JP2004265025A - Computer readable program for making computer perform processing in apparatus for controlling transmission/reception of e-mail - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an E-mail control program for deterring unapproved transfer by adding an electronic certificate to an E-mail. <P>SOLUTION: A computer readable program makes a computer perform processing in an apparatus for controlling the transmission/reception of E-mails. The program has electronic certificate detection procedures of detecting an electronic certificate from a received E-mail and transfer destination address change procedures of changing a transfer destination address to the address of a provider of the E-mail, who has created the electronic certificate, when transferring the E-mail from which the electronic certificate has been detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an electronic mail control program that suppresses unauthorized transfer by attaching an electronic certificate to an electronic mail.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of e-mail, the number of users who use e-mail both publicly and privately has increased. With the increase in the use of e-mail, e-mail is transferred from a destination to a third party without permission, and when the e-mail is transferred, the source or destination may feel annoying.
[0003]
In order to solve such a problem, in the conventional e-mail software, when e-mail is transmitted, by setting the necessity of approval and the approver, the e-mail is transmitted to the transmission destination without approval. Now you can do it. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-205043 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional e-mail software, there is a possibility that an e-mail transmitted after being approved is transferred at a transmission destination, and it is not possible to control unauthorized transmission of the e-mail after transmission.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic mail program that suppresses unauthorized transfer by attaching an electronic certificate to an electronic mail.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in an apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of an electronic mail. An electronic certificate detection procedure for detecting an electronic certificate from the electronic certificate, and when transferring an electronic mail in which the electronic certificate is detected, the transfer destination address is set to the address of the provider of the electronic mail that created the electronic certificate. And a transfer destination address changing procedure to be changed.
[0008]
In a computer device in which such a program is installed, when an electronic mail having an electronic certificate is transferred, the electronic mail is first transmitted to the address of the e-mail provider so as not to be transferred to the transfer destination address set by the user. Is changed as follows. Therefore, the electronic mail is not transferred to a third party without permission.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in an apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of an electronic mail. Receiving an e-mail indicating that the e-mail is transmitted, the e-mail is transmitted when the e-mail is transmitted according to the permission of the user. A destination setting step for setting a destination to which the e-mail is to be transferred based on the transfer information indicating the destination address; and a destination set by the destination setting procedure from the source set by the source setting step. And a transfer procedure for transferring to
[0010]
In a computer device in which such a program is installed, a user can receive an electronic mail to be transferred as an electronic mail that requires permission before being transferred. Also, since the address of the user originally set as the transmission source is replaced with the transmission source that has requested the transfer, and the transmission is transmitted to the transmission destination to which the transmission was attempted, the recipient is as if It is possible to make it possible to receive an e-mail directly transferred from a transmission source to be transferred.
[0011]
As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention can also be a storage medium storing the above-mentioned program.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
The mail transfer control system according to one embodiment of the present invention has a network configuration as shown in FIG. In the description of the present embodiment, “mail” means “e-mail”. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration of the mail transfer control system. In FIG. 1, a terminal A of a user A, a terminal 32 of a user B, a terminal 33 of a user C, and a terminal 34 of a user D are mail control units for realizing a mail transfer control system 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 100 and connected via a network 30. Here, the user A is the user who first created the mail document, and is hereinafter referred to as a provider.
[0014]
In the mail transfer control system 1000, the user A performs an electronic signature on the created mail document 121, and the mail 41 with the electronic certificate 122 added to the mail document 121 is transmitted from the user A's terminal 31 to the user B. (Step S1). When the mail 41 is received by the terminal 32 of the user B, and the user B sets the user C as the transfer destination and attempts to transfer the mail 41, the mail control unit 100 does not transfer the mail 41 to the user C, and the address of the provider is not transferred. And the mail 42 including the mail document 121 to which the mail control information 123 in which the user C is set as the transfer destination address is automatically transmitted to the terminal 31 of the user A with the title of "transfer permission request" ( Step S2).
[0015]
When the mail 42 is received by the terminal 31 of the user A, the mail control unit 100 adds the electronic certificate 122 and the mail control information 123 to the mail document 121 with the transmission source being the user B only when the user A permits the transfer. The transmitted mail 43 is transmitted to the user C (step S3).
[0016]
When the mail 43 with the electronic certificate 122 is received by the terminal 33 of the user C, and the user C further attempts to transfer the mail to the user D, the mail control unit 100 does not transfer the mail 43 to the user D but the address of the provider. The mail 44 including the mail document 121 to which the mail control information 123 in which the user C is set as the transfer destination address is added is automatically transmitted to the user A's terminal 31 with the title "Transfer permission request" (step). S4).
[0017]
When the mail 44 is received by the terminal 31 of the user A, the mail control unit 100 sets the sender to the user C and sends the electronic certificate 122 and the mail control to the mail document 121 only when the user A permits the transfer as in the previous case. The mail 45 to which the information 123 has been added is transmitted to the user D (step S5).
[0018]
As described above, in such a mail transfer control system 1000, every time a mail is transferred at the destination, the mail is always returned to the provider, and is transmitted to the destination only when the transfer is permitted by the provider. Can be controlled as you can.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration for realizing the mail transfer control system. 2, the terminal 31 of the user A, the terminal 32 of the user B, the terminal 33 of the user C, and the terminal 34 of the user D have similar functions. Each of the terminals 31 to 34 is a computer terminal controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and includes a mail control unit 100 for controlling mail transfer, a display processing unit 111, an input / output processing unit 112, a communication control unit 113, and an installer 114 for installing the program from the recording medium 20 on which the program according to the present invention is recorded.
[0020]
The display processing unit 111 controls display of data on the display unit. The input / output processing unit 112 controls input and output of data to the input unit and the output unit. The communication control unit 113 controls data communication performed via the network 30. The installer 114 installs the program according to the present invention from the recording medium 20 on which the program is recorded. The recording medium 20 may be any computer-readable medium.
[0021]
The mail control unit 100 includes a mail editing unit 101, an electronic certificate attachment unit 102, a mail transmission unit 103, a mail reception unit 104, a mail transfer unit 105, and a mail permission transfer unit 108.
[0022]
The mail editing unit 101 creates and edits the mail document 121. The electronic certificate attaching unit 102 creates an electronic certificate 122 and attaches it to the mail document 121 to be transmitted. The mail transmitting unit 103 transmits the mail to the destination. The mail receiving unit 104 receives a mail. The mail transfer unit 105 transfers the received mail to a specified destination. The mail permission transfer unit 108 transfers the mail permitted by the provider.
[0023]
Further, the mail transfer unit 105 includes an electronic certificate detection unit 106 and an agreement message display unit 107. The electronic certificate detection unit 106 detects whether or not the electronic certificate 122 of the provider is attached to the mail document 121 to be transferred. The agreement message display unit 107 causes the display unit to display an agreement message urging the user (mail forwarder) to agree to obtain the permission of the provider. When the electronic certificate detection unit 106 detects that the electronic document 122 is attached to the mail document 121 to be transferred, the mail transfer unit 105 causes the agreement message display unit 107 to display an agreement message on the display unit, and To the user that the consent of the provider is necessary, and if the user consents, the mail is forwarded.
[0024]
Further, the mail permission transfer unit 108 has a permission list display unit 109 for displaying a list of transfer destinations that can be transferred to the provider by permission as a permission list on a display unit. The mail permission transfer unit 108 displays a list of transfer destinations on the display unit, and when the provider permits transfer of the mail to them, replaces the sender with the transfer source and transmits the mail to the transfer destination.
[0025]
In the mail transfer control system 1000 in which such a mail control unit 100 is provided in each of the terminals 31 to 34, even if the mail is forwarded to the destination where the mail is transmitted, the permission is always required by the provider. No transfer takes place.
[0026]
In step S1 of FIG. 1, the terminal 32 of the user B receives the mail 41 with the electronic certificate 122 added to the mail document 121 from the terminal 31 of the user A, and transfers the mail 41 to the user C by the mail transfer unit 105. The executed mail transfer process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are flowcharts illustrating the transfer process.
[0027]
3 and 4, it is determined whether or not the users (users B and C in FIG. 1) instruct transfer of the received mail document 121 (step S11). If the transfer has not been instructed, the mail transfer process ends. On the other hand, when the transfer is instructed, the mail transfer unit 105 detects whether the electronic certificate 122 is attached to the mail specified by the user by detecting the electronic certificate 122 by the electronic certificate detection unit 106. Is determined (step S12). When the electronic certificate 122 is not attached (that is, when the electronic certificate 122 is not detected by the electronic certificate detection unit 106), the conventional normal transfer processing is executed (step S13), and the transfer processing is performed. finish.
[0028]
On the other hand, when the electronic certificate 122 is attached (that is, when the electronic certificate is detected by the electronic certificate detection unit 106), the mail transfer unit 105 uses the agreement message display unit 107 to transfer the mail. A message is displayed on the display unit requesting the user to agree that the provider needs the permission of the transfer (step S14). Then, it is determined whether or not the user has agreed (step S15). If the user does not agree, the transfer process ends.
[0029]
On the other hand, if the user agrees, it is determined whether or not there is the mail control information 123 (step S15-2). If there is mail control information 123, the process proceeds to step S19. When there is no mail control information 123 (that is, at the time of the first transfer), it is determined whether or not the electronic certificate 122 has the mail address of the provider (step S16). If there is no mail address of the provider in the electronic certificate 122, the sender address is stored in the mail control information 123 as the mail address of the provider (step S17), and the process proceeds to step S19. On the other hand, if the electronic certificate 122 has the mail address of the provider, the mail address is extracted and stored in the mail control information 123 (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S19.
[0030]
As described above, the mail address of the provider can be obtained even if the mail address is transferred many times by using one of the mail control information 123, the electronic certificate 122, and the mail address of the transmission source.
[0031]
The destination mail address set by the user (users B and C in FIG. 1) is set as the transfer destination address in the mail control information 123 (step S19). When there are a plurality of destinations, a plurality of transfer destination addresses are set in the mail control information 123. The provider address is set as the destination of the mail (step S20). The title of the mail is set to "transfer permission request" (step S21). The mail document 121 and the mail control information 123 are transmitted (step S22), and the transfer process ends.
[0032]
As described above, only when the electronic mail 122 is attached to the received mail, the mail indicating the transfer permission request for permitting the provider to transfer the mail can be transmitted to the provider. . The users who want to transfer the mail (users B and C in FIG. 1) need only perform the operation of transferring the mail.
[0033]
The permission transfer process performed by the mail permission transfer unit 108 after the terminal A of the user A receives the “transfer permission request” mail in step S2 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the license transfer process. In FIG. 5, when the provider (user A in FIG. 1) opens the received “transfer permission request” mail, permission transfer processing is executed by the mail permission transfer unit 108, and the permission list display unit 109 displays “transfer permission request”. "Based on the mail control information 123 attached to the mail, the list of transfer destinations transferred by permission displays the permission list on the display unit (step S31).
[0034]
The mail permission transfer unit 108 determines whether or not the provider has pressed the button to permit (step S32). If the provider presses the button to permit, the process proceeds to step S35. On the other hand, when the provider does not press the button to permit, it is determined whether or not the button to permit is not pressed (step S33). If the non-permission button has not been pressed, the process returns to step S31. On the other hand, if the non-permission button is pressed, a notification mail indicating that the transfer was not permitted is transmitted to the users who tried to transfer (users B and C in FIG. 1) (step S34), and the permission transfer process ends. I do.
[0035]
On the other hand, in a case where the license button is pressed by the provider in step S32, the mail control information 123 is obtained from the received mail (step S35). The mail permission transfer unit 108 sets the transfer destination mail address set in the mail control information 123 as the destination of the transmitted mail (step S36), and transfers the transfer source address (that is, this mail) to the transmission source address. (Addresses of the users B and C in FIG. 1) are set (step S37). Then, the mail permission transfer unit 108 transmits the mail document 121 to which the electronic certificate 122 and the mail control information 123 are added (Step S38).
[0036]
The mail permission transfer unit 108 determines whether or not there is a destination in the mail control information 123 (step S39). If there is still a destination, the flow returns to step S36, and the same processing as described above is performed. When the mail document 121 is transmitted to all the destinations, the permission transfer processing ends.
[0037]
As described above, when the provider permits the transfer of the mail to the transfer destination, the sender address is changed to the transfer source address to which the mail is to be transferred, instead of the address of the provider, and is set in the mail control information 123. By setting one or more transfer destination addresses as the destination address, the users (users C and D in FIG. 1) that have received the transferred mail can be transferred to the transfer source (users B and C in FIG. 1). Can be received as if the mail was forwarded.
[0038]
The data configuration of the mail control information 123 created by the mail transfer unit 105 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data configuration of the mail control information. In FIG. 6, the mail control information 123 is composed of provider information and transfer destination information. As the information of the provider, the name and the mail address of the provider are set. Also, one or more names and e-mail addresses of the transfer destination are set as the information of the transfer destination.
[0039]
Next, the data structure of the electronic certificate 122 added when the data document 121 is first transmitted will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the electronic certificate. In FIG. 7, the electronic certificate 122 includes a provider's name, a public key, a mail address, and the like. Since an e-mail address may not be set, if the e-mail address of the provider is required in the transfer process, the sender's address is used as the e-mail address of the provider as processed in step S17 in FIG.
[0040]
Next, the display of the consent message displayed on the display unit in step S14 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an agreement message. In FIG. 8, a screen 200 for displaying an agreement message has a display area 201 for displaying the message, an OK button 202 for requesting the agreement of the provider, and a cancel button 203 for canceling the transfer. In the display area 201, for example, a message such as "This mail requires the consent of Mr. XX" is displayed.
[0041]
The user (users B and C in FIG. 1) clicks the OK button 202 with a mouse or the like when requesting consent from the provider (user A in FIG. 1) to transfer the received mail. In response to this user operation, a “transfer permission request” mail is transmitted to user A. On the other hand, when the user cancels the transfer of the mail, the user clicks the cancel button 203. The mail is not transferred by this user operation.
[0042]
By displaying the consent message in this way, the user can be notified that the consent of the provider is required to forward the e-mail, and if the consent is not requested, the e-mail It can be controlled not to be transferred.
[0043]
The display of the permission list displayed on the display unit in step S31 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the permission list. 9, a screen 210 for displaying a permission list includes a display area 211 for displaying a list of e-mail addresses set as transfer destinations by the transfer source (users B and C in FIG. 1) and a mail displayed in the display area 211. It has a permission button 212 for permitting transfer to the address and a non-permission button 213 for not permitting and not transferring to the mail address displayed in the display area 211.
[0044]
When granting the transfer to the transfer destination displayed on the screen 210, the user (the user A in FIG. 1) clicks the permit button 212 with a mouse or the like. The mail is transferred to the transfer destination according to the user's operation. On the other hand, when the transfer is not permitted, the user can prevent the transfer of the mail by clicking the non-permission button 213.
[0045]
In this screen 210, the transfer destination may be selected and the permission button 212 may be clicked.
[0046]
As described above, according to the present invention, when a mail document is created, a provider who sends the mail document for the first time only has to add an electronic certificate, so that an unauthorized mail is sent to the destination after the transmission. Transfer can be suppressed.
[0047]
In addition, a user who wants to transfer the mail can know that the consent of the provider is necessary when transferring the mail.
[0048]
Further, the provider can know where the created mail document is transferred when permitting the mail transfer.
[0049]
Also, even if the mail document is forwarded further, the electronic certificate added when the mail document is first sent is always added, and the license is always given by the provider. Can be seen how is transferred.
[0050]
At present, in an electronic mail system, a mail with an electronic signature is used, and a mailer or the like automatically recognizes the mail. According to the present invention, by using this, it is possible to ensure that the provider of the information is given permission for the transfer by simply attaching an electronic signature to the mail that the information provider does not want to transfer without permission. . When an e-mail with a digital certificate is forwarded, the transfer destination is replaced with the e-mail address of the owner of the digital certificate, and the mail is forwarded. Can be sent to an email address.
[0051]
Finally, the means according to the present invention will be additionally described.
(Supplementary Note 1) In a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in an apparatus that controls transmission and reception of e-mail,
A digital certificate detection procedure for detecting a digital certificate from the received e-mail;
A transfer destination address changing step of changing a transfer destination address to an address of a provider of the electronic mail that created the electronic certificate when transferring the electronic mail in which the electronic certificate is detected. Program to do.
(Supplementary Note 2) Transfer information creation procedure for creating transfer information indicating at least one or more transfer destination addresses;
A transfer procedure of adding the transfer information created by the transfer information creation procedure to the email whose transfer destination address has been changed to the address of the provider by the transfer destination address change procedure, and forwarding the email. The program according to supplementary note 1, comprising:
(Supplementary note 3) In the transfer destination address changing procedure, the transfer destination address is changed to the address of the provider, and the title of the electronic mail is changed to a predetermined title regarding permission to transfer the electronic mail. The program according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2.
(Supplementary Note 4) In response to the user's operation of transferring the e-mail in which the digital certificate is detected, the provider notifies the provider that consent to transfer is required, and the user sets the provider's consent. A consent screen display procedure for displaying on the display unit a consent screen that allows the user to select whether or not to give consent,
The program according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3, further comprising: a transfer prohibition procedure for prohibiting the transfer of the e-mail based on a selection result by a user operated according to the consent screen.
(Supplementary Note 5) In a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in a device that controls transmission and reception of e-mail,
Upon receiving an e-mail indicating a predetermined subject regarding the permission to transfer the e-mail, a source setting for setting the transmission source of the e-mail as the transmission source when transferring the e-mail according to the permission of the user Instructions and
A transfer destination setting step of setting a transfer destination to which the electronic mail is transferred, based on transfer information indicating a transfer destination address added to the electronic mail;
A transfer procedure for transferring from the transmission source set by the transmission source setting procedure to the transfer destination set by the transmission destination setting procedure.
(Supplementary Note 6) Upon receiving the e-mail indicating the predetermined title, a permission screen display procedure for displaying on a display unit a permission screen allowing the user to select whether or not to permit transfer of the e-mail,
The program according to claim 5, further comprising: a transfer stop procedure for stopping transfer of the electronic mail based on a selection result by a user operated according to the permission screen.
(Supplementary Note 7) In a recording medium that records a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in a device that controls transmission and reception of e-mail,
A digital certificate detection procedure for detecting a digital certificate from the received e-mail;
A transfer destination address changing step of changing a transfer destination address to an address of a provider of the electronic mail that created the electronic certificate when transferring the electronic mail in which the electronic certificate is detected. A recording medium on which a program to be recorded is recorded.
(Supplementary Note 8) In a recording medium recording a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in a device that controls transmission and reception of e-mail,
Upon receiving an e-mail indicating a predetermined subject regarding permission to transfer the e-mail, a source setting procedure for setting a source of the e-mail as a source when the e-mail is transferred,
A transfer destination setting step of setting a transfer destination to which the electronic mail is transferred, based on transfer information indicating a transfer destination address added to the electronic mail;
A transfer procedure for transferring from the transmission source set by the transmission source setting procedure to the transfer destination set by the transfer destination setting procedure.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, for an e-mail that the information provider does not want to forward without permission, only by attaching an electronic signature, the provider can reliably receive the permission of the forwarding. Can be When an e-mail with a digital certificate is forwarded, the transfer destination is replaced with the e-mail address of the owner of the digital certificate, and the mail is forwarded. Can be sent to an email address.
[0053]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a mail transfer control system.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration for realizing a mail transfer control system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a transfer process.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a transfer process.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a license transfer process.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data configuration of mail control information.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of an electronic certificate.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of an agreement message.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of a permission list.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 100 mail control unit 101 mail editing unit 102 electronic certificate attachment unit 103 mail transmission unit 104 mail reception unit 105 mail transfer unit 106 electronic certificate detection unit 107 agreement message display unit 108 mail permission transfer unit 109 permission list display unit 121 mail document 122 Electronic certificate 123 Mail control information

Claims (5)

In a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in a device that controls transmission and reception of e-mail,
A digital certificate detection procedure for detecting a digital certificate from the received e-mail;
A transfer destination address changing step of changing a transfer destination address to an address of a provider of the electronic mail that created the electronic certificate when transferring the electronic mail in which the electronic certificate is detected. Program to do. A transfer information creating procedure for creating transfer information indicating at least one or more transfer destination addresses;
A transfer procedure of adding the transfer information created by the transfer information creation procedure to the email whose transfer destination address has been changed to the address of the provider by the transfer destination address change procedure, and forwarding the email. 2. The program according to claim 1, comprising: In a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in a device that controls transmission and reception of e-mail,
Upon receiving an e-mail indicating a predetermined subject regarding the permission to transfer the e-mail, a source setting for setting the transmission source of the e-mail as the transmission source when transferring the e-mail according to the permission of the user Instructions and
A transfer destination setting step of setting a transfer destination to which the electronic mail is transferred, based on transfer information indicating a transfer destination address added to the electronic mail;
A transfer procedure for transferring from the transmission source set by the transmission source setting procedure to the transfer destination set by the transmission destination setting procedure. In a recording medium recording a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in a device that controls transmission and reception of e-mail,
A digital certificate detection procedure for detecting a digital certificate from the received e-mail;
A transfer destination address changing step of changing a transfer destination address to an address of a provider of the electronic mail that created the electronic certificate when transferring the electronic mail in which the electronic certificate is detected. A recording medium on which a program to be recorded is recorded. In a recording medium recording a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in a device that controls transmission and reception of e-mail,
Upon receiving an e-mail indicating a predetermined subject regarding permission to transfer the e-mail, a source setting procedure for setting a source of the e-mail as a source when the e-mail is transferred,
A transfer destination setting step of setting a transfer destination to which the electronic mail is transferred, based on transfer information indicating a transfer destination address added to the electronic mail;
A transfer procedure for transferring from the transmission source set by the transmission source setting procedure to the transfer destination set by the transfer destination setting procedure.

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