JP5750612B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing system, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to transmission control of temporarily suspended mail.

  In recent years, in systems between companies, e-mail is transmitted and received between client terminals via a network. However, it is used as a very convenient tool for exchanging information with a distant place. Yes.

  However, although it is convenient, there are many cases in which highly sensitive information is included in e-mails and exchanged with the other party in an emergency. In this case, the sent e-mail is sent to the other party. In the process of being sent to the mail server, eavesdropping, falsification, and the like are performed, and there is a risk that highly confidential information cannot be transmitted safely.

  Thus, several methods for encrypting e-mails have been proposed. For example, if a method such as PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) or S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is used, both the transmitting and receiving sides are used. By performing encryption and decryption, the aforementioned risks are avoided.

  However, in the method as described above, it is assumed that the content of the e-mail to be transmitted is an e-mail with an appropriate content, and even the content that the sender has entered incorrectly is transmitted. This problem cannot be solved.

Therefore, after the sender instructs to send an e-mail, if the e-mail to be sent satisfies a predetermined condition, the e-mail is suspended and the sender confirms the contents of the e-mail until a predetermined time elapses. A technique related to an e-mail transmission control method capable of performing the above is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-185094 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, although it is possible to check the contents while holding an email for a predetermined time, it is possible to appropriately send an email to a destination. When sending with multiple email addresses set as the destination of the header part of the mail, leave the header part as it is, generate the same number of emails as the number of destinations, and send the header part to the envelope destination There is a method for sending e-mails by setting each e-mail address of the recipient, but in a system that uses this method, depending on the recipient, the e-mail may remain on hold or the hold will be released There may be different transmission situations depending on whether the transmission is stopped or transmission is stopped.

  When such a transmission situation occurs, if the recipient sends a reply mail to all the recipients in the header part with respect to the received mail, the reception has not yet been received or the transmission has been canceled ( Regardless of the (planned) person, a reply is made to the e-mail, and the recipient (planned) who receives this reply encounters an unforeseen situation and has a problem that it is difficult to cope with it, or it is dangerous In such a case, an e-mail is transmitted to a recipient (scheduled) who does not want to send (it does not disclose the contents of the e-mail), and problems such as information leakage may occur.

  In addition, when an auditor who audits the contents of a once held email releases the hold, sends the email, and then sends a reply to the email, the predetermined condition at the time of the previous hold Under the same conditions, there is a possibility that the hold will be made, and if it is originally, the e-mail that does not want to be held may be put on hold, and the sender must take action such as releasing the hold in an emergency. The problem of having to do so can also arise.

  In solving the above problems, the present invention can efficiently exchange e-mails while taking into account the situation where e-mails are suspended when sending e-mails with multiple destinations divided. It is an object to provide an information processing apparatus, system, control method, and program.

A first invention for achieving the above object is an information processing apparatus for transmitting an e-mail approved by an audit, comprising: an e-mail acquiring means for acquiring the e-mail; and a transmission control rule. The transmission status of the e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition means is determined, the transmission status of the e-mail determined to be on hold is set as on-hold, while the transmission status is determined to be transmitted, and the transmission status is transmitted. There comprising a pending email approval means to approve the e-mail pending, the said transmission means, said electronic mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition unit, when the reply mail of the authorized electronic mail, the authorization a transmission control rules that apply to e-mail, when the transmission control rules that apply to the reply mail matches, the Without the hold signal mail is an information processing apparatus and transmits the reply mail.

A second invention for achieving the above object is an information processing system comprising an information processing apparatus that relays electronic mail connected via a network with a client terminal that transmits and receives electronic mail, wherein the information The processing device performs an e-mail receiving unit that receives an e-mail from the client terminal, and determines transmission suspension of the e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquiring unit according to a transmission control rule, and transmits the e-mail determined to be on hold On the other hand, a transmission means for transmitting an email determined to be transmitted to a client terminal, and a pending mail approval means for approving an email whose transmission status is on hold, wherein the transmission means includes: e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition means, in the case of a reply mail of the approval e-mail, before A transmission control rules that apply to approved email, when the transmission control rules that apply to the reply mail matches, without the hold the reply mail, the reply menu It is an information processing system characterized by transmitting a task to a client terminal.

A third invention for achieving the above object is a method of controlling an information processing apparatus that transmits an electronic mail approved by an audit, wherein the information processing apparatus is an electronic device that acquires the electronic mail. Based on the mail acquisition step and the transmission control rule, the transmission determination of the transmission of the electronic mail acquired by the electronic mail acquisition step is performed, and the transmission status of the electronic mail determined to be on hold is set as the hold. A transmission step of transmitting, and a pending email approval step of approving an email whose transmission status is on hold, wherein the transmission step is performed when the email acquired by the email acquisition step is the approved email. If a reply mail of a transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, the reply mail When the transmission control rules that apply for matches, the reply menu over without Le and hold is the control method for an information processing apparatus and executes transmission of the reply mail .

A fourth invention for achieving the above object is a program that can be read and executed by an information processing apparatus that transmits an electronic mail approved by an audit. Based on the e-mail acquisition means to be acquired and the transmission control rule, it is determined to hold the transmission of the e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition means, and the transmission status of the e-mail determined to be on hold is determined to be on hold, while it is determined to be transmitted The transmission means for transmitting an e-mail and the hold e-mail approval means for approving the e-mail whose transmission status is on hold function, and the e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition means is If a reply mail of the approved electronic mail, a transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, the reply mail When the transmission control rules that apply to match against, without the hold the reply mail, a program for causing to function as transmitting the reply mail.

A fifth invention for achieving the above object is a method of controlling an information processing system comprising a client terminal that transmits and receives electronic mail and an information processing apparatus that relays electronic mail connected via a network. The information processing apparatus performs an e-mail receiving step of receiving an e-mail from the client terminal, and determines whether to hold the transmission of the e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquiring step according to a transmission control rule, The transmission status is set to hold, and on the other hand, a transmission step of transmitting an email determined to be transmitted to a client terminal, and a hold email approval step of approving an email whose transmission status is on hold are executed, and the transmission The e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition step is the approval And if the e-mail reply mail, when the transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, a transmission control rules that apply to the reply mail matches the reply menu without the hold Lumpur, a control method of an information processing system and executes the transmission of the reply mail to the client terminal.

A sixth invention for achieving the above object is a program which can be read and executed by an information processing system comprising an information processing apparatus which relays electronic mail connected via a network with a client terminal which transmits and receives electronic mail. The information processing apparatus determines whether to hold the transmission of the email acquired by the email acquisition unit according to a transmission control rule, and an email reception unit that receives an email from the client terminal. The transmission status of the determined email is put on hold, while the transmission means for sending the email determined to be sent to the client terminal, and the hold email approval means for approving the email whose send status is on hold function And the transmission means has approved the electronic mail acquired by the electronic mail acquisition means. For email reply mail, when the transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, a transmission control rules that apply to the reply mail matches the reply menu over without the hold Le is a program for causing to function as transmitting the reply mail to the client terminal.

  Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently exchange e-mails while taking into consideration the situation where e-mails are put on hold when dividing and sending e-mails set with a plurality of destinations. .

It is a lineblock diagram showing a schematic structure of an information processing system concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the hardware of the various terminals which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure in the information processing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission control process of the email in the information system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the auditing process of the email in the information system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the automatic transmission process of the suspended electronic mail in the information system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process for browsing the pending | holding status of the suspended email in the information system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, it is a lineblock diagram showing composition of a screen used at the time of an audit. In embodiment of this invention, it is a block diagram which shows the content of the electronic mail when the electronic mail divided and transmitted is received. In embodiment of this invention, it is a block diagram which shows the screen for browsing the pending | holding status of the suspended email. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the table utilized by each process in the information system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the table utilized by the transmission control process of the email which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration in an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the configurations of the various terminals shown in FIG. 1 are merely examples, and it goes without saying that there are various configuration examples depending on the purpose and application.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing system 100 according to this embodiment includes an internal client terminal 101 used by a user, an administrator client terminal 102 used by a system administrator, an internal mail server 104, and a monitoring server 105. These terminals are connected via a local area network (LAN) 103 so that they can communicate with each other, and are constructed as an internal system.

  The internal client terminal 101 is connected to at least one or more external mail servers 107 via the wide area network 106 so as to communicate with each other. A firewall device (not shown) is installed between the LAN 103 and the wide area network 106, and communication control processing is performed according to a predetermined rule.

  The internal mail server 104 is a server device for relaying electronic mail by the internal client terminal 101, specifies the SMTP communication content of the internal client terminal 101, and performs various processes described later according to the communication content. .

  The administrator client terminal 102 sets and manages the internal mail server 104.

  The monitoring server 105 has a function as a proxy server, and using this function, transmission control processing for an electronic mail transmitted from the internal mail server 104 or the internal client terminal 101 is performed using a transmission control rule described later. Do it.

  The monitoring server 105 also has a function as a Web server, and using this function, the transmission control used for the transmission control process of the e-mail according to the request from the user who operates the administrator client terminal 102. Acceptance of rule input or transmission control processing, transmission of an electronic mail whose transmission has been suspended, acceptance of transmission cancellation input, or a request from a user operating the internal client terminal 101 or the external client terminal 108 Accordingly, it is possible to check the transmission status of the suspended electronic mail.

  Next, the hardware configuration of various terminals of the internal mail server 104 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the internal client terminal 101, the administrator client terminal 102, the monitoring server 105, the external mail server 107, and the external client terminal 108 have the same configuration, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204. In addition, the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 is provided with a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as an OS), which is a control program for the CPU 201, or a function executed by each server or each client device. Various necessary programs to be described later are stored.

  The RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201. The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program necessary for execution of processing into the RAM 203 and executing the program.

  An input controller (input C) 205 controls input from an input unit 209 indicating a pointing device such as a keyboard or a mouse (not shown). A video controller (VC) 206 controls display on a display device such as a CRT display (CRT) 210. The display device may be a liquid crystal display as well as a CRT.

  A memory controller (MC) 207 is a hard disk (HD), floppy disk (registered trademark FD) or PCMCIA card slot for storing boot programs, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like. Controls access to an external memory 211 such as a CompactFlash (registered trademark) memory connected via an adapter.

  A communication I / F controller (communication I / FC) 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing in the network. For example, Internet communication using TCP / IP is possible.

  Note that the CPU 201 can perform display on the display unit 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. In addition, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display unit 210.

  A program for executing an e-mail transmission control process for realizing the present invention is stored in the external memory 211 and is executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 203 as necessary.

  Definition information and various information tables used in the e-mail transmission control process according to the present invention are also stored in the external memory 211. Detailed description thereof will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a functional configuration according to the information processing system 100, and an outline of each function will be described. The contents of each function will be described in conjunction with the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the internal client terminal 101 includes an internal client transmission / reception unit 301, and the internal client transmission / reception unit 301 is connected to the internal mail server 104 via the LAN 103.

  The internal client transmission / reception means 301 transmits an e-mail or a suspended e-mail from the internal client terminal 101 existing in the internal system or the external client terminal 108 existing in an external system other than the internal system via the internal mail server 104. Send and receive status confirmation requests.

  The internal client notification pending mail information output unit 302 is connected to the internal client transmission / reception unit 301 and has a function realized by software for instructing transmission of an e-mail, and a screen for generating an e-mail (Not shown) is displayed on the display unit 210, and the user uses the input unit 209 to set a mail address to a destination or CC (Carbon Copy) as a destination of the email, and to indicate the title of the email. After inputting or attaching a subject, an e-mail body, an attached file, etc., the internal client transmission / reception means 301 transmits an e-mail to the e-mail address set in the destination or CC via the internal mail server 104. .

  Further, the mail received by the internal client transmission / reception means 301 is output to the internal client notification hold mail information output means 302, and the internal client notification hold mail information output means 302 displays, for example, the mail screen shown in FIG. 500 is displayed on the display unit 210, and the user uses the input unit 209 to specify a sender 501 indicating the email address of the sender of the email, a destination 502 indicating the destination address of the email, and a CC (Carbon Copy). 503, a subject 504 indicating the title of the e-mail, an e-mail body 505, and an attached file 506 indicating a file attached to the e-mail.

  The email body 505 is provided with a pending transmission status confirmation destination 507 indicating a URL for confirming the transmission status of the suspended email, and the user sets the pending transmission status confirmation destination 507 via the input unit 209. When pressed, the user can confirm the transmission status of the electronic mail displayed by the user to the other user using a screen (see FIG. 10, details will be described later).

  The reason for outputting the URL for confirming the transmission status of such a suspended mail will be described below.

  When sending an e-mail with a plurality of e-mail addresses set in the destination 502 included in the e-mail header information, the internal client terminal 101 or the internal mail server 104 sends an e-mail having the same text content as the e-mail to be transmitted. The number of the mail addresses set as the destination is generated, and the destination included in the header information of each generated e-mail is left as it is, and one e-mail set as the destination is set for each e-mail envelope. Set each address.

  For example, when A, B, and C are set as the destinations included in the header information, the number of mail addresses corresponding to the same e-mail transmission contents such as the e-mail body 505 and the attached file 506 are set. (3) Generated and the destination included in the header information is left as it is, and the envelope of each generated email is set with one A, one set B, and one C A total of three e-mails are generated (divided). That is, it can be said that each e-mail has a different e-mail address set in the envelope.

  In addition, Message-id included in the header information is given as information indicating that the divided electronic mails are related, and the same information is set in the Message-id of each generated electronic mail. Further, in the envelope, when one mail address is set for the destination included in the header information, this one mail address is set. Only when the mail address is divided, the mail address is set for the envelope. is not.

  As described above, by using the mail address set by the envelope, the divided electronic mail has an effect of preventing the electronic mail from being transmitted twice.

  However, when sending e-mails divided in this way, one e-mail is put on hold and another e-mail is sent based on the transmission control rules stored in the monitoring server 105. When a user who has received a reply email is sent to other users, including users who are scheduled to receive a pending email, the user who is scheduled to receive the pending email There is a problem that it is difficult to respond to the reply.

  In order to deal with such a problem, when a user who wants to send a reply presses the hold transmission status confirmation destination 507, the user displays a screen (( As shown in FIG. 10, details can be used for confirmation, so that it is possible to efficiently exchange e-mails without taking into consideration the user who is scheduled to receive a pending e-mail. It becomes possible.

  The internal mail server 104 includes mail server transmission / reception means 303, and the mail server transmission / reception means 303 is connected to at least one external mail server 107 via the internal client terminal 101, the monitoring server 105, or the wide area network 106. Has been.

  The mail server transmission / reception means 303 transmits / receives a request for confirming the transmission status of an e-mail or a suspended e-mail to / from the internal client terminal 101 existing in the internal system or the external client terminal 108 existing in an external system other than the internal system.

  Further, as described above, the internal mail server 104 includes mail dividing means 304 for dividing an electronic mail using an envelope, and the mail dividing means 304 is connected to the mail server transmission / reception means 303.

  The mail dividing unit 304 refers to the destination included in the header information of the email received by the mail server transmission / reception unit 303. When a plurality of destinations are set, the number of the mail addresses set as the destination is the same. An electronic mail is generated, and different email addresses set as destinations are set one by one in the envelope.

  Then, the divided e-mail is output to the mail server transmission / reception unit 303, and the mail server transmission / reception unit 303 transmits the e-mail to the internal client terminal 101 or the monitoring server 105.

  It is possible to provide the internal client terminal 101 with a function equivalent to the mail dividing unit 304. In this case, the above-described function is executed for the electronic mail transmitted by the internal client transmission / reception unit 301.

  The monitoring server 105 includes monitoring server transmission / reception means 305, e-mail acquisition means 306, transmission control rule determination means 307, mail information storage means 308, and pending mail approval means 310.

  The monitoring server transmission / reception means 305 performs transmission / reception of electronic mail at the internal client terminal 101 or the external client terminal 108 via the internal mail server 104 or the external mail server 107.

  The monitoring server transmission / reception means 305 has a function of receiving a request for confirming the transmission status of a relayed electronic mail and a suspended electronic mail from the internal client terminal 101 or the external client terminal 108 and transmitting the result. And a function of receiving a pending mail audit request or audit result registration instruction from the administrator client terminal 102 and transmitting the result.

  The e-mail acquisition unit 306 is connected to the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 and the transmission control rule determination unit 307. After the e-mail received by the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 is acquired, the e-mail acquired to the transmission control rule determination unit 307 is acquired. Output mail.

  The transmission control rule determination unit 307 is connected to the email acquisition unit 306 and the mail information storage unit 308, and determines whether the transmission control rule is satisfied for the email output by the email acquisition unit 306. To do.

  This transmission control rule corresponds to a predetermined rule for the destination set in the email, the content of the body of the email, the keyword or size of the file attached to the email, etc. In this case, the rules for disabling the transmission or taking a response such as temporarily suspending the transmission and sending it after being audited by the auditor are indicated. Can be suppressed.

  The transmission control rule determination unit 307 outputs the e-mail output from the e-mail acquisition unit 306, the determination result based on the transmission control rule, and the mail information storage unit 308. The mail information storage unit 308 associates the e-mail acquired by the transmission control rule determination unit 307 with the determination result, and stores them in a transmission status table (see FIG. 11, details will be described later).

  The hold mail information acquisition unit 309 is connected to the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 and the mail information storage unit 308.

  The hold mail information acquisition unit 309 receives a confirmation request for the transmission status of the hold mail from the internal client terminal 101 or the external client terminal 108 via the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305, and sends the e-mail to be checked as mail information. Obtained from the storage means 308.

  Then, a list screen (see FIG. 10, details will be described later) regarding the acquired e-mail is transmitted to the internal client terminal 101 and the external client terminal 108 that have made the confirmation request via the monitoring server transmission / reception means 305.

  The pending mail approval unit 310 is connected to the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 and the mail information storage unit 308.

  The pending mail approval unit 310 receives the audit request for the suspended mail from the administrator client terminal 102 via the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 in response to an instruction from the auditor. From 308, an e-mail to be audited by the auditor is acquired. Then, the acquired electronic mail is transmitted via the monitoring server transmission / reception means 305 to the administrator client terminal 102 that has accepted the request.

  In addition, as a result of auditing from the administrator client terminal 102 via the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 according to the instruction of the inspector, for example, transmission of a suspended email is permitted, transmission is stopped, A result such as keeping on hold is received, and information indicating that is stored in the transmission status of the electronic mail stored in the mail information storage means 308.

  The external client terminal 108 includes an external client transmission / reception unit 311 and an external client notification pending mail information output unit 312, and the external client transmission / reception unit 311 is connected to the monitoring server 105 via the external mail server 107, and The external client notification hold mail information output means 312 is connected.

  The external client transmission / reception means 311 sends / receives an e-mail to / from the internal client terminal 101 or, when receiving a divided e-mail, another user related to the e-mail in the external client notification hold e-mail information output means 312 A request for confirming the transmission status of the e-mail is transmitted, and the result is received and output to the on-hold client information output means 312 for external client notification.

  As described above, the external client notification hold mail information output unit 312 outputs the mail screen 500 shown in FIG. 5 to the display unit 210 and detects that the user has pressed the hold transmission status confirmation destination 507 for monitoring. A request for confirming the transmission status of emails of other users related to the email is transmitted to the server 105 via the external mail server 107. Then, the result is received as an e-mail list screen (see FIG. 10, details will be described later) via the external client transmission / reception means 311 and output to the display unit 210.

  The administrator client terminal 102 includes an administrator client transmission / reception unit 313 and an auditor hold email information output unit 314, and the administrator client transmission / reception unit 313 is connected to the monitoring server 105 via the network 103. Further, it is connected to the hold email information output means 314 for the auditor.

  The administrator client transmission / reception means 313 transmits an audit request for the suspended mail to the monitoring server 105, and as a result, receives the audit screen 400 shown in FIG. Alternatively, as a result of the audit performed in accordance with the auditor's instruction performed using the audit screen 400, for example, as described above, the transmission of the suspended email is permitted, the transmission is stopped, or the suspension is maintained. Is transmitted to the monitoring server 105.

  Next, the e-mail transmission control process in the information processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S101, when the user's transmission instruction is received on the screen (not shown) for creating the e-mail output by the internal client notification pending mail information output means 302, the internal client transmission / reception means 301 creates the e-mail. The sent e-mail is transmitted to the internal mail server 104.

  In step S102, the mail server transmission / reception means 303 receives the email sent in step S101. In step S103, the mail splitting means 304 refers to the destination included in the header information of the email received in step S102. By determining whether or not a plurality of e-mail addresses are set, it is determined whether or not to be divided.

  If a plurality of e-mail addresses are set for the destination included in the header information, it is determined as a division target, and the process proceeds to step S104. If a plurality of e-mail addresses are not set for the destination, it is not determined as a division target. Then, the process proceeds to step S105.

  In step S104, the mail dividing unit 304 divides the electronic mail received in step S102. As described above, this division method generates e-mails having the same body content as the e-mail received in step S102 by the number of e-mail addresses set in the destination included in the header information, and generates each e-mail generated. The destination included in the header information of the mail is left as it is, and one mail address set as the destination included in the header information is set for each generated envelope of the electronic mail.

  In step S <b> 105, the mail server transmission / reception unit 303 transmits to the monitoring server 105 an e-mail that has not been divided or an e-mail that has been divided and generated.

  In step S106, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 receives the email transmitted from the internal mail server 104 in step S105, and in step S107, the email acquisition unit 306 acquires the email received in step S106.

  In step S108, the email acquisition unit 306 acquires the email Message-id included in the header information of the email acquired in step S107, and the email information storage unit 308 stores the acquired email.

  FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a transmission status table indicating a table for storing transmission status information indicating the transmission status of the acquired electronic mail.

  The transmission status table includes a mail ID indicating Message-id included in the header information of the email, a transmission date and time indicating the date and time when the email was transmitted, a transmission source address indicating the email address of the sender of the email, and an email header Shows the email address set as the recipient included in the information (header information), the recipient address that shows the email address set in the envelope (envelope), the email subject that shows the email title, and the email body A configuration including items such as a mail text, an attached file indicating a file attached to the electronic mail, and a transmission status indicating the transmission status of the electronic mail is provided.

  Of the information about the email stored in the transmission status table, the email with the same email ID indicates that the email is divided using the envelope.

  For example, regarding the record on the third line from the top line of the transmission status table, the e-mail with the mail ID 001 is the transmission date and time, the transmission source address, the (header information) destination address, the mail subject, the mail text, and the attachment. The file stores the same data, and for the (envelope) destination address, each mail address set as the (header information) destination address is stored.

  In step S109, the transmission control rule determination unit 307 determines whether or not the transmission control rule is satisfied in order to perform transmission control to enable or disable transmission for the e-mail acquired in step S107. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S110. If it is not determined that the condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S114.

  An example of the transmission control rule used in this step will be described using the transmission disabling condition table shown in the upper part of FIG.

  The non-sendable condition table can store conditions for considering an e-mail as non-sendable. A non-sendable condition for uniquely identifying this condition and a destination included in the header information of the e-mail Of the email addresses that are set, the destination that indicates the email address that should not be sent, the email text, the email text that indicates the document that you do not want to send by email, and the file attached to the email Attached files (keywords) indicating documents that are not desired to be transmitted by e-mail among included documents, etc., and attachments indicating that the size of the file attached to the e-mail is not desired to be transmitted by e-mail It includes items such as files (data size).

  For example, the record of condition 1 of the transmission disable condition is sent to the address @ppp. co. jp is stored in this case, but in this case, the email address set as the destination included in the header information of the email is set to @ppp. co. If jp is included, it is determined that transmission is not possible.

  In addition, if the keyword “top secret” is input to the attachment file of the e-mail, it is determined that transmission is impossible for the record of condition 2, and the data size of the attachment file of e-mail is 6 MB or more. If so, it is determined that transmission is impossible, and it is determined that transmission of the condition 4 record is impossible when a document of confidential information is input in the body of the e-mail.

  In step S110, the transmission control rule determination unit 307 sets the transmission status in the transmission status table of the e-mail that is regarded as impossible to transmit as cancellation. In this step, the transmission status of the transmission status information having the email ID of the transmission status table and the (envelope) destination address matching the email address set in the envelope and the email ID of the e-mail that is regarded as impossible to send is canceled. And

  In step S111, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 generates an e-mail (not shown) indicating that the e-mail transmission is stopped, and transmits the e-mail to the sender of the e-mail. When generating an e-mail, it is preferable to output to the body of the e-mail and transmit for which reason the transmission was stopped. In other words, it is output which transmission control rule is regarded as impossible to transmit.

  In step S112, the mail server transmission / reception means 303 receives the e-mail transmitted in step S111 indicating that the transmission has been canceled, and indicates to the sender of the e-mail that the transmission has been canceled. Send an email.

  In step S113, the internal client transmission / reception unit 301 receives the e-mail transmitted in step S112 indicating that the transmission has been stopped, and the internal client notification hold mail information output unit 302 receives the e-mail to the display unit 210. Output an email.

  In step S114, the transmission control rule determination unit 307 determines whether or not the transmission control rule is satisfied and satisfies it in order to perform transmission control that allows transmission or suspension of transmission for the e-mail acquired in step S107. If determined to be satisfied, the process proceeds to step S116, and if not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S115.

  An example of the transmission control rule used in this step will be described using the transmission suspension condition table shown in the lower part of FIG.

  The transmission hold condition table can store a condition for regarding the transmission of an e-mail as a hold, a transmission hold condition for uniquely identifying this condition, and a destination included in the header information of the e-mail Among the email addresses set in the email address, the destination that indicates the email address that needs to be suspended, the email text that indicates the document that the user wishes to send after receiving the confirmation of the auditor when sending by email, and email Among the documents included in the file attached to, attached files (keywords) indicating the documents etc. that are desired to be transmitted after obtaining the confirmation of the auditor when sending by e-mail, files attached to the e-mail The file size is configured to include items such as an attached file (data size) indicating a size desired to be transmitted after obtaining the confirmation of the inspector when transmitting by e-mail.

  For example, the record of condition 1 of the transmission suspension condition is sent to the address @qqq. co. jp or @rrr. co. jp is stored. In this case, @qqq. is added to the mail address set as the destination included in the header information of the electronic mail. co. jp or @rrr. co. If jp is included, it is determined that transmission is suspended.

  In addition, if the keyword “project” is input to the attachment file of the e-mail, the record of condition 2 is determined to be suspended, and the record of condition 3 has a data size of the e-mail attachment file of 4 MB or more. If so, it is determined that transmission is on hold, and the record of condition 4 is determined to be transmission on hold when a document “AAA office” is input in the body of the e-mail.

  In step S115, since it is determined that the e-mail does not satisfy the transmission disable condition and the transmission hold condition, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 transmits the e-mail to the e-mail address set in the e-mail envelope. .

  In addition, when another e-mail with the e-mail ID is present in the transmission status table when the e-mail is transmitted, a pending transmission is performed in the body of the e-mail so that the receiver can check the transmission status. The status confirmation destination 507 is output and transmitted. The pending transmission status confirmation destination 507 includes at least a mail ID and connection destination information to the monitoring server 105.

  In this case, among e-mails having the same mail ID, the e-mail may be transmitted only when the transmission status is suspended, canceled, or deleted.

  In step S116, the transmission control rule determination unit 307 determines whether or not the mail address of the same thread exists. If it is determined that the mail address exists, the process proceeds to step S117. If not, the process proceeds to step S120. To proceed.

  As a determination method in this step, the determination is made based on whether or not there is a mail ID in the transmission status table that matches the mail ID of the e-mail.

  In step S117, the transmission control rule determination means 307 determines whether or not the transmission status of the transmission status information considered to exist in step S116 is post-hold transmission, and determines that the transmission status is post-hold transmission. If the process proceeds to step S118 and it is not determined that the transmission is after the hold, the process proceeds to step S120.

  In step S118, the transmission control rule determination unit 307 determines in step S117 that the transmission status is set to the sender, destination, CC, etc. included in the header information of the e-mail that is considered to be post-hold transmission. It is determined whether or not the address matches the transmission source address and (header information) destination address of the transmission status information. If it is determined that the addresses match, the process proceeds to step S119. If not, the process proceeds to step S120. To proceed.

  In step S119, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 transmits the e-mail addressed to the e-mail address set in the e-mail envelope.

  In addition, when another e-mail with the e-mail ID is present in the transmission status table when the e-mail is transmitted, a pending transmission is performed in the body of the e-mail so that the receiver can check the transmission status. The status confirmation destination 507 is output and transmitted. The pending transmission status confirmation destination 507 includes at least a mail ID and connection destination information to the monitoring server 105.

  In this case, among e-mails having the same mail ID, the e-mail may be transmitted only when the transmission status is suspended, canceled, or deleted.

  A series of processes from step S116 to step S119 is performed in the case of an e-mail that has been suspended in the past. Send without doing it. This makes it possible to perform efficient e-mail transmission control such as reducing the audit burden on the auditor and reducing the holding time.

  In step S116, it is confirmed whether it is the same e-mail that has been sent in the past, that is, a reply e-mail to the e-mail to be determined. In step S117, the sending status of the sending status information of the e-mail sent in the past is confirmed. By determining whether or not the transmission is after hold, it is possible to identify that the transmission has been performed as a result of the audit performed by the auditor.

  If the transmission status of the e-mail transmission status information is other than hold, for example, if it is automatic transmission after hold, it is considered that the e-mail was automatically sent after a predetermined period of time, although it was once held. Because the e-mail has not been audited by the auditor, there is some risk, and the e-mail is audited by the auditor even if the transmission status of the e-mail transmission status information is on hold or sent. There is some risk because they are not. Therefore, in order to reduce these risks, it is necessary to audit the inspector regarding the e-mail having such a transmission state.

  In step S118, the e-mail address set as the destination when the e-mail is exchanged with a different user, that is, the e-mail is replied between the user who exchanged the e-mail sent in the past and the e-mail sent in the past. If such a case occurs, the e-mail to be sent to the auditor is audited.

  In this step, an item for storing information indicating which transmission hold condition is satisfied when an e-mail is put on hold is added to the transmission status table. In step S114, a transmission control rule is added. The determination means 307 sets the satisfied transmission hold condition in the item, and in step S118, compares the transmission hold condition of the previously transmitted e-mail with the transmission hold condition of the e-mail to be transmitted this time, and matches If so, the process proceeds to step S119, and if not, the process proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, the mail information storage unit 308 updates the transmission status of the transmission status table for the email to be transmitted. When the processing of this step is executed via steps S115 and S1119, If the transmission status is transmission and it is not determined in step S116 that the transmission status exists, the transmission status is put on hold when the processing of this step is executed.

  Next, an electronic mail audit process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S201, when the auditor logs in to the system for auditing, the auditor's pending email information output means 314 displays a login screen (not shown) on the display unit 210 of the administrator's client terminal 102, and the audit is performed. An auditor who accepts input of user information such as information for identifying a person and a password, and the presence or absence of the user information accepted in the authentication table (not shown) storing user information existing in the monitoring server 105 Log in.

  When login is permitted in step S201, in step S202, the administrator client transmission / reception unit 313 transmits an audit execution request including user information of the auditor to the monitoring server 105. In step S203, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 Receives the audit execution request transmitted in step S202.

  In step S204, the pending mail approval unit 310 acquires the suspended email from the transmission status table using the user information received in step S203. In this step, an email address to be audited is stored in a table (not shown) in association with information for identifying the auditor, and the table (not shown) that matches the received user information is audited. An email address corresponding to information for identifying a person is acquired. Then, in the transmission status information having the destination of the transmission status table that matches the acquired email address, the transmission status is on hold, that is, the on-hold electronic mail is acquired.

  In step S205, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 transmits the information regarding the pending electronic mail acquired in step S204 and the audit screen 400 shown in FIG. 8 to the administrator client terminal 102.

  The audit screen 400 displays a list of information about the pending emails assigned to the auditor, and the auditor allows transmission if there is no problem with the contents of the email, and sends if there is a problem. Cancel.

  The audit screen 400 has a transmission hold button 401 to be pressed when the transmission of an email to be audited is held, a transmission stop button 402 to be pressed to stop transmission, and transmission is permitted. A transmission permission button 403 for pressing when checking, and a check box 404 for adding a check mark to an electronic mail to be audited.

  In performing the audit, the inspector gives a check mark to the check box 404 of the e-mail to be audited via the input unit 209, and sets the transmission hold button 401, the transmission stop button 402, or the transmission permission button 403. Press.

  In step S206, the administrator client transmission / reception means 313 receives the information regarding the pending electronic mail transmitted in step S205 and the audit screen 400, and in step S207, the supervisor pending mail information output means 314 Information regarding the pending email is displayed on the audit screen 400 received in step S206 and displayed on the display unit 210.

  In step S <b> 208, the auditor on-hold mail information output unit 314 determines whether an audit instruction has been given to the audit screen 400. That is, it is determined whether or not the transmission hold button 401, the transmission stop button 402, or the transmission permission button 403 is pressed in a state where a check mark is given to the check box 404. If it is determined that the check box 404 is pressed, step S209 is performed. Proceed to the process.

  In step S209, the auditor's hold email information output means 314 displays information related to the email selected for the audit screen 400 (the check box 404 is checked), a send hold button 401, and a send stop. An audit including information for identifying an audit result such as which of the buttons 402 or the transmission permission button 403 has been pressed, that is, the transmission is suspended, the transmission is stopped, or the transmission is permitted. Accept instruction information.

  In step S210, the administrator client transmission / reception unit 313 transmits the audit instruction information received in step S209 to the monitoring server 105. In step S211, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 transmits the audit instruction information transmitted in step S210. Receive.

  In step S212, the pending mail approval unit 310 proceeds to step S213 if the audit instruction information received in step S211 indicates that transmission is permitted, and proceeds to step S215 if it does not indicate that transmission is permitted. Proceed with the process.

  In step S213, the pending mail approval unit 310 acquires the same e-mail as the e-mail including the audit instruction information from the transmission status table (the same e-mail such as the one whose e-mail ID and envelope destination address match). The monitoring server transmission / reception means 305 transmits the acquired electronic mail to the monitoring server 105.

  In addition, when another e-mail with the e-mail ID is present in the transmission status table when the e-mail is transmitted, a pending transmission is performed in the body of the e-mail so that the receiver can check the transmission status. The status confirmation destination 507 is output and transmitted. The pending transmission status confirmation destination 507 includes at least a mail ID and connection destination information to the monitoring server 105.

  In this case, among e-mails having the same mail ID, the e-mail may be transmitted only when the transmission status is suspended, canceled, or deleted.

  In step S214, the pending mail approval unit 310 sets the transmission status in the transmission status table of the email transmitted in step S213 as post-hold transmission.

  In step S215, the pending mail approval unit 310 proceeds to step S216 if the audit instruction information received in step S211 indicates that transmission is to be stopped, and terminates processing if it does not indicate that transmission is to be stopped. To do.

  In step S216, the pending email approval unit 310 acquires the same email as the email containing the audit instruction information from the transmission status table (the same email, such as the email ID and the envelope destination address that match). Obtained in an identifiable manner).

  In step S217, the pending mail approval unit 310 sets the transmission status in the transmission status table of the e-mail whose transmission was canceled in step S215 to be deleted after the hold.

  Next, a process for automatically transmitting a suspended electronic mail after a predetermined time has elapsed will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S301, the pending mail approval unit 310 acquires information on the email whose transmission status is pending, that is, transmission status information, from the transmission status table. In step S302, the pending mail approval unit 310 acquires the transmission acquired in step S301. It is determined whether the current processing time from the transmission date / time of the status information has passed a predetermined time. If it is determined that the predetermined time has passed, the process proceeds to step S303, and the predetermined time has passed. If it is not determined that the process has been performed, the process ends.

  In step S303, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 transmits an email determined to have passed a predetermined time to the monitoring server 105. In step S304, the pending email approval unit 310 transmits the email transmission status table transmitted in step S303. Is set to automatic transmission after hold.

  In addition, when another e-mail with the e-mail ID is present in the transmission status table when the e-mail is transmitted, a pending transmission is performed in the body of the e-mail so that the receiver can check the transmission status. The status confirmation destination 507 is output and transmitted. The pending transmission status confirmation destination 507 includes at least a mail ID and connection destination information to the monitoring server 105.

  In this case, among e-mails having the same mail ID, the e-mail may be transmitted only when the transmission status is suspended, canceled, or deleted.

  Next, a process in which a user who has received an e-mail confirms the reception status of another user's e-mail will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S401, the external client notification hold mail information output unit 312 displays a screen (not shown) for displaying a list of received e-mails at the external client terminal 108 on the display unit 210, and the user inputs the input unit 209. When an e-mail is selected via the e-mail, a mail screen 500 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

  The external client notification hold mail information output unit 312 determines whether or not the hold transmission status confirmation destination 507 has been pressed via the input unit 209. If it is determined that the hold transmission status confirmation destination 507 has been pressed, the process advances to step S402.

  In step S402, the external client transmission / reception unit 311 confirms whether another electronic mail that is the same as the electronic mail opened on the mail screen 500, that is, another electronic mail divided using the envelope has been received by another user. Send pending email request information. The hold email request information includes the email ID of the email opened on the email screen 500.

  In step S403, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 receives the hold email request information transmitted in step S402. In step S404, the hold email information acquisition unit 309 corresponds to the hold email request information received in step S402. Yes (transmission status information of the transmission status table is matched).

  In step S405, the monitoring server transmission / reception unit 305 transmits the transmission status information acquired in step S404 and the pending mail list screen 600 shown in FIG. 10 to the requesting external client terminal.

  The hold mail list screen 600 displays a sender address 601 indicating the mail address of the sender of the e-mail, a destination address 602 indicating the mail address of the e-mail destination, a mail subject 603 indicating the title of the e-mail, and an e-mail transmission status. A transmission status 604 to be displayed, an e-mail transmission date and time 605, and a close button 606 for closing the hold mail list screen 600.

  Each item of the pending mail list screen 600 includes information (transmission status information) related to the other emails that are the same as the emails opened on the email screen 500 in the requesting external client terminal 108, that is, divided using an envelope. ) Is displayed.

  In step S406, the external client transmission / reception means 311 receives the transmission status information and the hold mail list screen 600 transmitted in step S405. In step S407, the external client notification hold mail information output means 312 receives the step S406. The transmission status information is set on the pending mail list screen 600 received at, and displayed on the display unit 210.

  In this flowchart, a mode in which the reception status of other users is confirmed from the external client terminal 108 is described. However, the mode is not limited to this mode, and a mode in which the reception status of other users is confirmed from the internal client terminal 101 is adopted. It is also possible.

  In this case, the internal client transmission / reception means 301 can be executed as the external client transmission / reception means 311, and the internal client notification hold mail information output means 302 can be executed as the external client notification hold mail information output means 312.

  In addition, as a method for uniquely identifying an e-mail, the e-mail ID and the e-mail address set in the envelope are used. Regardless of this mode, a number or the like for uniquely identifying the e-mail in the transmission status table is used. A method for adding and specifying an item for storing information can also be used.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently exchange e-mails while taking into account the situation where e-mails are put on hold when dividing and sending e-mails set with a plurality of destinations.

  Further, the present invention can take an embodiment as a method, a program, a storage medium, or the like.

  In this case, the program itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, silicon A disk or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS or the like operating on the computer based on an instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing or It goes without saying that the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing all of the above processing is also included.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written to the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board is based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading a program for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. In addition, all the structures which combined each embodiment mentioned above and its modification are also included in this invention.

100 Information Processing System 101 Internal Client Terminal 102 Administrator Client Terminal 103 Local Area Network (LAN)
104 internal mail server 105 monitoring server 106 wide area network 107 external mail server 108 external client terminal 201 CPU
202 RAM
203 ROM
204 System Bus 205 Input Controller 206 Video Controller 207 Memory Controller 208 Communication I / F (Interface) Controller 209 Input Unit 210 Display Device 211 External Memory

Claims (8)

An information processing apparatus for sending an email that has been approved by an audit,
E-mail acquisition means for acquiring the e-mail;
A transmission unit that determines whether to hold the transmission of the email acquired by the email acquisition unit according to a transmission control rule, sets the transmission status of the email determined to be on hold, and on the other hand, transmits the email determined to be transmitted; ,
A pending email approval means for approving an email whose transmission status is pending;
With
The transmission unit, e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition unit, when the reply mail of the authorized electronic mail, a transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, the reply mail when the transmission control rules that apply to match against, the without a reply mail to hold an information processing apparatus and transmits the reply mail. The transmission means matches a transmission control rule applied to the approved email and a transmission control rule applied to the reply email, and the reply email is the approved email. If having the source and not to the destination address the address of the destination or transmission source, information processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the hold transmission status. The pending email approval means automatically approves an email after a predetermined time,
The transmission unit, the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that pending transmission status reply mail of approval by the automatic is e-mail. An information processing system comprising an information processing apparatus that relays electronic mail connected via a network with a client terminal that transmits and receives electronic mail,
The information processing apparatus includes:
E-mail receiving means for receiving e-mail from the client terminal;
The transmission control rule determines whether to hold the transmission of the e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition unit, sets the transmission status of the e-mail determined to be on hold, and transmits the e-mail determined to be transmitted to the client terminal. A transmission means;
A pending email approval means for approving an email whose transmission status is pending;
With
The transmission unit, e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition unit, when the reply mail of the authorized electronic mail, a transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, the reply mail the information processing system characterized in that transmitted when a transmission control rules applied matches, without the hold the reply mail, the reply mail to the client terminal against. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus that transmits an e-mail approved by an audit,
The information processing apparatus includes:
An e-mail acquisition step of acquiring the e-mail;
A transmission step of determining whether to hold the transmission of the e-mail acquired in the e-mail acquisition step according to a transmission control rule, setting the transmission status of the e-mail determined to be on hold as a hold, while transmitting an e-mail determined to be transmitted; ,
A pending email approval step for approving an email whose transmission status is pending;
Run
The transmitting step, the e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition step, if the reply mail of the authorized electronic mail, a transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, the reply mail control method for an information processing apparatus and to execute when the transmission control rules applied match, the reply menu over without Le and hold, the transmission of the reply mail against. A program that can be read and executed in an information processing apparatus that transmits an e-mail approved by an audit,
The information processing apparatus;
E-mail acquisition means for acquiring the e-mail;
A transmission unit that determines whether to hold the transmission of the email acquired by the email acquisition unit according to a transmission control rule, sets the transmission status of the email determined to be on hold, and on the other hand, transmits the email determined to be transmitted; ,
A pending email approval means for approving an email whose transmission status is pending;
To function,
The transmission unit, e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition unit, when the reply mail of the authorized electronic mail, a transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, the reply mail when the transmission control rules that apply to match against, the without a reply mail to pending, the program for causing to function as transmitting the reply mail. A control method for an information processing system comprising an information processing apparatus that relays electronic mail connected via a network with a client terminal that transmits and receives electronic mail,
The information processing apparatus includes:
An e-mail receiving step of receiving an e-mail from the client terminal;
The transmission control rule determines whether to hold the transmission of the e-mail acquired in the e-mail acquisition step, sets the transmission status of the e-mail determined to be on hold, and transmits the e-mail determined to be transmitted to the client terminal. Sending step;
A pending email approval step for approving an email whose transmission status is pending;
Run
The transmitting step, the e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition step, if the reply mail of the authorized electronic mail, a transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, the reply mail when the transmission control rules that apply to match against, the without a reply mail to hold the information processing system and executes the transmission of the reply mail to the client terminal Control method. A program that can be read and executed by an information processing system that includes an information processing device that relays electronic mail connected to a client terminal that transmits and receives electronic mail via a network,
The information processing apparatus;
E-mail receiving means for receiving e-mail from the client terminal;
The transmission control rule determines whether to hold the transmission of the e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition unit, sets the transmission status of the e-mail determined to be on hold, and transmits the e-mail determined to be transmitted to the client terminal. A transmission means;
A pending email approval means for approving an email whose transmission status is pending;
To function,
The transmission unit, e-mail acquired by the e-mail acquisition unit, when the reply mail of the authorized electronic mail, a transmission control rules that apply to the authorized electronic mail, the reply mail when the transmission control rules that apply to match against, the without a reply mail to pending, the program for causing to function as transmitting the reply mail to the client terminal.

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