JP4356007B2 - E-mail confirmation device, e-mail confirmation method and e-mail confirmation program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mail confirmation device , a mail confirmation method, and a mail confirmation program , and is suitable for application when confirming the number of e-mails reaching a mail server, for example.

  Conventionally, in a mail confirmation device, a mail confirmation process for confirming how many e-mails have arrived at a mail server is performed, for example, every few minutes.

  By the way, in practice, it is inefficient to execute the mail confirmation process every few minutes in a time zone where e-mails arrive only every few hours, for example, at midnight.

Therefore, for example, by setting a time interval for mail check processing in the daytime (hereinafter referred to as a mail check interval) every few minutes, and setting a mail check interval at night every several hours, the mail server During the daytime hours when the number of e-mails that are expected to increase will be shortened, the e-mail check interval will be shortened, and during the nighttime hours when the number of e-mails that are expected to reach the mail server will be reduced There is an e-mail confirmation device that is capable of efficiently executing an e-mail confirmation process by extending the confirmation interval (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-195325 A

  However, in practice, the time zone when the number of e-mails reaching the mail server increases and the time zone when the number of e-mails decreases are different for each user who uses the e-mail confirmation device. Even if the e-mail confirmation interval is set to be short and long at night, the e-mail confirmation process cannot be executed efficiently depending on the e-mail confirmation apparatus, which may be inefficient.

  In this way, in such a mail confirmation device, mail confirmation is performed at a predetermined mail confirmation interval regardless of the actual mail confirmation processing status such as how many emails have been confirmed in a certain time period. Since the processing is executed, there is a problem that it is not always possible to efficiently execute the mail confirmation processing.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and intends to propose a mail confirmation device , a mail confirmation method, and a mail confirmation program capable of confirming the number of emails more efficiently than in the past. .

In order to solve such a problem, in the mail confirmation device of the present invention, a mail confirmation unit for executing a mail confirmation process for confirming the number of emails reaching the mail server at a set time interval, and the email Recognizing the activation means that activates the mail application to be received and displayed on the predetermined display unit, the number of emails confirmed by the mail confirmation process, and the usage time of the mail application, and the time interval according to the recognition result And adjusting means for adjusting.

In the mail confirmation method of the present invention, the information processing apparatus executes a mail confirmation process for confirming the number of emails reaching the mail server at a set time interval, and the information processing An activation step in which the apparatus receives the e-mail and causes the mail application to be displayed on a predetermined display unit; the number of e-mails confirmed by the information processing apparatus in the e-mail confirmation process; And an adjustment step for adjusting the time interval according to the recognition result .

Furthermore, in the mail confirmation program of the present invention, a mail confirmation step for executing a mail confirmation process for confirming the number of emails reaching the mail server at a set time interval with respect to the information processing apparatus; Recognize the startup step of starting the email application that receives the email and display it on the predetermined display, the number of emails confirmed in the email confirmation process, and the usage time of the email application, and depending on the recognition result And an adjustment step for adjusting the time interval.

Thus, by recognizing the number of e-mails confirmed in the e-mail confirmation process and the usage time of the e-mail application, and adjusting the time interval of the e-mail confirmation process according to the recognition result , e-mail The email confirmation interval to be set can be adjusted depending on whether the number of emails is large or small, and whether the probability that the user will use email is high or low, so the email confirmation process is executed at a preset time interval. It is possible to execute a mail check process that is much more efficient than that.

According to the present invention, a mail confirmation process for confirming the number of emails reaching the mail server at a set time interval is executed, and a mail application for displaying the emails on a predetermined display unit is started. By recognizing the number of emails confirmed in the email confirmation process and the usage time of the email application, and adjusting the time interval according to the recognition result , if the number of emails is large or small, Since the e-mail confirmation interval to be set can be adjusted depending on whether the probability that the e-mail is used by the user is high or low, it is much more efficient than executing the e-mail confirmation process at a preset e-mail confirmation interval. E-mail confirmation process can be executed, thus e-mail confirmation that can confirm the number of e-mails more efficiently than before Apparatus, it is possible to realize a mail confirmation method and the e-mail confirmation program.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment (1-1) Overall Configuration of Network System In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a network system as a whole, and a mail transmission / reception terminal 2 as a mail confirmation device is connected to a mail server 4 via a network 3. Connected with. The mail transmission / reception terminal 2 has an electronic mail transmission / reception function, and can exchange electronic mails with various communication terminals (not shown) on the network 3 via the mail server 4.

  When transmitting / receiving an e-mail, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 transmits, for example, an e-mail addressed to another communication terminal to the mail server 4 via the network 3. The e-mail addressed to the other communication terminal transmitted to the mail server 4 is stored by the mail server 4, and when the other communication terminal executes a mail confirmation process on the mail server 4, the other communication terminal Received by.

  Further, when receiving an electronic mail, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 performs a mail confirmation process on the mail server 4 at set time intervals.

  The mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 can notify the user of how many e-mails have been received by displaying the number of e-mails obtained by executing the mail checking process on a predetermined display unit. Has been made.

  At this time, if the e-mail arrives at the mail server 4, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 receives the e-mail from the mail server 4 via the network 3.

(1-2) Circuit Configuration of Mail Server As shown in FIG. 2, the mail server 4 has a control unit 10 composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 or a hard disk drive 12. Various programs such as a basic program and a mail storage program are appropriately expanded on a RAM (Random Access Memory) 14 via the bus 13, and by executing this, an e-mail transmitted from the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 or the communication terminal is transferred to the hard disk drive. 12, a mail storage process for storing the data in the storage 12 and other various processes are executed.

  For example, when an e-mail addressed to the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 is transmitted from a communication terminal (not shown) on the network 3, the control unit 10 of the mail server 4 sequentially transmits the e-mail to the network 3 and the data communication processing unit 15. And stored in the hard disk drive 12.

  And the control part 10 of the mail server 4 will receive the number confirmation signal for confirming the number of the electronic mail addressed to the said mail transmission / reception terminal 2 from the mail transmission / reception terminal 2 via the network 3 and the data communication processing part 15 in sequence, In response to the number confirmation signal, the number of e-mails addressed to the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 stored in the hard disk drive 12 is confirmed, and mail number information indicating the number obtained is sent from the data communication processing unit 15 to the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2. It is made to send.

  At this time, if the mail server 4 stores the e-mail addressed to the e-mail transmission / reception terminal 2, the e-mail is transmitted from the data communication processing unit 15 to the e-mail transmission / reception terminal 2 together with the mail number information. Yes.

(1-3) Circuit Configuration of Mail Transmission / Reception Terminal As shown in FIG. 3, in the mail transmission / reception terminal 2, the CPU 20 executes various programs such as a basic program and a mail confirmation interval adjustment program stored in the ROM 22 via the bus 21. By appropriately developing in the RAM 23 and executing this, the entire system is controlled, and a mail check interval adjustment process (to be described later) and various processes according to input / output operations from the user are executed.

  The operation input unit 25 sends input information corresponding to a user's operation to various operation elements of the housing surface of the main body unit and a remote controller (not shown) to the input processing unit 26, and the input processing unit 26 performs predetermined processing. After processing, the operation command is sent to the CPU 20, and the CPU 20 executes processing according to the operation command.

  The display 27 may be, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display that is directly attached to the surface of the casing of the main body, or an external display device, and various information input via the display processing unit 28. Has been made to display. In the case of this embodiment, the display 27 is smaller in size (about 5 inches) than a display for a normal television or personal computer.

  The media drive 29 is a drive for playing back media on which content such as a CD or a Memory Stick (registered trademark) is recorded. After the playback result is digital-analog converted via the audio data processing unit 30, the 2-channel speaker 31 is used. To be output from.

  If the data reproduced via the media drive 29 is the audio content of the music, the CPU 20 can also store the data in the hard disk drive 24 as an audio data file.

  Further, the CPU 20 can read a plurality of still images stored in a memory stick or the like by the media drive 29 and display them as a slide show on the display 27 via the display processing unit 28.

  The CPU 20 can also read out a plurality of music stored in the hard disk drive 24 by random access, and reproduce and output them in the order desired by the user as if they were a jukebox.

  The tuner unit 32 is an AM or FM radio tuner, for example, which demodulates the broadcast signal received by the antenna 33 based on the control of the CPU 20 and outputs the result as broadcast sound from the speaker 31 via the audio data processing unit 30. It is made to do.

  The real-time clock 34 is a circuit that generates time information including the current time, date, day of the week, and the like. The time information is supplied to the CPU 20 in response to a request from the CPU 20. That is, the CPU 20 executes processing related to the current time, date, day of the week, and the like based on time information obtained from the real-time clock 34.

  Further, when a mail application activation command is input via the operation input unit 25, the CPU 20 starts the mail confirmation process by reading the mail application from the hard disk drive 12 and starting the mail application in accordance with the activation command. The number confirmation signal is transmitted to the mail server 4 sequentially via the communication processing unit 35 and the network interface 36 at every time interval, and the network number 36 and the communication processing unit 35 receive the number of mail information and the e-mail obtained as a result. Reception is performed sequentially.

  Further, at this time, the CPU 20 displays the mail window 40 shown in FIG. 4 on the display area 27 </ b> A of the display 27. The mail window 40 includes an icon display unit 41, a mail list display unit 42, and a mail content display unit 43.

  The icon display unit 41 displays a new creation icon 41A, a mail confirmation icon 41B, and a display switching icon 41C. When the CPU 20 recognizes that the new creation icon 41A has been pressed via the operation input unit 25, the CPU 20 displays a predetermined window (not shown) for creating and sending an e-mail on the display area 27A. When it is recognized that the mail confirmation icon 41B has been pressed, the mail confirmation process is executed at the timing of the pressing.

  Further, when the CPU 20 recognizes that the display switching icon 41C has been pressed, the display of the mail list display unit 42 and the mail content display unit 43 is switched from the display of the transmitted mail to the display of the received mail or vice versa. ing.

  The mail list display unit 42 receives the number of e-mails (hereinafter referred to as the number of confirmations) based on the mail number information obtained from the mail server 4 and the mail server 4 when the received mail is displayed. A list of e-mail titles is displayed, and the number of transmitted e-mails and a list of titles are displayed when the transmitted mail is displayed.

  The mail content display unit 43 displays the contents of received and transmitted electronic mail. In the mail window 40 shown in FIG. 4, the received mail is being displayed.

  Further, a state switching button 44 for switching the active mail application from active to inactive and an end button 45 for ending the mail application are provided at the right corner of the mail window 40.

  In this case, active means that the mail window 40 is selected by the user, and inactive means that the mail window 40 is not selected.

  When the CPU 20 recognizes that the state switching button 44 has been pressed, the mail window 40 is closed as shown in FIG. 5, and an inactive icon 46 is displayed in the left corner of the display area 27A instead. The inactive icon 46 displays only the number of confirmed emails, and allows the user to recognize how many emails have arrived.

  At this time, the CPU 20 does not display the mail window 40, but continues to start the mail application in the background. When the CPU 20 recognizes that the inactive icon 46 has been pressed, the CPU 20 determines that the mail window 40 has been selected by the user, displays the mail window 40 shown in FIG. 4 again, and activates the mail application. Has been made.

  Further, when the CPU 20 recognizes that the end button 45 of the mail window 40 has been pressed, the mail application being activated is ended.

(1-4) Mail Confirmation Interval Adjustment Processing The mail transmission / reception terminal 2 in this embodiment is in a state of mail confirmation processing such as the number of confirmations of email, the time when the mail application is active, and whether or not there is an operation on the mail confirmation icon 41B. A mail check interval adjustment function for adjusting the mail check interval is provided, and mail check interval adjustment processing in the mail check interval adjustment function will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When a mail application activation command is input, the CPU 20 of the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 executes a mail confirmation interval adjustment processing procedure RT1 in accordance with a mail confirmation interval adjustment program read from the ROM 22.

  Here, the mail check interval is set to 10 minutes as an initial setting in the mail transmission / reception terminal 2, for example. When the CPU 20 executes the mail check interval adjustment processing procedure RT1, the mail check interval (for example, 10 minutes) elapses in step SP1. Thereafter, the first mail confirmation process is performed on the mail server 4. As a result, the CPU 20 acquires the number-of-mails information from the mail server 4, and proceeds to the next step SP2.

  In step SP2, the CPU 20 determines whether or not N (for example, five) e-mails have arrived at the mail server 4 based on the mail number information obtained in step SP1. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this indicates that the current time zone is a time zone in which the number of e-mail confirmations increases, and at this time, the CPU 20 moves to step SP3 and next e-mail check interval. Is set to a time interval obtained by subtracting t1 minutes (for example, 2 minutes) from the current mail confirmation interval (for example, 10 minutes), and the process proceeds to the next step SP5.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP2, this indicates that the current time zone is a time zone in which the number of confirmations of e-mails is reduced. At this time, the CPU 20 moves to step SP4, The next mail check interval is set to a time interval obtained by adding t1 minutes (for example, 2 minutes) to the current mail check interval, and the process proceeds to the next step SP5.

  As described above, the CPU 20 is based on the number of e-mails that have arrived at the mail server 4 when the e-mail confirmation process is performed (that is, the number of confirmations), and is a time period in which the number of e-mail confirmations increases. Or if it is a time zone where the number of confirmations increases, shorten the email confirmation interval, and if it is determined that it is a time zone when the number of confirmations decreases Since the e-mail confirmation interval can be made longer, the e-mail confirmation process can be performed at the e-mail confirmation interval corresponding to the number of confirmations in the time zone, so that the e-mail confirmation process can be performed more efficiently.

  In step SP5, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the ratio of the time during which the mail application is active during the current mail check interval (for example, 10 minutes) is X% (for example, 50%) or more.

  If an affirmative result is obtained here, this indicates that the current time zone is a time zone in which the e-mail is likely to be used by the user. At this time, the CPU 20 moves to step SP6 and the next e-mail is sent. The confirmation interval is set to a time interval which is further reduced by t2 minutes (for example, 2 minutes) from the mail confirmation interval set in step SP3 or step SP4, and the process proceeds to the next step SP8.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP5, this indicates that the current time zone is a time zone in which the probability of using an e-mail by the user is low. At this time, the CPU 20 proceeds to step SP7. The next e-mail confirmation interval is set to a time interval obtained by adding t2 minutes (for example, 2 minutes) to the e-mail confirmation interval set in step SP3 or step SP4, and the process proceeds to the next step SP8.

  As described above, the CPU 20 is based on the time during which the mail application is active during the mail check interval, and the time period is a time period when the probability that the user uses the e-mail is high or the time period is low. When it is determined that it is a time zone with high probability, the email confirmation interval is shortened, and when it is judged that the time zone is low probability, the email confirmation interval is lengthened. Since the e-mail confirmation process can be performed at the e-mail confirmation interval corresponding to the usage rate of the e-mail during that time period, the e-mail confirmation process can be performed more efficiently.

  In step SP8, the CPU 20 determines whether or not a manual mail confirmation operation for pressing the mail confirmation icon 41B is performed by the user during the current mail confirmation interval (for example, 10 minutes).

  If an affirmative result is obtained here, this indicates that the current time zone is a time zone in which the user cares about e-mails. At this time, the CPU 20 moves to step SP9 and checks the next e-mail. The interval is set to a time interval obtained by adding t3 minutes (for example, 2 minutes) to the mail check interval set in step SP6 or step SP7, and the process returns to step SP1 again.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP8, this indicates that the current time zone is a time zone in which the user does not care about electronic mail, and at this time, the CPU 20 again performs step SP1 as it is. Return to.

  Thus, based on the presence / absence of an operation on the mail confirmation icon 41B during the mail confirmation interval, the CPU 20 determines whether the time zone is a time zone in which the user cares about the e-mail or not. If it is determined that it is a time zone, and if it is determined that it is a time zone that you care about, shorten the email confirmation interval, and if you determine that it is a time zone that you do not care about, increase the email verification interval By doing so, the mail check process can be performed at a mail check interval corresponding to the degree of attention of the e-mail by the user during that time period, so that the mail check process can be performed more efficiently.

  Thereafter, the CPU 20 repeatedly performs the processing from step SP1 to step SP9, and each time the mail confirmation processing is performed, the number of confirmation emails, the time when the mail application is active, and the mail confirmation icon 41B are displayed. The processing status of the email confirmation process such as the presence / absence of an operation is recognized, and the email confirmation interval is adjusted according to the processing status.

(1-5) Operation and Effect In the above configuration, each time the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 performs the mail check process, the number of e-mail confirmations, the time during which the mail application is active, and whether there is an operation on the mail check icon 41B The mail check processing status is recognized, and the mail check interval is adjusted according to the processing status each time.

  Thus, the mail transmission / reception terminal 2 can execute the mail check process at a mail check interval corresponding to the mail check process status, so that the number of e-mails can be checked more efficiently.

  As a result, the mail transmission / reception terminal 2 does not perform useless processing such as executing mail confirmation processing in a time zone in which almost no mail arrives. Therefore, the load on the CPU 20, the load on the network 3, the mail server 4 load and the like can be further reduced.

  According to the above configuration, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 executes the mail confirmation process at the mail confirmation interval corresponding to the processing status by adjusting the mail confirmation interval according to the processing status of the mail confirmation processing. Can do.

  Thus, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 can check the number of e-mails more efficiently than executing the mail check process at a preset mail check interval.

  In the first embodiment described above, based on the time when the mail application is active, the time zone is a time zone in which the probability that the user will use e-mail is high or low. Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to this, and based on the time when the mail application is running, the time period is a time period during which the user is likely to use e-mail. Or whether it is a low time zone.

  In the first embodiment described above, based on the presence / absence of an operation on the mail confirmation icon 41B, the time zone is a time zone in which the user cares about the e-mail or a time in which the user does not care. Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to this, and based on the number of times the mail confirmation icon 41B is pressed, the time zone is determined by the user to care about the email. It may be determined whether it is a certain time zone or a time zone that does not matter.

  That is, for example, when the mail confirmation icon 41B is pressed three times or more during the mail confirmation interval, it is determined that the time zone is a time zone in which the user cares about the email, and is less than three times. If there is, it may be determined that the time zone is a time zone in which the user does not care about electronic mail.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the mail confirming device, the CPU 20 as the adjusting device and the control device, and the operation input unit 25 as the control device constitute the mail confirming device and the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 2 as the information processing device. Although the case where it did in the above was described, this invention is not restricted to this, You may make it comprise the mail transmission / reception terminal 2 by various other circuit structures.

(2) Second Embodiment (2-1) Overall Configuration of Network System In FIG. 7, in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals, the network system 50 is the same as in the first embodiment. Instead of the mail transmission / reception terminal 2, a mail transmission / reception terminal 51 is connected to the mail server 4 via the network 3.

  This mail transmission / reception terminal 51 has an electronic mail transmission / reception function similar to the mail transmission / reception terminal 2, and learns the processing status of the mail confirmation processing for each time and automatically sets the mail confirmation interval based on the learning result. E-mail check interval adjustment program (described later) that adjusts automatically.

  The mail server 4 has a circuit configuration equivalent to that of the first embodiment (FIG. 2). The mail transmitting / receiving terminal 51 includes a CPU 60 and a ROM 61 in place of the CPU 20 and the ROM 22 in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. The CPU 60 appropriately expands various programs such as a basic program and a mail check interval adjustment program stored in the ROM 61 to the RAM 23 via the bus 21 and executes them to control the whole and check the mail check described later. Various processes corresponding to the interval adjustment process and the input / output operation from the user are executed.

(2-2) Mail Confirmation Interval Adjustment Process The mail transmission / reception terminal 51 in the present embodiment learns the processing status of the mail confirmation process for each time, and automatically adjusts the mail confirmation interval based on the learning result. A mail check interval adjustment process in the mail check interval adjustment function will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When a mail application activation command is input, the CPU 60 of the mail transmission / reception terminal 51 executes a mail confirmation interval adjustment processing procedure RT2 in accordance with a mail confirmation interval adjustment program read from the ROM 61.

  When executing the mail check interval adjustment processing procedure RT2, the CPU 60 obtains the current time and date from the real-time clock 23 in step SP20, records them in the hard disk drive 24, and proceeds to the next subroutine SRT1.

  This subroutine SRT1 is a routine that performs processing equivalent to the processing from step SP1 to step SP9 of the mail confirmation interval adjustment processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 6) in the first embodiment. Accordingly, in the subroutine SRT1, the CPU 60 recognizes the processing status of the email confirmation processing such as the number of email confirmations, the time that the email application is active, and the presence or absence of an operation on the email confirmation icon 41B, and confirms the email according to the processing status. The interval is adjusted and the process proceeds to the next step SP21.

  In step SP21, the CPU 60 associates the mail check interval adjusted in the subroutine SRT1 with the time at that time, writes this in the adjustment history data D1 (FIG. 10) generated in advance in the hard disk drive 24, and the next step Move on to SP22.

  In step SP22, the CPU 60 determines whether or not a one-hour mail confirmation interval history has been written in the adjustment history data D1. If a negative result is obtained here, it means that the history of the mail confirmation interval for one hour has not yet been written in the adjustment history data D1, and at this time, the CPU 60 returns to the subroutine SRT1 again, and from the subroutine SRT1 to step SP22. The process is repeated until one hour's history is written in the adjustment history data D1.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP22, as shown in FIG. 11, the history of the mail check interval adjusted for, for example, 1 hour from 3 pm to 4 pm is written in the adjustment history data D1. At this time, the CPU 60 proceeds to the next step SP23.

  In step SP23, the CPU 60 calculates the average interval of the mail confirmation intervals within the hour based on the adjustment history data D1 in which the history for one hour is written, and associates the average interval with the time at that time. This is written in the learning data D2 (FIG. 11) generated in advance in the hard disk drive 24. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, if the average interval of the e-mail confirmation interval from 3 pm to 4 pm is 15 minutes, 3 pm and the average interval of 15 minutes are associated with each other and written in the learning data D2. . Then, the CPU 60 initializes the adjustment history data D1, and proceeds to the next step SP24.

  In step SP24, based on the time and date stored in step SP20, the CPU 60 determines whether or not 24 hours have elapsed since the start of the mail check interval adjustment processing procedure RT2. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the average interval of the 24-hour mail confirmation interval has not yet been written in the learning data D2, and at this time, the CPU 60 returns to the subroutine SRT1 again and returns to the subroutine SRT1. To step SP24 are repeated until 24 hours have elapsed.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP24, this means that the average interval of the email confirmation interval for 24 hours has been written in the learning data D2, and the email confirmation at each time from 0:00 am to 23:00 pm This indicates that the learning of the average interval has been completed, and at this time, the CPU 60 proceeds to the next step SP25.

  As described above, the CPU 60 calculates and records the average interval of the mail confirmation intervals at each time from 0:00 am to 23:00 pm by repeatedly performing the processing from the subroutine SRT1 to step SP24 for 24 hours. The average interval of the e-mail confirmation intervals at each time is learned (hereinafter, the processing from this subroutine SRT1 to step SP24 is referred to as learning processing). In the processing after step SP25, the e-mail confirmation interval is adjusted using the learned average interval.

  That is, in step SP25, the CPU 60 reads from the learning data D2 the average interval of mail confirmation intervals corresponding to the time at this time, sets the average interval as the email confirmation interval at this time, and proceeds to the next step SP26. .

  In step SP26, the CPU 60 performs mail check processing for each mail check interval set in step SP25, and when the time changes, the CPU 60 returns to step SP25 again to determine the average interval of the mail check intervals corresponding to that time as learning data D2. And the average interval is set as the mail confirmation interval at that time.

  In this way, the CPU 60 automatically adjusts the mail check interval at each time after the learning process using the average interval of the mail check intervals at each time calculated in the learning process.

(2-3) Operation and Effect In the above configuration, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 51 adjusts the mail check interval according to the processing status of the mail check process every time the mail check process is performed, and every hour, The average interval of the e-mail confirmation intervals adjusted to is calculated, and the average interval and the time at that time are associated with each other and written and recorded in the learning data D2.

  The mail transmitting / receiving terminal 51 calculates the average interval and repeats a series of learning processes that are recorded in association with the time at that time, so that the mail at each time from 0:00 am to 23:00 pm The average interval of the confirmation intervals is calculated and recorded, and the email confirmation interval at each time after the learning process is automatically adjusted using the recorded average interval.

  Thus, the mail transmission / reception terminal 51 can execute the mail check process at the mail check interval corresponding to the processing state of the mail check process at each time of the day, and can check the number of e-mails more efficiently. .

  As a result, the mail transmission / reception terminal 51 does not perform a useless process such as executing a mail confirmation process in a time zone in which almost no e-mail arrives. Therefore, the load on the CPU 20, the load on the network 3, the mail server 4 The load and the like can be further reduced.

  According to the above configuration, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 51 adjusts the mail check interval according to the processing status of the mail checking process at each time of the day, so that the mail checking according to the processing status at each time is performed. Mail confirmation processing can be executed at intervals.

  Thus, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 51 can check the number of e-mails more efficiently than executing the mail check process at a preset mail check interval.

  In the second embodiment described above, the average interval of the mail check intervals adjusted during the hour is calculated every hour, and the average interval and the time at that time are associated with each other and generated in the hard disk drive 24. Although the case where the learning data D2 is written and recorded is described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the average interval of the mail confirmation intervals adjusted during the predetermined time (for example, every 3 hours) is calculated. The average interval and the time at that time may be associated with each other and written and recorded in the learning data D2 generated in the hard disk drive 24.

  In the second embodiment described above, a series of learning processes are repeatedly performed for 24 hours, thereby calculating and recording an average interval of mail check intervals at each time from 0:00 am to 23:00 pm. Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to this, and by repeating a series of learning processes for a predetermined period, the average interval of mail confirmation intervals at each time from 0:00 am to 23:00 pm It may be calculated and recorded.

  That is, for example, by repeating the learning process for 3 days (72 hours), the average interval of the e-mail confirmation interval at each time from 0:00 am to 23:00 pm was accumulated for 3 days, and accumulated for these 3 days. The mail check interval after the learning process may be automatically adjusted using the average interval.

  In this way, if the time for repeating the learning process is increased, it is possible to learn a mail check interval that further corresponds to the processing status at each time of the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 51.

  Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the mail confirmation device and the information are sent by the CPU 60 as the mail confirmation means, adjustment means, control means and recording means, the hard disk drive 24 as the recording means, and the operation input unit 25 as the control means. Although the case where the mail transmission / reception terminal 51 as the processing device is configured has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the mail transmission / reception terminal 51 may be configured with various other circuit configurations.

(3) Third Embodiment (3-1) Overall Configuration of Network System In FIG. 12, in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals, the network system 70 is a mail in the first embodiment. Instead of the transmission / reception terminal 2, a mail transmission / reception terminal 71 is connected to the mail server 4 via the network 3.

  The mail transmission / reception terminal 71 has an electronic mail transmission / reception function similar to the mail transmission / reception terminal 2, and learns the processing status of the mail confirmation processing for each day of the week and time, and the mail confirmation interval based on the learning result. E-mail confirmation interval adjustment program (described later) is automatically implemented.

  The mail server 4 has a circuit configuration equivalent to that of the first embodiment (FIG. 2). Further, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 71 includes a CPU 80 and a ROM 81 in place of the CPU 20 and the ROM 22 in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. The CPU 80 appropriately expands various programs such as a basic program and a mail check interval adjustment program stored in the ROM 81 to the RAM 23 via the bus 21 and executes them to control the whole and check the mail check described later. Various processes corresponding to the interval adjustment process and the input / output operation from the user are executed.

(3-2) Mail Confirmation Interval Adjustment Processing The mail transmission / reception terminal 71 in this embodiment learns the processing status of the mail confirmation interval for each day of the week and time, and automatically adjusts the email confirmation interval based on the learning result. In the following, the mail confirmation interval adjustment process in the mail confirmation interval adjustment function will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When a mail application activation command is input, the CPU 80 of the mail transmission / reception terminal 71 executes a mail confirmation interval adjustment processing procedure RT3 according to a mail confirmation interval adjustment program read from the ROM 81.

  When executing the mail check interval adjustment processing procedure RT3, the CPU 80 obtains the current time, date and day of the week from the real-time clock 23 in step SP30, records them in the hard disk drive 24, and proceeds to the next subroutine SRT1.

  This subroutine SRT1 is a routine that performs processing equivalent to the processing from step SP1 to step SP9 of the mail confirmation interval adjustment processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 6) in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the subroutine SRT1, the CPU 80 recognizes the processing status of the email confirmation processing such as the number of email confirmations, the time when the email application is active, and the presence / absence of an operation on the email confirmation icon 41B. The interval is adjusted and the process proceeds to the next step SP31.

  In step SP31, the CPU 80 associates the mail check interval adjusted in the subroutine SRT1 with the current day of the week and time, and writes this in the adjustment history data D3 (FIG. 15) generated in advance in the hard disk drive 24. The process proceeds to step SP32.

  In step SP32, the CPU 80 determines whether or not a one-hour mail confirmation interval history has been written in the adjustment history data D3. If a negative result is obtained here, it means that the history of the e-mail confirmation interval for one hour has not yet been written in the adjustment history data D3. At this time, the CPU 80 returns to the subroutine SRT1 again, and from the subroutine SRT1 to step SP32. The process is repeated until the history for one hour is written in the adjustment history data D3.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP32, as shown in FIG. 16, the history of the mail check interval adjusted for, for example, one hour from 3 pm to 4 pm on Monday is stored in the adjustment history data D3. At this time, the CPU 80 proceeds to the next step SP33.

  In step SP33, the CPU 80 calculates the average interval of the mail check intervals within the hour based on the adjustment history data D3 in which the history for one hour is written, the average interval, the time and day of the week, Are associated and written in learning data D4 (FIG. 16) generated in advance in the hard disk drive 24. That is, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, if the average interval of the mail confirmation interval from 3 pm to 4 pm on Monday is 15 minutes, learning is performed by associating Monday with 3 pm and the average interval of 15 minutes. Write to data D4. Then, the CPU 80 initializes the adjustment history data D3, and proceeds to the next step SP34.

  In step SP34, the CPU 80 determines, based on the time, date, and day of week stored in step SP30, whether one week has elapsed since the start of the mail check interval adjustment processing procedure RT3. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the average interval of the mail check intervals for one week has not yet been written in the learning data D4. At this time, the CPU 80 returns to the subroutine SRT1 again and returns to the subroutine SRT1. To step SP34 are repeated until one week elapses.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP34, this means that the average interval of the mail check interval for one week has been written in the learning data D4, and each time from Monday to Sunday (from 0:00 to 23:23 pm). 00), the CPU 80 moves to the next step SP35.

  In this way, the CPU 80 calculates the average interval of the mail check intervals at each time (from 0:00 am to 23:00 pm) from Monday to Sunday by repeating the processing from the subroutine SRT1 to step SP34 for one week. This is recorded, thereby learning the average interval of the mail confirmation intervals for each day of the week and time (hereinafter, the processing from this subroutine SRT1 to step SP34 is referred to as learning processing). In the processing after step SP35, the e-mail confirmation interval is adjusted using the learned average interval.

  That is, in step SP35, the CPU 80 reads the average interval of the mail confirmation intervals corresponding to the current day of the week and time from the learning data D4, sets the mail confirmation interval of the current day of the week and time based on the average interval, Control goes to the next step SP36.

  In step SP36, the CPU 80 performs mail check processing for each mail check interval set in step SP35. When the day of the week and time change, the CPU 80 returns to step SP35 again, and the average interval of the mail check intervals corresponding to the day of the week and time Is read from the learning data D4, and the mail check interval for the day and time is set based on the average interval.

  In this way, the CPU 80 automatically adjusts the mail check interval for each day of the week and time after the learning process, using the average interval of the mail check interval for each day of the week and time calculated in the learning process.

(3-3) Operation and Effect In the above configuration, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 71 adjusts the mail check interval according to the processing status of the mail check process every time the mail check process is performed, and every hour, The average interval of the mail confirmation intervals adjusted to is calculated, and the average interval is correlated with the day of the week and the time and written in the learning data D2.

  The mail transmission / reception terminal 71 then repeats a series of learning processes for calculating an average interval and recording it in association with the day of the week and the time at that time, so that each time from Monday to Sunday (from 0:00 am) The average interval of e-mail confirmation intervals at 23:00 pm) is calculated and recorded, and the e-mail confirmation interval at each day of the week and time after the learning process is automatically adjusted using the recorded average interval.

  Thus, the mail transmission / reception terminal 71 can execute the mail check process at the mail check interval corresponding to the processing status of the mail check process on each day of the week and time, so that the number of e-mails can be checked more efficiently. Can do.

  As a result, the mail transmission / reception terminal 71 does not perform useless processing such as executing mail confirmation processing on days of the week and times of day when almost no mail arrives, so the load on the CPU 80, the load on the network 3, the mail server 4 load and the like can be further reduced.

  According to the above configuration, the mail transmission / reception terminal 71 adjusts the mail confirmation interval according to the processing state of the mail confirmation processing on each day of the week and time, so that the processing state for each day of the week and time Email confirmation processing can be executed at an email confirmation interval according to.

  Thus, the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 71 can check the number of e-mails more efficiently than executing the mail checking process at a preset mail checking interval.

  In the above-described third embodiment, the average interval of the mail check intervals adjusted during the hour is calculated every hour, and the average interval and the time at that time are associated with each other and generated in the hard disk drive 24. Although the case where the learning data D4 is written and recorded is described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the average interval of the mail confirmation intervals adjusted during the predetermined time (for example, every 3 hours) is calculated. The average interval and the time at that time may be associated with each other and written in the learning data D4 generated in the hard disk drive 24 and recorded.

  In the third embodiment described above, a case has been described in which a series of learning processes are repeatedly performed for one week to calculate and record the average interval of e-mail confirmation intervals at each time of day of the week. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a series of learning processes may be repeated for a predetermined period to calculate and record the average interval of mail confirmation intervals at each time of each day of the week.

  That is, for example, by repeating the learning process for 3 weeks, the average interval of the e-mail confirmation interval at each time of each day of the week is accumulated for 3 weeks, and the e-mail confirmation after the learning process is performed based on the average interval accumulated for 3 weeks. The interval may be set automatically.

  If the time for repeating the learning process is increased as described above, the mail check process can be executed at a mail check interval that further corresponds to the processing status of each day and time of the mail transmitting / receiving terminal 71.

  Further, in the third embodiment described above, the mail receiving device and the information are sent by the CPU 80 as the mail checking means, the adjusting means, the control means and the recording means, the hard disk drive 24 as the recording means, and the operation input unit 25 as the control means. Although the case where the mail transmission / reception terminal 71 as the processing device is configured has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the mail transmission / reception terminal 71 may be configured with various other circuit configurations.

(4) Other Embodiments In the second and third embodiments described above, the average interval of the e-mail confirmation interval is recorded in association with the day of the week and time, and each day of the week and time is recorded using the average interval. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the average interval of the email confirmation interval is recorded in association with the date and time, and the date is determined based on the average interval. The mail check interval may be adjusted for each time.

  In the second and third embodiments described above, the case is described in which the adjustment history data D1 and D3 are initialized after the average interval of the mail check interval is calculated and recorded every hour. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the adjustment history data D1 and D3 may be stored without being initialized.

  In the first, second, and third embodiments described above, the case where the mail confirmation process is executed at the timing when the mail confirmation icon 41B is pressed has been described. For example, an email confirmation button may be provided in advance in the remote controller, and when the email confirmation button is pressed, the email confirmation process may be executed at that timing.

  Furthermore, in the first, second, and third embodiments described above, when a mail application activation command is input, the mail application is activated and mail confirmation interval adjustment processing procedures RT1, RT2, and RT3 are executed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the mail transmission / reception terminals 2, 51, 71 are powered on, the mail application is automatically started and the mail confirmation interval adjustment processing procedure RT 1, RT2 and RT3 may each be executed.

  The present invention can be used for, for example, a mail confirmation apparatus having a function of confirming the number of electronic mails.

It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the network system in 1st Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the circuit structure of the mail server in 1st Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the circuit structure of the mail transmission / reception terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows starting (when active) of a mail application. It is a basic diagram which shows starting (when inactive) of a mail application. It is a flowchart which shows the mail confirmation space | interval adjustment process procedure in 1st Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the network system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the circuit structure of the mail transmission / reception terminal in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the mail confirmation space | interval adjustment process procedure (every time) in 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the adjustment history data in 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the average space | interval data in 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the network system in 3rd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the circuit structure of the mail transmission / reception terminal in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the mail confirmation space | interval adjustment process procedure (every day and time) in 3rd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the adjustment log | history data in 3rd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the average space | interval data in 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Network system, 2, 51, 71 ... Mail transmission / reception terminal, 3 ... Network, 4 ... Mail server, 20, 60, 80 ... CPU, 22, 61, 81 ... ROM, 24 ... Hard disk Drive, 25 ... operation input unit, D1, D2 ... adjustment history data, D3, D4 ... average interval data.

Claims (13)

An e-mail confirmation means for executing an e-mail confirmation process for confirming the number of e-mails reaching the mail server at a set time interval;
Starting means for starting a mail application for displaying the electronic mail on a predetermined display unit;
And the number of the e-mail identified above email confirmation process, recognize and use time of the mail application, Rume Lumpur check device comprises an adjusting means for adjusting the time interval in accordance with the recognition result. The adjusting means is
The startup time of the mail application is recognized as the usage time of the mail application, and the time interval is adjusted according to the recognition result.
Email confirmation device according to 請 Motomeko 1. The adjusting means is
Recognize the time when the mail application was active as the usage time of the mail application, and adjust the time interval according to the recognition result
Email confirmation device according to 請 Motomeko 1. Control means for controlling the mail confirmation means so as to execute the mail confirmation processing in response to a user operation;
The adjusting means is
Recognizes the number of the e-mail identified above email confirmation process, and use time of the mail application, and a number of the mail confirmation processing executed in response to the operation of the user, the in accordance with the recognition result Adjust the time interval
Email confirmation device according to 請 Motomeko 1. The time interval history adjusted by the adjusting means is recorded as adjustment history data, and an average interval obtained by averaging the time intervals recorded as the adjustment history data is calculated for each predetermined time period to obtain average interval data. Comprising recording means for recording as
The adjusting means is
Adjust the time interval based on the average interval data
Email confirmation device according to 請 Motomeko 1. The recording means is
An average interval obtained by averaging the time intervals recorded as the adjustment history data is calculated for each day of the week and a predetermined time period, and recorded as average interval data.
Email confirmation device according to 請 Motomeko 5. A mail confirmation step in which the information processing apparatus executes a mail confirmation process for confirming the number of emails reaching the mail server at a set time interval;
The information processing apparatus activates a mail application that receives the electronic mail and displays it on a predetermined display unit; and
The information processing apparatus, Rume comprises a number of the electronic mail identified above email confirmation process, recognize and use time of the mail application, and an adjustment step of adjusting the time interval in accordance with the recognition result How to check the rules. In the adjustment step above,
The information processing apparatus recognizes the start time of the mail application as the use time of the mail application, and adjusts the time interval according to the recognition result
E-mail confirmation method according to 請 Motomeko 7. In the adjustment step above,
The information processing apparatus recognizes the time when the mail application is active as the use time of the mail application, and adjusts the time interval according to the recognition result.
E-mail confirmation method according to 請 Motomeko 7. The information processing apparatus includes an execution step for executing the mail confirmation process in response to a user operation,
In the adjustment step above,
The information processing apparatus, the number of the e-mail identified above email confirmation process, and use time of the mail application, and a number of the mail confirmation processing executed in response to the operation of the user at the execution step Recognize and adjust the time interval according to the recognition result
E-mail confirmation method according to 請 Motomeko 7. The information processing apparatus records the history of the time interval adjusted in the adjustment step as adjustment history data, and averages the average interval of the time intervals recorded as the adjustment history data for each predetermined time period. A recording step of calculating and recording as average interval data;
In the adjustment step above,
The information processing apparatus adjusts the time interval based on the average interval data recorded in the recording step.
E-mail confirmation method according to 請 Motomeko 7. In the recording step above,
The information processing apparatus calculates an average interval obtained by averaging the time intervals based on the adjustment history data for each day of the week and a predetermined time period, and records the average interval data.
E-mail confirmation method according to 請 Motomeko 11. An e-mail confirmation step for executing an e-mail confirmation process for confirming the number of e-mails reaching the mail server for the information processing device at a set time interval;
An activation step of activating a mail application that receives the e-mail and displays it on a predetermined display;
An e-mail confirmation program for recognizing the number of e-mails confirmed in the e-mail confirmation process and the usage time of the e-mail application and adjusting the time interval according to the recognition result .

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