KR20020020177A - A control-email system, a control-email sending system and a control-email receiving system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a control mail system, a control mail transmitter and a control mail receiver to enable a receiving side to easily extract control data from an electronic mail at low cost and enabling the receiving side to speed up a processing (to shorten processing time) from extraction/analysis of the control data from the electronic mail to carrying out of control of equipment. CONSTITUTION: A control mail as the electronic mail to be constituted by describing the control data to control the equipment at the user side in an 'area which is an area of a 'From' line of a header and where a 'user name' in an electronic mail address of a transmitter described in a form of a 'user name'at'domain name' in a normal electronic mail is described' is created, transmitted to the user side via the Internet and the equipment at the user side is controlled based on the control data at the receiving side.

Description

A control e-mail system, a control e-mail sending system and a control e-mail receiving system

The present invention relates to a control mail system, a control mail transmission device, and a control mail reception device for controlling a user side device via the Internet.

Conventionally, by using means such as manual work, dedicated programs, FTP (file transfer protocol), etc., the device of the user side (VT), air conditioner, bathtub water heater, and ventilation equipment for the user's side over the Internet is used. The idea of remote control is known.

Nevertheless, the conventional method of remotely controlling the user's device via the Internet by means of manual operation, dedicated program, FTP, etc. requires development of a dedicated program or setting up software for FTP, so that the general user can obtain a low price. It was not possible to provide it, nor was it simple for the average user to use.

In recent years, a system has been developed for remotely controlling an air conditioner through the Internet using a mail from a mobile phone (eg, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.). In this system, a user transmits driving contents from a cellular phone to his or her e-mail address via e-mail. After that, when the user makes and hangs up a predetermined number of times on the home phone using the mobile phone, the corresponding home computer (preset to go to read the e-mail if the user hangs up a predetermined number of times) The e-mail is read and the air conditioner is operated according to the contents of the e-mail.

In this system, it is determined that the operation details of the air conditioner transmitted by the e-mail are entered in the main body of the e-mail. There is a problem that a complicated and expensive program is required because the computer side extracts and interprets it. Similarly, in such a system (system in which control contents are inserted into a mail body and transmitted), it is difficult to extract the control contents in a mail body, so that the computer extracts and reads the air conditioner control contents from the body of the email. There is a problem that the processing time is long to analyze and execute.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and the receiving side can extract the control data from the electronic mail at a simple and low cost, and furthermore, the receiving side extracts and analyzes the control data from the electronic mail to An object of the present invention is to provide a control mail system, a control mail sending device, and a control mail receiving device, which can greatly speed up the processing up to the execution of the control (which greatly shortens the processing time).

1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a control mail system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a view for explaining an operation example of the dedicated terminal in the present embodiment.

3 is a diagram for explaining a brief specification of the control mail according to the present embodiment;

* Explanation of symbols in main part of drawing

1: Internet 2: Server on apartment side 3, 13: Router

4: Dedicated terminal 4a: Touch panel display

4b: microphone 4c: mail-in lamp 5: air conditioner

6: Tuner built-in VTR 7: Ventilation equipment 8: Bath water heater

9: personal computer 11: center 12: center side server

In order to solve the problems of the prior art, the control mail system according to the present invention is a control mail system for controlling a device on the user's side via the Internet. In the mail, the control mail as an e-mail in which control data for controlling the user equipment is described in the area where "user name" in the sender's e-mail address described in the form of "user name @ domain name" is described. A control mail transmission means for transmitting the control mail to the user side via the Internet, and receiving the control mail from the control mail transmission means, and transmitting the control data from the [area in the "FROM" row of the header] of the control mail. Control mail receiving means for reading out and a control signal obtained from the control data read out by said control mail receiving means; It is characterized in that it comprises a control signal transmitting means for transmitting towards a user side device are the control targets.

In addition, in the control mail system of the present invention, the control mail transmission means includes the sender's electronics described in the form of " username @ domain name " in an area of the " FROM " In the area where "user name" is described in the e-mail address], an identification unit for describing the primary DNS server address of the receiving party, a control unit for describing a control classification code and a control code, and encryption by predetermined encryption logic. It is preferable to create the control mail by inserting control data composed of an encrypted data section in which the specified data is described.

Further, in the control mail system of the present invention, the control mail transmission means includes, in a web server connected to the Internet, a page dedicated to each user on the homepage of the Internet to create a control mail on the page. A web server for displaying an interface screen for each user to input a web site, and a home page access used by each user for inputting information for writing a control mail on the interface screen by accessing a page opened by the web server. And a dedicated mail server for creating a control mail of a predetermined specification based on the information inputted by the home page access means and sending it to the user side via the Internet.

Further, in the control mail system of the present invention, the control mail receiving means receives the control mail from the control mail sending means, and the electronic mail of the mail recipient described in the "TO" line of the header of the control mail. Reads the user name of the e-mail address, receives the recipient mail server for delivery to each user side, and the control mail delivered from the recipient mail server, and the [FROM] area of the header of the control mail; And a control mail receiving terminal for each user side for reading the control data from the terminal.

In addition, the control mail transmission device of the present invention is a control mail transmission device used for a control mail system for controlling a user side device over the Internet, in the area of the "FROM" line of the header, In the area where the information of the sender's e-mail address is described], the control mail for controlling the user's device, " @ " as a delimiter, the domain name of the sender side, and the like are described. Control mail generating means for creating a control mail which allows a mail receiving terminal to read control data for controlling a user-side device from the [area in the "FROM" line of the header], and the created control mail via the Internet. And control mail transmission means for transmitting to the mail server on the side.

Further, the control mail receiving apparatus of the present invention is a control mail receiving apparatus used for a control mail system for controlling a user side device via the Internet, the area of the header "FROM" being transmitted from the sender side mail server. In the normal e-mail in the above, in the area where the sender's e-mail address information is written, the control mail as an e-mail in which the control data for controlling the user's device, "@" as the delimiter, and the sender's domain name are described. Control mail receiving means for receiving a message, means for reading the control data for reading the control data from [area in the "FROM" line of the header] in the received control mail, and control obtained from the read control data. And control signal transmitting means for transmitting the signal toward the user side device to be controlled. It is.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiment of this invention is described. 1 is a block diagram representing a control mail system according to the present embodiment. In Fig. 1, 1 denotes the Internet, 2 denotes an apartment-side server (a server having functions of a DNS server, a mail server and a WWW server) connected to the Internet 1 via a router 3, and 4 denotes this server. It is a dedicated terminal connected to (2).

In the present embodiment, the server 2 on the mansion side is provided for each manshon. The terminal 4 is installed indoors for each household (each inhabitant) in the apartment.

The dedicated terminal 4 has a built-in dedicated mailer (mail transmitting / receiving software) for transmitting and receiving electronic mail (including a control mail described later), and the server 2 on the apartment side regularly accesses and communicates with the outside. Has the ability to send and receive e-mail.

The dedicated terminal 4 has a built-in microcomputer, and is provided with a touch panel display 4a, a speaker 4b, a mail reception lamp 4c, and the like serving as a user-side device controlled by the microcomputer.

In addition, the dedicated terminal 4 is connected to a magnetic device of an interphone provided at the entrance of the mansion, and the image and audio captured and collected by the magnetic device of the interphone of this entrance can be connected to the display. It also has a function as an interphone mother device output from a speaker.

The dedicated terminal 4 includes an air conditioner 5 installed in each household, a tuner built-in VTR (video tape recorder) 6, a ventilation device 7 in the living room, a water heater 8 in the bathroom, and a personal computer. It is also connected to a user's device (a home appliance or a computer) such as (9).

The microcomputer embedded in the dedicated terminal 4 has a predetermined control command (a control command signal for controlling a user side device in a control command signal generated in accordance with the contents displayed by the control data included in the received control mail). Is transmitted to the touch panel display 4a, the microphone 4b, the mail receiving lamp 4c, and other user side devices 5 to 9, and the like. 4a, the microphone 4b, and the mail receiving lamp 4c) can be controlled.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a management center for providing beneficial information to each of the apartment tenants (residents) and providing a management service for each of the apartment tenants. In this management center 11, the server 2 of the apartment side provided in each said apartment and the server 12 of the center side connected through the Internet 1 and the router 13 are provided. The center server 12 has functions of a DNS server, a mail server, and a WWW server. In addition, in this embodiment, the said server 12 not only produces | generates a normal e-mail, but is equipped with exclusive mail preparation software for creating and sending a control mail mentioned later.

In the present embodiment, the center 11 side transmits a predetermined control mail from the center side server 12 to the dedicated terminal 4, thereby providing a touch panel display 4a of the dedicated terminal 4, The microphone 4b, the mail receiving lamp 4c, and the like can be controlled.

For example, when the center server 12 transmits an e-mail containing important communication from the center side to each user, the center side server 12 is directed toward the dedicated terminal 4 of each user side and the dedicated terminal 4. A control mail or the like including control data for automatically lighting the mail receiving lamp 4c is also transmitted. At this time, in the dedicated terminal 4 on the user side, the built-in dedicated mailer receives the control mail and reads out the control mail. Then, the built-in microcomputer according to the read control data automatically turns on the mail receiving lamp 4c as shown in Fig. 2A. The user sees that the mail receiving lamp 4c is lit, and he knows that an important contact mail has been received from the center. The user can then operate the screen of the touch panel display 4a to view important contact mails from the center side.

For example, when the server 12 on the center side transmits an e-mail containing important communication from the center side to each user, the server 12 is directed toward the dedicated terminal 4 on each user side. A control mail including control data for automatically displaying a mail reception guide screen (launcher) on the touch panel display 4a of the terminal 4 is transmitted together. At this time, in the dedicated terminal 4 on the user side, the built-in dedicated mailer receives the control mail and reads out the control data. Then, in accordance with the read control data, the built-in microcomputer automatically displays the mail reception guide screen shown in Fig. 2B on the display 4a. The user sees the mail reception guide screen of this display 4a, and knows that an important contact mail from the center has arrived. Then, the user can perform an operation of, for example, pressing a finger on the icon of the electronic mail on the center side on the screen of the touch panel display 4a to view important contact mails from the center side.

For example, when the server 12 of the center side transmits predetermined contents (images and voices) such as event advertisement information of a nearby shopping street to each user, the contents are directed toward the dedicated terminal 4 of each user side. The control mail including information and control data for automatically outputting the contents from the display 4a and the microphone 4b of the dedicated terminal 4 are transmitted together. At this time, in the dedicated terminal 4 on the user side, the built-in dedicated mailer receives the control mail and reads out the control data. Then, in accordance with the read control data, a built-in microcomputer controls the display 4a and the microphone 4b, and as shown in FIG. 2C, predetermined contents such as event information of a shopping mall (image and audio). ) To print automatically. In this way, the center side can guide each user to content intended by the center side by using the control mail in this embodiment.

Further, for example, the server 12 on the center side automatically updates (version-up) the built-in program of the dedicated terminal 4 installed in each room of the user (mansion tenant) at the same time. In the control mail in which the main body of the program to be updated is described in the mail body or attached as an attachment, the control mail for inserting the control data into the FROM line of the header for starting the installation of the program is provided to each user. The same information is simultaneously transmitted to the dedicated terminal 4 of. Then, the dedicated terminal 4 on each user side reads out the control data from the FROM line portion of the header of the control mail, and completes the automatic update (version up) starting the installation of the embedded program by the control data. In this way, the center 11 side uses the control mail of the present embodiment to automatically update the built-in program of the dedicated terminal 4 on the user side from the outside.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the server 12 on the center side opens a homepage of the Internet and opens a page dedicated to each user (resident of the apartment) in the homepage. Each user can access this dedicated homepage using his or her ID and password. This dedicated page contains the creation and transmission of control mails for controlling user devices (air conditioners, VTRs, ventilators, bath water heaters, computers, etc.) in their apartments from their homes. The interface screen for requesting the server 12 is displayed.

Here, the operation at the time of requesting the server 12 on the center side to transmit the control mail for controlling the device on the user side from where each user goes out will be described. First, the user accesses this homepage using a portable computer, a portable information terminal equipped with an Internet connection function, or a mobile terminal (for example, a mobile phone equipped with NTT DoCoMo's I-mode function). . Each user opens his or her own dedicated page and displays the interface screen in the browser of the mobile terminal. In this interface screen, a data field for inputting a control mail (field inputted by a user) is displayed, and each user inputs data such as control contents desired by the user using the browser of the mobile terminal. Going.

For example, if the user wants to send a control mail to the user from the outside of the room to operate the air conditioner in the home living room at a target temperature of 23 degrees Celsius from 6 pm today, the name of the air conditioner as the control device (identification). Number) and the control contents of the air conditioner (date and time of operation of the air conditioner and the target temperature of the air conditioner) are input from the browser screen of the mobile terminal. For example, when a user wants to send a control mail to a VTR with a tuner in his or her living room, and to reserve a NHK drama from 8 pm to 9 pm today, when he is away from home, Information such as the name (identification number) of the VTR, the control contents of the VTR (recording start time and recording end time, channel of recording target broadcast) and the like are input from the browser screen of the terminal.

When the user completes input of necessary data on the interface screen, the server 12 on the center side creates a control mail of a predetermined specification in accordance with the input contents. That is, the center server 12 converts the control contents input by the user into a predetermined data format (data specification), and converts the converted control data in the area of the "FROM" row of the header. In the e-mail, a control mail is created by inserting the "user name" in the sender e-mail address which is configured in the format of "user name @ domain name" (and the "header" In the area of the "FROM" line, a normal amount of information of about 128 bits is inserted into an area in which a "user name" is described in a sender's e-mail address in the form of "user name @ domain name". Even one e-mail can be sent in the same manner as a normal e-mail using, for example, a normal mailer such as Microsoft's Outlook Express. The server 12 on the center side transmits the created control mail to the apartment side server 2 via the Internet 1.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the specification (system of production code, etc.) of the control mail created by the server 12 on this center side is private for ensuring security, the control mail is moved to the place desired by each user. It is not possible to create and send a.

Next, an operation when the control mail created by the server 12 on the center side is transmitted to the server 2 on the apartment side will be described. As described above, a dedicated terminal 4 having an interphone function is provided in each room of the apartment. Then, the dedicated mailer built into the dedicated terminal 4 checks the server 2 on the mansion side on a regular basis (for example, every few minutes or several tens of minutes), and accumulates in front of itself and accumulated in the mailbox. Mail (including control mail and ordinary electronic mail) is delivered from the server 2 on the apartment side to the dedicated mailer side. The dedicated mailer contains [username] in the [mail] area of the header "FROM" (in a normal email, the sender's email address (in the form [username @ domainname]). The control data inserted in the area is extracted and analyzed, and the control command (control command signal for executing the control contents) obtained by the analysis is transmitted to the control target device.

For example, when the control data in the received control mail includes a control content of [operating the air conditioner in the home living room at a target temperature of 23 degrees from 6 pm today], the built-in microcomputer is configured to perform the above-mentioned control. Based on the control data from the dedicated mailer, a control command (control command signal) for executing the control content is transmitted to the air conditioner 5 (see Fig. 1) to be controlled. When the control data in the received control mail includes the control content of [reserving recording of NHK's TV drama from 8 pm to 9 pm in the VTR with a tuner in the home living room], The built-in microcomputer transmits a control command (control command signal) for executing the control contents in accordance with the control data from the dedicated mailer toward the VTR 6 (see Fig. 1) to be controlled.

[Simple specification of control mail]

Next, a brief specification of the control mail generated by the server 12 on the center side will be described. In this embodiment, the control mail is created in the mail address format as shown in FIG. 3, for example. In other words, in this mail format, the portion of [Header's FROM line] (the portion describing the sender's [username @ domain name] e-mail address) usually includes [user name] (account name). In the front of " @ " as a delimiter placed before the domain name, three areas such as an identification unit, a control unit, and an encrypted data unit are secured as shown in FIG. That is, in the control mail format of the present embodiment, [identification code], [control code], and [encryption data] are included between, for example, two "$" characters in FIG. The identification code, control code and encrypted data are separated from each other, for example, by "#".

The [identification part] of FIG. 2 consists of 32 bits of data. This identifier specifies the address of the primary DNS server that the recipient is using. By specifying the IP address of the DNS server, it is possible to specify that the control mail is mail of the network address of the DNS server.

The [control part] of FIG. 2 is comprised of 16 bits of data. The first 8 bits are referred to as the control classification code (code for specifying the device to be controlled and the type of the control content), and the latter 8 bits as the control code (code indicating the control content).

The [encryption data part] of FIG. 2 is comprised, for example by 16-bit encryption data. For example, encrypted data obtained by encrypting predetermined data using a secret key in the server 12 on the center side will be described here.

The encrypted data is decrypted with a public key (a public key in a relationship that matches the secret key) in the server 2 on the receiving side. The apartment-side server 2 judges whether the data obtained by opening is correct and, if correct, extracts and reads control data from the control mail. On the other hand, when the data obtained by decoding is not correct, the control mail is discarded because there is a possibility of [bad information] or the like. Moreover, in this embodiment, it is also possible to transmit a control mail without using encrypted data. In this case, all areas of the encrypted data portion of FIG. 2 are filled with 0 (zero).

For example, in a control mail sent to a network with a DNS server address of 210.200.190.180, when the classification is 'AA', control 'FF' and no encrypted data is used, the domain name of the sender's mail address is abc.co. Assuming .jp, the control mail looks like this:

$D2C8BEB4#AAFF#0000$@abc.co.jp

In addition, in this embodiment, when update information, such as firmware of a control mail (a computer program input to the ROM built into the user side apparatus), is included, the script of a mail body is described, or the program body is attached as an attachment file of a mail. Execute either of the attached methods. However, when writing a program in the mail body, only ASCII characters can be used (RFC822). When describing characters other than ASCII characters, convert binary codes into ASCII codes in any order.

Furthermore, the processing procedure of the receiving side including the above specification of the control mail will be described as follows. The dedicated mailer of the dedicated terminal 4 receiving the control mail processes the control mail in the following order. (1) The identification unit, the control unit and the encrypted data are extracted from the portion of the mail header below 'FROM'. (2) The encrypted data is decrypted using the public key. (3) If the encrypted data is incorrect, discard the control mail. (4) When the decoded data is correct, the control command is executed in accordance with the data of the controller.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, since the control mail specification for security is kept private, the control mail can be created and transmitted only to the center side server 12, and each user can freely create and send the control mail. (Each user can only access the home page opened by the server 12 on the center and input necessary data for the control mail to be transmitted.) The present invention is here. It is not limited. Each user uses a dedicated mailer built into a communication terminal (a notebook PC, a mobile phone, etc.), and in the area of the "FROM" line of the e-mail header, in the normal e-mail, "username @ domain name" It is also within the scope of the present invention to describe the control data in an area in which " user name " is described in the sender's e-mail address.

As described above, in the control mail system, the control mail transmission device, and the control mail reception device of the present invention, in the area of the "FROM" line of the header, information of the sender's e-mail address is described in a normal e-mail. Area], a control mail for controlling the device on the user's side and a control mail as an e-mail in which "@" and the sender's domain name are described as a delimiter and sent to the user's side via the Internet. The receiving side extracts and analyzes the control data from [the area of the header "FROM" row] in the control mail, and transmits a predetermined control command signal from the user side device.

As described above, the present invention is conventionally in the form of "user name @ domain name" in the area of the "FROM" line of the e-mail, not in the [body] of the e-mail, but the data necessary for controlling the user's device. In an area where "user name" is described in the sender's e-mail address.

Therefore, in the present invention, since the control mail data is inserted and transmitted in [area of the "FROM" line of the header], the receiving side compares with inserting and transmitting control contents in the [body] of the e-mail as in the prior art. It is possible to extract and analyze the control mail data from [the area of the "FROM" line of the header) of the electronic mail (control mail) at low cost, without requiring a complicated and high cost program. In the present invention, the area of the "FROM" row of the header into which the control data is inserted is an area which is distinguished from the mail [body]. Since the mailer is the first area to be read, the receiving side extracts and analyzes the control data from the e-mail (control mail) and controls the device as compared to inserting and transmitting control contents in the [body] of the e-mail as in the prior art. It is possible to greatly speed up a series of processes up to execution (reduce the processing time significantly).

Claims (6)

In the control mail system for controlling the device of the user side over the Internet, In the area of the "From" line of the header, in the area of the "e-mail address of the sender's e-mail address described in the form of" user name @ domain name "in a normal e-mail, the user-side device Control mail transmission means for creating a control mail as an e-mail in which control data for controlling the data is described, and transmitting the control mail to a user side via the Internet; Control mail receiving means for receiving a control mail from said control mail sending means and reading out said control data from [area in the "FROM" row of headers) of said control mail; And control signal transmitting means for transmitting the control signal obtained from the control data read by the control mail receiving means toward the user side device to be controlled. The method of claim 1 The control mail transmission means, In the area of the "FROM" line of the header, the receiving side is described in the "E-mail address of the sender's e-mail address described in the form of" user name @ domain name "in a normal e-mail." An identifier that describes the primary DNS server address of A control unit in which a control classification code and a control code are described; And the control mail is created by inserting control data composed of an encrypted data portion in which data encrypted by predetermined encryption logic is described. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The control mail transmission means, A web server connected to the Internet, comprising: a web server for creating a page dedicated to each user on a homepage of the Internet, and displaying an interface screen for each user to input information for creating a control mail on the page; A home page access means used by each user to access a page opened by the web server and input information for creating a control mail on the interface screen; And a dedicated mail server for creating a control mail having a predetermined specification based on the information input by said homepage access means, and sending it to a user side via the Internet. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The control mail receiving means, The receiver side for receiving the control mail from the control mail sending means, reading the [user name of the mail address of the mail recipient described in the "TO" area of the header] of this control mail, and delivering it to each user side. A mail server, And a control mail receiving terminal for each user side for receiving the control mail delivered from the mail server of the receiver and reading the control data from [area in the "FROM" line of the header] of the control mail. system. Claims [1] A control mail transmission device used in a control mail system for controlling a user's device through the Internet. In the area of the "FROM" line in the header, in the normal e-mail, the area where the information of the sender's e-mail address is described, the "@" as the control data and the delimiter character for controlling the user equipment and the sender side In a control mail as an e-mail in which a domain name or the like is described, a control mail can be created in which a recipient's mail receiving terminal can read control data for controlling a user's device from the "area on the" FROM "line in the header]. Means for creating a control mail, And a control mail transmission means for sending the created control mail to a mail server on the receiver side through the Internet. In the control mail receiving apparatus used in the control mail system for controlling the user device over the Internet, In the area of the header "FROM" line, which is sent from the sender side mail server, in the area where the sender's e-mail address information is described in the normal e-mail, the control data and delimiter character for controlling the user's device are used. Control mail receiving means for receiving a control mail as an e-mail in which " @ " and the sender's domain name are described; Means for reading the control data for reading the control data from [the area of the header " FROM " row] in the received control mail; And a control signal transmitting means for transmitting the control signal obtained from the read control data toward the user side device to be controlled.