 that temporarily stores computer programs and tables, a LAN communication unit 203 that is a control board that controls a LAN interface, a computer program, Interfaces between an external storage device 204 such as a hard disk (HDD) that stores tables and the like, an input unit 205 that controls a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 206 that controls a monitor and a display, and the handset 3 For example, a USB control unit 207 which is a USB control board for controlling a USB signal system is provided, and the respective units are connected to each other.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the network terminal 2 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the network terminal 2 controls the communication control unit 211 for controlling the LAN interface, the mail control unit 212 for sending / receiving and displaying / selecting mail, and the display unit 206 as shown in the overall function 210. A display control unit 213 that performs control, an input control unit 214 that controls the input unit 205, a softphone control unit 217 that controls incoming and outgoing calls and input / output of voice data, and a handset that performs voice input / output control of the handset 3 Control unit 218, outgoing call history file 219 for storing outgoing calls made by softphone, address book 220 for storing a correspondence table of mail addresses and telephone numbers, and keywords and recognition for detecting telephone numbers from the mail text And a recognition keyword table 221 for storing a condition correspondence table.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the address book 220 shown in FIG. The address book 220 includes a mail address 2201, a first telephone number (phone number 1) 2202 associated with the mail address 2201, and a second telephone number (telephone associated with the mail address 2201) as shown in the figure. Number 2) 2203 is provided. The phone numbers 1 and 2 can be used, for example, by setting the phone number 1 as a normal landline phone, and the phone number 2 as a transfer destination phone number such as a mobile phone or a business trip destination. When in use, the telephone number 2 can be selected and transmitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the outgoing call history file 219 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the call history file 219 includes a call date and time 2191 that is a call date and time, a related mail title 2192 that is a title of a mail used for making a call, and a call phone number 2193 that is a call destination telephone number. Is provided.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the received mail list of the mail software. On the entire mail software screen 600, for example, as shown in the figure, a mail software control menu display area (menu bar) 601, a display area 602 for displaying mail operation buttons, and a folder selection for selecting a mail storage folder Received mail list 604 corresponding to the folder selected in area 603, folder selection area 603, field 605 for selecting mail to be operated, mail address 606, mail subject 607, mail reception by information for identifying mail sender A date and time 608 and a power return button 609 for making a call from the softphone to the sender of the mail selected in the mail selection field 605 are included.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a screen that pops up when the power return button 609 is pressed. On the entire pop-up screen 700, as shown in the figure, the other party's telephone number 701 to be sent, an OK button 702 for making a call by pressing (clicking with a mouse), and an NG button for stopping the call by pressing 703 is included.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of received mail. The entire received mail display screen (received mail example) 800 includes, for example, a mail address 801, information identifying the mail sender, for example, a mail address 802, a mail text 803, and a telephone included in the mail text, as shown in the figure. Number 804 and a recognition keyword 805 for recognizing a telephone number included in the mail text are included. The recognition keyword 805 is a phrase such as “above” indicating the end of the text, but is not limited thereto. A range 806 for recognizing a telephone number included in the mail text indicates a range for searching forward or backward based on the recognition keyword 805.
Furthermore, instead of the recognition keyword 805, it is possible to specify the number of lines from the bottom of the text. Also, when replying, there is mail software that leaves the other party's text at the bottom of the reply mail text. In that case, the "Original Message" or the code ">" added to the header of each line can be used. It is also possible to recognize that it is a text and exclude it from the search target.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the recognition keyword table 221 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the recognition keyword table 221 includes a recognition keyword 2211 for recognizing a telephone number included in the mail text, and a recognition keyword 2211 included in the mail text. A range (number of characters) in which a telephone number is to be searched with respect to the direction indicated by the recognition direction 2212 when a recognition direction 2212 indicating which direction to search backward and a recognition keyword 2211 are included in the mail text. 2213.
The network terminal 2 is configured as described above. Next, a processing example in the network terminal 2 will be described using a flowchart.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing example when the power return button shown in FIG. 6 is pressed. First, in a list of e-mails (received mail list) 604, a received mail of a specific transmission source that desires to make a call is selected. When the power return button 609 is pressed, the source mail address 606 is read from the selected received mail (S1001). The address book 220 is searched from the mail address 606 read in step S1001, and the telephone numbers (2202, 2203) are sequentially read (S1002). Based on the telephone number (2202, 2203) read in step S1002, the softphone control unit 217 selects and sends a telephone (S1003). That is, the character string of the read telephone number is written on the clipboard, and when the character string is detected, the softphone process of the softphone control unit 217 is activated, and the telephone is transmitted using the character string. As a result, if the telephone connection is successful, the process proceeds to step S1011. If the connection fails, the process proceeds to step S1005 (S1004).

  If the telephone connection is unsuccessful, it is checked whether or not the transmission has been attempted for both the telephone number 1 (2202) and the telephone number 2 (2203) in the address book 220 read in step S1002 (S1005). If transmission has been attempted for both, the process proceeds to step S1006, and if transmission has not been attempted for either, the process proceeds to step S1002. If the transmission has been attempted for both, a process of recognizing the telephone number to be transmitted is executed from the mail body (S1006), and it is checked whether a candidate telephone number is detected (S1007). As a result, if a telephone number is detected, the process proceeds to step S1008, and if not detected, the power return process is terminated. When the telephone number is detected, the softphone control unit 217 makes a call to the detected telephone number 804 (S1008). That is, the character string of the detected telephone number is written on the clipboard, and by detecting the character string, the softphone process of the softphone control unit 217 is activated, and the telephone is transmitted using the character string. In this way, when a phone number character string is detected in the body of an email, a call can be made automatically. However, just in case, the user confirms the phone number on the display screen before making a call. You may do it. As a result, if the telephone connection is successful, the process proceeds to step S1010. If the connection fails, the power return process is terminated (S1009).

When the telephone connection is successful, the mail address 802 and the detected telephone number 804 are registered in the address book 220, respectively, in the mail address 2201 and telephone number 1 (2202) (S1010), and a conversation is made with the destination receiver. Is performed (S1011). The conversation is performed using the handset 3 connected to the network terminal 2. After the conversation ends, the transmission date / time, the subject 607 of the related mail, and the telephone number of the transmission are stored in the transmission date / time 2191, the related mail title 2192, and the transmission telephone number 2193 of the transmission history file 219, respectively (S1012). finish.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing example of the telephone number recognition processing shown in step S1006 of FIG. First, the text 803 of the selected mail is read (S1101). Then, the recognition keyword 2211 is detected from the recognition keyword table 221 shown in FIG. 3 (S1102). First, it is checked whether or not the recognition keyword “above” is detected (S1103). If “above” is detected in the mail text, the process proceeds to step S1106, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step S1104. If “more than” is not detected, it is subsequently checked whether or not the recognition keyword “TEL” is detected (S1104). If "TEL" is detected in the mail text, the process proceeds to S1106, and if not detected, the process proceeds to S1105. If “TEL” is not detected, it is subsequently checked whether or not the recognition keyword “Tell me” is detected (S1105). If "Let me know" is detected in the mail text, the process proceeds to step S1106. If not detected, the process proceeds to step S1108.

  In the case where the above-described recognition keyword is detected in the mail body, the phone number format is obtained from the character string indicated by the recognition direction 2212 and the range 2213 to be recognized corresponding to the recognition keyword 2211 included in the mail body. It is checked whether a character string (for example, “nn-nnnn-nnnn”, n: number) is detected (S1106). As a result, if detected, the process proceeds to step S1107, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step S1108. Here, it is needless to say that the recognition accuracy can be improved by adding various candidate formats such as “(nn) nnnn-nnnn”, “nnn-nnn-nnnn”, etc. No. If a telephone number format character string is detected, the telephone number detected in step S1106 is set (set) as a return code and returned to the caller (S1107). On the other hand, when the telephone number format character string is not detected, a return code indicating that the telephone number has not been detected is set and returned to the caller (S1108).

In the above description, the interface with the softphone process is via the clipboard. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a request event is generated to the softphone controller via a file or via the OS using the detected phone number. It is also possible to do it.
In addition, even if the phone number corresponding to the email address is registered in the phone book, if the phone number entered in the email text is detected, it is more likely that the email text is the latest or the destination. Therefore, it is possible to make a call by giving priority to this number.
The computer program for executing these is stored, for example, in the memory 202 or the external storage device 204 of the network terminal 2, and the CPU 201 executes the processing. This computer program can be installed in the network terminal 2 as add-in software, and can also be stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CDROM. The user can also download the above-mentioned program uploaded via a telecommunication line such as the Internet and install it on the network terminal 2.

  The present invention relates to a network terminal such as a PC having a function of transmitting and receiving an electronic mail sent via a network such as the Internet and a telephone control function, and has industrial applicability.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the network system containing the network terminal which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the network terminal 2 shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional block of the network terminal 2 shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the address book 220 shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the transmission log | history file 219 shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the received mail list of mail software. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen which pops up when the power return button 609 is pressed. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a received mail. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the recognition keyword table 221 shown by FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process example at the time of pressing down the power return button shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed process example of the telephone number recognition process shown by S1006 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Server device 2 Network terminal 3 Handset 4 Internet 5 Gateway 6 PBX
7 telephone 201 CPU
202 Memory 203 LAN communication unit 204 External storage device 205 Input unit 206 Display unit 207 USB control unit 211 Communication control unit 212 Mail control unit 213 Display control unit 214 Input control unit 217 Softphone control unit 218 Handset control unit 219 Transmission history file 220 Address book 221 recognition keyword table

Claims (6)

A network terminal having a function of displaying a list of e-mails received via a network and a telephone control function, comprising an address book in which a telephone number corresponding to a mail address of the e-mail is registered, and the e-mail In this list, an e-mail of a specific sender who desires to make a call can be selected, and when the e-mail of the specific sender is selected, it corresponds to the e-mail address of the selected e-mail. If the telephone number is read from the address book and a call is made, and the telephone number corresponding to the mail address of the selected e-mail is not registered in the address book, the e-mail mail recognition keywords and a reference to the recognition keyword for recognizing the telephone number included in the text, before Search whether using a recognition direction indicating whether to search backwards either direction, forward or backward in a predetermined range of the recognition keyword, telephone number during mail text of the selected electronic mail is described A network terminal characterized in that when a telephone number is detected in the mail text, a telephone call is made using the detected telephone number. A network terminal having a function for displaying a list of e-mails received via a network and a telephone control function, and selecting an e-mail of a specific sender that desires to make a call in the e-mail list When an e-mail of the specific sender is selected , either forward or backward based on the recognition keyword for recognizing the telephone number included in the mail body of the e-mail and the recognition keyword Using the recognition direction indicating whether to search in the direction of the search, whether or not a telephone number is described in the mail body of the selected email within a predetermined range in front of or behind the recognition keyword, The network is characterized in that when a telephone number is detected in the mail body, a call is made using the detected telephone number. Network terminal.   3. The network terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein identification information of the selected electronic mail is stored in association with a call origination date and time and a call telephone number. A function that enables selection of an e-mail of a specific sender who desires to make a call in a list of e-mails received via the network, and when the e-mail of the specific sender is selected, the e-mail A function for reading a telephone number corresponding to the mail address of the selected e-mail from the address book in which a telephone number corresponding to the e-mail address is registered, and making a call, and corresponding to the mail address of the selected e-mail If the phone number is not registered in the address book, whether to search forward or backward based on the recognition keyword for recognizing the phone number included in the email body of the e-mail and the recognition keyword using a recognition direction indicated, by forward or backward in a predetermined range of the recognition keyword, the selected electricity A program for causing a computer to realize a function for searching whether or not a telephone number is described in a mail body of a mail, and a function for making a call using the detected telephone number when a telephone number is detected in the mail body . A function that enables selection of an e-mail of a specific sender who desires to make a call in a list of e-mails received via the network, and when the e-mail of the specific sender is selected, the e-mail Based on the recognition keyword for recognizing the telephone number included in the mail body of the message and the recognition direction indicating whether to search in the forward or backward direction based on the recognition keyword, the forward or backward of the recognition keyword A function for searching whether or not a telephone number is described in the mail body of the selected e-mail within a predetermined range. When a telephone number is detected in the mail body, a call is made using the detected telephone number. A program for realizing functions on a computer. The program according to claim 4 or 5 for causing a computer to realize a function of storing identification information of the selected e-mail in association with a call origination date and a call telephone number.

Images