METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING ELECTRONIC MAIL BASED UPON USER AVAILABILITY

An electronic mail transmitting and receiving system that is capable of predicting whether or not the user can access the electronic mail transmitting and receiving system, and which is also capable of automatically controlling whether or not the electronic mail addressed to the user is transferred to an auxiliary device such as facsimile equipment, predetermined by the user. The electronic mail transmitting and receiving system is provided with a mail system monitor which monitors arrival, transmission, and reception of the electronic mail addressed to the user, a transfer propriety data generator that anticipates whether or not the user can access the mail system according to the result of the monitor and which generates a transfer propriety data based on the result of the anticipation. A mail transfer device refers to the transfer propriety data periodically at a fixed time interval. As far as it is confirmed that the transfer is appropriate, the mail transfer device transfers the electronic mail addressed to the user in the mail system to an auxiliary device predetermined by the user.