Patent ID: 6850757

Claim:
A mail notification apparatus comprising: a LAN controller configured to connect to a local mail client and to a local mail server via a LAN, and to connect to a cellular phone via an Internet, the local mail server receiving an e-mail directed to the local mail client via the LAN and storing the e-mail directed to the local mail client; a memory configured to store a mail address of the cellular phone associated with a local mail account of the local mail client; a controller configured to access the local mail server via the LAN, to check for an arrival of the e-mail directed to the local mail client by logging onto the local mail account of the local mail client, to search the memory for the mail address of the cellular phone associated with the local mail client to which the e-mail is to be sent when the e-mail directed to the local mail client is stored in the local mail server, to generate a notification message notifying a user of the associated cellular phone of the arrival of the e-mail directed to the local mail client, and to transmit the notification message to the associated cellular phone via the Internet.