JP3762772B2 - Conversion server, communication system, and test method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a conversion arranged between a first message providing system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate first communication terminal and a second message provision system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate second communication terminal. The present invention relates to a server, a communication system including the conversion server, and a test method thereof.

  In different messaging systems, when the file formats that can be used by mobile terminals under each messaging system and the character codes of mail that can be displayed are different, a conversion server is installed between the messaging systems. This conversion server has a function of converting a file format and a character code in accordance with a mail transmission destination. When mail is transmitted and received across different messaging systems, it is necessary that this conversion server operates normally and that mail can be transmitted and received between the mobile terminal and the conversion server. Therefore, as a method of confirming whether or not mail can be transmitted and received between the mobile terminal and the conversion server, a packet signal is transmitted to the destination mobile terminal and transmitted from the mobile terminal that received the packet signal. A loopback test method for returning a packet signal to the original mobile terminal is known.

  As a typical test method of the loopback test method, there is a loopback test using ping. Ping is a program that sends a response request to the destination host computer using ICMP, which is a kind of IP upper protocol. A method is known in which a ping is transmitted to a destination processing apparatus, a loopback test is performed by returning a signal, and a path connection is confirmed (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1 below).

In addition to the loopback test by ping, each Q & M packet is received from the maintenance terminal (OAM) for the purpose of identifying the location of the failure and grasping the network status in the communication network using the IP routing device. The packet processing unit of each node such as the base station transmits a delay measurement by identifying the Q & M packet, inserting a reply and time to the maintenance terminal, and transmitting the Q & M packet to the maintenance terminal. A technique for confirming normality has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, the normality of the packet data passage route corresponding to the subscriber circuit is verified by setting the packet switch to return the packet for each individual subscriber line and returning the copy of the packet from the subscriber circuit. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-101581 A JP-A-7-162456 Nikkei BP Publishing Bureau “New Information and Communication Dictionary”, Nikkei Business Publications, April 10, 2001, p. 528

  However, the ping and the techniques described in the above documents confirm the connection between devices and determine whether the communication is physically possible, and whether the device that processes the packet is operating normally. It was not something that could be confirmed. That is, although it is possible to confirm the connection to the messaging system, conversion server, each server in other messaging systems, etc., it has not been possible to confirm whether the processing of each server is normal.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the user can confirm whether the connection is established from the user's own terminal to the conversion server and whether the conversion server is operating normally from the user's terminal. An object of the present invention is to provide a conversion server, a communication system, and a test method having a function of performing the above.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have studied in more detail. Next, the contents of the study will be explained. In order to confirm that the mail server to which the mobile terminal belongs is operating normally, the mobile terminal sends the mail to the mobile terminal and receives the transmitted mail. It is possible to confirm that the mail server to which it belongs is operating normally.

  However, depending on this means, when the connection from the mail server to the outside is normal or the conversion server between the messaging system and the mail server and the external Internet network is included. Thus, it has not been possible to confirm whether such a processing apparatus is operating normally.

  Therefore, in order to confirm whether the connection from the mail server to the outside is normal or whether the conversion server is operating normally, the mail is actually sent to the destination and the mail is sent to the other party. It is necessary to confirm that it is transmitted.

  However, according to this method, in order to perform the test, the other party to whom the mail is sent is always required, and unless the end user has the mail address of the terminal belonging to the message system of the mail destination, the end user himself performs the test. It was difficult to do. Furthermore, in the test by this method, even if mail is not sent to the destination as a result of the test, it is possible to distinguish whether there is a problem with the mail server or the destination server as the cause. I couldn't isolate the fault.

  In particular, if your messaging system is in a foreign country and you can receive mail only in that country, you can send your mail to the other party as described above. To check whether the connection from the server to the outside is normal or that the conversion server is operating normally, a mobile terminal with an email address in the destination country and a user who confirms the receipt of the email Necessary. For this reason, it is extremely difficult to confirm whether the connection from the mail server to the outside is normal or whether the conversion server is operating normally by sending mail to the other party.

  In addition to this, sending mail to the other party as described above, or returning it to you and receiving it by yourself or the other party can confirm that you can process the mail. It was not possible to confirm at the same time that the processing device was operating normally, such as the occurrence of a delay. The present invention has been made based on these findings.

  The conversion server of the present invention is disposed between a first message providing system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate first communication terminal and a second message provision system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate second communication terminal. (1) first receiving means for receiving a message transmitted from the first communication terminal; (2) conversion processing means for converting the received message into a format that can be handled by the second message providing system; (3) control means for determining whether or not the conversion is normally performed; and (4) a test message creating means for creating a report mail for notifying the first communication terminal based on the result of the determination. (5) first transmitting means for transmitting the created report mail to the first communication terminal.

  The test method of the present invention is arranged between a first message providing system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate first communication terminal and a second message provision system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate second communication terminal. And (6) a receiving step for receiving a message transmitted from the first communication terminal, and (7) a message received by the conversion processing means in the conversion server. A conversion step for converting the data into a format that can be handled by the second message providing system, (8) a determination step for determining whether or not the conversion is normally performed, and (9) based on the result of the determination A message creating step for creating a report mail for notifying the first communication terminal; (10) sending the created report mail to the first communication terminal; Comprising a transmitting step signal to the.

  According to the present invention, the message transmitted from the first communication terminal under the first message providing system is converted into a format that can be handled by the second message providing system, and the result of the conversion success or failure is sent to the first communication terminal. Since the notification is made, the user of the first communication terminal can know whether the conversion server is operating normally.

  In addition, the conversion server of the present invention includes a test mobile station management unit that determines whether the message received by the first receiving unit is a test target, and the result of the determination is that the test is a test target. Preferably, the control means determines the normality of the conversion, and the test message creation means creates a report mail. The test method of the present invention includes an object determination step for determining whether or not the message received by the first receiving means is a test object prior to the determination step, and that the result of the determination is the test object. In some cases, it is also preferable to execute the processing of the determination step and the message creation step.

  According to this preferable aspect of the present invention, the normality of the conversion server is tested only when it is determined that the message to be transmitted is the one to be tested, so the user transmits the message to be tested. The execution of the test can be commanded.

  In the conversion server of the present invention, the test mobile station management means registers at least one of the transmission source and the transmission destination of the message received by the first reception means as the test target transmission source or the test target transmission destination. In some cases, it is also preferable to determine that the message is a test target. According to this preferable aspect of the present invention, since it is determined whether or not the message is a test target message based on whether or not the transmission source or transmission destination of the message is registered as the test target, the message is a test target message. It can be easily determined regardless of the content of the message.

  In the conversion server of the present invention, it is also preferable that the test mobile station management unit registers and cancels the test target transmission source and the test target transmission destination based on the instruction information transmitted from the first communication terminal. According to this preferable aspect of the present invention, the setting of the transmission destination and the transmission source can be registered or canceled based on the instruction information from the user.

  According to the present invention, it is possible for the user himself / herself to confirm whether the connection is established from his / her terminal to the conversion server and whether the conversion server is operating normally from the user's terminal.

  The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings shown for illustration only. Subsequently, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Where possible, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a communication system according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes a first messaging system 10 (first message providing system), a conversion server 20, and a second messaging system 30 (second message providing system). The communication system 1 is a communication system in which a first messaging system 10 and a second messaging system 30 are connected via a conversion server 20.

  The first messaging system 10 is a system that performs mobile communication services. The first messaging system 10 includes a mobile terminal 10a (first communication terminal), a radio base station 10b, and a message server 10d. For example, a mail server can be used as the message server 10d.

  The second messaging system 30 is also a system that performs mobile communication services in the same manner as the first messaging system 10. The second messaging system 30 includes a mobile terminal 30a, a radio base station 30b, a mobile communication packet communication network 30c, and a message server 30d.

  The mobile terminal 10a in the first messaging system 10 and the mobile terminal 30a in the second messaging system 30 are mobile terminals capable of receiving respective mobile communication services. The mobile terminal 10a and the mobile terminal 30a can send and receive mails to and from the mobile terminal, PHS, personal computer, and PDA. 1 is a communication means that can send and receive texts and the like using the communication system shown in FIG. 1, such as an electronic mail generally used between personal computers and mobile communication terminals, and a short message service used between mobile communication terminals. Any may be used.

  The message server 10d in the first messaging system 10 and the message server 30d in the second messaging system 30 are servers for mails that mobile terminals under the control of the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30 communicate with each other.

  The conversion server 20 is a server located between the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30. When the file format that can be used by the mobile terminals belonging to the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30 and the character code of the mail that can be displayed are different, the conversion server 20 converts them according to the mail destination. Has a function to convert. In the conversion server 20, the character code of the mail used in each of the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30, the file format that can be attached, the restriction on the mail text, the restriction on the mail capacity, and the attachment are possible. Suppose that you are aware of the rules and restrictions of each messaging system, such as file capacity restrictions, and mail and attachment capacity restrictions. The conversion server 20 performs conversion processing in accordance with the rules and restrictions on the destination of mail sent from either the first messaging system 10 or the second messaging system 30, and moves the converted mail to the destination. Sent to the message server of the messaging system to which the terminal belongs.

  Furthermore, the conversion server 20 has a function of determining whether the conversion process in the conversion server 20 is normally performed. The conversion server 20 manages whether or not unique codes such as a mail address, a telephone number, and an IP address of a mail transmission source are registered in advance so as to perform a loopback test. Further, it is managed whether or not a transmission source registered in advance to perform a loopback test is registered in advance to perform a loopback test only for a specific transmission destination. Here, the registration may be performed by registering whether or not to perform a loopback test by an input to a conversion server 20 from a maintenance terminal (not shown) connected to the conversion server. Whether or not to perform a loopback test may be registered via the messaging system.

  When mail is transmitted from the message server of each message system to the conversion server 20, the conversion server 20 performs a loopback test on the unique codes such as the mail address, telephone number, and IP address of the mail transmission source. It is determined whether it is registered in advance. Further, when the mail is from a transmission source registered in advance to perform a loopback test, the mail transmission destination is recognized, and the mail from the transmission source to the transmission destination is subjected to the loopback test. It is determined whether it is registered in advance as an object to be performed. As a result, when it is determined that the mail is a mail subject to the loopback test, the conversion server 20 converts the mail transmitted from the transmission source, checks the converted mail, It is determined whether the above-described conversion process is normally performed. The conversion server 20 creates an e-mail describing the determination result, and returns the e-mail to the e-mail transmission source. In this way, the conversion server 20 sends a mail indicating the determination result, so that the user is connected to the path from the user's terminal to the conversion server, and the conversion server is processing normally. Can be confirmed.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mail is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10a under the message server 10d existing in the first messaging system 10 to the mobile terminal 30a under the message server 30d existing in the second messaging system 30. A description will be given of the processing mode of the first messaging system 10 and the conversion server 20 in such a case. The user creates a mail transmitted from the mobile terminal 10a under the message server 10d existing in the first messaging system 10 (S100).

  The created mail is transmitted to the mobile terminal 30a under the mail server in the second messaging system 30 (S101). Here, regarding the mail to be transmitted, the title of the mail and the content of the body are not limited. A file of a possible format is attached to the mail within the limits of the functions of the terminals under the mail server existing in the first messaging system 10 and within the limits of the first messaging system 10. Can do. As the attached file, JPEG, GIF as an image file, MPEG4, MP4, etc. as a moving image file can be considered. In addition, a text file that is a text file, a file that stores audio, and the like can be attached.

  The mail is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10a to the wireless base station via wireless communication, and reaches the message server 10d through the communication network. Next, the message server 10d confirms that the mail transmission destination transmitted from the mobile terminal 10a is a terminal under the mail server 30d existing in the second messaging system 30, and forwards the mail to the conversion server 20. (S102).

  The conversion server 20 manages whether a unique code such as a mail address, a telephone number, or an IP address of a mail transmission source is registered in advance so as to perform a loopback test when a mail is transmitted. Then, the conversion server 20 specifies the mail transmission source and determines whether or not the mail transmission source is registered in advance so as to perform the loopback test. Further, when the mail is from a sender registered in advance to perform the loopback test, the mail address is recognized, and the mail from the sender to the destination performs the loopback test. It is determined whether or not it is registered in advance as a target. (S103). Here, the reference for determining whether or not the transmission source and the transmission destination are registered in advance so as to perform the loopback test is a unique code such as a telephone number, a mail address, and an IP address, Any one can be used as long as the sender of the mail can be specified.

  Next, in the terminals of the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30, the conversion server 20 can use an available file format, a displayable mail character code, a mail, a capacity of an attached file attached to the mail, or a mail. Are converted according to the destination of the mail (S104). If it is determined in S103 that the converted mail source is not set in advance to perform the loopback test, the conversion server sends the converted mail to the message server 30d of the second messaging system 30. (S105). The forwarded mail is transmitted from the message server 30d of the second messaging system 30 to the mobile terminal 30a that is the destination by wireless communication from the wireless base station via the communication network.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S103 that the converted mail is the subject of the loopback test, the conversion server 20 determines whether the conversion processing in the conversion server 20 is normally performed. Then, an e-mail describing the determination result is created (S106). In addition, the mail transmitted from the mobile terminal 10a and converted by the conversion server 20 is deleted. The determination is made, for example, based on whether the return value in the routine is positive during a series of processes. The determination item is changed according to the content to be converted. The mail to be created is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3. If the user who sent the mail can recognize that the conversion server is processing normally or is not processing normally, mail The title and the body of the mail may be any of them, and an attached file after the conversion process may be attached. In addition, according to the conversion process, the mail may indicate whether the conversion process is normal for each conversion process, or may display a parameter indicating the processing status.

  The conversion server 20 transfers the mail describing the determination result from the conversion server 20 to the message server 10d of the first messaging system 10 (S107). Next, the message server 10d transmits the notification to the mobile terminal 10a (S108). Alternatively, the notification is held in the message server 10d for a predetermined period until a mail reception request is received from the terminal. In this way, the user transmits a mail from his / her mobile terminal 10a, so that the connection is established from the mobile terminal 10a to the conversion server 20, and the conversion server 20 operates normally from the user's mobile terminal 10a. Can be confirmed. Furthermore, by performing a loopback test only for a specific destination, the user can test only for the destination he / she desires and can send / receive normal mail to other destinations. The test can be performed while maintaining the transmission / reception service. In addition, it is possible to confirm whether mail conversion processing to a specific destination is normally performed, and it is possible to perform an appropriate test even in a situation where the destinations are diversified.

  A functional configuration of the conversion server 20 is shown in FIG. The conversion server 20 includes a first messaging system interface unit 201 (first receiving unit, first transmitting unit), a second messaging system interface unit 202, a control unit 203 (control unit), a test mobile station management unit 204 (test mobile station). Management means), a conversion processing unit 205 (conversion processing means), a test message creation unit 206 (test message creation means), and a management table storage unit 207.

  The first messaging system interface unit 201 is an interface with the message server 10 d of the first messaging system 10. The first messaging system interface unit 201 includes a message receiving unit (first receiving unit) and a message transmitting unit (first transmitting unit) (not shown). The message receiving unit receives mail from the first messaging system 10, and the message transmitting unit transmits mail from the conversion server 20 to the first messaging system 10.

  The second messaging system interface unit 202 is an interface with the message server 30 d of the second messaging system 30. The second messaging system interface unit 202 includes a message reception unit and a message transmission unit (not shown). The message receiving unit receives mail from the second messaging system 30, and the message transmitting unit transmits mail from the conversion server 20 to the second messaging system 30.

  The control unit 203 has a function of recognizing and specifying the transmission source / destination of the mail received by the first messaging system interface unit 201 or the second messaging system interface unit 202. The test mobile station management unit 204 determines whether or not the specified mail transmission source is registered in advance so as to perform a loopback test, and further, the received mail transmission source is registered in advance so as to perform a loopback test. In order to determine whether or not a mail from the transmission source to the transmission destination of the mail is registered in advance as a target for the loopback test, the control unit 203 It has a function of notifying the test mobile station management unit 204 of the transmission destination.

  As a result of inquiring the test mobile device management unit 204, the control unit 203 determines that the mail input to the control unit 203 from each interface unit is not subject to the loopback test. After the conversion process, it has a function of transmitting the converted mail to the interface unit on the destination side.

  Further, the control unit 203 has a function of determining whether or not the mail after the conversion processing is performed in the conversion processing unit 205 is normally processed. The determination is made, for example, based on whether or not the return value is in a routine during a series of processes. The determination item is changed according to the content to be converted. In addition, the control unit 203 notifies the test message creation unit 206 of the determination result as to whether or not the mail after the conversion processing in the conversion processing unit 205 is processed normally, and the test message creation unit 206 notifies the notification. It has a function of transmitting the mail created based on the interface unit connected to the messaging system to which the transmission source belongs.

  The test mobile station management unit 204 has a function of managing whether or not the mail transmission source performs a loopback test based on the table stored in the management table storage unit 207. Further, when the transmission source is registered as a target of the loopback test, the test mobile station management unit 204 determines whether or not only mail from the transmission source to the specific transmission destination is the target of the loopback test. Has the function to manage. FIG. 5 shows an example of information stored in the management table storage unit 207. According to the example shown in FIG. 5, an address that is a mail transmission source is input in the “FROM” column on the left side of the table. The mail address input here is the sender of the mail to be subjected to the loopback test. The “TO (1)”, “TO (2)”... “TO (n)” column is the target of loopback among emails from the sender listed in the “FROM” column on the left. The destination address of the e-mail is entered. Out of emails from the addresses listed in the “FROM” column, only emails addressed to “TO (1)”, “TO (2)”... “TO (n)” are looped back. The email will be the subject of the exam. On the other hand, among the mails from the addresses listed in the “FROM” column, mails addressed to addresses not listed in “TO (1)”, “TO (2)”... “TO (n)” Not subject to loopback test protection. However, if the address is described in the “FROM” column, but no address is described in “TO (1)”, “TO (2)”... “TO (n)”, All mails from the addresses listed in the “FROM” column are subject to loopback.

  In the table of FIG. 5, among the mails whose transmission source is “01234456789@aaa.ccc.com”, mails addressed to “98765443210@bbb.ddd.tl” and “xyzdghksjiru@ddd.ee.jp” are loopback tests. The mail sent from “01234456789@aaa.ccc.com” to another destination is not subject to the loopback test. All mails that are sent from “abcdefghijk@aaa.ccc.co.jp” are subject to the loopback test.

  In FIG. 5, whether or not the loopback test is performed for each mail address is managed, but the registration unit of whether or not the transmission source and the transmission destination perform the loopback test is the mail transmission source, the transmission destination, and the transmission unit. Any unique code such as a telephone number, a mail address, or an IP address of the mobile terminal may be used as long as the transmission source and the transmission destination can be specified. The test mobile station management unit 204 compares the mail source and destination mail addresses notified from the control unit 203 with a table stored in the management table storage unit 207, and the mail is subjected to the loopback test. It has a function of notifying the control unit 203 whether or not it has been registered in advance.

  The conversion processing unit 205 includes a file format that can be used in the terminals of the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30, a character code of a displayable mail, a capacity of the mail or an attached file attached to the mail, or a mail and attachment. When the total capacity of the combined files is different, it has a function of converting the character code and the file format so that it can be displayed on the destination terminal according to the destination of the mail.

  The test message creation unit 206 is notified from the control unit 203 of the determination result as to whether or not the mail from the sender registered in advance to perform the loopback test has been normally converted, and filled in the notification result Create an email. As shown in FIG. 6, an e-mail describing a result notification corresponding to the processing result notified from the control unit 203 is created. The mail describing the created result notification is transmitted to the control unit 203 and transmitted to the mail transmission source terminal via each interface unit. If the user who sent the e-mail can recognize that the user who sent the e-mail is processing normally on the conversion server, or the e-mail is not processed normally, The attached file after the conversion process may be attached. In addition, according to the conversion process, the mail may indicate whether the conversion process is normal for each conversion process, or may display a parameter indicating the processing status.

  Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 4, and FIG. 7, mail is sent from the mobile terminal 10a under the message server 10d of the first messaging system 10 to the mobile terminal 30d under the message server 30d of the second messaging system 30. The mode of the process in the conversion server 20 when transmitting is described.

  When a mail is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10a subordinate to the message server 10d existing in the first messaging system 10 to the mobile terminal 30a subordinate to the message server 30d existing in the second messaging system 30, the transmitted mail is The message is received by the first messaging system interface unit 201 via the radio base station 10b and the message server 10d in the first messaging system 10 (S200).

  The control unit 203 identifies the transmission source and transmission destination of the received mail (S201). The control unit 203 is a unique code such as a mail address, a telephone number, and an IP address of a mail transmission source and a transmission destination terminal, and is an item for confirming the transmission source and the transmission destination. Items that can be associated in the table of FIG. 5 that records whether or not to perform the loopback test managed by the unit 4 are specified from the mail. The control unit 3 notifies the test mobile device management unit 204 of information on the confirmed transmission source and transmission destination.

  The test mobile station management unit 204 compares the information about the transmission source and transmission destination notified from the control unit 203 with the table of FIG. 5 managed by the test mobile station management unit 204, and the received mail is looped back. It is determined whether or not the test is to be performed, and the result is notified to the control unit 203 (S202).

  More specifically, the test mobile station management unit 204 determines whether the received mail is subject to the loopback test based on the table shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the mail address notified from the control unit 203 is input in the “FROM” column on the left side of the table of FIG. The mail address input here is the sender of the mail to be subjected to the loopback test. If it is determined that the sender address of the received mail is not described in the “FROM” field, the control section 203 is notified that the mail is not subject to the loopback test. On the other hand, if it is determined that the sender address of the received mail is described in the “FROM” field, the test mobile station management unit 204 sends the destination field corresponding to the received mail address (“ In the “TO” column), it is determined whether an e-mail address is entered. Here, if no mail address is entered in the destination column, all mails that have the mail address entered in the “FROM” field as the sender are subject to the loopback test. If no e-mail address is entered in the destination column, the test mobile station management unit 204 notifies the control unit 203 that the received e-mail is subject to the loopback test.

  If a mail address is entered in the destination column such as “TO (1)” on the right side corresponding to the “FROM” column on the left side corresponding to the received mail address, it is written in the destination column. The mail address and the address of the destination of the mail notified from the control unit 203 are compared, and the address of the destination of the mail notified from the control unit 203 is the mail address described in the destination column. If they match, the control unit 203 is notified that the mail is a loopback test target.

  On the other hand, when the destination address of the email notified from the control unit 203 does not match the email address described in the destination column, the test mobile station management unit 204 Notify that the email is not subject to loopback testing.

  Here, the registration unit of whether or not the transmission source and the transmission destination for the loopback test are unique codes such as the mail transmission source, the transmission destination, the telephone number of the mobile terminal, the mail address, and the IP address. As long as the transmission source and the transmission destination can be specified, any of them may be used.

  When the conversion processing unit 205 has different file formats that can be used in the terminals belonging to the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30, the character code of the mail that can be displayed, the capacity of the mail or the attached file attached to the mail, etc. In addition, it has a function of converting a character code or the like so that it can be displayed on the destination terminal according to the destination of the mail. Next, the received mail is subjected to conversion processing in accordance with the above conditions in the conversion processing unit 5 (S203).

  Next, when it is determined in S202 that the received mail is a mail that is not subject to the loopback test, the mail after the conversion process is transferred to the message server 30d of the second messaging system 30, The data is transmitted from the wireless base station to the destination terminal via the communication network (S204).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in S202 that the received mail is a mail to be subjected to the loopback test, the control unit determines whether or not the conversion process is normally performed (S205). The determination is made based on whether the return value in the routine is positive during a series of processes, for example. The determination item is changed according to the content to be converted.

  If it is determined in S205 that the conversion process is normally performed, the control unit 203 notifies the test message creation unit 6 of the result, and the test message creation unit 206 performs the conversion process normally. An email indicating that it has been sent is created (S206). On the other hand, when it is determined in S205 that the conversion process is not normally performed, the control unit 203 notifies the test message creation unit 206 of the result, and the test message creation unit 206 indicates that fact. A mail is created (S207). As shown in FIG. 6, the mail created here can be recognized by the user who sent the mail from the terminal as being normally converted or not being correctly converted. For example, the title of the email and the text of the email may be any, and an attached file after the conversion process may be attached. In addition, according to the conversion process, the mail may indicate whether the conversion process is normal for each conversion process, or may display a parameter indicating the processing status.

  Finally, the mail describing that it was processed normally or not processed is transferred from the conversion server 20 to the message server 10d of the first messaging system 10 and sent from the radio base station via the communication network. It is transmitted by wireless communication to the mobile terminal 10a that is the sender of the mail (S208). The user can confirm that the mail is normally processed in the conversion server by receiving the mail indicating the processing result transmitted from the conversion server 20.

  Next, setting and canceling of the transmission source and transmission destination of the mail subject to the loopback test will be described. A mode of processing for registering the mail transmission source to be subjected to the loopback test from the maintenance terminal (not shown) in the conversion server 20 will be described. The maintenance terminal is connected to the conversion server 20 directly or via a network, and corrects the table stored in the management table storage unit 207. This makes it possible to set whether or not a mail transmitted from a specific mail transmission source is subject to a loopback test. Furthermore, it is possible to set whether or not only mail from a specific transmission source to a specific transmission destination is subjected to a loopback test.

  A mode of processing for registering the transmission source and transmission destination of the mail subject to the loopback test from the mobile terminal 10a to the conversion server 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. A user holding a mail transmission source who desires a loopback test inputs an instruction to the mobile terminal 10a so that the mail transmission source and the transmission destination are subject to the loopback test (S300). Here, the unit for identifying the transmission source and the transmission destination is any unit that can identify the transmission source and the transmission destination such as a telephone number, a mail address, and an IP address and can be recognized from the mail from the transmission source. May be. Further, when one terminal has a plurality of transmission sources such as a plurality of mail addresses, the setting of the transmission source may be any one of them. The medium for transmitting the input result may be a function preset in the mobile terminal, or the user may browse a website from the mobile terminal and input an instruction on a predetermined site. The input result is transmitted as a loopback test registration request (S301). The transmitted loopback test registration request reaches the conversion server 20 via the message server 10d and the communication network (S302).

  Next, when the conversion server 20 receives the loopback test registration request, the conversion server 20 checks whether the transmission source and the transmission destination instructed by the loopback test registration request are registered as loopback test targets. If the transmission source or the transmission destination is not registered as a loopback test target as a result of the comparison with the data, the transmission source is registered as a loopback test target (S303). The conversion server 20 creates a notification indicating the processing result of S303 (S304). The conversion server 20 transmits the notification to the message server 10d (S305). The message server 10d transmits the notification to the mobile terminal 10a via the communication network (S306).

  In this way, the transmission source of the mail designated by the user is handled by the loopback test target and the conversion server 20, and when the user sends a mail to a destination via the conversion server 20, the loopback test is performed. Done.

  A mode of processing in the conversion server 20 when registering the transmission source and transmission destination of the mail to be subjected to the loopback test shown in FIG. 8 from the mobile terminal to the conversion server will be described with reference to FIGS. . The loopback test registration request transmitted from the mobile terminal 10a is received by the first messaging system interface unit 201 via the message server 10d (S400). The control unit 203 confirms the transmission source of the loopback test registration request (S401). The control unit 203 specifies the transmission source and transmission destination of the target mail from the loopback test registration request. The unit to be specified is a unique code such as an email address, telephone number, IP address, etc., which is an item for which the transmission source can be confirmed, and whether to perform the loopback test managed by the test mobile station management unit 204 This is an item that can be associated in the table of FIG.

  The control unit 203 notifies the test mobile station management unit 204 of information about the confirmed transmission source. The test mobile station management unit 204 collates the information about the transmission source notified from the control unit 203 with the table of FIG. 5 managed by the test mobile station management unit 204, and the user is the object of the loopback test registration request. It is determined whether the sender and destination of the e-mail registered as the target of the loopback test (S402).

  In S402, when it is determined that the transmission source and transmission destination targeted by the user for the loopback test registration request are not registered in advance to perform the loopback test, the test mobile station management unit 204 determines that the user The transmission source and transmission destination targeted for the loopback test registration request are registered in the management table storage unit 207 as the loopback test target, and this is notified to the control unit 203 (S403). The control unit 203 notifies the terminal that the mail from the transmission source and transmission destination targeted by the user for the loopback test registration request has been registered to perform the loopback test (S404). In this way, the source and destination emails that the user has requested for the loopback test registration request are handled by the conversion server as the target of the loopback test, and when the user sends an email, the loopback test is performed. Done.

  In S402, when it is determined that the transmission source and transmission destination of the mail targeted by the user for the loopback test registration request are already registered in advance to perform the loopback test, the control unit 203 displays the result. The mobile terminal 10a is notified (S404).

  FIG. 10 shows an aspect of processing when registering loopback test deregistration in the conversion server 20 from the terminal. Hereinafter, the processing mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 10.

  The user designates and transmits to the mobile terminal 10a a transmission source and a transmission destination that are desired to cancel the loopback test registration. The transmitted notification reaches the conversion server 20 as a loopback test registration cancellation request (S500). As shown in FIG. 10, the subsequent processing is the same as that when registering as a loopback test target. That is, the user holding the mail transmission source desiring to cancel the loopback test registration inputs an instruction to the mobile terminal 10a so that the mail transmission source and the transmission destination are subject to the loopback test registration cancellation (S500). . Here, the unit for identifying the transmission source and the transmission destination is any unit that can identify the transmission source and the transmission destination such as a telephone number, a mail address, and an IP address and can be recognized from the mail from the transmission source. May be. Further, when one terminal has a plurality of transmission sources such as a plurality of mail addresses, the setting of the transmission source may be any one of them. The medium for transmitting the input result may be a function preset in the mobile terminal, or the user may browse a website from the mobile terminal and input an instruction on a predetermined site. The input result is transmitted as a loopback test registration cancellation request (S501). The transmitted loopback test registration cancellation request reaches the conversion server 20 via the message server 10d and the communication network (S502).

  Next, when the conversion server 20 receives the loopback test registration cancellation request, the conversion server 20 confirms whether the transmission source and the transmission destination instructed by the loopback test registration cancellation request are registered as loopback test targets. If the transmission source or the transmission destination is registered as a loopback test target as a result of the comparison with the data, the transmission source is deleted from the loopback test target (S503). The conversion server 20 creates a notification indicating the processing result of S503 (S504). The conversion server 20 transmits the notification to the message server 10d (S505). The message server 10d transmits the notification to the mobile terminal 10a via the communication network (S506).

  In this way, when the mail source and destination of the loopback test registration cancellation request specified by the user are not subject to the loopback test, the conversion server 20 handles the mail, and the user subsequently sends a mail. The loopback test is not performed.

  FIG. 11 shows a mode of processing in the conversion server when registering cancellation of registration of the loopback test from the mobile terminal to the conversion server. The loopback test registration cancellation request transmitted from the mobile terminal 10a is received by the first messaging system interface unit 201 via the message server 10d (S600). The control unit 203 confirms the transmission source of the loopback test registration cancellation request (S601). The control unit 203 identifies the transmission source and transmission destination of the target mail from the loopback test registration cancellation request. The unit to be specified is a unique code such as an email address, telephone number, IP address, etc., which is an item for which the transmission source can be confirmed, and whether to perform the loopback test managed by the test mobile station management unit 204 This is an item that can be associated in the table of FIG.

  The control unit 203 notifies the test mobile station management unit 204 of information about the confirmed transmission source. The test mobile station management unit 204 collates the information about the transmission source notified from the control unit 203 with the table of FIG. 5 managed by the test mobile station management unit 204, and the user is the object of the loopback test registration request. It is determined whether or not the sender and destination of the e-mail registered as the target of the loopback test (S602).

  If it is determined in S602 that the transmission source and transmission destination for which the user is the target of the loopback test registration cancellation request is registered in advance to perform the loopback test, the test mobile station management unit 204 Is registered in the management table storage unit 207 so as to be deleted from the loopback test target, and is notified to the control unit 203 (S603). . The control unit 203 notifies the terminal that the mail from the transmission source and transmission destination targeted by the user for the loopback test registration cancellation request has been registered so as not to perform the loopback test (S604).

  If it is determined in step S602 that the transmission source and destination of the mail that the user has requested to cancel the loopback test registration are not already registered to perform the loopback test, the control unit 203 determines the result. Is notified to the mobile terminal 10a (S604).

  In this way, the sender and destination of the mail that is the target of the loopback test registration cancellation request specified by the user is handled by the conversion server if it is not the target of the loopback test, and if the user sends an email thereafter The loopback test is not performed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, FIG. 1 shows an example in which the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30 are connected, but three or more messaging systems may be connected to the conversion server 20. Further, the conversion server 20 may be connected to the Internet.

  The first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30 are not limited to a mobile phone network, and may be a PHS communication network or a satellite mobile phone network.

  Furthermore, although the mobile communication is shown as the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30 in the above embodiment, the communication network in the first messaging system 10 and the second messaging system 30 is either or both of them. The messaging system may be a public network provided by a fixed line.

  In the above embodiment, when one terminal has a plurality of transmission sources that can be specified by the test mobile station management unit 204, such as one terminal having a plurality of mail addresses, telephone numbers, and the like, Even for mail, mail from a sender that is the subject of the loopback test may be subject to the loopback test, and mail from a sender that is not the subject may be subjected to normal conversion processing and sent to the destination server.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, unlike the conventional technology, not only the physical connection to the conversion server 20 as the target server can be confirmed, but also the normality of the processing of the conversion server 20 can be confirmed. . The user can confirm that the mail is normally processed in the conversion server 20 by receiving the mail indicating the processing result transmitted from the conversion server 20. In addition to this, it is possible to know the specific failure location by describing the specific result of the processing in the conversion server 20 in the result notification of the loopback test.

  As a result, the user himself / herself transmits the mail to the other party, and confirms whether the other party has received the mail normally, whether the connection is established from the user's own mobile terminal to the conversion server 20, and from the user's terminal. It can be checked very easily whether the conversion server 20 is operating normally. In addition, when the destination of the email is a foreign messaging system, it may be difficult to determine whether the email has been received normally by contacting the email destination, or email sent by the user in the destination country. Even if there is no person who confirms the normality of the processing of the conversion server 20 with the sender's confidence.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the transmission source and transmission destination that are subject to the loopback test are managed only in the conversion server 20, the transmission source and the transmission destination are specified and mail is transmitted and received. Any device that can send and receive mail via a messaging system connected to the conversion server 20 can be used as a loopback test target. That is, the mail transmission source mobile terminal that performs the loopback test may be any device that can send and receive mail. For this reason, when paying attention to the maintenance of the conversion server 20, it is possible to use a general-purpose mobile terminal without using a special dedicated device in order to confirm the normality of the conversion server 20, which is inexpensive and extremely easy. Maintenance inspection of the conversion server 20 can be performed.

  According to the present invention, the user of the mobile terminal or the maintenance person of the conversion server 20 can register and cancel the loopback test target at any time by setting the mail transmission source and transmission destination. This makes it possible to perform tests as needed as needed without interrupting the service uniformly as in the prior art. In particular, when a mobile terminal or the like having a browser function is used, the tester can easily cancel the registration of the loopback test and confirm the normality of the conversion server 20 by himself / herself.

1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system to which the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the loopback test method in the communication system of FIG. 1 concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the result notification from a conversion server. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a conversion server. It is a figure which shows the database which a test mobile station management part manages. It is a figure which shows the database managed by a test message preparation part. It is a figure which shows the processing flow in a conversion server. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which registers the transmission origin and transmission destination of the mail used as the object of the loopback test in the communication system of FIG. 1 concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which registers the transmission origin of the mail used as the object of the loopback test in a conversion server, and a transmission destination. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which cancels | releases the transmission origin and transmission destination of the mail used as the object of the loopback test in the communication system of FIG. 1 concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which cancels | releases the transmission origin and transmission destination of the mail used as the object of the loopback test in a conversion server.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a ... Communication system, 10 ... 1st messaging system, 10a ... Mobile terminal, 10b ... Wireless base station, 10d ... Message server, 20 ... Conversion server, 30 ... 2nd messaging system, 30a ... Mobile terminal, 30b ... Wireless base station , 201 ... first messaging system interface unit, 202 ... second messaging system interface unit, 203 ... control unit, 204 ... test mobile station management unit, 205 ... conversion processing unit, 206 ... test message creation unit, 207 ... management Table storage.

Claims (7)

A conversion server disposed between a first message providing system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate first communication terminal and a second message provision system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate second communication terminal. ,
First receiving means for receiving a message transmitted from the first communication terminal;
Conversion processing means for converting the received message into a format that can be handled by the second message providing system;
Control means for determining whether or not the conversion is normally performed;
A test message creating means for creating a report mail including a message after the result of the determination is described and converted by the conversion processing means;
First transmission means for transmitting the created report mail to the first communication terminal;
A conversion server comprising: The conversion server according to claim 1, wherein the conversion processing unit converts a character code so that a message received by the first receiving unit can be handled by the second message providing system. A conversion server disposed between a first message providing system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate first communication terminal and a second message provision system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate second communication terminal. ,
First receiving means for receiving a message transmitted from the first communication terminal;
Conversion processing means for converting the received message into a format that can be handled by the second message providing system;
Test mobile station management means for determining whether or not the message received by the first receiving means is a test object;
Control means for determining whether or not the conversion by the conversion means is normally performed when the result of the determination by the conversion processing means is a test object ;
A test message creating means for creating a report mail for notifying the first communication terminal based on the result of the determination;
First transmission means for transmitting the created report mail to the first communication terminal;
A conversion server comprising: The test mobile station management means, when at least one of the transmission source and the transmission destination of the message received by the first reception means is registered as a test target transmission source or a test target transmission destination, The conversion server according to claim 3 , which is determined to be a test target. 5. The conversion according to claim 4 , wherein the test mobile station management means registers and cancels the test target transmission source and the test target transmission destination based on instruction information transmitted from the first communication terminal. server. Normality of a conversion server arranged between a first message providing system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate first communication terminal and a second message provision system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate second communication terminal A test method for testing
A receiving step of receiving a message transmitted from the first communication terminal;
A conversion step in which the conversion processing means in the conversion server converts the received message into a format that can be handled by the second message providing system;
A determination step for determining whether or not the conversion is normally performed;
A message creating step for creating a report mail including a message after the result of the determination is described and converted by the conversion processing unit ;
A transmission step of transmitting the created report mail to the first communication terminal;
A test method comprising: Normality of a conversion server arranged between a first message providing system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate first communication terminal and a second message provision system that provides a message transmission / reception service to a subordinate second communication terminal A test method for testing
A receiving step of receiving a message transmitted from the first communication terminal;
A conversion step in which the conversion processing means in the conversion server converts the received message into a format that can be handled by the second message providing system;
An object determination step for determining whether or not the message received in the first reception step is a test object;
A determination step for determining whether or not the conversion in the conversion step is normally performed when the result of the determination is a test target ;
A message creating step for creating a report mail for notifying the first communication terminal based on the result of the determination;
A transmission step of transmitting the created report mail to the first communication terminal;
A test method comprising:

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