United States Patent m
Yazima et al.
[li] Patent Number: 5,040,141 [45] Date of Patent: Aug. 13, 1991
[54] METHOD FOR ADMINISTRATING REPLY MAIL IN ELECTRONIC MAIL SYSTEM
[75] Inventors: Kazunori Yazima, Komae; Yasuhiko Mizuno, Kashiwa, both of Japan
[73] Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
[21] Appl. No.: 123,930
[22] Filed: Not. 23, 1987
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Nov. 25, 1986 [JP] Japan 61-280038
[51] Int. CI.* G06F 13/10
[52] U.S. CI 364/900; 364/919.5;
364/940.9; 364/937 [58] Field of Search ... 364/200 MS File, 900 MS File, 364/300; 379/89; 340/313, 825.06
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,745,534 7/1973 Frutiger et al 364/900
4,241,398 12/1980 Carll 364/200
4,281,315 7/1981 Bauer et al 364/200
4,371,752 2/1983 Matthews et al 379/89
4,405,951 9/1983 Omori et al 364/900
4,476,349 10/1984 Cottrell et al 379/216
4,602,129 7/1986 Matthews et al 379/89
4,612,416 9/1986 Emerson et al 379/89
4,646,300 2/1987 Goodman et al 364/200
4,646,346 2/1987 Emerson et al 379/89
4,713,780 12/1987 Schultz et al 364/514
4,754,428 6/1988 Schultz et al 364/900
4,785,473 11/1988 Pfeiffer et al 379/89
4,805,207 2/1989 McNutt et al 379/214
Primary Examiner—Michael R. Fleming
Assistant Examiner—Debra A. Chun
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fay, Sharpe, Beall, Fagan,
Minnich & McKee
[57] ABSTRACT
In a mail message service system for delivering mail having mailboxes installed for respective users, an answer asking table is provided for storing information representative of whether an answer to a previously sent message is requested. Also stored in the answer asking table is the date and hour at which the query mail soliciting an answer to the previously sent message should be sent. The query mail soliciting an answer is sent on the basis of the stored information.
14 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
