JP2002207677A - Mail server, terminal equipment and method for regulating reception of electronic mail - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for regulating the reception of a mail. SOLUTION: When a mail server receives the mail, (S101), it is judged whether the mail comes from the opposite party of a reception-regulating object registered in advance (S102). When the mail comes from the opposite party of the reception-regulating object, the reception-regulating processing fixed in advance is carried out (S103). When the mail comes from an opposite party except for the reception-regulating object, the mail is held in a mailbox (S104).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for receiving electronic mail, and more particularly to a technique for restricting reception.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the spread of the Internet in recent years, electronic mail has become very popular. With e-mail, you can send an e-mail very easily if you only know the e-mail address of the other person, and it is no longer indispensable as a means of communication.

[0003] However, while very convenient, mails that the receiving user does not want, such as advertisements and direct mails, may be sent unilaterally. Despite being extremely uncomfortable when such emails increase,
Conventionally, the reception could not be refused.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for restricting the reception of mail.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention performs the following processing. That is, the e-mail is received, and the source address of the received e-mail is
It is determined whether or not it matches a predetermined e-mail address. If they match, a predetermined reception restriction process is executed in association with the e-mail address.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an electronic mail system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic mail system. In this system, a mail server 1 and a plurality of terminal devices 2 are connected via a network 8 such as the Internet. Although one mail server 1 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of mail servers may be provided. In addition, a wireless connection may be used between the mail server 1 and the terminal 2 in addition to a wired connection. In addition, the mail server 1 and the terminal device 2
Each is configured by a computer system. As the terminal device 2, a normal computer may be used, or a device capable of two-way communication, such as a portable information terminal or a portable telephone, may be used. Each configuration or each function described below is realized by, for example, executing an application program in each computer system.

[0008] The mail server 1 relays the electronic mail sent from the mail address of the transmission source, and transmits the mail to the mail address specified as the transmission destination. The user of the e-mail system uses the terminal device 2 to transmit a mail and to receive a mail transmitted to his / her own mail address.

FIG. 2A shows a functional configuration diagram of the mail server 1. The mail server 1 includes a transmission / reception unit 11 for transmitting / receiving mail, and a reception restriction processing unit 1 for performing reception restriction processing.
2, a regulation information table 13 for storing information on reception regulation, and a mailbox 14 for storing received mail.
And a reception regulation related information storage unit 15.

The transmitting / receiving unit 11 and the mailbox 14 have the function of a normal mail server. That is, the transmission / reception unit 11 receives the mail and stores it in the mailbox 14. Further, the transmission / reception unit 11 transmits the mail stored in the mailbox 14 in response to a mail acquisition request from the terminal device 2. Alternatively, the transmission / reception unit 11 may transfer the received mail directly to the destination without storing it in the mailbox 14.

[0011] Until the received mail is transmitted to the terminal device 2, the mailbox 14 temporarily holds the received mail in a state in which the received mail can be transmitted to the destination terminal device 2.

The restriction information table 13 stores information for performing reception restriction. For example, regulation information table 1
3 stores a user address 131, a reception restriction target address 132, a corresponding method 133, and a message 134, as shown in FIG. Any of these pieces of information can be registered by the user from the terminal device 2. The specific registration procedure will be described later.

The user address 131 is the mail address of the user who wants to restrict the reception. The reception-restricted address 132 is the address of the mail source from which the user wants to restrict the reception. The regulation content 133 indicates the content of a process performed when a mail is received from the reception regulation target address 132. For example, A: delete the received mail immediately without leaving the reception record, B: store the received mail in the reception restriction information storage unit 15, C: transfer the received mail to a specified address other than the original destination, D: Reception record is left in the reception restriction information storage unit 15 and returned to the transmission source. E: Reception record is left in the reception restriction information storage unit 15, and a fixed message is attached and returned to the transmission source. F: Reception restriction. For example, the reception record is left in the information storage unit 15, and an arbitrary message is attached to the transmission source and returned. The message 134 stores an arbitrary message edited by the user to be attached at the time of returning in the process F.

When receiving a mail, the reception restriction processing unit 12 performs reception restriction processing by referring to the restriction information table 13. For example, when the transmission destination address of the received mail matches the user address 131 and the transmission source address matches the reception restriction target address 132 associated with the user address 131, the reception restriction target address 132 The reception restriction process indicated by the associated restriction content 133 is executed. If they do not match, they are stored in the mailbox as usual.

The reception restriction processing includes, for example, determining whether to hold the received mail in the mailbox 14 and all the processings included in the restriction contents 133. The determination as to whether to hold the mail in the mailbox 14 may be made before writing the mail in the mailbox 14 or after the writing. If you go before writing, the received mail will be in mailbox 14
Is never remembered. If it is performed after writing, the received mail already stored is deleted.

When the reception restriction processing unit 12 receives a reception restriction information acquisition request from a user, the reception restriction processing unit 12 refers to the reception restriction information storage unit 15 and transmits the reception restriction information.
The reception restriction information may include, for example, a reception record of the restricted mail, a restricted mail stored in a predetermined area, and the like.

Further, the reception restriction processing unit 12 receives and registers information for registration in the restriction information table 13. For example, the reception restriction processing unit 12 receives a registration mail in a predetermined format as registration information, and registers each item in the restriction information table 13.

The reception restriction information storage unit 15 stores information on mails subject to reception restriction. For example,
The reception-restricted mail and the reception record thereof are stored.
Also, the information stored here can be transmitted to the user as reception restriction-related information.

Next, the terminal device 2 will be described. As the terminal device 2, for example, a mobile phone 20 having an appearance as shown in FIG. 4A can be used. The mobile phone 20 has a display unit 201 and a plurality of push buttons on its front surface. Some of the push buttons
A reception restriction button 202 for registering information on reception restriction in the mail server 1 is included. FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the reception restriction button 202.

For example, when the user presses the reception restriction button 202 while displaying a mail not desired to be received on the display unit 201, the registration information including the source mail address of the displayed electronic mail and the own mail address is displayed. Can be transmitted to the mail server 1. As a result, the source mail address is changed to the reception-restricted address 132
Registered in. Further, input of registration information may be received using a menu described later.

FIG. 2B shows a functional configuration diagram of the terminal device 2. The terminal device 2 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 21 and a mail processing unit 22 as its internal functions. Transceiver 21
Sends and receives mail to and from the mail server 1.

The mail processing unit 22 edits an electronic mail,
In general, it performs processing necessary for the client of the e-mail system, such as instructing the transmission / reception unit 21 to transmit / receive e-mails and viewing received e-mails.

Further, the mail processing section 22 receives an instruction from a user and generates information to be registered in the mail server 1. Hereinafter, the generation of the reception restriction information will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5D together with the operation procedure of the user. 5A to 5D are examples of display screens displayed on the display unit 201.

First, when the user presses the reception restriction button 202 while browsing an e-mail that he does not want to receive, the user will see FIG.
Is displayed on the display screen 61 shown in FIG. Here, the user selects a method of coping with mail sent from the same transmission source as this mail, including this mail. Here, one of the following is selected: 1: delete, 2: store in a place other than a normal mailbox, 3: return, 4: reply to fixed text, 5: reply to arbitrary text, and 6: transfer.

When "4: reply to fixed text" is selected,
The screen is switched to the fixed message selection screen 62 shown in FIG. The user selects one of the fixed messages.

When "5: Reply arbitrary text" is selected,
The screen is switched to an arbitrary message selection screen 63 shown in FIG. The user edits the reply message by himself. The edited message can be additionally registered in the fixed message.

When "6: transfer" is selected, FIG.
Is switched to the transfer destination mail address input screen 64 shown in FIG. The user inputs a transfer destination mail address.

The mail processing unit 22 generates a registration mail in a predetermined format using the coping method designated by the user by the above operation as registration information. The generated registration mail is transmitted to the mail server 1 via the transmission / reception unit 21. The registration email includes at least the source email address of the spam email.

Next, a processing procedure at the time of mail reception in the mail server will be described with reference to FIG.

When a mail is transmitted from the terminal device 2, the transmission / reception unit 11 receives the mail (S10).
1). The reception restriction processing unit 12 refers to the restriction information table 13 and determines whether the received mail is subject to reception restriction (S102). If the received mail is subject to the reception restriction, the reception restriction processing shown in the restriction contents 133 is executed with reference to the restriction information table 13 (S103). If the received mail is not subject to the reception restriction, the received mail is held in the mailbox 14 (S104).

Thus, the user can obtain and view his / her own mail held in the mailbox using the terminal device 2. Therefore, mail from a transmission source registered as a regulation target is not delivered to the user. In other words, by using this system,
The user can automatically reject reception of an e-mail sent from a partner who does not want to receive the e-mail.

On the other hand, the user can also obtain reception regulation-related information indicating the reception record and the like of the restricted mail. That is, the mail processing unit 22 sends an acquisition request for reception restriction information to the mail server 1 in response to an instruction from the user, and acquires the reception restriction information.

Next, a second embodiment of the electronic mail system according to the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 shows the mail server 1 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a reception regulation status monitoring unit 16 is further provided in addition to the configuration in the first embodiment.

The reception restriction status monitoring unit 16 monitors the reception restriction status stored in the reception restriction information storage unit 15, and performs an appropriate process based on the status. For example, when sending and receiving e-mails between mobile telephones as a service of the mobile telephone company, the following measures may be taken within a range determined in advance by a contract.

More specifically, a penalty fee may be charged when a user registered as a reception-restricted object repeatedly transmits an e-mail subject to reception restriction more than a certain number of times. That is, at this time, the reception regulation status monitoring unit 16 requests the existing fee system (not shown) to charge for the penalty fee.

The components described in the above embodiment can be changed, added, or omitted as much as possible.

[0038]

According to the present invention, the reception of mail can be restricted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic mail system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a functional configuration diagram of a mail server 1;
FIG. 2B is a functional configuration diagram of the terminal device 2.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a regulation information table.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the mobile phone 20 according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display unit 201 in a registration operation of reception restriction information.
It is a figure which shows an example of the display content of.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of mail reception in the mail server.

FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic mail system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... mail server, 2 ... terminal device, 8 ... network,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Transmission / reception part, 12 ... Reception regulation processing part, 13 ... Restriction information table, 14 ... Mailbox, 15 ... Reception regulation information storage part, 20 ... Mobile telephone, 21 ... Transmission / reception part, 22 ...
Mail processing unit, 201: display unit, 202: reception restriction button.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Fuhiko Akinaga 504-2 Shinanomachi, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Within Hitachi Electronics Service Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Reika Yamagishi 504 Shinanocho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture 2 Hitachi Electronics Services Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mutsuharu Takesada 504 Shinanomachi, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture 2 F-term within Hitachi Electronics Services Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5K030 HA06 HC01 KA01 KA06 LD12

Claims (9)

[Claims] An e-mail receiving means, an e-mail address, and processing information related to the contents of a reception restriction process performed when the e-mail from the e-mail address is received by the receiving means are associated with each other. Storage means for storing, and when the same e-mail address as the source address of the e-mail received by the receiving means is stored in the storage means, the processing information associated with the e-mail address And a processing unit for executing a reception restriction process based on the mail server. 2. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein the content of the processing is to return the received e-mail to a transmission source of the e-mail. 3. The mail server according to claim 2, wherein the processing content is such that a predetermined message is added to the received electronic mail and the electronic mail is returned. 4. A receiving means for receiving an e-mail, a first storage means for storing an e-mail address, and an e-mail address identical to a source address of the e-mail received by the receiving means is stored in the first e-mail address. Determining means for determining whether or not the electronic mail is stored in the storing means; second storing means for storing the electronic mail received by the receiving means in a state where the electronic mail can be transmitted to a destination of the electronic mail; Determining means for determining whether or not the electronic mail is to be stored in the second storage means based on a result of the determination by the electronic mail server. 5. A terminal device capable of communicating with a mail server, comprising: display means for displaying a received e-mail; a registration button for registering reception restriction information; and a display means for displaying the received e-mail on the display means. And transmitting means for transmitting, to the mail server, reception control information including a transmission source mail address of the displayed electronic mail when the registration button is pressed. 6. An electronic mail is received, and it is determined whether or not a source address of the received electronic mail matches a predetermined electronic mail address. In addition, an e-mail reception restriction method characterized by performing a predetermined reception restriction process. 7. Receiving an e-mail, determining whether a source address of the received e-mail matches a predetermined e-mail address, and storing the e-mail based on a result of the determination. A method for restricting the reception of e-mail, characterized in that it is determined whether or not to hold the e-mail. 8. A storage medium storing a program to be executed by a mail server, the program comprising: a process of receiving an e-mail; and a source address of the received e-mail, wherein Causing the mail server to execute a process of determining whether or not the received email address matches, and if the email address matches, a process of executing a predetermined reception restriction process in association with the email address. Recording medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 9. A storage medium storing a program to be executed by a mail server, the program comprising: a process of receiving an e-mail; and a source address of the received e-mail, wherein the source address of the received e-mail is a predetermined electronic mail. A recording medium for causing the mail server to execute a process of determining whether the email address matches the email address and a process of determining whether to hold the email in a storage unit based on the determination result. .