JP7643236B2 - Mail processing device and mail processing program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to email processing technology for conducting surveys using email.

Conventionally, some email software for sending and receiving electronic mail (hereafter referred to as email) uses technology for conducting surveys using email. For example, in Non-Patent Document 1, the email software is configured to send emails to each voter, with voting buttons and voting details added to the email body, and to obtain and tally the voting results from the reply emails returned in response to the voter's operation of the voting button, and to display the survey results on a screen.

"Create a poll in Outlook", [online], Microsoft, [searched July 2, 2021], Internet <URL: https://support.microsoft.com/ja-jp/office/outlook>

However, with this type of conventional technology, not only the creator but also the voters must use specific email software. This means that users who use other email software cannot vote, which results in a problem in that the environments in which the survey can be conducted are limited.

The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and aims to provide an email processing technology that collects response results using email, without relying on the email software used by the user.

In order to achieve this object, the email processing device of the present invention includes a control unit configured to acquire and tally up the answer contents from reply emails sent in response to a request email for requesting an answer, and the control unit is configured to identify, from among the emails sent from a first user terminal, those that contain a template phrase or keyword indicating a survey request as the request email, extract email identification information for identifying the request email from the request email and register it in a memory unit, identify, from the reply emails from a second user terminal, answer emails sent in response to the request email based on the email identification information, and acquire and tally up the answer contents from the answer emails.

In addition, one configuration example of the above-mentioned email processing device of the present invention is configured such that the control unit extracts a first message ID for identifying the request email from the request email as the email identification information and registers it in the memory unit, extracts a second message ID for identifying the original sent email from the reply email from the second user terminal, and if the second message ID matches the first message ID registered in the memory unit, identifies the reply email as the answer email.

In addition, one configuration example of the above-mentioned email processing device according to the present invention is configured such that the control unit extracts the destination address of the request email from the request email and registers it in the memory unit, sequentially accumulates the reply emails identified from the reply emails from the second user terminal in the memory unit, and when it is confirmed that reply emails have been sent from all destination addresses based on the destination addresses registered in the memory unit, obtains and compiles the reply contents from these reply emails.

In addition, the email processing program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as an email processing device having a control unit configured to acquire and tally up answer contents from answer emails replied to a request email for requesting an answer, and causes the control unit to execute the steps of: identifying, from among emails sent from a first user terminal, one that contains a standard phrase or keyword indicating a survey request, as the request email; extracting email identification information for identifying the request email from the request email and registering it in a memory unit; identifying, from among reply emails from a second user terminal, answer emails replied to the request email based on the email identification information; and acquiring and tallying up the answer contents from the answer emails.

The present invention makes it possible to provide an email processing technology that collects survey results using email, without relying on the email software used by the user.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a mail processing device. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the questionnaire information. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of the request email. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the reply mail. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the questionnaire result collection process. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the questionnaire result collection process (continuation).

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Mail processing device]
First, a mail processing device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mail processing device.

This mail processing device 10 is configured to monitor mail exchanged between multiple user terminals 20 (#A, #B, #C, #D), such as PCs and smartphones, connected to a subordinate local area network LAN (hereafter referred to as LAN) via a mail server 30 in a communication network NW, and to acquire and tally up the contents of responses from response emails sent in reply to request emails requesting responses to surveys, etc.

The present invention is configured to identify as a request email an email that contains a template or keyword indicating a survey request, and to focus on the fact that such request emails contain email identification information, to identify response emails sent in response to the original request email from among the reply emails sent from the user terminal 20 based on the email identification information, and to obtain and tally the response contents from the response emails.

[Configuration of mail processing device]
Next, the configuration of the mail processing device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mail processing device 10 is connected to a path that relays user terminals 20 connected to a subordinate LAN to a communication network NW such as the Internet. The mail processing device 10 may be configured separately from a network control device such as a UTM (Unified Threat Management) device or a gateway, or may be implemented within these network control devices.

The main components of the mail processing device 10 are a network side I/F 11, a LAN side I/F 12, a memory unit 13, and a control unit 14.

[Network side I/F]
The network side I/F 11 is configured to perform data communication with the communication network NW via the communication line L.
[LAN side I/F]
The LAN side I/F 12 is configured to perform data communication with the user terminal 20 via the LAN.

[Memory unit]
The storage unit 13 is generally composed of a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory, and is configured to store various processing information and programs 13P used in the mail processing executed by the control unit 14.

Program 13P is a mail processing program that cooperates with the CPU of control unit 14 to realize various processing units for executing mail processing by control unit 14 and causes the computer to function as a mail processing device. Program 13P is stored in advance in memory unit 13 from an external device or recording medium (neither shown) connected to mail processing device 10 via communication line L or LAN.

[Message ID List]
The main processing information stored in the storage unit 13 includes questionnaire information 13A and response mail 13B.

The survey information 13A is list data in which a first message ID for identifying a request email sent from the user terminal 20 and a destination address indicating the destination of the request email are registered as a pair. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of survey information. In the example of FIG. 2, a destination address indicating the destination of the request email is registered for each first message ID.

The reply email 13B is a reply email sent in response to a request email, and is obtained from the mail server 30 and stored in the memory unit 13 until the time for counting arrives.

[Control unit]
The control unit 14 can be realized by a computer having a CPU and its peripheral units. The control unit 14 is configured to realize a processing unit that executes various processes of the mail processing device by making the CPU and the program 13P in the storage unit 13 work together.

The control unit 14 is configured to monitor emails exchanged between multiple user terminals, and to acquire and tally up the contents of responses from response emails sent in reply to request emails for responses to surveys, etc.

Specifically, the control unit 14 is configured to identify, from among the emails sent from the user terminal 20, those that contain a template or keyword indicating a survey request as request emails, extract email identification information for identifying the request email from the request email, and register the email in the survey information 13A in the memory unit 13.

The control unit 14 is also configured to identify reply emails sent in response to a request email from among the reply emails sent from the user terminal 20, based on the email identification information registered in the survey information 13A, and to obtain and tally up the answer contents from the reply emails.

The control unit 14 also extracts a message ID for identifying the request email from the request email as email identification information, and registers it in the survey information 13A of the storage unit 13. It is configured to extract a second message ID for identifying the original sent email from the reply email from the user terminal 20, and if the second message ID matches the first message ID registered in the survey information 13A, it identifies the reply email as a response email.

This allows the reply email to be accurately identified through a relatively simple process. The email identification information is not limited to the message ID, and any information that can identify the email, such as the subject line or sending timestamp that can be extracted from the email, may be used.

The control unit 14 is also configured to extract the destination address of the request email from the request email and register it in the survey information 13A in the storage unit 13, sequentially store in the storage unit 13 the response emails identified from the reply emails from the user terminal 20, and, when it is confirmed that response emails have been returned from all destination addresses based on the destination addresses registered in the survey information 13A, or when a certain response rate has been reached, obtain and tally the response contents from these response emails.

This allows you to stop waiting for survey responses and tally the responses even before the response deadline set in the request email arrives.

At this time, the control unit 14 may be configured to acquire and tally up the response contents from all response emails stored in the memory unit 13 when a preset response deadline arrives, even if response emails have not been returned from all destination addresses registered in the memory unit 13.

This means that even if response emails have not been received from all destination addresses, it is possible to stop waiting for survey responses and tally up the responses, for example when the response deadline set in the request email arrives.

When the control unit 14 confirms that a reminder timing has arrived, which is a certain period of time before the answer deadline based on the answer deadline registered in the survey information 13A, it may identify an unanswered destination address by comparing the destination address registered in the survey information 13A with the answer emails 13B stored in the memory unit 13, and generate a reminder email to the user terminal 20 of that destination address to remind them to answer the survey, and send it to the mail server 30. This allows the reminder email to be sent automatically, increasing the response rate.

The control unit 14 may be configured to hold off on forwarding the reply email to the sender of the request email when it has stored the reply email in the memory unit 13, and to send all reply emails stored in the memory unit 13 to the sender of the request email when it has confirmed that reply emails have been sent from all destination addresses registered in the memory unit 13, or when a preset reply deadline has arrived. At this time, each reply email may be sent one by one, or all reply emails may be sent together in a single email.

[About email headers and message IDs]
Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of a request email. The email header of the email has several fields, and in the example of Fig. 3, there are shown a To field, a cc field, and a bcc field in which the destination of the request email is described, a From field in which the sender of the email is described, a Subject field in which the subject of the email is described, a Message-ID field in which a message ID for identifying the email is described, and a Date field in which the email sending timestamp is indicated.

At this time, the Subject field contains the standard phrase "◆Survey◆" indicating that the email is a survey request email, and the control unit 14 identifies the request email based on this standard phrase.

The email body also contains the survey contents and clearly states "attend/absent" as an answer option, allowing the control unit 14 to easily and accurately extract the answer contents from the answer email. The email body also contains clearly stated answer deadlines, allowing the control unit 14 to easily determine when the time to tally the results has come based on the answer deadline extracted from the request email.

Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the main parts of a reply email. In addition to the To field, From field, Subject field, Message-ID field, and Date field described above, the email header of the reply email has an In-Reply-To field in which the message ID of the original sent email is recorded. In the example of Figure 4, the In-Reply-To field records the message ID of the request email shown in Figure 3, "<20210630102030aaa@saxa.jp>".

The request email in this embodiment is the original email initially sent from the user terminal 20, and is not a reply email or a forwarded email to any email. Therefore, the first message ID for identifying the request email is unique, and the reply email always contains a second message ID that is equal to the first message ID of the original request email. Therefore, a reply email that contains a second message ID that matches the first message ID can be accurately identified as a reply email.

[Operation of this embodiment]
Next, the operation of the mail processing device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the questionnaire result collection process. Fig. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the questionnaire result collection process (continuation).

Here, we will explain an example in which a survey request email is sent from user terminal #A to user terminals #B, #C, and #D, and the responses are tallied from the response emails returned from user terminals #B, #C, and #D in response to this request email. Note that the number of user terminals 20 is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, when the control unit 14 of the mail processing device 10 detects a request mail sent from user terminal #A via the LAN and LAN side I/F 12 (step 100), it transfers the request mail from the network side I/F 11 to the mail server 30 via the communication line L and the communication network NW (step 101).

This request email is temporarily stored in the mail server 30, and then transferred to user terminals #B, #C, and #D via the communication network NW, the mail processing device 10, and the LAN (step 105).

Meanwhile, the control unit 14 recognizes that the request email is a survey request email because the subject of the request email contains a preset template, extracts the first message ID and the destination address from the request email (step 102), and registers them in the survey information 13A in the storage unit 13 (step 103). At this time, the control unit 14 extracts the response deadline from the body of the request email and registers it in the survey information 13A.

Next, when the control unit 14 detects a reply email returned from user terminal #B via the LAN and LAN side I/F 12 (step 110), it transfers the reply email from the network side I/F 11 to the mail server 30 via the communication line L and the communication network NW (step 111).

After that, when the control unit 14 detects the reply email forwarded from the mail server 30 via the communication network NW, the communication line L and the network side I/F 11 (step 112), it extracts the second message ID from the reply email (step 113), refers to the survey information 13A in the memory unit 13 (step 114), and by comparing it with the registered first message ID, identifies that the reply email is a reply email to the registered original request email, suspends the forwarding of the reply email to terminal #A, and stores the reply email in the memory unit 13 (step 115).

Next, when the control unit 14 detects a reply email returned from user terminal #C via the LAN and LAN side I/F 12 (step 120), it transfers the reply email from the network side I/F 11 to the mail server 30 via the communication line L and communication network NW (step 121).

After that, when the control unit 14 detects the reply email forwarded from the mail server 30 via the communication network NW, the communication line L and the network side I/F 11 (step 122), it extracts the second message ID from the reply email (step 123), refers to the survey information 13A in the memory unit 13 (step 124), and by comparing it with the registered first message ID, identifies that the reply email is a reply email to the registered original request email, suspends the forwarding of the reply email to terminal #A, and stores the reply email in the memory unit 13 (step 125).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the control unit 14 confirms that a reminder timing has arrived, which is a certain period of time before the answer deadline based on the answer deadline registered in the survey information 13A (step 130), it compares the destination address registered in the survey information 13A with the answer email 13B stored in the memory unit 13 to identify the destination address of the unanswered item, and generates a reminder email to the user terminal 20 of that destination address, in this example user terminal #D, to reply to the survey, and sends the email to the mail server 30 (step 131).

This reminder email is temporarily stored in the mail server 30, and then transferred to the user terminal #D via the communication network NW, the mail processing device 10, and the LAN (step 132). This causes the reply email to be sent from the user terminal #D.

When the control unit 14 detects a reply email returned from user terminal #D via the LAN and LAN side I/F 12 (step 140), it transfers the reply email from the network side I/F 11 to the mail server 30 via the communication line L and communication network NW (step 141).

Next, when the control unit 14 detects the reply email forwarded from the mail server 30 via the communication network NW, the communication line L and the network side I/F 11 (step 142), it extracts the second message ID from the reply email (step 143), refers to the survey information 13A in the memory unit 13 (step 144), and by comparing it with the registered first message ID, identifies that the reply email is a reply email to the registered original request email, suspends the forwarding of the reply email to terminal #A, and stores the reply email in the memory unit 13 (step 145).

When the control unit 14 confirms that the time for tallying has arrived based on the response deadline registered in the survey information 13A (step 150), it transfers all response emails 13B stored in the memory unit 13 to user terminal #A via the LAN side I/F 12 and the LAN (step 151).

The control unit 14 tally up the responses to the questionnaire from all response emails 13B stored in the memory unit 13 (step 160), generates a tally result email containing the tally obtained results (step 161), and transfers the email from the network side I/F 11 to the mail server 30 via the communication line L and the communication network NW (step 162).

The results of the compilation may be, for example, a list of the options selected by each user who sent a response email, for each user's username, or data obtained by counting the number of times each option was selected for each option listed in the request email.

This tally result email is temporarily stored in the mail server 30, and then transferred to user terminal #A via the communication network NW, the mail processing device 10, and the LAN (step 163). This notifies user terminal #A of the tally result of the survey.

This tally result email may be sent not only to user terminal #A, but also to user terminals #B, #C, and #D based on the destination address of the request email. The tally result email may be sent not only to the sender of the request email, but also to the destination. Furthermore, the tally result may be stored in the memory unit 13, and the URL may be notified to the sender and destination, allowing these users to view it at their discretion.

[Effects of this embodiment]
In this manner, in this embodiment, the control unit 14 of the mail processing device 10 is configured to identify, from among the emails sent from the user terminal 20, those that contain a template phrase or keywords indicating a survey request as request emails, extract email identification information for identifying the request email from the request email and register it in the memory unit 13, identify, from among the reply emails from the user terminal 20, answer emails that have been replied to the request email based on the email identification information, and obtain and tally the answer contents from the answer emails.

This allows creators and voters to conduct surveys via email without using email software such as Outlook that includes technology for conducting surveys via email. This greatly simplifies the environment in which surveys can be conducted, making it possible to achieve extremely high versatility.

[Extended embodiments]
Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

10...mail processing device, 11...network side I/F, 12...LAN side I/F, 13...storage unit, 13A...survey information, 13B...response email, 13P...program, 14...control unit, 20...user terminal, 30...mail server, L...communication line, LAN...local area network, NW...communication network.

Claims (4)

a control unit configured to acquire and tally up answer contents from answer emails replied to a request email for an answer;
the control unit is configured to identify, from among emails sent from a first user terminal, one that contains a template or keyword indicating a request for a reply as the request email, extract email identification information for identifying the request email from the request email and register it in the memory unit, identify, from reply emails from a second user terminal, an answer email that has been replied to the request email based on the email identification information, and obtain and compile the answer contents from the answer emails. 2. The mail processing device according to claim 1,
The control unit is configured to extract a first message ID for identifying the request email from the request email as the email identification information and register it in the memory unit, extract a second message ID for identifying the original sent email from the reply email from the second user terminal, and if the second message ID matches the first message ID registered in the memory unit, identify the reply email as the reply email. 3. The mail processing device according to claim 1,
The control unit is configured to extract the destination address of the request email from the request email and register it in the memory unit, sequentially accumulate the reply emails identified from the reply emails from the second user terminal in the memory unit, and when it is confirmed that reply emails have been returned from all destination addresses based on the destination addresses registered in the memory unit, obtain the reply contents from these reply emails and compile them. A program for causing a computer to function as an email processing device having a control unit configured to acquire and aggregate response contents from response emails replied to request emails for responses,
The control unit,
identifying, from among emails sent from the first user terminal, an email that includes a template or a keyword indicating a request for a reply as the request email;
extracting mail identification information for identifying the request mail from the request mail and registering the extracted mail in a storage unit, and identifying a reply mail sent in response to the request mail from among reply mails sent from a second user terminal based on the mail identification information;
and a step of acquiring and aggregating the contents of the responses from the response emails.

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