JP3695372B2 - E-mail delivery system and e-mail delivery method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is capable of delivering a sent mail to another mail address desired by the user, and is capable of delivering mail between one mail address and another mail address. The present invention relates to a system and an e-mail delivery method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Due to the rapid spread of e-mail in recent years, many e-mail users have a plurality of e-mail addresses.
For this reason, the user needs to perform email management such as email address management, mail classification and organization, and so-called customization that changes functions and settings so that the user can easily use each email address. It is happening.
In addition, the mail transmitted to one mail address is transferred to another mail address owned by itself, or the mail is distributed to other users connected to the in-house LAN or the like as necessary.
[0003]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventional example of an electronic mail delivery system.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, three mail servers 130, 230, and 330 are connected to the Internet I, and a user is included in a LAN (Local Area Network) 150, 250, 350 to which each mail server 130, 230, 330 belongs. One user having terminals 140A, 240A, 340A has three mail addresses User@mail.com, User@mail1.com, User@mail2.com for each mail server 130, 230, 330 And
[0004]
When mail is locally distributed from the sender to all user terminals 140A, 140B,... Belonging to the LAN 150 via, for example, the mail server 130 (mail.com), the mail server 130 sends the mail to the mail. .. Is transmitted to the spooler 160, and the mail can be referred to from all user terminals 140 A, 140 B,... Connected to the LAN 150 via the mail spooler 160.
For example, when a mail is transmitted from the sender to a specific mail address (User@mail.com) via the mail server 130, the mail server 130 sends the mail to the mail address User@mail.com. To deliver. The user can refer to the mail by accessing the mail server 130 using the user terminal 140A.
[0005]
However, in the conventional electronic mail delivery system as described above, there are few parts that can be set by the user when customizing, and mail management is not easy.
Also, due to restrictions on the mail system, it was not possible to distribute mail that arrived at a certain email address and mail that arrived at a different email address in both directions.
This will be described using the mail transfer function (Forward function) as an example.
To enable a user to have the same mail in both the mail spooler 160 of the mail server 130 (mail.com) and the mail spooler 360 of the mail server 330 (mail2.com), User@mail.com It is possible to set the mail that has been sent to the local address to the mail server 130 (mail.com) using the Forward function and to be forwarded to User@mail2.com. Forward1).
[0006]
However, if this user uses the Forward function at mail2.com for mail that arrives at User@mail2.com at the same time as the above settings, the mail spooler at mail2.com and the mail spooler at mail.com try to retain it (this The following problem occurs.
The mail received to User@mail.com is stored in the spooler 160 of the mail server 130 (mail.com) and forwarded to the mail server 330 (mail2.com) by the Forward1 function. The mail forwarded to User@mail2.com is stored in the mail spooler 360 of the mail server 330 (mail2.com), and at the same time, forwarded to User@mail.com by the function of Forward2. . On the other hand, the mail server 130 (mail.com) forwards the mail to the mail server 330 (mail2.com) by Forward1. Therefore, the transfer is performed infinitely in both directions between the two mail servers 130 and 330.
Therefore, at present, when setting Forward between a plurality of e-mail addresses, it is necessary to add a restriction such as prohibiting a setting in which forwarding is circulated.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. The scope of customization by a user in the case of possessing a plurality of e-mail addresses has been expanded. Further, e-mails reaching one e-mail address and e-mails reaching another e-mail address are expanded. An electronic mail distribution system and an electronic mail distribution method capable of bi-directional distribution are provided.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an identifier assignment that assigns an identifier to a mail address in an electronic mail distribution system that distributes a transmitted electronic mail to a predetermined mail address in addition to a destination mail address. Means, receiving means for receiving the mail with the identifier assigned to the mail address by the identifier assigning means, receiving information on the mail address from the receiving means, and the mail address to which the identifier is assigned and the mail address A storage unit that stores a preset delivery destination email address corresponding to the email, and the storage unit is searched based on the email address of the received email, and the email address is found as a result of the search If so, determine one or more other mail addresses to which the mail should be delivered Or if the email address of the identifier received is indicative of the transfer, local without delivery to other email addresses Delivery If an identifier is not assigned to the email address of the received email, or if an identifier not stored in the storage unit is assigned, local distribution or forwarding is performed. And a mail delivery destination determination unit including a determination unit that determines to give an identifier to a transfer destination mail address for transmission. As described in claim 2, the identifier may be an extended ID extendedly assigned to a part that specifies the user of the mail address, or may be a sender's mail as described in claim 3. It may be an address. By configuring in this way, the mail delivery destination determination means is notified of the mail address of the mail received by the receiving means such as a server, and this mail delivery destination determination means determines another delivery destination of the mail. As a result, the mail received by the server is distributed to, for example, the mail addresses of other servers in the same host. Therefore, when one user owns a plurality of mail addresses, mail transmitted to one mail address can be distributed to other mail addresses.
In addition, with this configuration, even when there is no other delivery destination email address corresponding to the received email address, the email can be delivered to a predetermined email address or distributed locally. Is possible.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the mail delivery destination determination unit stores a mail address to which the identifier is assigned and a delivery destination mail address set in advance corresponding to the mail address; And a determination unit that searches the mail address of the delivery destination stored in advance in the storage unit based on the mail address of the mail and determines the delivery destination. With this configuration, for example, one server that has received a mail notifies the determination unit of the mail address of the mail, and the determination unit stores the mail in the storage unit based on the received mail address of the mail. The stored delivery destination mail address is searched, and the mail is delivered to the found delivery destination mail address.
[0011]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the storage unit, the storage unit mutually transmits a mail address of one delivery destination of the one mail and a mail address of another delivery destination of the other mail. Linked and stored so that the delivery of the one mail to the other delivery address and the delivery of the other mail to the one delivery address can be performed mutually. .
With this configuration, it is possible to perform bi-directional mail delivery that was impossible in the conventional system that caused an error due to a mail delivery loop.
[0012]
Claim 5 According to the invention described in the item 1, an updating unit that updates the mail address of the delivery destination stored in the storage unit is provided in the user terminal. According to this configuration, the mail address of the delivery destination can be changed at any time. In addition, when the delivery address corresponding to the received email address is not set, it is possible to add a new delivery destination email address. Can be delivered.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 6 is an electronic mail delivery method for delivering a transmitted electronic mail to a predetermined mail address in addition to a destination mail address.
The storage unit stores an email address assigned with a predetermined identifier and an email address of another delivery destination set in advance corresponding to the email address,
The storage unit is searched based on the mail address of the received mail. If the mail address is found as a result of the search, one or more other mail addresses to which the mail is to be delivered are selected. If the identifier of the email address that is delivered or received points to forwarding, it is local without delivery to other email addresses Delivery If no identifier is assigned to the email address of the received email, or if an identifier not stored in the storage unit is assigned, local distribution is performed or an identifier for transfer is transferred. This is a method of giving to a destination email address and transmitting. In this case, as described in claim 7, the identifier may be an extended ID or an e-mail address of a transmission source that is given to a portion of the e-mail address that specifies a user. According to this method, when one user owns a plurality of mail addresses, it is possible to distribute mail transmitted to one mail address to other mail addresses.
[0016]
Claim 8 In the invention described in the above, the storage unit stores one delivery destination email address of the one mail and another delivery destination email address of the other emails linked to each other, and stores the one email In this method, delivery to another delivery destination email address and delivery of the other email to the one email address can be performed mutually. According to this method, bi-directional mail delivery that has been impossible in the past can also be performed.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the electronic mail delivery system of the present invention.
The electronic mail distribution system 1 of this embodiment includes mail servers 130, 230, and 330 including mail distribution agents MTA 131, 231 and 331 for distributing received electronic mail (hereinafter abbreviated as mail) to each mail address. When an extended ID is assigned to the received mail, the mail address management servers 120, 220, and 320 that perform address mapping based on the extended ID, and user terminals 140A and 240A connected to the LANs 150, 250, and 350 , 340A, 140B, 240B, 340B... And mail spoolers 160, 260, 360 for local delivery of mail to the user terminals 140A, 240A, 340A, 140B, 240B, 340B.
Here, “Local delivery” means that mails received by the mail server 130, 230 or the mail server 330 are mail spoolers of the mail addressed to the mail address User@mail.com, User@mail1.com or User@mail2.com. This operation is stored in 160, 260, 360.
[0018]
The mail address management servers 120, 220, and 320 distribute the address mapping agents AMA 121, 221, and 321 as a determination unit that performs address mapping based on the extended ID, and the mail addresses assigned with the extended ID. E-mail address databases MDB122, 222, and 322 as storage units for storing other e-mail addresses to be stored. The address mapping agents AMA 121, 221, and 321 search for the mail address of the delivery destination stored in the mail address database MDB 122, 222, 322 based on the mail address notified from the mail server 130, 230, 330 that received the mail. Then, according to the result of the search, it is determined to which mail address the sent mail should be delivered.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is an example of a table showing the relationship between the transmitted mail address and the transmission destination address converted by the mapping process.
As shown in the table of FIG. 2, for example, when the extended ID “Forward” is added to the mail address of the mail sent to the mail server 130 (mail.com), that is, the mail address is Forward-User @ mail. When it is .com, mapping processing is specified to perform local distribution.
When the mail address is ML1-User@mail.com, mapping processing is performed so as to perform local distribution.
[0020]
Furthermore, when the mail address is ML2-User@mail.com, the mail is passed to "Program1" as input. Here, the process performed by “Program1” is not particularly limited. For example, an automatic reply function and a mailing list function are included as one of the processes. Thus, by setting an executable program, automation of processing can be promoted on the user side.
[0021]
Also, when it is Work1-User@mail.com, it is processed so as to be distributed to User@mail1.com. Furthermore, when it is Work2-User@mail.com, local distribution is performed and processing is also performed so as to be distributed to User@mail2.com.
As mentioned above, if you send an email to User@mail.com with the extension "Work1" on the sending side, this email will be forwarded to User@mail1.com. The result is the same as when specifying a destination for User@mail.com and User@mail1.com. In this respect, there is no difference from the Forward function used in the conventional mail system.
[0022]
Although this Forward function is set and used according to the convenience of the user, it is currently used. If the user has set the Forward function, the user's email address will surely be read when sent to the user, or the user will be unaware of which email server is connected to read the email at that time The sender can send mail to the user. However, in many cases, the sender side often does not know whether the user side has the Forward setting. Therefore, in most cases, the sender side sends mail only to the user-side mail address that is known.
[0023]
The present invention has an advantage that the forward function can be realized regardless of the setting on the user side by performing the above description in the database.
This will be described for a case where the sender sends an email specifying “Work1-User@mail.com”.
The server 130 that has received this mail inquires of the address mapping agent AMA 121 about the processing of Work1-User@mail.com. The address mapping agent AMA 121 determines to deliver the mail to another delivery destination mail address designated by the mapping process. That is, the address mapping agent AMA 121 refers to the database 122 and determines the processing content of Work1-User@mail.com. As shown in the table of FIG. 2, in this case, the transfer is to User@mail1.com. Therefore, the mail received by the server 130 is transferred to User@mail1.com. At this time, by setting the Local setting to Work1 as in Work2, the mail is distributed locally, and the mail can be stored in the mail spooler of the server 130.
The user can refer to the mail by connecting to the mail server 230.
[0024]
In this embodiment, when the extension ID does not exist (“Blank”), the received mail is delivered locally and processed so as to be delivered to the server 330 as Forward-User@mail2.com. . If an extension ID exists but is not listed in this table ("Nothing"), processing is performed so that it is distributed locally.
In the user terminals 140A, 240A, 340A, 140B, 240B, 340B,..., The mail delivered to the mail servers 130, 230, 330 is transferred to the user terminals 140A, 240A, 340A, 140B, 240B, 340B,. Mail utility agents MUA 141, 241, and 341 for reading and application APs 142, 242, and 342 for updating mail addresses in the mail address databases MDB 122, 222, and 322 are provided.
The contents of the above-described mapping process can be arbitrarily updated by the user accessing the mail address database MDB 122, 222, 322 using the application APs 142, 242, 342.
[0025]
Next, the electronic mail delivery method of the present invention will be described together with the operation of the electronic mail delivery system with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the e-mail delivery method of the present invention.
A mail address having an extended ID may be created in advance by the user and given to the mail sender. Further, mapping conditions as shown in FIG. 2 are input to the mail address databases MDB 122, 222, and 322 in advance by the applications AP 142, 242, and 342, respectively.
[0026]
When mail with the extension ID arrives at the mail server (for example, mail server 130) (step S1), the mail delivery agent MTA 131 of the mail server 130 recognizes the extension ID of the mail (step S2), and the extension ID exists. When this is done, this mail address is notified to the address mapping agent AMA 121 of the mail address management server 120. If the extension ID does not exist, the process is terminated as it is (step S6).
When the extension ID exists, the address mapping agent AMA 121 inquires of the mail address database MDB 122 for the mail address received from the mail delivery agent MTA 131 (step S3), and according to the contents stored in the mail address database MDB 122. A predetermined mapping process is performed (step S4). The contents of this process are as described above with reference to FIG.
[0027]
If the result of this processing is local delivery, the mail is sent to the mail spooler 160 and stored. If delivery is to User@mail1.com, the mail is delivered to the mail address User@mail1.com of the mail server 230. Is done. If the processing result is distribution to User@mail2.com, the mail is distributed to the mail server 330 (step S5).
Thus, the process ends (step S6).
By using the mail utility agents MUA 121, 221, and 321, the user can access any of the mail servers 130, 230, and 330 or the mail spoolers 160, 260, and 360 and view the mail.
[0028]
[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The basic configuration of the electronic mail delivery system of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the mail address of the mail received by the mail server 130, 230, 330 is set to the address mapping agent AMA 121, 221, 321 of the mail management mail server 120, 220, 320 regardless of the presence / absence of the extended ID of the mail address. To be notified.
[0029]
Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when the mail address of the transmitted mail is Forward-User@mail.com having the extension ID “Forward”, mapping processing is performed so that the mail is delivered locally. . Further, when the extension ID does not exist (when the mail address is User@mail.com), the mapping process is performed so that it is distributed as Forward-User@mail2.com.
Further, when the mail address of the mail sent to another mail server (in this case, the mail server 130) does not have the extension ID, the mail is mapped so as to be delivered as Forward-User@mail.com. Process.
[0030]
As described above, for example, when a mail of User@mail.com is sent to the mail server 130, this mail is delivered to the mail server 330 as Forward-User@mail2.com, and the user@mail.com is sent to the mail server 330. When mail2.com mail is sent, this mail can be delivered as Forward-User@mail.com.
By doing so, an error due to a mail delivery loop does not occur, and bidirectional mail delivery that has been impossible in the past can also be performed.
[0031]
In the above explanation, mutual delivery within two email addresses User@mail.com and User@mail2.com was explained. However, mutual delivery between three or more email addresses may be performed. Is possible. In other words, in the above example, it is possible to distribute mail between the mail addresses of User@mail.com, User@mail1.com, and User@mail2.com. Further, the contents of the mail messages among a plurality of mail spoolers can be made the same, and there is an advantage that message synchronization between the mail spoolers can be easily achieved.
[0032]
In addition, by preparing “Nothing” as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to specify all the mail transmission destinations by describing the processing contents for the extended mail addresses that are not registered in the mail address database MDB122, 222, 322. This process is advantageous in that it can be performed in the mail address database MDB122, 222, 322.
Further, in this case, the extended ID may be registered in the mail address database MDB122, 222, 322. In this way, a dedicated window can be provided, and special processing for the sender is also possible. It can be done on the user side. That is, the transmission user can be easily specified on the reception side.
[0033]
[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the first and second embodiments, the mail transmission source attaches an extended ID to the mail address, and the delivery destination is determined based on the presence of the extended ID and the content of the extended ID.
In this embodiment, the mail transmission source does not need to add an extension ID or the like to the mail address, and mapping processing is performed according to the mail address of the mail transmission source to determine the mail delivery destination.
Also in this embodiment, the basic configuration of the e-mail distribution system is the same as that of the first and second embodiments, and thus detailed description of the configuration of the e-mail distribution system is omitted.
[0034]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the contents of the mapping process registered in the mail address database MDB122, 222, 322 in this embodiment.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, bidirectional transmission is performed when mail is sent from the transmission source GHI@ghi.com to the mail server 130 (User@mail.com). That is, the mail server 130 performs local distribution of mail and forwards mail to User@mail1.com and User@mail2.com. In this case, in order to prevent infinite transfer, the sender mail address is changed before transfer. In the above example, since the forwarding destinations are specified as User@mail1.com and User@mail2.com, the sender's mail address is changed to User@mail.com. This change can be done by rewriting the From header attached to the email.
[0035]
Hereinafter, the processing in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, taking as an example the case where mail is sent from the sender of GHI@ghi.com.
When a mail is transmitted from the transmission source GHI@ghi.com to the mail server 130 (mail.com) (step S10), the mail distribution agent MTA 131 sends the address mapping agent AMA 121 to the processing of the transmission source GHI@ghi.com. Inquire. The address mapping agent AMA 121 searches the mail address database MDB 122 (step S11), and performs the specified mapping process (step S12). Based on the source address, it is determined whether or not the change is necessary (step S13). Since the email address of the sender GHI@ghi.com needs to be changed, change the email address of the sender GHI@ghi.com to User@mail.com according to the settings in the email address database MDB122. (Step S14), Local delivery and mail are transferred to User@mail1.com, User@mail2.com (Step S15).
If it is determined in step S13 that there is no need to change the mail address of the transmission source, the mail is transferred to the designated predetermined mail address (step S15).
[0036]
The mail servers 230 and 330 that have received the forwarded mail perform the same processing according to this flowchart.
For example, the mail server 230 (User@mail1.com) performs processing based on the changed sender mail address User@mail.com in steps S11 and S12. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the mail of the sender mail address User@mail.com is delivered locally.
According to this embodiment, mail can be distributed to a predetermined mail address without requiring an extension ID at the mail sender, and mail can be distributed between mail addresses.
[0037]
In the case of this embodiment as well, if the sender's mail address is not registered in the mail address database MDB122, 222, 322 in advance, the mapping process is designated so as to perform local distribution. Can do. Then, by registering the mail address of the transmission source in the mail address database MDB122, 222, 322, it becomes possible to deliver to a predetermined mail address from the next transmission.
As described above, according to the present invention, since one mail address has the same function as having a plurality of windows, restrictions on mail transfer can be relaxed.
[0038]
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.
For example, in the above embodiment, the case of three mail servers has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to a case where two or four or more mail servers are provided.
In addition, although “Forward”, “ML1”, “Work1”, and the like have been described as examples of the extension ID, the extension ID is not limited to these, and an arbitrary ID can be assigned.
Furthermore, although it has been described that mail is distributed between mail servers in the same host, it is also possible to distribute mail to other mail servers on different hosts.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, for example, by registering an identifier such as an extended ID that the user has created for the project in advance in a mailing list used for each project in business or the like, the user can It becomes possible to manage mail based on the mail address sent.
[0040]
This means that a separate window is set up for each mail sent to the user so that the user can respond accordingly.
In addition, since the program processing can be performed, the mailing list can be easily created by the user. Therefore, since various processes can be performed at the user level without adding a specific mail account, the burden on the mail server administrator can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic mail delivery system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a table showing a relationship between a sent mail address and a destination address converted by the mapping process.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an e-mail delivery method of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows an example of a table indicating a relationship between a transmitted mail address and a destination address converted by the mapping process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows an example of a table indicating a relationship between a transmitted mail address and a destination address converted by the mapping process according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an electronic mail delivery method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electronic mail delivery system according to a conventional example of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
110, 230, 330 Mail server
111,231,331 Mail delivery agent (MTA)
120, 220, 320 E-mail address management server
121, 221 and 321 Address Mapping Agent (AMA)
122, 222, 322 Mail address database (MDB)
160, 260, 360 Mail spooler
140A, 140B ... User terminal
141,241,341 Mail Utility Agent (MUA)
142,242,342 Application (AP)
150, 250, 350 LAN

Claims (8)

In an e-mail delivery system that delivers a sent e-mail to a predetermined e-mail address in addition to a destination e-mail address,
An identifier assigning means for assigning an identifier to an email address;
Receiving means for receiving the mail with the identifier assigned to the mail address by the identifier giving means;
Receives information about the mail address from the receiving means, stores a mail address to which the identifier is assigned and a delivery destination mail address set in advance corresponding to the mail address, and the received mail The storage unit is searched based on an e-mail address. If the e-mail address is found as a result of the search, one or more other e-mail addresses to which the e-mail is to be delivered are determined or received. When the identifier of the email address indicates transfer, the decision is made to perform local delivery without delivering to another email address, and the identifier is not given to the email address of the received email or If an identifier not stored in the storage unit is assigned, local distribution or transfer is performed. And mail delivery destination determining means and a determining section for determining the identifier to transmit to impart to the transfer destination mail address,
An e-mail delivery system comprising:   2. The electronic mail delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is an extended ID that is given to a part that specifies a user of the mail address.   The electronic mail distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is a mail address of a transmission source.   The storage unit stores a mail address of one delivery destination of one of the mails and a mail address of another delivery destination of the other mails, and stores the other delivery destinations of the one mail. The electronic mail according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the delivery to the mail address of the mail and the delivery of the other mail to the mail address of the one delivery destination can be performed mutually. Distribution system.   The e-mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the user terminal is provided with update means for updating the e-mail address of the delivery destination stored in the storage unit. In an e-mail delivery method for delivering a sent e-mail to a predetermined e-mail address in addition to a destination e-mail address,
The storage unit stores an email address assigned with a predetermined identifier and an email address of another delivery destination set in advance corresponding to the email address,
The storage unit is searched based on the mail address of the received mail. If the mail address is found as a result of the search, one or more other mail addresses to which the mail is to be delivered are selected. If the identifier of the email address that is delivered or received indicates forwarding, local delivery is performed without delivery to other email addresses, and the identifier is given to the email address of the received email If there is no identifier or an identifier that is not stored in the storage unit is given, perform local delivery or send an identifier for forwarding to the forwarding mail address,
E-mail delivery method characterized by this.   The e-mail delivery method according to claim 6, wherein the identifier is an extended ID or an e-mail address of a transmission source that is extended to a part that specifies a user of the e-mail address.   In the storage unit, one delivery destination email address of the one mail and another delivery destination email address of the other email are linked and stored, and the other delivery destination email address of the one email is stored. 8. The e-mail delivery method according to claim 6, wherein delivery to the e-mail and delivery of the other e-mail to the one e-mail address can be performed mutually.

Images