JP2004048775A - Relay apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus with a relay function which restricts users in the apparatus side with strict security when used as a relay apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A public mail address and a relaying mail address different in password name therefrom are stored in a mail address table 231. The mail address in received electronic mail data is collated in a mail address comparison part 212. If the mail address is a relaying one, the domain name of a request node in the received electronic mail data and a domain name stored in a domain name table 232 and permitted for relaying, are compared in a domain name comparison part 214. Only when matched, relaying processing is executed. Also, the password of the mail address is deleted from header information to be outputted to a terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a relay device such as a network facsimile device and a relay method.

Recently, in networks represented by the Internet, communication devices with a relay function for transferring data received by e-mail to terminals have been put to practical use.

Hereinafter, the prior art will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a relay process performed by a conventional communication device with a relay function.

(4) When data is transmitted by e-mail via the LAN, the communication device with a relay function first receives the data (S801) and temporarily stores the e-mail data (S802).

Next, a mail address is recognized from the e-mail data (S803), and it is determined whether or not the mail address includes a destination telephone number (S804).

If the destination telephone number is included, the relay request is accepted, the e-mail data is converted into a format that can be transmitted to the destination terminal (S805), and transmitted to the destination terminal (S806). If the destination telephone number is not included, normal reception processing is performed (S807).

中 継 The relay process by the communication device with the relay function is completed by the above operation procedure.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the mail address is the same between the case where the communication device with the relay function is used for general transmission and reception for public use and the case where the communication device is used as a relay device. However, the communication device with the relay function can be easily used as a relay device. In addition, since no other appropriate means for restricting the use is taken, there is a possibility that a person who does not have the authority to perform the relay process may abuse the information.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a communication device with a relay function that restricts users on the device side and tightens security when used as a repeater. And

The present invention has taken the following measures in order to solve the above problems.
The present invention relates to a relay device including a receiving unit for receiving e-mail data, a converting unit for converting the format of received e-mail data into facsimile data, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the converted facsimile data. Storage means for recognizing the relay requesting domain name from the e-mail data received by the receiving means; and a case where the recognized domain name matches the stored domain name. Control means for performing format conversion by the conversion means, performing transmission processing by the transmission means, and performing error processing in the case of a mismatch.

As described above, according to the present invention, when used as a relay device, a relay device and a relay method that restrict users on the device side and tighten security can be provided.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recognition means for recognizing a mail address from received e-mail data, a storage means for storing two types of mail addresses for public use and a relay, and And a control means for executing the relay processing only when the communication is required.

With this configuration, if the relay e-mail address is kept private to anyone other than those who have the authority to use it for relay processing, even if the public e-mail address is made public as usual, the password name will be different. The address cannot be guessed, and there is no risk of being abused by a person who does not have the authority to use it for relay processing.

The invention according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, comprises an editing means for deleting a password name from an e-mail address at the time of relay processing, and sends header information including the edited e-mail address to a destination together with data. A configuration for transmitting to the terminal is adopted.

With this configuration, even if the header information is output together with the transmission data to the destination terminal, the password name is not output, so that the relay e-mail address can be kept private. At the same time, the destination telephone number and the host name are added to the header information as before, so that the necessary information can be obtained at the destination terminal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, there is provided a recognizing means for recognizing a domain name of a requesting node from received e-mail data, and a storing means for storing a domain name for which relay processing is permitted. The relay process is executed only when the domain name of the request node matches the domain name that permits the relay process.

With this configuration, even if a person who does not have the authority to perform the relay process is notified of the private relay mail address, this person cannot use the communication device with the relay function as a relay device. In addition, the security of the communication device with the relay function can be more strictly protected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the log information of the relay process including the mail address and the sender information is transmitted to the mail address of the administrator registered in advance. Take.

With this configuration, the administrator of the communication device with a relay function is helpful in grasping the usage status of the device, such as the frequency of use, and can increase the convenience of management. In addition, it is possible to know the use of the device as a repeater every time a relay process is performed, and by checking the destination and source, illegal use or abnormal use can be discovered at an early stage, and promptly. And can increase security capabilities.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the format of the received e-mail data is converted into data receivable by a facsimile apparatus, and the data is transmitted to a destination terminal according to a facsimile transmission procedure. Take the configuration.

With this configuration, it is possible to convert electronic mail data into facsimile data using the communication device with a relay function as a relay device and transmit the data to the facsimile device via the telephone line.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the communication device with a relay function, a mail address is recognized from the received e-mail data, and when the mail address is for relay, a password name is obtained from the mail address. A control method is employed in which editing for deletion is performed, and the edited mail address is used as a part of header information and transmitted to the destination terminal together with data.

With this method, the sender of the e-mail does not need any special operation to keep the relay e-mail address private when outputting data to the terminal through the repeater. Can be run with

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a network facsimile device among the communication devices with a relay function converts the format of electronic mail data and transfers the data as facsimile data to a terminal facsimile device. The same effect is exerted also on the communication device of (1).

FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram when performing data communication using a network facsimile apparatus as a repeater. In FIG. 1, data sent by e-mail from another network facsimile apparatus 11 or personal computer 12 is once stored in a mail server 13 via a LAN, and then transmitted to a network facsimile apparatus 14 used as a repeater. Is done. The network facsimile machine 14 converts the format of the received data into facsimile data and transfers it to the destination terminal facsimile machine 15 via the telephone network (PSTN).

Next, the basic configuration of the network facsimile machine will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the network facsimile apparatus in the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the network facsimile apparatus transmits and receives data by e-mail to and from a CPU 21 for controlling data recognition and discrimination, a ROM 22 for storing a program, a RAM 23 for storing data such as a mail address and a domain name. A LAN interface unit 24 for executing the above necessary procedures, a data storage unit 25 for temporarily storing received data, a format conversion unit 26 for converting the format of the received data, and transmission and reception of data converted for facsimile. , A modem 28 that performs modulation and demodulation processing when transmitting and receiving data between the telephone line and the LAN, and a network control unit 29 that controls the telephone line.

(4) Data transmitted by e-mail from the LAN is received by the LAN interface unit 24 and temporarily stored in the data storage unit 25. Then, the CPU 21 recognizes the mail address and the domain name of the requesting node in the data, and compares them with those registered in each table in the RAM 23. If the data is determined to be for relay processing, it is converted to facsimile data by the format conversion unit 26, modulated by the modem 28, and transmitted from the facsimile unit 27 to the facsimile device connected by the network control unit 29. Is done.

Next, the relay process control performed by the CPU 21 of the network facsimile machine will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the network facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The mail address recognition unit 211 recognizes a mail address from the electronic mail data stored in the data storage unit 25 via the LAN interface unit 24. The mail address collating section 212 collates the mail address recognized by the mail address recognizing section 211 with the relay mail address registered in the mail address table 231 in the RAM 23.

The domain name recognition unit 213 recognizes the domain name of the requesting node from the data stored in the data storage unit 25 when the mail address verification unit 212 verifies that the mail address is for relay. The domain name checking unit 214 checks the domain name of the requesting node recognized by the domain name recognizing unit 213 with the domain name that allows relaying registered in the domain name table 232 in the RAM 23. A relay permission signal is transmitted to the information extraction unit 215 and the log information extraction unit 216.

On the other hand, when the header information extraction unit 215 receives the relay permission signal, it extracts specific header information from the e-mail data stored in the data storage unit 25 and transmits it to the format conversion unit 26. In the case of this embodiment, the specific header information includes the relay email address from which the password name has been deleted.

Upon receiving the relay permission signal, the log information extraction unit 216 extracts log information from the e-mail data stored in the data storage unit 25, and registers the administrator mail address registered in the administrator mail address table 233 in the RAM 23. Send log information to. In the case of the present embodiment, the log information includes the relay mail address and the domain name of the requesting node.

Next, the configuration of the mail address will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the mail address table 231 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a mail address in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, two types of mail addresses, public and relay, are registered in the mail address table 231 and the mail address in the received e-mail data matches the registered relay mail address. Execute the relay process.

(5) As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the public e-mail address is configured such that the portion from the beginning to the @ (at mark) is a password name, and the portion after the {} is a host name. Also, as shown in FIG. 5B, the relay mail address includes a password name from the beginning to # (sharp), a destination telephone number from # (sharp) to ＠ (at mark), and ＠ The following part is configured as a host name.

In the above configuration, if the password name of the relay e-mail address is different from that of the public e-mail address, and if the relay e-mail address is kept secret, even if the public e-mail address is made public, Abuse can be prevented.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the domain name table 233 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, in the domain name table in the RAM 203, a domain name that permits relay processing is registered, and the same domain name of the request node in the received data is included in the registered domain name. Only in certain cases, it is permitted to execute the relay process. With this control, the security of the network facsimile machine used as a repeater can be maintained.

Next, the operation procedure of the network communication will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for executing a relay process using the network facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment as a relay.

(4) In each table in the RAM 23, two types of mail addresses, public and relay, a domain name permitting the relay process, and a mail address of the administrator are registered in advance.

First, when data is transmitted by e-mail via the LAN, the network facsimile apparatus 14 first receives the data from the LAN interface unit 28 (S701), and temporarily stores the data in the data storage unit 25 (S702). .

Next, the CPU 21 recognizes the e-mail address from the e-mail data (S703), and determines from the password name whether the e-mail address is for public use or for relaying (S704). If so, a normal reception process is executed (S705).

If the mail address is for relaying, the CPU 21 recognizes the domain name of the requesting node from the e-mail data (S706), and determines whether the same exists in the registered domain name. Is determined (S707). If not, the relay process is not permitted and an error occurs (S708).

(4) This prevents the network facsimile machine from being used without permission as a repeater even if a relay mail address is known to a person who is not originally permitted to perform the relay process. Further, when it is desired to limit the number of domains that can be used or the domain name or the like due to the convenience of the network facsimile apparatus, the network facsimile can be easily adjusted only by changing the domain name registered in the table. It is also useful in managing facsimile machines.

If the same domain name as that of the requesting node exists in the registered domain names, then edit to delete the password name from the e-mail address from the e-mail data (S709), and the edited mail The header information including the address is created (S710).

Next, the data including the header information is format-converted to facsimile data by the format conversion unit 26 (S711), modulated by the modem 28, and transmitted from the facsimile unit 27 to the terminal facsimile device connected by the network control unit 29. Is transmitted via the telephone network (PSTN), and the relay processing is completed (S712).

Even when the header information is output from the destination terminal facsimile, the password of the relay e-mail address is not displayed, so that the relay e-mail address is kept confidential and can be kept private.

(4) Simultaneously with the creation of the header information, log information including a mail address, a domain name of a requesting node, and the like is created (S713), and the log information is transmitted to an e-mail address of the administrator by e-mail (S714).

(4) This allows the administrator of the network facsimile apparatus to grasp the situation, such as a survey on the frequency of use, and to increase the convenience of management. In addition, it is possible to know the use of the device as a repeater every time a relay process is performed, and by checking the source and destination, it is possible to quickly detect unauthorized use or abnormal usage and take prompt measures. Security capabilities.

In addition, since notification is sequentially made by e-mail, the relay processing status can be obtained at a glance without opening the e-mail by using the title (Subject) and describing the source e-mail address and the destination telephone number. it can.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network when data communication is performed using a network facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention as a relay device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of the network facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment. Configuration diagram showing a mail address table in the above embodiment Configuration diagram showing mail addresses in the above embodiment Configuration diagram showing a domain name table in the above embodiment Flow chart showing the procedure for performing the relay processing in the above embodiment. Flow chart showing the procedure for performing conventional relay processing

Explanation of reference numerals

11 Network Facsimile Machine 12 Personal Computer 13 Mail Server 14 Network Facsimile Machine for Repeater 15 Terminal Facsimile Machine 21 CPU
22 ROM
23 RAM
24 LAN interface unit 25 Data storage unit 26 Format conversion unit 27 Facsimile unit 28 Modem 29 Network control unit

Claims (6)

In a relay device including a receiving unit that receives the e-mail data, a conversion unit that converts the format of the received e-mail data into facsimile data, and a transmission unit that transmits the converted facsimile data,
Storage means for storing a domain name; recognition means for recognizing the domain name of the relay requester from the e-mail data received by the receiving means; and the recognized domain name matches the stored domain name. A relay unit that performs format conversion by the conversion unit, performs transmission processing by the transmission unit, and performs error processing if they do not match. 2. The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the recognizing unit recognizes a domain name portion of the e-mail address set as a source address of the e-mail. 2. The relay device according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifying unit that notifies log information including a domain name of the requesting node to an administrator. Receives the e-mail data, recognizes the domain name of the relay request source from the received e-mail data, and determines whether the recognized domain name matches the domain name stored in advance,
If they match, format the received e-mail data to facsimile data, send the converted facsimile data,
If not, an error processing is performed. 5. The relay method according to claim 4, wherein a domain name portion is recognized in the electronic mail address set as the source address of the electronic mail. 5. The relay method according to claim 4, wherein after transmitting the facsimile data, log information is created, and the log information is notified to an administrator.

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