Schedule adjusting system using mail system

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a schedule adjustment method suitable for a mail system composed of a plurality of server computers having a schedule management function, and particularly efficiently adjusts the schedule of a client computer user for setting a conference or the like. Regarding the schedule adjustment method that enables the computer to be performed.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in an office where a client / server system or a mail system is constructed, when adjusting the schedule of members in the same group for setting a conference, etc., the schedule of each client computer user is set on the server computer. There is a method of adjusting the schedule of members in the same group by using this software, and a method of adjusting the schedule of members by exchanging telephone calls and emails primitively. Was there.

【0003】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

When adjusting the schedule when using the schedule management software as described above, the environment must be such that all members can use the server computer, that is, between client computer users under the same server computer. , There was a problem that the schedule could not be adjusted.

【0004】

On the other hand, in the case of the method using telephone or e-mail, there are problems that it is difficult to set the date and time when the member is absent, and it may be necessary to reset depending on the order of contact with the member. ..

【0005】

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a schedule adjustment method that enables efficient setting of a meeting or the like by organically combining a schedule management function and an email function. The purpose.

【0006】

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention manages the schedule of client computer users for each of the above server computers in a mail system in which a plurality of server computers are connected via a network and send and receive mail to and from other server computers in response to a request from the client computer. This schedule is selected from the above-mentioned managed schedules when the schedule disclosure request mail is sent from the other server computer and the means for sending the schedule disclosure request mail to the other server computer. The schedule corresponding to the disclosure request mail is searched, and the searched schedule is returned as a mail. The schedule of the client computer user managed by the client computer user by another server computer by sending and receiving the above mail. It is characterized by confirming.

【0007】

Further, in the present invention, each of the above server computers is provided with a means for transmitting an email requesting registration of provisional reservation data to another server computer, and this provisional reservation data registration request email is transmitted from the other server computer. Occasionally, the provisional reservation data is provided with a means for registering the provisional reservation data on the above-mentioned management schedule, and the client computer user makes a provisional reservation on the schedule of the client computer user managed by another server computer by sending and receiving the above-mentioned mail. It is characterized by doing.

【0008】

Further, the present invention searches for a schedule corresponding to the schedule disclosure request mail from the schedules managed above when the schedule disclosure request mail is sent to each of the server computers, and uses the searched schedule as the search schedule. It is characterized in that it is provided with a means for returning it as an e-mail together with the above-mentioned registered provisional reservation data.

【0009】

Further, the present invention determines or deletes the registered provisional reservation data for each of the above-mentioned server computers based on the selection of approval or refusal made by the client computer user for the above-mentioned registered provisional reservation data. It is characterized by comprising means and means for returning an e-mail replying approval or refusal to the source server computer of the registered provisional reservation data together with confirmation or deletion of the provisional reservation data.

【0010】

Further, in the present invention, a plurality of tentative reservation data are registered in duplicate in each of the above server computers, and when the client computer user selects and approves any one of the tentative reservation data, the tentative reservation is approved. After confirming the data, an email replying approval is returned to the source server computer of this provisional reservation data, other provisional reservation data is deleted, and an email replying refusal is returned to the source server computer of this provisional reservation data. It is characterized in that it is provided with means for doing so.

【0011】

Further, the present invention provides a means for sending a temporary reservation data cancellation mail to each of the above server computers, and when the temporary reservation data cancellation mail is sent from the other server computer. It is characterized in that it is provided with a means for canceling the above-mentioned registered provisional reservation data corresponding to the provisional reservation data cancellation mail.

【0012】

Further, according to the present invention, when the provisional reservation data registration request email is transmitted from another server computer to each of the server computers so as to overlap with the date and time or period for which the reservation has already been confirmed, the present invention is provided to the source server computer. It is characterized in that it is provided with a means for returning an e-mail replying to the refusal.

【0013】

Further, the present invention is characterized in that each of the above server computers is provided with a means for setting a refusal of registration of provisional reservation data by designating a predetermined date and time or period in advance.

【0014】

[Action]

According to the configuration of the present invention, for example, the client computer user A under a certain server computer adjusts the schedule for setting up a meeting with the client computer users B and C under another server computer. In such a case, A operates the client computer and requests the reference of the schedules of B and C by setting the date and time, the period, and the like.

【0015】

Upon receiving this request, the server computer that receives this request sends an e-mail to each of the server computers that manages B and C to request the reference of the schedules of B and C to be managed. On the other hand, the server computer on the other side that receives this e-mail searches for the schedule data corresponding to the content specified by this e-mail, and returns the searched schedule data as an e-mail to the sender server computer.

【0016】

By referring to the returned schedule data, A grasps the schedules of B and C and sets the meeting. As a result, A can grasp the schedule of B and C regardless of the existence or absence of B and C, and can efficiently adjust the schedule such as the setting of the meeting.

【0017】

In addition, when A tentatively decides the date and time of the meeting with B and C, A operates the client computer and registers the provisional reservation data indicating the holding of this meeting on the schedule of B and C. Is requested by specifying the date and time or the period. Then, the server computer that receives this request sends an e-mail to that effect to each of the server computers that manages B or C, and registers this provisional reservation data.

【0018】

On the other hand, the server computers of B and C that have received the registration of the provisional reservation data send the result of approval or refusal of the reservation selected by the users B and C by operating the client computer to the server computer of the registration source. To answer. At this time, when approval is selected, the provisional reservation data is fixed on the schedule, and when rejection is selected, the provisional reservation data is deleted.

【0019】

Further, when a plurality of provisional reservation data are registered for the schedule of B or C and the date and time or period specified by the provisional reservation data overlap, the user B or C is one of them. When the tentative reservation data is selected and approved, the approved tentative reservation data is confirmed on the schedule, an email indicating the approval is returned to the server computer of the registration source, and other tentative reservation data is deleted. The process of returning an email indicating the refusal to the server computer that registered the provisional reservation data is performed.

【0020】

As a result, A can adjust the schedule more effectively, and can also simplify the operation of B or C. In addition, when user A has registered the provisional reservation data for the schedules of B and C, but has to change or cancel it, A operates the client computer and B And request the cancellation of the tentative reservation data registered for the schedule of C. Then, the server computer that receives this request sends an e-mail to that effect to each of the server computers that manages B or C to cancel the provisional reservation data.

【0021】

On the other hand, the server computers B and C to which the e-mail to cancel the tentative reservation data has been sent perform a process of canceling the tentative reservation data corresponding to the sent e-mail.

【0022】

This enables more flexible operation of schedule adjustment. In addition, when a provisional reservation data registration email is sent so that it overlaps with the date and time or period for which the schedule has already been confirmed, a refusal is automatically answered to the sender server computer, and further, the schedule for going out If the business trip schedule is clear in advance, by setting to reject the registration of the provisional reservation data for the date and time or period, the provisional reservation data will be duplicated with this setting from other server computers. When a registration email is sent, an email replying to the refusal is automatically returned to the source server computer.

【0023】

That is, for example, when the user B tries to register the tentative reservation data at the date and time or the period when the schedule is already fixed or the tentative reservation data registration refusal is set, the server computer is the user. Without waiting for B to approve or reject the reservation, an email to the effect that it is automatically rejected is returned to the source server computer. This enables quicker and more efficient schedule adjustment.

【0024】

[Example]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a schedule adjustment method according to the same embodiment. In the schedule adjustment method according to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the server computers 1a to 1b are provided with control units 3a to 3b, schedule management units 4a to 4b, and mail transmission / reception units 5a to 5b, and input terminals 8a to 8a to Data processing and mail transmission / reception are performed according to various operations such as settings from 8b and requests from client computers 2a to 2b.

【0025】

The control units 3a to 3b control the entire server computers 1a to 1b. In addition, the schedule management units 4a to 4b include schedule management databases 6a to 6b, and manage the schedules of each user of the client computers 2a to 2b. Then, the mail transmission / reception units 5a to 5b include mailboxes 7a to 7b, send the mail stored in the mailboxes 7a to 7b to another server computer, and send the mail sent from the other server computer. Receive and store in this mailbox 7a ~ 7b.

【0026】

Next, the operating principle of the same embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display image of the schedule of the client computer user, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation screen of the client computer user.

【0027】

In FIG. 2, 11 indicates a location where the schedule is fixed, and 12 indicates a location where provisional reservation data is registered by another server computer. Further, 13 indicates a place where the tentative reservation data is registered independently, whereas 12 indicates a place where a plurality of tentative reservation data are registered in duplicate. Further, 14 indicates a place where the tentative reservation data was registered once, but then canceled, and 15 indicates a place where the registration of the tentative reservation data is not permitted in advance.

【0028】

In the same embodiment, when the user of the client computer 2a adjusts the schedule with the user of the client computer 2b under the server computer 1b in order to set the conference, for example, (1) in FIG. Specify the date and time and the name of the other party on the screen as shown in a), and request the server computer 1a to refer to the schedule of the other party.

【0029】

Upon receiving this request, the control unit 3a of the server computer 1a drives and controls the mail transmission / reception unit 5a to send an email requesting the server computer 1b to refer to the schedule of the user of the client computer 2b. On the other hand, the control unit 3b of the server computer 1b that receives this mail drives and controls the schedule management unit 4b, and searches the schedule management database 6b for the schedule data corresponding to the contents specified by this mail. Then, the schedule data obtained by this search is returned to the server computer 1a via the mail transmission / reception unit 5b.

【0030】

By referring to the returned schedule data, the user of the client computer 2a grasps the schedule of the user of the client computer 2b and sets the conference. This reference may be a status response at the specified date and time or period as shown in Fig. 3 (b), specifically, an answer indicating whether or not the date and time is available, and Fig. 2 shows. It may indicate the schedule state itself of the other party as shown.

【0031】

Then, when the user of the client computer 2a tentatively determines the date and time of the conference by this reference (the above-mentioned reference operation can be omitted), this time, the user of the client computer 2b indicates that the conference is held on the schedule of the client computer 2b. Request the server computer 1a to register the tentative reservation data. Upon receiving this request, the server computer 1a transmits the provisional reservation data to the server computer 1b via the mail transmission / reception unit 5a. On the other hand, the control unit 3b of the server computer 1b that has received the tentative reservation data drives and controls the schedule management unit 4b and registers the tentative reservation data in the schedule management database 6b.

【0032】

Further, when the user of the client computer 2b recognizes that the tentative reservation data is registered on the screen shown in FIG. 2, he / she selects approval or rejection of the tentative reservation data. Then, the server computer 1b drives and controls the mail transmission / reception unit 5b according to this selection, and responds to the server computer 1a. At this time, when the user of the client computer 2b selects approval, the control unit 3b of the server computer 1b drives and controls the schedule management unit 4b to confirm the provisional reservation data on the schedule, and reject is selected. When this is done, the process of deleting the provisional reservation data is also performed at the same time.

【0033】

Further, when a plurality of tentative reservation data are registered and the date and time or period specified by the tentative reservation data overlap, and the user of the client computer 2b selects one of the tentative reservation data. , The control unit 3b of the server computer 1b confirms the approved tentative reservation data on the schedule, returns an email indicating the approval to the server computer of the registration source, deletes the other tentative reservation data, and deletes the other tentative reservation data. Performs the process of returning an email indicating the refusal to the server computer that registered the tentative reservation data.

【0034】

Then, the user of the client computer 2a confirms the answer result on the screen shown in FIG. 3 (b). In consideration of the case where the user of the client computer 2b forgets to process the reply, even if the tentative reservation data left unattended for more than the preset time is automatically returned as a refusal reply email. Good.

【0035】

Further, the user of the client computer 2a has registered the tentative reservation data for the schedule of the client computer 2b, but if he / she wants to cancel the tentative reservation data, he / she makes a request to the server computer 1a to that effect. Do. Then, the control unit 3a of the server computer 1a that receives this request drives and controls the mail transmission / reception unit 5a to send an e-mail indicating that fact to the server computer 1b.

【0036】

On the other hand, the control unit 3b of the server computer 1b that has received the e-mail to cancel the tentative reservation data drives and controls the schedule management unit 4b to perform a process of canceling the tentative reservation data registered in the schedule management database 6b.

【0037】

In addition, when the outing schedule, business trip schedule, etc. are clarified in advance, the users of the client computers 2a to 2b set the server computers 1a to 1b to refuse the registration of the provisional reservation data for the date and time or period. Do it. Upon receiving this setting, the control units 3a to 3b of the server computers 1a to 1b drive and control the schedule management units 4a to 4b and register them in the schedule management database 6a to 6b as rejected data. Then, when a provisional reservation data registration email that overlaps with this setting is sent from another server computer, an email replying to the refusal is returned to the sender server computer. Similarly, when a provisional reservation data registration email that overlaps with the date and time or period for which the schedule has already been fixed is sent, an email replying to the refusal is returned to the sender server computer.

【0038】

The setting for rejecting the registration of the provisional reservation data may be requested from the client computers 2a to 2b for each user, or may be set by the setting operation from the input terminal provided in the server computers 1a to 1b. May be good.

【0039】

Next, the operation procedure of the same embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. 4 to 7 are flowcharts for explaining the operation procedure of the same embodiment. First, the operation procedure when an e-mail is sent will be described with reference to FIG.

【0040】

For example, when the server computer 1a receives an email from the server computer 1b, the control unit 3a of the server computer 1a first determines whether or not the email is a schedule email (step A1 in FIG. 4). Here, if it is a normal mail (N in step A1 in FIG. 4), this mail is stored in the mailbox 7a and normal mail processing is performed (step A2 in FIG. 4).

【0041】

On the other hand, if this email is a schedule email (Y in step A1 of FIG. 4), the type of this schedule email, that is, any of the reference request, the provisional reservation data registration request, and the provisional reservation data cancellation request. Determine if it is (step A3 in Figure 4). Then, based on this determination, either the reference process (step A4 in FIG. 4), the provisional reservation process (step A5 in FIG. 4), or the cancellation request (step A6 in FIG. 4) is executed.

【0042】

Here, the operation procedure of the reference process will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 3a first extracts the key for searching the schedule management database 6a from the reference request mail (step B1 in FIG. 5). Then, the schedule management unit 4a is driven and controlled, and the schedule management database 6a is searched by the extracted search key (step B2 in FIG. 5). Then, this search result is returned to the requesting server computer 1b via the mail transmission / reception unit 5a (step B3 in FIG. 5).

【0043】

Next, the operation procedure of the tentative reservation process will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 3a first extracts the tentative reservation data from the returned e-mail (step C1 in FIG. 6). Then, the schedule management unit 4a is driven and controlled to search the management database 6a (step C2 in FIG. 6), and it is determined whether or not there is a fixed schedule or a rejection setting that overlaps with this provisional reservation data (FIG. 6). Step C3).

【0044】

Here, if there are duplicate confirmation schedules or rejection settings (Y in step C3 in Fig. 6), an email to the effect of refusal is returned to the server computer 1b, which is the source of the provisional reservation data (Fig. 6). Step C5). On the other hand, if there is no duplicate confirmed schedule or rejection setting (N in step C3 in FIG. 6), this provisional reservation data is registered in the management database 6a (step C4 in FIG. 6).

【0045】

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the operation procedure for responding to the registered tentative reservation data will be described. The control unit 3a first determines whether or not the location specified by the user is a duplicate registration (step D1 in FIG. 7). Here, if it is a single registered part (N in step D1 in Fig. 7), the response screen for a single client is displayed (step D2 in Fig. 7), and duplicate registration is performed. If this is the case (Y in step D1 in Fig. 7), a response screen for multiple recipients is displayed (step D3 in Fig. 7), and the client computer user sees this displayed screen. Approves, rejects, or selects an approval partner for the reservation (step D4 in FIG. 7).

【0046】

The control unit 3a drives and controls the schedule management unit 4a and the mail transmission / reception unit 5a according to the selection operation of the client computer user, returns the approval or rejection reply mail, and confirms or deletes the schedule (Fig.). Step D5 of 7).

【0047】

As a result, the user can quickly and efficiently adjust the schedule by performing a simple operation without directly checking with the member himself / herself. Of course, it is also effective to add a password function for security management and the like.

【0048】

[Effect of the invention]

As described in detail, according to the present invention, when adjusting the schedule for setting a meeting or the like, it is not necessary to directly confirm with the members themselves, so that the schedule can be adjusted efficiently. It will be possible. In addition, the approval / rejection response function, the selection function for duplicate registration, the provisional reservation refusal setting function, and the like make it possible to speed up the work and simplify the operation.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

The figure which shows the schematic structure of the schedule adjustment method which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

The figure which shows the display image of the schedule of the client computer user of this embodiment.

[Fig. 3]

The conceptual diagram which shows the operation screen of the client computer user of the same Example.

[Fig. 4]

The flowchart for demonstrating the operation procedure of this Example.

[Fig. 5]

The flowchart for demonstrating the operation procedure of this Example.

[Fig. 6]

The flowchart for demonstrating the operation procedure of this Example.

[Fig. 7]

The flowchart for demonstrating the operation procedure of this Example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b ... server computer, 2a, 2b ... client computer, 3a, 3b ... control unit, 4a, 4b ... schedule management unit, 5a, 5b ... mail transmission / reception unit, 6a, 6b ... schedule management database, 7a, 7b ... mailbox, 8a, 8b ... input terminal.