Patent Abstract:
An information processing apparatus including: a processor to receive data transmitted via an electronic mail; to detect time-limit information representing a reply time-limit of the electronic mail from the received data; to display the electronic mail; and to display the reply time-limit in the way of being associated with the displayed electronic mail on the basis of the time-limit information and the present date-time.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation of Application PCT/JP2010/055659, filed on Mar. 30, 2010, now pending, the contents of which are herein wholly incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present embodiments relates to an information processing apparatus, a time-limit display program and a time-limit display method, which display time-limit information. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic mails (e-mails) are continually transmitted and received via a network such as the Internet. With an increased frequency of making business communications and notifications via the e-mails, a quantity of the e-mails received by the individuals rises at a dramatic rate. While on the other hand, some of the communications and the notifications via the e-mails request a reply to the received communication or notification within a designated time-limit. Under such circumstances, a recipient of the e-mail might misapprehend a designated reply time-limit. Further, the e-mail requested to reply might be intermingled with other e-mails, resulting in failing to reply within the designated reply time-limit. 
     Over the recent years, there has been known a technique of attaching, to the e-mail, a flag for knowing the recipient that a sender is important or special in order to assist management of the e-mails.
         [Patent document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 07-162452   [Patent document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-135855   [Patent document 3] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 07-183912   [Patent document 4] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-136010       

     SUMMARY 
     According to the technique of attaching the flag to the e-mail as described above, the recipient can recognize that the received mail is important or special. On the other hand, however, the recipient needs to gasp the reply time-limit designated in the received e-mail by himself or herself. Namely, the recipient needs to manage the reply time-limit of the e-mail by himself or herself. 
     An information processing apparatus comprising: a processor to receive data transmitted via an electronic mail; to detect time-limit information representing a reply time-limit of the electronic mail from the received data; to display the electronic mail; and to display the reply time-limit in the way of being associated with the displayed electronic mail on the basis of the time-limit information and the present date-time. 
     The object and advantages of the embodiment will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the embodiment, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an architecture of an e-mail system and whole operations thereof according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus included in the e-mail system in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus included in the e-mail system in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting a time-limit database possessed by the information processing apparatus in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram depicting a mail database possessed by the information processing apparatus in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the information processing apparatus which transmits the e-mail with a reply time-limit in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory diagram of a method of setting notification timing of the reply time-limit and notification timing when unopened in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the information processing apparatus which receives the e-mail with the reply time-limit in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a time-limit display process in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a displayed pop-up window for the reply time-limit in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a window in which the e-mails are sorted out based on the reply time-limits in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an unopened mail notification process in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an unopened mail information receiving process in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a response information receiving process in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 15  is an explanatory diagram of a method of setting the reply time-limit to the e-mail requiring a Web answer in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic diagram illustrating an architecture and whole operations of the e-mail system according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a destination mail server in the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram illustrating an architecture and whole operations of the e-mail system according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a management server in the third embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram illustrating one example of a computer system to which the technology disclosed in the present specification is applied. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawing. 
     (First Embodiment) 
     To start with, an architecture of an electronic mail (e-mail) system according to a first embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     The e-mail system includes an information processing apparatus  1 , an information processing apparatus  2 , a mail server  3  and a mail server  4 , which are connected to a network. The information processing apparatus  1  is exemplified by a desktop personal computer and a notebook personal computer. The information processing apparatus  1  is capable of transmitting and receiving e-mails to and from other information processing apparatuses via the network. The information processing apparatus  2  is the personal computer similarly to the information processing apparatus  1 . The information processing apparatus  2  is capable of transmitting and receiving the e-mails to and from other information processing apparatuses via the network. The mail server  3  transmits the e-mail transmitted by the information processing apparatus  1  to another mail server according to a destination of the e-mail. The mail server  3  receives the e-mail of which a destination is specified (addressed) to the information processing apparatus  1  from another mail server and delivers this e-mail to the information processing apparatus  1 . The mail server  4  transmits the e-mail transmitted by the information processing apparatus  2  to another mail server according to a destination of the e-mail. The mail server  4  receives the e-mail of which a destination is specified to the information processing apparatus  2  from another mail server and delivers this e-mail to the information processing apparatus  2 . 
     In the first embodiment, for the sake of the explanation, the information processing apparatus  1  (a first information processing apparatus) is treated as a source (sender) of the e-mail in which a reply time-limit is set, while the information processing apparatus  2  (a second information processing apparatus) is treated as a destination (recipient) of the e-mail in which the reply time-limit is set. The information processing apparatus  1  transmits the e-mail attached with time-limit information indicating the reply time-limit to the information processing apparatus  2 . The information processing apparatus  2  presents the reply time-limit to a user on the basis of the time-limit information, and transmits the e-mail attached with response information representing a purport of having a function of notifying of the reply time-limit on the basis of the time-limit information to the information processing apparatus  1 . Further, the information processing apparatus  2  transmits, to the information processing apparatus  1 , the e-mail attached with unopened mail information representing that the e-mail attached with the time-limit information is not yet opened. The information processing apparatus, the time-limit display program and the time-limit display method enable the recipient to visually recognize the reply time-limit of the e-mail. 
     Next, a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus  1  according to the first embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The information processing apparatus  1  includes a CPU  51 , a memory  52 , a storage unit  53 , a network IF (Interface)  54 , a RTC (Real Time Clock)  55 , an input-output IF  56 , a keyboard  57 , a mouse  58  and a display  59 . An assumption is that the CPU  51 , the memory  52 , the storage unit  53 , the network IF  54 , the RTC  55  and the input-output IF  56  are connected to each other via a bus  60 . The storage unit  53  gets stored with an OS (operating System)  90 , a time-limit database and a mail database that will be described later on. The network IF  54  is an interface for establishing a connection with the network and is exemplified such as a network card. The RTC  55  always counts the set time irrespective of when supplying a power source to the information processing apparatus  1  and when cutting off the power source from the information processing apparatus  1 . Herein, the RTC  55  retains respective items of information of year, month, day, hour, minute and second as time data. The input-output IF  56  accepts inputs of the keyboard  57  and the mouse  58 , and outputs a screen image to the display  59 . The keyboard  57  is an input device on which a plurality of keys to which characters and specified functions are allocated is arrayed. The mouse  58  is a pointing device for designating a specified position on the display  59 . The display  59  is an output device and outputs, as the screen image, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) of the OS  90  and an application running on the OS  90 . Note that a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus  2  is the same as the configuration of the information processing apparatus  1  described above, and hence its description is omitted. Incidentally, in the first embodiment, in each of the mail servers  3  and  4 , the storage unit  53  thereof retains neither the time-limit database  531  nor the mail database  532 . 
     Next, a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus  1  according to the first embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     The information processing apparatus  1  includes, as functions, a transmitting unit  71 , a receiving unit  72 , an accepting unit  73 , a generating unit  74 , a detecting unit  75 , a storage control unit  76  and a display control unit  77 . The CPU  51  and the memory  52  cooperate to realize these functions. 
     The transmitting unit  71  transmits the e-mail. The receiving unit  72  receives the e-mail and the data transmitted by use of the e-mail. The accepting unit  73  accepts an instruction about setting the time-limit of the e-mail. The generating unit  74  generates the time-limit information based on the instruction accepted by the accepting unit  73 . The detecting unit  75  detects the time-limit information, notification information and response information from the data received by the receiving unit  72 . To be specific, the detecting unit  75  determines whether the received data contains these items of information or not, and, if contained, extract these items of data (information). The storage control unit  76  adds the e-mail received by the receiving unit  72  to the mail database  532 , and adds the time-limit information detected by the detecting unit  75  to the time-limit database  531 . The display control unit  77  displays the e-mail stored in the storage unit  53  on the display  59 . Further, the display control unit  77  reads the time-limit information associated with the displayed e-mail from the storage unit  53 . Moreover, the display control unit  77  displays, on the display  59 , the reply time-limit based on the readout time-limit information in the way of its being associated with the displayed e-mail on the basis of the readout time-limit information and the present date-time. Note that the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus  2  is the same as the configuration of the information processing apparatus  1 . 
     Next, the time-limit database and the mail database will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Herein, the time-limit database  531  depicted in  FIG. 4  and the mail database  532  illustrated in  FIG. 5  are stored in the storage unit of the information processing apparatus  2  defined as the destination (recipient) of the e-mail with the reply time-limit in the first embodiment. 
     To being with, the time-limit database  531  will be explained. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in the time-limit database  531 , a time-limit information ID, a sender ID, a mail ID, a reply time-limit, a notification timing and a unopened mail notification timing are associated with each other. The time-limit information ID is a unique identifier in the time-limit database  531 , this identifier being added when the time-limit information is added to the time-limit database  531 . The sender ID is a unique identifier in the information processing apparatus  1  defined as the sender of the e-mail with the reply time-limit, this identifier being generated by the generating unit  74  and added to the time-limit information. The mail ID is a unique identifier in the mail database  532 , this identifier being added when the mail information is added to the mail database  532  and specifying the e-mail attached with the time-limit information. The reply time-limit represents a reply time-limit set in the information processing apparatus  1 . The notification timing represents a timing, set in the information processing apparatus  1 , for notifying the information processing apparatus  2  of the reply time-limit. The unopened mail notification timing represents a timing, set in the information processing apparatus  1 , if the e-mail with the reply time-limit is still unopened in the information processing apparatus  2 , for notifying the information processing apparatus  1  of this purport. Note that one row corresponds to one record of time-limit information in the time-limit database  531  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Note that the time-limit information is to be text data attached to the e-mail in the first embodiment. Further, the time-limit information is to be detected as the time-limit information at the destination (recipient) by use of a special character string for a header or a file name. The time-limit information is set as the attached file, thereby enabling the e-mail to be opened without any problem even when the destination (recipient) cannot recognize the time-limit information. Moreover, the time-limit information is set as the text data, thereby enabling the destination user to refer to the reply time-limit by opening the text even when the destination cannot recognize the time-limit information. 
     Next, the mail database  532  will hereinafter be described. As depicted in  FIG. 5 , in the mail database  532 , a mail ID, a transmission date-time, a subject, a text, a source address and an open flag are associated with each other. The transmission date-time is a date-time when the e-mail sender transmits the e-mail. The subject and the text represent a content of a message of the e-mail. The source address is an e-mail address of the sender. The open flag, which represents an opened status of the e-mail, indicates being opened in the case of “ON” but indicates not being opened in the case of “OFF”. Similarly to the time-limit database  531 , one row corresponds to one record of the e-mail in the mail database  532  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     Next, the operations of the information processing apparatus which transmits the e-mail with the reply time-limit will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , at first, the accepting unit  73  determines whether or not the user gives an instruction of transmitting the e-mail (step S 101 ). 
     If the e-mail transmitting instruction is given (step S 101 , YES), the accepting unit  73  determines whether or not the user gives an instruction of setting the reply time-limit in the e-mail to be transmitted (step S 102 ). This determination is made, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , based on an input to a dialog box D 11  and an input to a dialog box D 12  each displayed on the display  59  of the information processing apparatus  1 . Specifically, in the dialog box D 11 , a selection button D 111  is selected, the reply time-limit is inputted to an input form D 121 , the notification timing is selected in a selection form D 122 , and a selection button D 124  is selected, from which status it is determined that the instruction of setting the reply time-limit is given. On the other hand, a selection button D 112  is selected in the dialog box D 11 , form which status the accepting unit  73  determines that the instruction of setting the reply time-limit is given. 
     If the user gives the instruction of setting the reply time-limit (step S 102 , YES), the generating unit  74  generates the time-limit information attached to the e-mail to be transmitted on the basis of the input to the input form D 121  and the selected items in the selection form D 122  (step S 103 ). Next, the accepting unit  73  determines whether or not the user gives an instruction of setting the notification when unopened (step S 104 ). This determination is made based on whether a check box D 123  in the dialog box D 12  is checkmarked or not. To be specific, if the selection button D 124  is selected in a checkmarked status of the check box D 123 , the accepting unit  73  determines that the notification setting when unopened is done. Note that when the check box D 123  is checkmarked, a dialog box D 13  containing a selection form D 131  for selecting an unopened mail notification timing is displayed. In the case of putting the checkmark in the check box D 123 , it is assumed that the selection button D 124  is selectable only in a status of selecting any one of the items in the selection form D 131 . Whereas if the selection button D 124  is selected in a status of not putting the checkmark in the check box D 123 , the accepting unit  73  determines that the notification setting when unopened is not done. Note that the dialog boxes D 11 -D 13  are to be displayed by the display control unit  77 . 
     When the user gives the instruction of doing the notification setting when unopened (step S 104 , YES), the generating unit  74  adds the unopened mail notification timing to the time-limit information (step S 105 ). Subsequently, the transmitting unit  71  transmits the e-mail attached with the time-limit information to the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 106 ). Next, the detecting unit  75  and the display control unit  77  execute an unopened mail information receiving process that will be described later on (step S 107 ). Subsequently, the detecting unit  75  and the display control unit  77  execute a response information receiving process that will be described later on (step S 108 ). Next, the accepting unit  73  determines again whether the user gives the transmitting instruction of the e-mail or not (step S 101 ). 
     Further, in step S 104 , if the user does not give the instruction of the notification setting when unopened (step S 104 , NO), the transmitting unit  71  transmits the e-mail attached with the time-limit information to the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 106 ). 
     Furthermore, in step S 102 , if the user does not give the instruction of the reply time-limit setting (step S 102 , NO), the transmitting unit  71  transmits the e-mail not attached with the time-limit information to the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 109 ). Next, the accepting unit  73  determines again whether or not the user gives the instruction of transmitting the e-mail (step S 101 ). 
     Subsequently, the operation of the information processing apparatus which receives the e-mail with the reply time-limit will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . This operation is performed by the information processing apparatus  2  in the first embodiment. 
     To begin with, the storage control unit  76  determines whether the receiving unit  72  receives the e-mail or not (step S 201 ). 
     If the receiving unit  72  receives the e-mail (step S 201 , YES), the storage control unit  76  attaches a mail ID to the e-mail received by the receiving unit  72  and saves this e-mail in the mail database  532  (step S 202 ). Next, the detecting unit  75  detects the time-limit information by determining whether the e-mail received by the receiving unit  72  is attached with the time-limit information or not (step S 203 ). 
     If the received e-mail is attached with the time-limit information (step S 203 , YES), the storage control unit  76  detaches the time-limit information from the e-mail, then attaches the time-limit information ID and the mail ID attached to the mail information of the e-mail attached with this time-limit information to the time-limit information, and adds this time-limit information attached with the time-limit information ID and the mail ID to the time-limit database  531  (step S 204 ). Next, the transmitting unit  71  transmits the e-mail attached with the response information to the information processing apparatus  1  (step S 205 ). This response information is to contain the sender ID of the time-limit information. 
     Next, the display control unit  77  reads all the time-limit information from the time-limit database  531  (step S 206 ). Subsequently, the display control unit  77  executes a time-limit display process that will be described later on (step S 207 ). Next, the storage control unit  76  determines whether or not the transmitting unit  71  transmits back the e-mail with the reply time-limit (step S 208 ). 
     If the e-mail with the reply time-limit is transmitted back (step S 208 , YES), the storage control unit  76  deletes the time-limit information associated with the e-mail transmitted back, i.e., the time-limit information having the mail ID of the e-mail transmitted back from the time-limit database  531  (step S 209 ). Next, the transmitting unit  71  executes an unopened mail notification process that will be described afterward (step S 210 ), and the storage control unit  76  again determines whether or not the receiving unit  72  receives the e-mail (step S 201 ). 
     Whereas if the e-mail with the reply time-limit is not transmitted back (step S 208 , NO), the storage control unit  76  again determines whether or not the receiving unit  72  receives the e-mail (step S 201 ). 
     Further, if it is determined in step S 203  that the received e-mail is not attached with the time-limit information (step S 203 , NO), the storage control unit  76  determines whether the time-limit database  531  retains the time-limit information or not (step S 211 ). 
     If the time-limit database  531  retains none of the time-limit information (step S 211 , NO), the storage control unit  76  again determines whether the receiving unit  72  receives the e-mail or not (step S 201 ). 
     Whereas if the time-limit database  531  retains the time-limit information (step S 211 , YES), the display control unit  77  reads all the time-limit information from the time-limit database  531  (step S 206 ). 
     Next, a time-limit display process will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIGS. 9-11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the display control unit  77  determines a notification date based on the reply time-limit and the notification timing in the time-limit information read from the time-limit database  531  (step S 301 ). Herein, in the case of taking time-limit information having the time-limit information ID “ 003 ” in  FIG. 4  for example, the notification date is “2009/12/03”. Next, the display control unit  77  determines whether the notification date is from the present date onward with respect to the readout time-limit information or not (step S 302 ). Herein, the display control unit  77  acquires the time counted by the RTC  55  as the present date-time via the OS  90 . 
     If the notification date of the readout time-limit information is from the present date onward (step S 302 , YES), as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the display control unit  77  displays in a pop-up window the reply time-limit with respect to the e-mail associated with the time-limit information of which the notification date is from the present date onward (step S 303 ). Note that “the display in the pop-up window with respect to the e-mail” implies that a screen image is displayed on a layer (window) in front of the window in which the e-mail is displayed. Further, “the e-mail associated with the time-limit information” is the e-mail having the mail ID attached to the time-limit information. 
     Next, the display control unit  77 , as depicted in  FIG. 11 , displays in the pop-up window the reply time-limit nearest to the present date in the reply time-limits displayed in the pop-up window within a root folder stored with the e-mails. Subsequently, the display control unit  77  determines whether a subfolder under the root folder is displayed or not (step S 305 ). 
     If the subfolder is displayed (step S 305 , YES), the display control unit  77 , as depicted in  FIG. 11 , displays in the pop-up window the reply time-limit nearest to the present date in the reply time-limits displayed in the pop-up window within the subfolder stored with the e-mails (step S 306 ). Note that “the display in the pop-up window within the root folder or the subfolder” implies that the screen image is displayed on the layer in front of the window in which the root folder or the subfolder is displayed. Next, the transmitting unit  71  executes an unopened mail notification process that will be described later on (step S 307 ). Subsequently, the accepting unit  73  determines whether a sorting instruction based on the reply time-limit is given or not (step S 308 ). Herein, it is assumed that the sorting instruction based on the reply time-limit is given by clicking an item “reply time-limit” in an item bar. 
     If the sorting instruction based on the reply time-limit is given (step S 308 , YES), the display control unit  77 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , rearranges the e-mails in a descending sequence base on the reply time-limit (step S 309 ). Note that the e-mails may also be rearranged in an ascending sequence base on the reply time-limit. 
     Whereas if the sorting instruction based on the reply time-limit is not given (step S 308 , NO), the display control unit  77  finishes the time-limit display process. 
     Further, if it is determined in step S 305  that the subfolder is not displayed (step S 305 , NO), the transmitting unit  71  executes the unopened mail notification process (step S 307 ). 
     Moreover, if it is determined in step S 302  that the notification date in the readout time-limit information is not from the present date onward (step S 302 , NO), the display control unit  77  finishes the time-limit display process. 
     As described above, the reply time-limit is displayed in the pop-up window on the basis of the reply time-limit and the notification timing, and the user is thus notified of the reply time-limit, whereby the user can recognize that the e-mail is close to the reply time-limit. Moreover, if there is a plurality of e-mails with the reply time-limits, the user can easily allocate priority levels to the e-mails that should be replied in the way of rearranging the e-mails on the basis of the added reply time-limits. 
     Next, the unopened mail notification process will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
     At first, the transmitting unit  71  refers to the open flag in the mail database  532  and thus determines whether there is the unopened e-mail or not (step S 401 ). 
     If the unopened e-mail exists (step S 401 , YES), the transmitting unit  71  determines whether or not the time-limit database  531  retains the time-limit information associated with the unopened e-mail (step S 402 ). 
     If the time-limit information associated with the unopened e-mail exists (step S 402 , YES), the transmitting unit  71  determines whether or not the time-limit information undergoing the setting of the unopened mail notification timing is contained in the pieces of time-limit information associated with the unopened e-mails (step S 403 ). 
     If the time-limit information undergoing the setting of the unopened mail notification timing exists (step S 403 , YES), the transmitting unit  71  determines the unopened mail notification date on the basis of the present date and the unopened mail notification timing with respect to each time-limit information (step S 404 ). Next, the transmitting unit  71  determines whether or not the calculated unopened mail notification date is from the present date onward (step S 405 ). 
     If the unopened mail notification date is from the present date onward (step S 405 , YES), the transmitting unit  71  notifies the sender of the unopened mail information (step S 406 ). This unopened mail information is to contain at least the sender ID of the associated time-limit information. 
     Whereas if the unopened mail notification date is not from the present date onward (step S 405 , NO), the transmitting unit  71  terminates the unopened mail notification process. 
     If it is determined in step S 403  that there is not any time-limit information undergoing the setting of the unopened mail notification timing (step S 403 , NO), the transmitting unit  71  finishes the unopened mail notification process. Further, if it is determined in step S 402  that there is not the time-limit information associated with the unopened e-mail (step S 402 , NO), the transmitting unit  71  finishes the unopened mail notification process. Further, if it is determined in step S 401  that there is no unopened e-mail (step S 401 , NO), the transmitting unit  71  finishes the unopened mail notification process. 
     Next, an unopened mail information receiving process will hereinafter be described with the reference to  FIG. 13 . This process is executed by the information processing apparatus  1  in the first embodiment. 
     At first, the detecting unit  75  determines whether the receiving unit  72  receives the e-mail or not (step S 501 ). 
     If the e-mail is received (step S 501 , YES), the detecting unit  75  determines whether the unopened mail information is attached to the received e-mail or not (step S 502 ). 
     If the unopened mail information is attached to the received e-mail (step S 502 , YES), the display control unit  77  notifies the user that the already-transmitted e-mail attached with the time-limit information associated with the sender ID in the unopened mail information is not yet opened (step S 503 ). A notifying method is exemplified by a method of displaying a dialog box containing a description of a purport that the already-transmitted e-mail attached with the time-limit information is not yet opened, however, whatever method may be adopted as the notifying method. 
     Whereas if the unopened mail information is not attached to the received e-mail (step S 502 , NO), the detecting unit  75  finishes the unopened mail notification process. If it is determined in step S 501  that the e-mail is not received (step S 501 , NO), the detecting unit  75  finishes the unopened mail notification display process. 
     Thus, the user is notified that the already-transmitted e-mail attached with the time-limit information is not yet opened and is thereby enabled to know that the transmission partner (the mail recipient) does not open the e-mail. 
     Subsequently, a response information receiving process will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 14 . This process is executed by the information processing apparatus  1  in the first embodiment. 
     To start with, the detecting unit  75  determines whether or not the receiving unit  72  receives the e-mail (step S 601 ). If the e-mail is received (step S 601 , YES), the detecting unit  75  determines whether or not the response information is attached to the received mail (step S 602 ). If the response information is not attached to the received mail (step S 602 , NO), the detecting unit determines whether or not a predetermined period of time elapses since the e-mail attached with the time-limit information has been transmitted (step S 603 ). 
     If the predetermined period of time elapses since the e-mail attached with the time-limit information has been transmitted (step S 603 , YES), the display control unit  77  notifies the user that the destination is not associated with the time-limit information (step S 604 ). Herein, a notifying method is exemplified by a method of displaying a dialog box containing a description of a purport that the destination is not associated with the time-limit information, however, whatever method may be adopted as the notifying method. 
     Whereas if the predetermined period of time does not elapse since the e-mail attached with the time-limit information has been transmitted (step S 603 , NO), the detecting unit  75  again determines whether the receiving unit  72  receives the e-mail or not (step S 601 ). Further, it is determined in step S 602  that the response information is attached to the received e-mail (step S 602 , YES), the detecting unit  75  finishes the response information receiving process. Further, if it is determined in step S 601  that the e-mail is not received (step S 601 , NO), the detecting unit  75  finishes the response information receiving process. 
     Thus, the sender user is notified that the destination is not associated with the time-limit information and is thereby enabled to take a measure such as directly conveying the reply time-limit to the destination user (recipient user). 
     Note that according to the first embodiment, the reply time-limit can be set in the e-mail requiring a Web reply. The way of how the reply time-limit is set in the e-mail requiring the Web reply will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 15 . 
     In the case of making a transmission in response to an e-mail M 11  containing a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) in its content, a dialog box D 14  accepting an instruction about whether a click on the URL is set as a reply is displayed in addition to the dialog boxes D 11 -D 13  described above. Herein, a selection button D 141  on the dialog box D 14  is selected, thereby adding the information indicating that the e-mail requires the Web reply to the time-limit information. The storage control unit  76  of the information processing apparatus  2 , which receives the e-mail attached with this time-limit information, deletes the time-limit information when the URL on the e-mail is clicked. 
     Note that the time-limit information is set as the text data attached to the e-mail in the first embodiment, however, the time-limit information is sufficient if being the data transmitted by use of the e-mail. The data transmitted by use of the e-mail is exemplified such as a header of the e-mail, a specified character string within the text of the e-mail and a file linked to the e-mail. Furthermore, the technology described above may be realized by way of a Web mail. 
     (Second Embodiment) 
     In the first embodiment discussed above, the information processing apparatus as the destination (recipient) manages the time-limit information, while the information processing apparatus as the sender determines whether or not the response information is received within the predetermined period of time and thus determines whether or not the information processing apparatus as the destination corresponds to the time-limit information. In a second embodiment, a mail server used by the information processing apparatus as the destination manages the time-limit information, and notifies the information processing apparatus as the sender that the information processing apparatus as the destination does not correspond to the time-limit information. Operations of the e-mail system, which are different from the first embodiment, will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 16 . Note that the architecture of the e-mail system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore its description is omitted. 
     At first, the information processing apparatus  1  transmits the e-mail attached with the time-limit information and distinctive information to the mail server  4  via the mail server  3 . The distinctive information indicates that the information processing apparatus  2  as the destination of the e-mail corresponds to the display of the reply time-limit based on the time-limit information. The mail server  4  receiving the e-mail attached with the time-limit information and the distinctive information transmits the time-limit information and the distinctive information to a specified folder of the information processing apparatus  2 . Further, the mail server  4  includes the time-limit database  531  in the storage unit  53  on an account-by-account basis, and adds the time-limit information attached to the received data to the time-limit database  531 . Herein, if the distinctive information cannot be transmitted to the information processing apparatus  2 , the mail server  4  determines that the information processing apparatus  2  does not correspond to the display of the reply time-limit based on the time-limit information. In this case, the mail server  4  transmits, to the information processing apparatus  1  via the mail server  3 , a piece of non-correspondence information indicating that the destination (recipient) does not correspond to the display of the reply time-limit based on the time-limit information. The information processing apparatus  1  receiving the non-correspondence information notifies the user of the purport that the destination does not correspond to the display of the reply time-limit based on the time-limit information. Further, the information processing apparatus  2  refers to the time-limit database  531  of the mail server  4  each time the e-mail is received, and, similarly to the first embodiment, displays in the pop-up window the reply time-limit with respect to the e-mail associated with the time-limit information in which the notification date is from the present date onward. 
     Next, operations of the mail server of the destination according to the second embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 17 . 
     At first, the mail server  4  determines whether the e-mail is received from the information processing apparatus  1  or not (step S 701 ). If the e-mail is received (step S 701 , YES), the mail server  4  determines whether or not the received e-mail is attached with the time-limit information and the distinctive information (step S 702 ). 
     If the e-mail is attached with the time-limit information and the distinctive information (step S 703 ), the mail server  4  determines whether a reception request is given from the information processing apparatus  2  or not (step S 703 ). If the reception request is given from the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 703 , YES), the mail server  4  transmits the distinctive information toward the specified folder of the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 704 ), and determines whether this distinctive information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus  2  or not (step S 705 ). 
     If the distinctive information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 705 , YES), the mail server  4  adds the time-limit information to the time-limit database  531  (step S 706 ) and transmits, to the information processing apparatus  2 , the e-mail addressed to the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 707 ). Whereas if the distinctive information is not transmitted to the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 705 , NO), the mail server  4  transmits the non-correspondence information to the information processing apparatus  1  via the mail server  3  (step S 708 ). Next, the mail server  4  transmits, to the information processing apparatus  2 , the e-mail addressed to the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 707 ). 
     Moreover, if it is determined in step S 703  that the reception request is not given from the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 703 , NO), the mail server  4  again determines whether the e-mail is received from the information processing apparatus  1  or not (step S 701 ). If it is determined in step S 702  that the e-mail is attached with neither the time-limit information nor the distinctive information (step S 702 , NO), the mail server  4  determines whether the reception request is given from the information processing apparatus  2  or not (step S 709 ). 
     If the reception request is given (step S 709 , YES), the mail server  4  transmits, to the information processing apparatus  2 , the e-mail addressed to the information processing apparatus  2  (step S 707 ). Whereas if the reception request is not given (step S 709 , NO), the mail server  4  again determines whether the e-mail is received from the information processing apparatus  1  or not (step S 701 ). Further, if it is determined in step S 701  that the e-mail is not received (step S 701 , NO), the mail server  4  again determines whether the e-mail is received from the information processing apparatus  1  or not (step S 701 ). 
     Thus, the mail server  4  retains the time-limit information, thereby enabling a quantity of the data stored in the storage unit  53  of the information processing apparatus to be reduced. Further, the mail server  4  transmits the non-correspondence information to the information processing apparatus  1 , thereby decreasing the load on the process of determining whether or not the information processing apparatus  2  corresponds to the display of the reply time-limit based on the time-limit information. 
     (Third Embodiment) 
     In the second embodiment discussed above, the mail server of the destination (recipient) of the e-mail with the reply time-limit manages the time-limit information. In a third embodiment, the e-mail system includes a management server for managing the time-limit information. Operations of the e-mail system, which are different from those in the second embodiment, will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 18 . 
     The e-mail system according to the third embodiment includes a management server  5  in addition to the information processing apparatuses  1 ,  2  and the mail servers  3 ,  4 , in which these devices are each connected to the network. The management server  5  has the same hardware configuration as the information processing apparatuses  1 ,  2  and the mail servers  3 ,  4  have. The information processing apparatus  1  transmits the e-mail attached with the time-limit information to the mail server  4  via the mail server  3 . The mail server  4  adds a destination address of the e-mail to the time-limit information attached to the e-mail, then forwards the e-mail to the management server  5 , transmits the e-mail to the information processing apparatus  2 , receives a reply e-mail in response to the transmitted e-mail, and stores this reply mail as a reply history in the storage unit  53 . The management server  5  includes the time-limit database  531  in its storage unit  53  on the account-by-account basis, and adds the time-limit information forwarded from the mail server  4  to the time-limit database  531 . In the case of using the setting and the notification of the reply time-limit based on the time-limit information, the e-mail address is registered beforehand in the management server  5 . The management server  5 , if the e-mail address added to the time-limit information is not registered, transmits the non-correspondence information to the information processing apparatus  1 . The information processing apparatus  1  receiving the non-correspondence information notifies the user that the destination does not correspond to the display of the reply time-limit based on the time-limit information. Moreover, the information processing apparatus  2  refers to the time-limit database  531  of the management server  5  each time the e-mail is received and, similarly to the first embodiment, displays in the pop-up window the reply time-limit in response to the e-mail associated with the time-limit information of which the notification date is from the present date onward. 
     Next, operations of the management server according to the third embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to  FIG. 19 . 
     At first, the management server  5  determines whether the time-limit information is received or not (step S 801 ). If the time-limit information is received (step S 801 , YES), the management server  5  determines whether the e-mail address of the destination added to the time-limit information is already registered or not (step S 802 ). 
     If the e-mail address is already registered (step S 802 , YES), the management server  5  adds the time-limit information to the time-limit database  531  of the corresponding account (step S 803 ). Subsequently, the management server  5  refers to the reply history in the mail server  4  (step S 804 ) and thus determines whether there is any reply to the received time-limit information or not (step S 805 ). 
     If there is the reply (step S 805 , YES), the management server  5  deletes the time-limit information from the time-limit database  531  (step S 806 ) and again determines whether the time-limit information is received or not (step S 801 ). 
     Whereas if there is not the reply (step S 805 , NO), the management server  5  again determines whether the time-limit information is received or not (step S 801 ). 
     Moreover, if it is determined in step S 802  that the e-mail address is not already registered (step S 802 , NO), the management server  5  transmits the non-correspondence information to the information processing apparatus  1  (step S 807 ) and again determines whether the time-limit information is received or not (step S 801 ). 
     Thus, the dedicated server manages the time-limit information, whereby the processing load of the mail server  4  can be reduced. Note that the mail server  4  forwards the time-limit information in the third embodiment, however, the information processing apparatus  2  receives the time-limit information together with the e-mail and may also forward the received time-limit information to the management server  5 . 
     The technology described above can be applied to the computer system that will be given below.  FIG. 20  is a view illustrating one example of the computer system to which the technology disclosed in the present specification is applied. A computer system  900  illustrated in  FIG. 20  includes a body unit  901  which incorporates a CPU, a disk drive, etc, a display  902  which displays the image in response to an instruction given from the body unit  901 , a keyboard  903  for inputting various items of information to the computer system  900 , a mouse  904  that specifies an arbitrary position on a display screen  902   a  of the display  902 , and a communication device  905  that downloads programs etc stored in other computer systems by accessing external databases. A network communication card, a modem, etc can be considered as the communication device  905 . 
     A program for getting the respective steps executed in the computer system configuring the information processing apparatus as described above can be provided as a time-limit display program. This program is stored on a recording medium readable by the computer system, thereby enabling the computer system configuring the information processing apparatus to execute the program. The program for getting the respective steps executed is stored on a portable recording medium such as the disk  910  or downloaded by the communication device  905  from a recording medium  906  of another computer system. Further, a time-limit display program (time-limit display software), which provides the computer system  900  with at least a time-limit display function, is inputted to and compiled by the computer system  900 . This program makes the computer system  900  operate as the information processing apparatus having the time-limit display function. Moreover, this program may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium such as the disk  910 . Herein, the recording medium readable by the computer system  900  includes a variety of recording mediums accessible from the computer system connected via a communication means such as the communication device  905 , these recording mediums being exemplified by an internal storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory) mounted inside the computer, a portable recording medium such as the disk  910 , a flexible disk, a DVD disk, a magneto-optic disk and an IC card, a database or another computer system and the database thereof, which each retain the computer program. 
     Further, the technology described above can be also realized by a system, i.e., a so-called Web mail system that transmits, receives and displays the e-mail by use of a browser running on the computer system. In the case of the Web mail system, the computer system on which the browser runs, a Web server that supplies the e-mail data to the browser, or the management server as in the third embodiment may all be configured to execute the program described above. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment of the present inventions have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7