JP2001197100A - User server, monitor device, information distribution system, and user server setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that an expert who understands the technical contents of a mail server is necessary to introduce a mail server and its operation management is costly. SOLUTION: A user server 400 to which one or more terminals 500 sending and receiving electronic main are connected is equipped with an operation information gathering part 410 which gathers operation information on its own server, a transmission part 401 which sends the operation information to a monitor device (repeater station) 300 monitoring the operation state based on the operation information, and a reception part 402 which receive analytic result information regarding the operation state sent from the monitor device 300.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a user server, a monitoring apparatus, an information distribution system, and a user server setting method capable of improving the efficiency of operation by minimizing operation costs and management time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The number of Internet users is increasing rapidly, and the introduction of Internet-compatible servers to companies is expanding. The Internet-compatible server refers to a server connected on the Internet according to the basic rules of the Internet. Conventional Internet-compatible servers have required technical expertise in their operation and management. Therefore, when installing an Internet-compatible server on the customer company side, technical expertise is required for the client company, and when installing an Internet-compatible server on the provider side, technical expertise is required for the provider side. An operation management technician was required on the side.

[0003]

For example, as an example of an Internet-compatible server and a service corresponding thereto,
This will be described using an example of an e-mail service. The Internet-compatible server used in the electronic mail service is referred to as a mail server. If the mail server is installed on the customer company side, the customer's PCs will be
(Local Area Network) or the like and connected to a mail server installed by local communication means. The mail server is connected to another external mail server through a communication network such as the Internet via a router or a modem, thereby realizing an electronic mail service for each customer company.

[0004] However, since the customer mail server is connected to another external mail server via a communication network such as the Internet, it is necessary to satisfy the technical provisions for communication and services for operation and management. In order to operate and manage, it was necessary to have a full-time person who understood the technical contents. For this reason, the cost of operation and management has to be taken by the client company, and the inability to secure such technical specialists has hindered the introduction of mail servers.

[0005] When an Internet-compatible server, for example, a mail server that provides an e-mail service is installed at a specific provider side, a plurality of personal computers of the customer are individually sent to the provider side by a communication means such as a telephone line. You will be connected to the server. Although there is no mail server operation management cost on the customer side, communication with the mail server on the provider side is required even when sending and receiving e-mail between the mail server and personal computer, or between personal computers on premises, which only requires on-premises communication In such a case, communication costs that are originally unnecessary are incurred, which increases the cost of the customer company.

When an Internet-compatible server is installed on the provider side, a dedicated person who understands the contents of the Internet-compatible server and the Internet technology on the provider side that provides services to customers is indispensable.
This has been a factor in increasing the cost of services on the Internet.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an Internet-compatible server and service at low cost.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user server to which at least one terminal for transmitting and receiving e-mail is connected, the operation information collecting unit collecting operation information of the server. For a monitoring device that monitors the operation status based on the operation information, a transmission unit that transmits the operation information, and a reception unit that receives analysis result information on the operation status sent from the monitoring device. Features.

[0009] The user server according to the present invention further includes a mail capacity monitoring unit that monitors a disk usage amount by the electronic mail and secures a free space for storing an unread electronic mail when the disk capacity approaches the limit. It is characterized by.

[0010] The user server according to the present invention comprises: a transmission mail storage unit for storing an e-mail to be transmitted until a predetermined time; and a connection unit for connecting to the monitoring device when the predetermined time comes. It is further characterized by being provided.

[0011] The user server according to the present invention further includes a received mail storage unit for storing the received e-mail, analyzes the e-mail received from the terminal connected to the own server based on the e-mail address, and When the terminal indicated by the mail address is a terminal connected to the server, the mail is stored in the received mail storage unit as an internally addressed mail, and when the terminal indicated by the e-mail address is not the terminal connected to the server. Is stored in the outgoing mail storage unit as mail addressed to the outside.

[0012] A monitoring device according to the present invention includes a receiving unit for receiving operation information of the user server, which is sent from a user server to which one or more terminals for transmitting and receiving electronic mail are connected, based on the operation information. A user server management unit that analyzes the operation status of the user server and manages the user server.

[0013] The information processing apparatus may further include a transmission unit for transmitting analysis result information analyzed by the user server management unit to the user server.

The user server management unit changes the access point of the user server when it determines from the analysis result analyzed by the user server management unit that the transfer capability at dial-up and the success rate of dial-up have been reduced. , Switching between providers is performed.

[0015] In the information distribution system according to the present invention, one or more terminals for transmitting and receiving e-mails are connected, and the e-mails to be transmitted via the communication network are received from the terminals and stored until a predetermined time. In addition, when a predetermined time comes, a user server connected to a relay station that relays e-mail via a communication network, and a user server that is always connected to the communication network and is transmitted to a terminal connected to the user server. The e-mail to be received is always received and stored via the communication network, and when the user server is connected via the communication network at a predetermined time, the user server is connected to the stored user server. An e-mail to be transmitted to the terminal is transmitted to the user server, and an e-mail to be transmitted via the communication network stored in the user server is received from the user server. Characterized by comprising a relay station transmitting through the communication network the electronic mail.

The user server includes a received mail storage unit for storing received e-mails, and a transmitted mail storage unit for storing e-mails to be transmitted, wherein the user server receives from a terminal connected to the server. The received e-mail is analyzed based on the e-mail address, and when the terminal indicated by the e-mail address is a terminal connected to the server, the e-mail is stored in the received e-mail storage unit as an e-mail addressed to the inside, and If the terminal indicated by the mail address is not the terminal connected to the server, the mail is stored in the outgoing mail storage unit as an externally addressed mail.

The user server may further include a priority information storage unit for storing priority information on a plurality of connectable relay stations, wherein the user server is configured to perform a process when a failure occurs in the connected relay station. The connection is switched to the relay station having the next priority based on the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit.

[0018] The user server and the relay station transmit and receive an electronic mail based on a file exchange procedure for performing a standardized file transfer.

A management center for managing the user server and the relay station, wherein the management center stores domain information including an address for identifying the user server and the relay station on a communication network. Department and
A connection information storage unit that stores information indicating a connection relationship between the relay station and the user server.

The user server includes an operation information collection unit that collects operation information of the user server, and an operation information storage unit that stores the operation information collected by the operation information collection unit. The operation information stored in the operation information storage unit is transmitted to the relay station at predetermined intervals, and the relay station analyzes the operation information and generates statistical data of the user server. .

The relay station includes a second operation information collection unit that collects operation information of the relay station, and a second operation information storage unit that stores the operation information collected by the second operation information collection unit. And the relay station transmits the statistical data of the user server and the operation information stored in the second operation information storage unit to the management center at predetermined intervals,
The management center analyzes the operation information to generate statistical data of the relay station, and, based on the statistical data of the user server and the statistical data of the relay station, links the user server and the relay station. It is characterized by management.

The management center updates a connection relationship between the user server and the relay station based on the statistical data of the user server and the statistical data of the relay station, and stores the updated information in the connection information storage unit. Is stored.

The information stored in the connection information storage section is
The management center includes priority information on a plurality of the relay stations to which the user server can connect, and the management center is stored in the connection information storage unit when a failure occurs in the relay station to which the user server is connected. Based on the information
An instruction is given to the user server to switch the connection to the relay station having the next priority.

[0024] The user server setting method according to the present invention comprises:
A user server setting method for initial setting a user server according to an instruction from a management center, the method comprising: a first step of connecting a user terminal to the management center via a communication network; and inputting according to instructions on a homepage provided by the management center. A second step of receiving the received information at the management center via the user terminal, and a third step of creating a procedure file required for initial setting of the user server based on the received information at the management center When,
And a fourth step of initializing the user server based on the procedure file.

In the fourth step, the procedure file is recorded on a recording medium, and the recording medium is read by the user server, whereby the user server is initialized with the procedure file stored on the recording medium. It is characterized by doing.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of a user server, a monitoring device, and an information distribution system according to the present invention. In this embodiment, in addition to eliminating the need for a mail server operation management specialist on the customer company side, a server service management specialist is also provided on the customer service provider side (hereinafter, referred to as a provider). A description will be given of an Internet-based information distribution system that can realize an Internet-compatible server and service at a low cost by making it unnecessary. E-mail is a method in which terminals such as a personal computer and a workstation exchange information in the form of e-mail via a computer network, and the information and information to be transmitted and received include an address for identifying the terminal on a communication network. . Hereinafter, in this specification, an e-mail and a mail mean the same thing.

Each of the terminals 400a to 400c connects at least one terminal and is located between a communication network and the terminal. Information (mail) transmitted and received by the connected terminal is transmitted and received in place of the terminal via the communication network. User server. One or more user servers 400 exist, and the user server 40
0a-400c have shown the example. Hereinafter, in this specification, the term “user server 400” refers to any of the user servers 400a to 400c unless otherwise specified. Each user has a unique domain name (also called “domain name”). The user server 400 is provided corresponding to the domain name of the user.

Relay stations 300a and 300b are connected to a communication network and relay information (mail) transmitted and received by terminals connected to the user server 400 in the communication network. The relay station 300 includes one or more relay stations.
a to 300b show one example thereof. Hereinafter, in this specification, when the relay station 300 is described, unless otherwise specified, 300a to 300b (3 in FIGS. 23 and 24).
00a to 300i). The relay station 300 selects one of the user servers 4 according to the priority order.
00 is connected.

Reference numeral 200 denotes a center (management center) for managing the user server 400 and the relay station 300. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the center 200 adopts a distributed server format, and when there is a plurality of the same ones as one center, and when a failure occurs in one center, the next center operates. Shall be.

Reference numerals 500a to 500x indicate terminals used by each user. Each terminal 500 has a unique address used as a mail destination (mail address). This address contains the domain name. In this specification, the terminal 500 is a client P
Also called C (Personal Computer).
Hereinafter, when the terminal 500 is described in this specification, it refers to any of the terminals 500a to 500x unless otherwise specified. The user refers to a person who uses the terminal 500.

Reference numeral 80 denotes a certificate authority that issues an authentication certificate for authenticating a communication destination. Reference numeral 90 denotes a communication network. In this embodiment, the Internet or an intranet will be described as an example. In the following description, the communication network 90 is also referred to as the Internet 90. A dedicated line 91 connects the communication network 90 to the center 200 or the relay station 300. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the dedicated line 91 is always connected to the communication network 90. Reference numeral 92 denotes a public line. In this embodiment, a telephone line is used as an example. A LAN (Local Area Network) 93 connects the terminal 500 and the user server 400.
It is. 600 is a mail server, and 700 is a terminal. The mail server 600 is a conventional mail server that sends and receives mail of the terminal 700 and manages the mail.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the center 200. A DNS (Domain) 210 stores and manages domain name information in the domain information storage unit 211.
Name System) server. The DNS server stores a host name (a name obtained by incorporating a domain name, which is a predetermined logical group name into a part of the computer name) and an IP (Internet Pr) in the domain information storage unit 211.
otocol) has and manages a correspondence table of addresses.

Reference numeral 220 denotes a center management unit, which is a relay station 3
00 or the user server 400. The center management unit 220 stores information of a customer (user) who uses the user server 400 as customer information in the customer information storage unit (connection information storage unit) 221. The customer information includes the name, address, contact information, type of telephone line of the user, and the like. Further, the customer information includes information on the relay station 300 to which the user server 400 connects. Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 222 denotes a user server management unit that manages the user server 400. User server management unit 222
Is provided with a user server management application (user server management AP), and based on statistical data of the user server 400 transmitted from the relay station 300, the user server 4
00 is managed. Further, the user server management unit 222
Is a statistical data storage unit 223 that stores the statistical data.
Is provided.

Reference numeral 224 denotes a relay server management unit for managing the relay server 310. The relay server management unit 224 is a relay server management application (relay server management AP)
The relay server 310 analyzes relay LOG information transmitted from the relay server 310 described later, calculates statistical data of the relay server, and manages the relay server based on the calculated statistical data of the relay server. Further, the relay server management unit 224
Is a relay LOG storage unit 2 for storing the relay LOG information.
26, and a statistical data storage unit 225 for storing the statistical data of the relay server.

Reference numeral 230 denotes a center mail server for transmitting and receiving mail transmitted and received by the center. Reference numeral 240 denotes a center WWW (World Wide Wed) that provides a browser related to the provision of the service of the information distribution system.
b) The server. The center WWW server 240 will be described in a second embodiment. The monitoring device refers to a device that monitors the operation status of the user server. The monitoring device may be a single relay station 300 or may be configured by the relay station 300 and the center 200.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the relay station 300. Reference numeral 310 denotes a relay server that establishes a connection with the user server 400 corresponding to the user, transmits / receives mail to / from the user server 400, and relays transmission / reception of mail between the communication network 90 and the user server 400. The relay server 310 includes the following elements 311 to 316.

Reference numeral 311 denotes a mail transmitting unit (transmitting unit) for transmitting the mail received from the user server 400 to the mail server at each destination address. The mail transmission unit 311 includes a transmission mail storage unit 331 that temporarily stores a mail to be transmitted. 312 is a user server 40
This is a mail receiving unit (receiving unit) that receives mail from the mail server 600 and another relay station 300 to which the address of the terminal 500 connected to “0” is the destination address. The mail receiving unit 312 temporarily stores received mail as terminal received mail.
Is provided.

A user management unit 313 manages user information of the user. The user management unit 313 includes a user information storage unit 333 that stores user information such as the address of the terminal 500 of each user. 314 is the relay server 3
A UUCP-SSL processing unit that establishes a connection between the server 10 and the user server 400 and performs a process of exchanging mail. U
The UCP-SSL processing unit 314 includes a user server information storage unit 334 that stores user server information regarding the user server 400.

Reference numeral 315 denotes a mail server unit that manages procedures when the relay server 310 sends and receives mail.
The relay server 310 manages user names and passwords used when sending and receiving mails. Reference numeral 316 denotes a remote management support unit that remotely manages the user server 400. 317, periodically collects the status of the relay server 310, stores the collected status as relay LOG information (operation information), and at a predetermined time, the center management unit 22 of the center 200.
0 is a relay LOG management unit (second operation information collection unit) that transmits relay LOG information to the relay server management unit 224.
The relay LOG management unit 317 includes a relay LOG storage unit (second operation information storage unit) 335 that stores the relay LOG information.

320 manages the user server 400,
A relay management unit that manages control information from the center 200. A user server management unit 322 manages the user server 400. The user server management unit 322 includes a user server management application (user server management A).
P), and analyzes the user server LOG information transmitted from the user server 400 to calculate statistical data of the user server 400, and manages the user server 400 based on the calculated statistical data of the user server 400. Further, the user server management section 322 stores a user server LOG storage section 324 for storing the user server LOG information.
And a statistical data storage unit 323 for storing the statistical data of the user server 400.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the user server 400. The user server 400 includes the following elements. 401 is a user (terminal 50)
A mail transmission unit (transmission unit) that analyzes the destination address of the mail received from 0) and transmits the mail to the destination address
It is. If the destination address of the mail is the address of the terminal 500 connected to the user server 400 itself, the mail transmitting unit 401 receives the mail described below as an internal mail not transmitted to the relay station 300 via the Internet 90. Unit 400 (reception unit), and if the destination address of the mail is the address of the terminal 500 not connected to the user server 400 itself, it is determined that the mail is an externally-addressed mail to be transmitted to the relay station 300 via the Internet 90. .

The mail transmission unit 401 temporarily stores an externally addressed mail as a terminal transmission mail to be transmitted to the relay station 300 via the Internet 90.
31 is provided.

Reference numeral 402 denotes a terminal 50 in which the terminal 500 indicated by the mail destination address is connected to the user server 400.
This is a mail receiving unit that temporarily stores mail that is 0. The mail receiving unit 402 distributes the mail received by the user server 400 from the relay server 310 to each terminal 500. In addition, the mail receiving unit 402
In step 01, the mail transferred as the internal mail is distributed to each terminal 500. The mail receiving unit 402 includes a received mail storage unit 432 that temporarily stores mail to be distributed to each user.

Reference numeral 403 denotes a user management unit for managing user information on the terminal 500 connected to the user server 400. The user management unit 403 includes a user information storage unit 433 that stores user information. User information is
User information such as the address of the terminal 500 used by each user who uses the user server 400 is included. 404
Is a UUCP that performs secure file exchange
-SSL processing unit (connection unit). It operates when exchanging the “mail file” with the relay server 310. UUC
The P-SSL processing unit 404 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 405 denotes a mail server unit that manages procedures when the user server 400 sends and receives mail. Further, when the user sends and receives mail from the terminal 500, the mail server unit
0, and manages user names and passwords. Reference numeral 406 denotes a user server 40 which is externally remote
When monitoring 0, it is a remote management support unit serving as a contact point. The remote management support unit 406 receives a remote monitoring request from outside via a telephone line, makes a call again by callback, and connects to the monitoring request source.

Reference numeral 407 denotes an Internet service provider (ISP: Int) for connecting to the Internet.
This is an ISP connection unit that connects to an Internet Service Provider. Reference numeral 408 denotes a time management unit that manages the time for performing the process periodically and starts a predetermined process at a predetermined time. In this embodiment, the UUCP-SSL processing unit is activated at a predetermined time,
The UUCP-SSL connection is established with the relay server 310. In addition, the time management unit 408 manages the time, and executes a predetermined necessary process at a predetermined time.

Reference numeral 409 denotes a mail capacity monitoring / warning unit (mail capacity monitoring unit) that monitors the disk usage of the user server 400 by mail, and manages and warns the disk usage not to reach the limit capacity. A log management unit 410 periodically collects the status of the user server 400, stores the collected status as user server LOG information, and transmits the user server LOG information to the relay management unit 320 of the relay station 300 at a predetermined time. (Operation information collection unit). L
The OG management unit 410 includes a LOG storage unit (operation information storage unit) 435 that stores user server LOG information.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the user server information stored in the user server information storage section 334 of the relay server 310. The user server information 51 is stored in the relay server 3
10 shows an example of a list of user servers 400 that can be received by the user server 400. Each user server information U1, U2, U3 includes a unique name of the user server 400, a login name, a password, and an address of the user server 400. The login name and the password are used when the relay server 310 and the user server 400 establish a connection.

That is, each user server information U1, U
2 and U3 represent the user server 400 that the relay server 310 can mediate and the domain name of the user server 400. User management unit 313 of relay server 310
Upon receiving an e-mail reception request from the user server 400 and the mail server 600 on the Internet 90, the e-mail is immediately compared with the user server information, and a domain name other than the domain name of the user server 400 indicated in the user server information is used. Refuses to receive mail with the address as

In addition to checking the domain name based on the user server information, based on the user information stored in the user information storage unit 333, the mail address is
It is also possible to check whether or not the address is of the terminal 500 connected to the user server 400. In this case, the load on the relay server 310 increases.

On the other hand, if the relay server 310 does not check the mail address based on the user information, the user server 400 checks the mail address. The user management unit 403 checks the mail address based on the user information stored in the user information storage unit 433. When a mail with an address of the terminal 500 that is not stored in the user information is received, the mail is returned to the sender that sent the mail.

Also, the relay server information 52 as shown as an example in FIG. 6 is stored in the relay server information storage unit (priority information storage unit) 434 of the user server 400.
In the relay server information 52, a plurality of addresses of relay servers to which the user server 400 can be connected are stored, and a priority order such as the address of the first priority connection destination relay server and the address of the second priority connection destination relay server is stored. It is memorized with a.

The user server 400 selects the relay server 310 to be connected based on the relay server information 52. At this time, if the connection to the relay server 310 of the first priority cannot be made, the connection to the relay server 310 of the next priority is made. Such a change of the relay server to be connected based on the priority of the relay server in the relay server information can be performed by the user server 400. Also,
The user server 400 is the center 200 or the relay management unit 320
, It is also possible to change the relay server 310 to be connected.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the domain information 53 stored in the domain information storage unit 211 of the DNS server 210.

The domain information 53 shown as an example in FIG.
Is a list of DNS servers managing the domain (mailpost.ne.jp), the address of the relay server for the domain, the IP address of the DNS server,
It includes the IP address of the WWW server, the IP address of the first-priority relay server, the IP address of the second-priority relay server, and the like. Although only the domain information D1 is shown in FIG. 7, the domain information D2, D3,.
.. Are also stored in the same format.

Also, the center (DNS server) is a distributed server similarly to the relay station (relay server), and one or more centers having a copy of the domain information 53 in addition to the main center (primary domain server). It is composed of a plurality of sub-centers (secondary domain name servers). The list of DNS servers is a list of these main centers and a plurality of sub-centers.

In addition to the above, the DNS server 210 stores, as domain information, the relationship between all domain names that can be received by the relay server 310 managed by the center 200 and a plurality of relay servers that can handle the domain name. I do. In response to an inquiry from the relay station 300 and the mail server 600 on the Internet to which relay server the mail of this domain should be sent, the first priority connection destination relay server and the second priority connection destination shown in FIG. The relay server, that is, all the relay servers indicated in the domain information 53 are answered. With this mechanism, even if a specific relay server malfunctions due to a failure, the proxy relay server can accurately transmit the mail.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a connection relationship between a plurality of relay servers and a plurality of user servers 400. The connection relationship is stored in the customer information storage unit 2 of the center management unit 220.
21. The user server information 51 and the relay server information 52 are created based on the customer information.

The user server 400 is configured as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the user server 400 has a unique name. The unique name is, for example, ai in FIG.
r-raley, air-raley2, s-bend
In FIG. 8, user server 1, user server 2,
The user server 3 and the user server 4. Relay server 3
10 stores the name and password of the user server 400 in the user server information storage unit 334 as part of the user server information 51 (for example, FIG. 5).

The relay server and the user server 400
And owns the public key of the other party. User server 40
0 connects to an Internet service provider through a dial-up connection and obtains an IP address. When communication on the Internet becomes possible, a connection with the relay server is established according to the priority of the relay server in the relay server information 52 stored in the relay server information storage unit 434.

In the DNS server 210 of the center 200, as shown in the relay server information 52 and the domain information 53 shown as an example in FIG. 7, the relay server also has the first priority connection destination relay server (mail01.mail).
post. ne. jp) and the second priority connection destination relay server (mail02.mailpost.ne.jp) are all registered as connectable relay servers. Based on the domain name information, the center manages the relay server 310 to which one user server 400 can connect. The user server 400 is stored in the relay server information in advance so that the user server 400 can be connected to the plurality of relay servers 310, and one domain name, that is, one user server 400 is assigned to the DNS server 210 of the center 200. By storing a plurality of relay servers that can be used in the domain information, even if the first-priority relay server malfunctions, the proxy server can immediately deliver mail correctly.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first priority relay server 310 is also
They are grouped differently so that mails are not concentrated on a particular relay server 310. With such a mechanism, a very advanced and fault-tolerant system for distributing mail in the entire distributed system can be realized at low cost.

Further, in this information distribution system, relay server 310 is connected to user server 4 directly accessed by the customer.
00 will be present on the Internet as a proxy server. As shown in FIG. 8, the proxy server is composed of a plurality of distributed servers (relay server group 390 in FIG. 8), so that the reliability is extremely high. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, by introducing a countermeasure against spam mail and a virus checker into the relay server, it is possible to maintain security without any special care by the user.

As described above, by assigning the security function to the relay server, the user can obtain a low-cost secure mail delivery system. Further, by changing the security level depending on the relay server, it becomes possible to select a relay server having a security level required by the user, and the security level can be changed while operating. The ability to select a relay server having a different security level means that the user can select as many security functions as necessary, so that the cost for the information service can be appropriately maintained.

As shown in FIG. 9, all the relay servers are always connected to the Internet by dedicated lines. Since the server itself is a distributed system, 1
Each server can be installed in a normal office environment based on the cheapest personal computer (PC).

Next, the operation will be described. First, the user server 400 connects to the relay server 310, and the user server 4
The operation of exchanging mail between the server 00 and the relay server 310 will be described. FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an operation in which the user server 400 connects to the relay server 310 and exchanges mail. 11 to 13 show the user server 400 and the Internet service provider (IS
P) and an example of the details of the operation shown in FIG. 10 of the relay server 310. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the ISP exists on the Internet 90.

In this embodiment, the user server 400
Is premised on connecting to the Internet by dialing up with a predetermined Internet provider. ISP of user server 400
The connection unit 407 makes a call to connect to an ISP predetermined for each user server 400 (step 21).
00). Next, the ISP connection unit 407 performs I / O according to a protocol determined with the Internet provider.
Connect with SP. The ISP authenticates the user server 400 using the user name and the password. User server 400
Receives a notification of the IP address from the ISP and, according to the content thereof, a PPP (Point-to-Point Pr)
Internet connection (step 2101). Step 2100 and Step 2101
FIG. 11 shows an example of the details of the operation of FIG. In this way, it is possible to communicate with the relay server 310 (shown in FIG. 3) provided in the relay station 300 shown in FIG.

Next, the UUCP-S of the user server 400
The SL processing unit 404 connects to the relay server 310 having a higher priority (step 2102). The user server 400 and the relay server 310 exchange authentication certificates received from the same certificate authority 80 and mutually verify the validity of each other.
Further, the user server 400 and the relay server 310 exchange a common key based on a public key encryption method, and exchange mail using this key. In this way, the user server 400 communicates with the relay server by so-called SSL (Se
Secure Sockets (Secure Sockets Layer) is secured (step 2103).

The relay server 310 to which the user server 400 connects is determined based on the relay server information stored in the relay server information storage section 434 provided in the UUCP-SSL processing section 404. On this communication path, the user server 400 logs in to the relay server 310 using the login name and password as the ID for Login, and the UUCP
(Unix-to-Unix Copy) connection is secured (step 2103).

In the communication path 90, the user server 400 encrypts the mail using its own secret key,
0 decrypts the mail using the public key of the user server 400. Further, relay server 310 encrypts the mail using its own secret key, and user server 400 decrypts the mail using the public key of relay server 310. With such a mechanism, it is possible to prevent spoofing and eavesdropping while using the public communication path 90 called the Internet, which is very safe from the viewpoint of security. FIG. 12 shows an example of the details of the operations in steps 2102 and 2103.

The relay server 310 collects mails (terminal received mails) addressed to the terminal 500 and generates a mail file in a file format for file exchange according to a standardized file exchange procedure. Also, the user server 400
Collects mails (terminal transmission mails) from the terminal 500 to the external terminal 500 and generates a mail file. Next, the relay server 310 stores the mail file in which the terminal received mails are combined and the user server 400 stores the mail file in which the terminal send mails are combined with the relay server 310.
Exchange between the user and the user server 400 (step 21)
04).

Thereafter, the UUCP connection is disconnected (step 2105), and the connection to the ISP is disconnected (step 2).
106). FIG. 13 shows details of the operations in steps 2105 and 2106. After that, the mail receiving unit 402
Searches the user directory assigned to each user in the received mail storage unit 432 provided in the mail reception unit 402, and stores the mail in the directory while dividing the mail file into one mail. Mail receiving section 402 of user server 400 distributes the mail to terminal 500 (step 2107), and ends. In step 2104, if there is no file to be exchanged, the user server 400 or the relay server 3
In some cases, files are sent from only one of the ten,
If both parties have no files to exchange, they may exit without doing anything.

At step 2107, the user server 40
On the 0 side, the file obtained by exchange is decrypted, the file is scanned, the e-mail is individualized based on the e-mail address, and stored in the received mail storage unit 432 of the user server 400. Received mail storage unit 432
Can be realized by a mail directory for each user as an example. If the destination user does not exist, the e-mail is saved in the directory where the mail file should be exchanged at the next connection in order to return the e-mail to the sender of the envelope. Step 2107 may be performed in parallel with step 2104 and subsequent steps.

In the above step 2104, when the connection between the user server 400 and the relay server 310 is established, the user server 400 is sent from the terminal 500 and stored in the outgoing mail storage section 431 as shown in FIG. The relay server 31 stores a plurality of e-mails for the Internet (terminal transmission e-mails) stored therein as one mail file.
Transfer to 0. Further, since the line is bidirectional, the relay server 310 simultaneously stores a plurality of mails (terminal received mails) stored in the received mail storage unit 332 for the domain managed by the user server 400 into one. The file is transferred to the user server 400 as a mail file. By performing this transfer in both directions at the same time, it is possible to execute the transfer with the maximum use of the line efficiency.

Normally, when a conventional mail server is connected from the terminal 500 by dial-up, usually, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, POP (P
An e-mail addressed to the user is temporarily downloaded from a mail server by a protocol called “ostOffice Protocol”. After that, SMTP (SimpleM
The e-mail addressed to the Internet is uploaded by a protocol called “Aile Transfer Protocol”. In this case, although the communication line is bidirectional, only one direction is used in terms of time, and 50% of the line capacity is not used in simple calculation. In the case of the same mail volume, in the method of the information distribution system according to the present embodiment, mail distribution can be realized at half the communication cost by using UUCP.

Next, the operation of the user server 400 and the terminal 500 used by the user will be described. FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an operation in which a user reads (receives) mail using the terminal 500. The user, on the terminal 500,
Set up a user name and password using software that sends and receives e-mail with a function called user mail agent or mail client,
The user server 400 is connected to the LAN using the protocol P3.
The connection is made via the terminal 93 (step 2200).

Mail receiving section 402 of user server 400
Searches for a user directory assigned to each user in the received mail storage unit 432 provided in the mail receiving unit 402, and divides the mail file into one mail while arriving from the relay station 300. The file and the mail transmitted by the mail transmitting unit 401 as an internal mail are stored in a directory. While taking exclusive control of the function of the mail receiving unit 402, the mail is delivered to the terminal 500. The terminal 500 receives the delivery of the mail from the mail receiving unit (step 2201) and temporarily stores the mail.

The mail temporarily stored in terminal 500 is read on terminal 500 by the user, stored and managed (step 2202).

Next, FIG. 18 shows an example of an operation in which a user transmits an e-mail using the terminal 500. The user creates a mail on terminal 500 and specifies a destination (step 2300). In accordance with the user's instruction, the terminal 500 sends an e-mail to the user server 400 based on the SMTP protocol (step 2301). According to the rules defined on the user server 400, the user server 400 is divided into an internal user and an external user (step 2302). Specifically, when the mail address is addressed to the terminal 500 to which the user is connected, the mail is determined to be an internal mail, and when the address is not addressed to the terminal 500 to which the user is connected, the mail is determined to be an external mail.

If it is determined that the mail is externally addressed, the mail is saved in the mail file for file exchange in UUCP described with reference to FIGS.
303). In this embodiment, a file for file exchange in UUCP is stored in the transmission mail storage unit 431 of the mail transmission unit 401. If it is determined that the mail is addressed to the inside, the mail is stored in the directory for each user and the processing ends. In this embodiment, the data is written in the received mail storage unit 432 of the mail receiving unit 402.

Next, the operation of relay station 300 and center 200 will be described. The relay station 300 and the center 200 communicate when performing maintenance of the information distribution system.
FIG. 19 shows the relay server 310 of the relay station 300 and the center 2
00 (specifically, an example of an operation with the center management unit 220). Relay server 310 and center management unit 2
20 has an authentication certificate from the same certificate authority, and performs mutual authentication using this authentication certificate.

The operation secures a communication path between the user server 400 and the relay server 310 shown as an example in FIG. 12, and secures a secure communication path by the same mechanism. The relay server 310 is set so as to follow only an instruction from the center management unit 220 having the authentication certificate. For this reason, the center management unit 220 can execute a response to various security holes in real time by remote operation. Management information is transmitted to the relay management unit 320 of the relay station 300 via the relay server 310.

The procedure by which the user server 400 intermittently connects to the Internet will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a time monitoring daemon that starts a preset process at a preset time is used. User server 400
The time management unit 408 sets in advance to start the Internet connection when a predetermined time comes to the time monitoring daemon.

Time management unit 408 of user server 400
Starts the time monitoring daemon (step 240
0). For example, if the time monitoring daemon is an operating system (OS) called UNIX (registered trademark), it is basically started when the OS is started. With this setting, the Internet connection is started when a predetermined time comes (step 2401). Specifically, in UNIX, if a file to be started is specified by a command called crontab, the file can be started at a fixed time. Here, flexible settings such as 30 minute intervals during the day and 1 hour intervals at night may be used.

When the settings are made as described above, as shown in FIG. 21, relay server 310 temporarily stores the mail itself, and the mail stored in relay server 310 is transmitted from relay server 310 to the user server. Moved regularly to 400. Therefore, the amount of mail data held by the relay server 310 is extremely small. Therefore, for example, even if the e-mail is entered by a cracker or the like, the data amount of the e-mail to be damaged is reduced.

Further, as described above, this information distribution system includes a plurality of relay servers 310, and ranks the relay servers to which each user server 400 connects, so that the relay servers to be connected can be switched (FIG. 10). 6, FIG. 7). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, it is possible to disconnect the relay server 310 attacked by a cracker or the like from the Internet. By disconnecting the relay server 310, it is possible to maintain a mail delivery service with the Internet to the user. There is an advantage that data can be maintained.

Conventionally, as shown in the above example, a server that is constantly connected to the Internet is susceptible to an attack from a malicious user who connects to the Internet called a cracker, and the security of data on the server is high. In order to ensure the quality, it was usual to have a dedicated engineer.

In the information distribution system according to this embodiment, the plurality of relay stations 300 are one distributed system. Since the system is controlled from the center 200 via the Internet as shown in FIG. 23 or by callback using a telephone line as shown in FIG. 24, this relay server is placed close to the user's area. It can also be installed in an electronics store where no dedicated staff can be assigned. Through the above remote management, the center management unit 220 of the center can update the user server information stored in the user server information storage unit 332 of the relay server.

Referring to FIG. 25, a procedure in which relay management section 320 of relay station 300 remotely manages user server 400 will be described. The relay management unit 320 makes a telephone call to the user server 400 and attempts to connect in the same manner as connecting to a normal ISP (step 2500). When the telephone line is connected, the user server 400 requests input of a user name and a password, and the relay management unit 320 inputs the user name and the password (step 2501).

After disconnecting the connected telephone line once,
A connection is made to the authenticated user using a telephone number registered in advance (step 2502), and a user name and a password are input again to terminate the connection procedure (step 25).
03). From here, predetermined maintenance can be performed using tools prepared in advance. Through the above remote management, the relay management unit 320 can update the relay server information stored in the relay server information storage unit 434 of the user server 400.

Further, the center management section 220 of the center can remotely manage the user server 400 by the same method.

FIG. 26 shows that the center 200 is
Represents a situation where the relay station 300 remotely manages the user server 400, respectively. In this information distribution system, a relay station 300, a relay station 300
To the user server 400, remote management is performed by dividing the management hierarchy (in this case, by two stages). In FIG. 26, the user servers 400a and 400b are shown as an example. Also,
Although only one relay station 300 is shown here, it goes without saying that there are a plurality of relay stations as shown in FIG.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an operation of copying the customer information stored in the customer information storage unit 221 of the center 200 to the customer information storage unit 321 of the relay management unit 320 of the relay station 300 using mail.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the user server 400 is
In addition, the relay server 310 is remotely managed by the center management unit 220, customer information is centrally managed by the center management unit 220, and the copy is distributed and copied to the relay management unit 320, so that prompt customer service is possible. At the same time, since the information can be stored in a multiplex manner, it is possible to safely and reliably maintain the customer information of the end user.

Hereinafter, the routine management of the information distribution system will be described. First, the routine management between the user server 400 and the relay station 300 will be described. FIG.
Represents an example of regular management between the user server 400 and the relay station 300. L of the user server 400
The OG management unit 410 periodically checks its own user server 40
0 information is collected, and the collected information is stored in the user server LOG.
The information is stored in the LOG storage unit 435.

[0097] The stored user server LOG information is periodically transmitted to the user server management unit 322 of the relay management unit 320 via the relay server 310 of the relay station 300 using mail. Upon receiving the user server LOG information, the user server management unit 322 stores the user server LOG information in the user server LOG storage unit 324, and stores the user server L
The OG information is analyzed to calculate statistical data, and the state of the user server 400 is analyzed based on the calculated statistical data.
The user server management unit 322 transmits a warning mail (analysis result information) to the user server 400 as necessary based on the analysis result. The user server 400 performs processing such as changing the relay server to be connected based on the received warning mail.

[0098] The relay management unit 320
The user server LOG information from 00 is received in the form of mail, and the operation status of the user server 400 is constantly monitored. The content of the mail of the user server LOG information is in a predetermined format, in which the operation frequency of the user server 400, the free space on the storage device, the use status of the memory, the operation load of the CPU, the operation load of the dial-up, and the like. Report the success rate and the performance of data transfer performance when dialing up. The relay management unit 320 automatically analyzes the information and acquires statistical data such as a maximum value, a minimum value, an average value, and a variance. Based on these statistical data, when the transfer capability during dial-up and the success rate of dial-up gradually decrease, control is performed to change the access point of the user server 400 or switch providers. The free disk space of the user server 400 is determined by the mail capacity monitoring / warning unit 40 of the user server 400.
9 are monitoring in real time.

[0099] In addition, if there is a tendency for the free space to gradually decrease based on the user server LOG information statistical data, the relay management unit 320 sends a warning mail to the contractor of the user server 400. Of the mail volume monitoring / warning unit 4 of the user server 400
09 operates a free space securing tool of the user server 400 to prevent unread mail from being deleted by the user without permission. Further, when the load on the CPU of the user server LOG information is longer than the average for a long period of time, it means that mail processing in the user's intranet is increasing.

The relay management unit 320 manages, as statistical data, a mail delivery delay time, a network load, and the like, in addition to the operation of the CPU. The relay management unit 320 performs processing to increase the hardware performance of the user server 400 based on the statistical data. More specifically, as shown in FIG.
The user server 4 of the user by using an e-mail or the like
Warn that 00 hardware performance is running low. The administrator of the relay station 300 that has received the warning notifies the user of the user server 400 to urge the user to improve the hardware performance.

As described above, the user server LOG information from the user server 400 is analyzed by the relay management unit 320 and statistically processed as statistical data. Further, FIG.
As shown in (1), this statistical data is transmitted to the center management unit 220 of the center 200 using an e-mail or the like. In this way, the center management unit 220 can control the operation status of all the user servers 400 in the form of statistical data. The center management section 220 can review the contents of the contract with the provider and the like by totalizing these pieces of information. Such a series of management systems is automated.

The user server LOG information is also collected locally by the user server 400 and statistically processed by the relay management unit 320, while processing the processed data by the center management unit 220. The center 200 does not require a high-performance database or a large-capacity storage device. Thus, there is an advantage that the system can be realized at low cost.

Next, the routine management between the relay station 300 and the center 200 will be described. FIG.
9 shows an example of a routine management between 00 and the center 200. Relay LOG management unit 317 of relay server 310
Also, by the same operation as the LOG management unit 410 of the user server 400, information of the relay server is collected, and the collected information is stored in the relay LOG storage unit 335 as relay LOG information. The accumulated relay LOG information is periodically transmitted to the relay server management unit 224 of the center management unit 220 via the center mail server 230 of the center 200 using mail.

The relay server management unit 224 that has received the relay LOG information stores the relay LOG information in the relay LOG storage unit 226.
The statistical data is calculated by analyzing the relay LOG information, and the state of the relay is analyzed based on the calculated statistical data. The relay server management unit 224 transmits a warning mail to the relay management unit 320 as necessary based on the analysis result. Relay management section 320 performs processing based on the received warning mail.

As described above, the center management unit 220
, The statuses of the user server 400 and the relay server 310 are aggregated and can be managed as statistical data.
Actually, the center management unit 220
The use frequency of 0, in particular, the increase or decrease of the transfer data amount is confirmed, and in consideration of the transfer capacity of the relay server 310, the user server 400 and the user server 400 are controlled so that transfer exceeding the transfer capacity of the relay server does not occur. Review the relationship of the relay server periodically. Then, before the malfunction occurs, DN
By changing the domain information stored in the domain information storage unit 211 of the S server 210, it is possible to prevent a problem from occurring.

The reason that the domain information is changed before the trouble occurs is that even if the domain information is updated, the updated domain information must be cached in another DNS server existing on the Internet. It is. Normally, the DNS server caches the domain information about once a week, so it takes about one week for the cached domain information to be updated and for all the DNS servers to completely switch to the new domain information. It is.

Further, the center management section 220 further compiles the statistical data of the user server 400,
The load of each relay server 310 connected to the user server 400 is predicted, and the relay server 310 (relay station 300) connected to the user server 400 can be switched. As described above, the information distribution system automatically switches the relay server 310 according to the statistical data, so that it is possible to always maintain the line cost optimally and prevent a failure before it occurs.

As described above, the system management is performed by the relay station 3
00 and the center 400, there is no need to provide a large-capacity storage device for one component. In addition, the management load of the system does not concentrate on one component. Since this information distribution system is configured as described above, it can be handled in the form of a relay station 300.
In other words, a dedicated maintenance engineer can handle absent contractors. Therefore, Internet electronic mail can be handled with the same ease as a physical distribution system handled by humans. In particular, this system has become more useful as a business in that it does not require knowledge of the Internet.

Further, as shown in FIG. 31, in this information distribution system, the user server 400 and the relay server have a dial-up connection while the user server 4
Since there is a constant connection type such as Ethernet between 00 and the user terminal 500, no communication cost is required. Normally, when an end user makes a dial-up connection, it is psychologically unreliable to spend communication costs only to check whether a mail has arrived without knowing whether a mail addressed to the end user has arrived.

However, in the case of this information distribution system,
Since there is no communication cost between the user server 400 and the user terminal 500, for example, private communication such as in-house mail can be transmitted and received at a very frequent cycle such as every 5 minutes. As a result, the amount of end-user mail stored on the user server 400 is reduced, and even if a failure occurs in the user server 400, the amount of stored mail is small, so the effect is minimized. Can be.
This information distribution system realizes the original personal communication distribution system, in which private communication such as in-house mail is distributed as close to the individual as possible and promptly at low cost. It is characterized in that it can be managed.

As described above, in this information distribution system, data encryption and authentication of a transmitting / receiving party are introduced into the UUCP so that mail can be transmitted / received at low cost even on the Internet or an intranet. Further, this information distribution system divides the function of a conventional mail server into a user server 400 and a relay station 300, and furthermore, by setting up a center for managing domain names, can manage the mail server at low cost. I made it. Therefore, in this information distribution system, a highly reliable mail distribution system can be realized at low cost.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 32 shows an example of the configuration of a system for realizing the user server setting method according to the present invention. Since the configurations of the center 200 and the relay station 300 shown in FIG. 32 are the same as those described in the first embodiment,
Description is omitted. The center 200 and the relay station 300 are connected via a communication network (Internet). Also,
The relay station 300 has a user server 40 installed for the user.
0 is connected to the relay management unit 320 of the relay station 300. The user server 400 is initialized and installed in each user's office. The process of initial setting of the user server 400 used by the user is automated as shown below as an example.

FIG. 33 shows a process for initializing the user server 400. First, a user who wants to use the user server 400 accesses the center WWW server 240 of the center 200, and accesses a browser for applying for the use of the user server 400. The user's individual information is stored in the center WWW server 240 of the center 200 by the user.
Is input to the center WWW server 240 of the center via the browser provided by (1).

The center 200 performs procedures necessary for generating the user server 400, such as obtaining a domain name. The result of performing the above procedure is output to a file, the file is packaged, and a packaged file is generated (step 2). This packaged file is
Script files and data files for installing the user server 400 dedicated to individual users are included. Further, the packaged file is stored in the center W by the user as data.
The information includes data input to the WW server 240, relay stations to be used (relay server information), encryption methods, and the like.

The generated packaged file is
The mail is transferred to the relay management unit 320 via the relay server 310 of the relay station 300 (step 3). The relay station 300 distributes the packaged file to the relay management unit 320 (step 4). Relay management unit 320
Can transfer packaged files to a flexible disk (FD) or CD-ROM (Compact Disk).
Read Only Memory).

With the recording medium thus created, the recording medium is inserted into the user server 400 (step 5), and the user server 400 is started up (reset), thereby performing the initial setting of the user server 400. It is possible (step 6). User server 40
When 0 is initialized, data transmission becomes possible (step 7), and transmission / reception of mail is started. In the above description, the user server 400 is started up using the recording medium. However, the user server 400 is connected to the relay management unit 320, and the user server 400 is initialized based on the packaged file transferred from the center (step S1). 5) It is also possible.

When a failure occurs in the initially set data of the user server 400, the user server 400 can be easily recovered by performing the initial setting on the user server 400 using the above-mentioned recording medium.
Also, the relay station 300 is a center management unit 2 of the center 200.
Among the information received from the server 20, the information that has determined the relationship between the relay station 300 and the user server 400 is additionally stored as user server information in the user server information storage unit 334. The relay server 310 uses the newly added user server 400 based on the updated user server information.
Relays mail sent and received by.

As described above, in order to perform the initial setting of the user server 400, when a failure occurs in the hardware of the user server 400, a new user server 400 is sent to the new user server 400.
By simply inserting the D or CD-ROM and resetting, the construction and setup of the mail server for the user can be performed in about 30 minutes without any effort. Therefore, even if a hardware failure occurs in the user's mail server, the alternative user server 400 is constructed in about 30 minutes, and the user server 400 is replaced, thereby continuously providing the user server 400 to the user. Becomes possible.

Embodiment 3 FIGS. 34 to 37 show a method of installing the user server 400 and a connection example of the relay station 300. FIG. FIG. 34 shows an example in which the user server 400 is directly connected to a telephone line. FIG. 35 shows a case where the line distribution device 34 is connected to the telephone line and the user server 40 is connected to the line distribution device 34.
This is an example in which the FAX 33 is connected to the FAX 33. Line distribution device 3
4 sorts the data to be received to any of the above-mentioned devices based on the received signal. FIG. 36 shows ISDN (I
integrated Services Digita
l Network adapter with terminal adapter (T
A) Connect 35, and connect the user server 400 and F to TA35.
This is an example in which the AX 33 is connected. The received data is distributed to any of the devices by the TA.

FIG. 37 shows a case where the router 30c is connected to the ISDN line, and the user server 400 and the FAX3 are connected to the router 30c.
3 is connected. The user server 400 and the router 36 are connected by Ethernet. 38 to 41, the relay management unit 320 of the relay station 300 corresponds to each of FIGS.
0 indicates remote management. 38 to 40, the relay management unit 320 makes a call to the user server 400 via a modem, establishes a connection by making a callback connection from the user server 400, and the relay management unit 320 remotely manages the user server 400. An example is shown.

In FIG. 41, the router 30b connected to the relay manager 320 and the router 30c connected to the user server 400 establish a connection between the routers by callback connection or calling number confirmation, and Reference numeral 320 denotes an example in which the user server 400 is remotely managed. Usually, when a mail server is managed by an end user, a dedicated administrator is usually used to manage the server. However, in this information distribution system,
As shown in FIG. 38 to FIG. 41, the user server 400 can be remotely managed from the relay management unit 320 of the relay station 300. Therefore, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where a conventional mail server is managed by a dedicated administrator.

Embodiment 4 In this embodiment, a method of connecting the center 200 and the relay station 300 will be exemplified. The configuration of the entire information distribution system is the same as that shown as an example in FIG. FIG. 42 shows the center 200 and the relay station 3
00 is connected to one concentrator (HUB) 71 and connected to the terminating device 70 via the concentrator 71 to connect to the Internet 9.
This is an example of connecting to 0. In this manner, the center 200 and the relay station 300 can be arranged under one dedicated line 91 and the terminating device 70. Further, the connection can be made as shown in FIGS. 43 and 44. As shown in FIG. 43, the center 200 and the relay station 300 may be arranged on different dedicated lines although they are in the same place. Further, as shown in FIG. 44, the center 200 and the relay station 300 may be physically separated from each other, for example, in Kyoto and Tokyo.

Embodiment 5 FIG. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the user server 400 is directly dial-up connected to the relay server 310 via a telephone line. In this case, the ISP connection shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is not required. As shown in FIG. 45, the user server 400 can be directly dial-up connected to the relay server via a telephone line. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 45, when the relay server is near the user server 400, a low-cost mail delivery service can be provided to the user. Since the user does not need to make a contract with the provider, the cost can be further reduced.

Further, the first to fifth embodiments are described.
Has the following features.

[0125] The information distribution system according to the present invention relates to an information distribution system for transmitting and receiving electronic mail in which information to be transmitted and received is added with an address for identifying the terminal on the communication network, between a plurality of terminals connectable to the communication network. Connecting at least one terminal, located between the connected terminal and a communication network, connecting to the communication network on behalf of the connected terminal, and transmitting and receiving e-mails transmitted and received by the connected terminal. A user server that transmits and receives on behalf of the connected terminal; and a relay station that is connected to the communication network and relays e-mail that is transmitted and received by the terminal connected to the user server. Of the emails transferred above, the terminal indicated by the email address received the email that was the terminal connected to the user server as the terminal received email and received it Storing the received e-mail, the user server receives the e-mail transmitted by the connected terminal from the connected terminal as a terminal transmission e-mail, and stores the received terminal transmission e-mail in the user server; Connect to the communication network at the time, establish a connection with the relay station via the connected communication network, receive the terminal received mail stored by the relay station, and store the terminal transmitted mail stored in the user server. To the relay station, and the relay station distributes the terminal transmission mail received from the user server based on the e-mail address of the terminal transmission mail.

The relay station establishes a connection with the user server, analyzes the relay server that transmits and receives the terminal transmission mail and the terminal reception mail to and from the user server, and analyzes the operating status of the user server. And a relay management unit that manages the user server based on the result.

The user server includes a received mail storage unit for storing received e-mails and a transmitted mail storage unit for storing e-mails to be transmitted. The user server connects a plurality of terminals, The e-mail received from the terminal is analyzed based on the e-mail address. If the terminal indicated by the address is a terminal connected to the user server, the e-mail is stored in the received mail storage unit. In the case where the terminal indicated by the address is a terminal that is not connected to the user server and is an external mail, the external mail is stored in the outgoing mail storage unit as the terminal outgoing mail, and the user server
The terminal transmission mail stored in the transmission mail storage unit is transmitted to the relay server, and the relay server distributes the electronic mail of the terminal transmission mail received from the user server based on the e-mail address. Features.

The relay server receives the terminal received mail via a communication network, and transmits the received terminal received mail to the user server. The user server transmits the terminal received mail transmitted from the relay server. Received and received terminal received mail as e-mail to distribute to the terminal,
The e-mail is stored in the received e-mail storage unit, and the e-mail is distributed to the terminals according to the e-mail address, and the plurality of terminals connected to the user server have their own terminal addresses stored in the received e-mail storage unit. It is characterized by receiving the added e-mail.

The relay server and the user server are:
In transmitting and receiving the terminal transmission mail and the terminal reception mail, a file exchange procedure for performing a standardized file transfer is used.

[0130] The information distribution system further includes a domain name storage unit for storing information including an address for identifying the relay server and the user server on a communication network as domain information; And a customer information storage unit for storing customer information relating to customers who use the user server including the connection relationship described above, and a center for managing the relay station and the user server.

The user server includes a log (LOG) management unit for collecting operation information of the user server, and a LOG storage unit for storing the operation information of the user server collected by the LOG management unit as user server LOG information. The user server transmits the user server LOG information stored in the LOG storage unit to the relay management unit via the relay server at a predetermined time, and the relay management unit analyzes the user server LOG information. And generating the statistical data of the user server, and transmitting the generated statistical data of the user server to the center.

The relay server includes a relay log (LOG) management unit for collecting operation information of the relay server, and a relay log (LOG) management unit.
Relay LOG relaying the operation information of the relay server collected by the G management unit
A relay LOG storage unit that stores the relay LOG information stored in the relay LOG storage unit at a predetermined time to the center, and the relay management unit stores the relay LOG information at a predetermined time. And managing the user server based on the statistical data of the user server.

The center analyzes the relay LOG information to generate relay server statistical data, and manages the user server and the relay server based on the user server statistical data and the relay server statistical data. It is characterized by.

There are a plurality of relay stations, and the center determines the connection relationship between the user server of the customer information and the plurality of relay stations based on the statistical data of the user server and the statistical data of the relay server. The updated customer information is stored in the customer storage unit.

There are a plurality of relay stations, and the customer information stored in the customer information storage unit is based on a plurality of relay stations to which a user server is connectable. A relay server address including a relay server address, wherein the user server is further generated based on customer information stored in a customer information storage unit of the center, and prioritizes relay servers of a plurality of relay stations to which the user server can be connected. A relay server information storage unit for storing, as relay server information, information on the relay server including the addresses of the relay servers of the plurality of relay stations, wherein the user server is configured to store the information based on the relay server information stored in the relay server information storage unit. The center manages the connection status between the relay server of the relay station and the user server based on the customer information. To.

When the relay server connected to the user server has a failure, the center issues an instruction to the user server to connect to the relay server having the next priority. Is connected to the relay server of the next priority according to the instruction of (1).

When a failure occurs in the relay server to be connected, the user server connects to the relay server of the next priority based on the relay server information stored in the relay server information storage unit. I do.

[0138] The relay server further generates, as user server information, information on the user server generated based on the customer information stored in the customer information storage unit of the center and including the address of the user server that establishes a connection with the relay server. A user server information storage unit for storing, based on the address of the user server stored in the user server information, a terminal indicated by the e-mail address among the e-mails transferred on the communication network is connected to the user server; It is characterized by judging the e-mail which is the terminal that was made.

There is a plurality of user servers, and the user server information is information on a plurality of user servers including addresses of the plurality of user servers establishing a connection with the relay server.

A terminal connectable to the communication network is connected to the center via the communication network. The center manages information necessary for installing the user server, and transmits information from the terminal connected to the center to the user server. Accepts requests to use
Based on the received request, transmitting information for installing a user server to the relay management unit of the relay station, wherein the relay management unit installs the user server based on the information for installing the user server. .

The relay management unit records information for installing a user server on a recording medium, and the user server can be initialized by the information recorded on the recording medium.

The communication network includes the Internet and a public line, the center and the relay station always connect to the Internet, and the user server connects to the Internet at any time using the public line, A connection is established with the relay station via the Internet.

An information distribution method according to the present invention is characterized in that a terminal for transmitting / receiving an electronic mail having an address for identifying the terminal on the communication network added to the information to be transmitted / received among a plurality of terminals connectable to the communication network, One terminal is connected, located between the connected terminal and the communication network, connected to the communication network on behalf of the connected terminal, and the connected terminal transmits and receives e-mails transmitted and received by the connected terminal. A user server for sending and receiving on behalf of the terminal, and connecting to the communication network,
A relay station for relaying an e-mail transmitted and received by a terminal connected to the user server, wherein the relay station transmits an e-mail address among e-mails transferred on a communication network. Receiving, as a terminal reception mail, an e-mail that the terminal indicated by the terminal connected to the user server, and storing the received terminal reception e-mail; and, by the user server, the e-mail transmitted by the connected terminal. Received from the connected terminal as terminal transmission mail, store the received terminal transmission mail in the user server, connect to the communication network at any time, and connect with the relay station via the connected communication network. Establish and receive the terminal received mail stored by the relay station, and transmit the terminal transmitted mail stored in the user server to the relay station And the extent, by the relay station,
Distributing the terminal transmission mail received from the user server to the e-mail address of the terminal transmission mail.

The information distribution system according to the present invention is connected to one or more terminals for transmitting and receiving e-mails, receives e-mails to be transmitted via a communication network from the terminals, and stores the e-mails until a predetermined time. In addition, when a predetermined time comes, a user server connected to a relay station that relays e-mail via a communication network and a terminal that is always connected to the communication network and is connected to the user server The e-mail to be received is always received and stored via the communication network, and is transmitted to the terminal connected to the stored user server when the user server is connected via the communication network at a predetermined time. Sending an e-mail to be transmitted to a user server, receiving an e-mail to be transmitted from the user server via a communication network stored in the user server, and transmitting the received e-mail to a communication network. Characterized by comprising a relay station transmitting through.

[0145]

According to the user server of the present invention,
Since the operation status of the user server is analyzed by the monitoring device and the analysis result information is received by the receiving unit, the operation status of the user server can be accurately grasped on the user server based on the analysis result information. As described above, since the operation status analysis means is not required on the user server side, the configuration of the user server is simplified, and the maintenance of the user server becomes easy. As a result, it is easy to introduce the user server into an office where there is no specialist in computer technology or an office where a small number of people cannot maintain maintenance personnel.

According to the monitoring device of the present invention, the operation status of the user server is analyzed by the user server management section of the monitoring device, and the user server is managed. Operation status can be accurately grasped. As described above, since the user server is remotely managed on the monitoring device side, there is no need for the operating condition analysis means on the user server side. As a result, the configuration of the user server is simplified, and maintenance of the user server is facilitated. Therefore, it is easy to introduce the user server into an office where there is no expert in computer technology, or an office where a small number of people cannot have maintenance personnel.

According to the information distribution system of the present invention, the function of the mail server is provided by the relay station which is always connected to the communication network and the user server which is periodically connected to the communication network and transmits and receives electronic mail to and from the relay station. Has been realized,
It is possible to reduce the cost for the user to send and receive mail. In addition, since e-mails are periodically transmitted from the relay station to the user server, it is possible to prevent the e-mails from being excessively accumulated in the relay station.

According to the present invention, since the domain information is managed by the management center, the management work of each relay station is reduced.
Even if there is no special knowledge, management becomes possible, and the mail server can be managed more easily than a conventional mail server.

According to the present invention, the operation status of the user server can be periodically grasped by the relay station.

According to the present invention, the operation status of the user server and the relay station is periodically grasped, and based on the grasped operation information, the management center judges the operation status of the entire system, and Can manage stations.

According to the present invention, based on the operation status,
It is possible to change the connection relationship between the relay station and the user server, and it is possible to disperse the addition relating to transmission and reception of mail.

According to the present invention, a plurality of relay stations are provided,
By the management by the management center, even if a failure occurs in the relay station, the operation of the system can be continued at a different relay station, and a mail server resistant to the failure can be realized.

According to the user server setting method of the present invention, the procedure file required for the initial setting is created based on the information input in accordance with the instruction of the homepage provided by the management center. Even if no expert is available, the user server can be easily initialized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration for implementing an information distribution system and an information distribution method for transmitting and receiving information via a communication network between a plurality of terminals 500 used by a plurality of users according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a center 200.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a relay station 300.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a user server 400.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of user server information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of relay server information.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of domain information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection relationship between a plurality of relay servers and a plurality of user servers.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship among a user server, a relay server, and the Internet.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection procedure between a user server and a relay server.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection procedure between a user server and a relay server.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection procedure between a user server and a relay server.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection procedure between a user server and a relay server.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing exchange of mail files.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a conventional procedure for sending and receiving mail between a mail server and a terminal.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a conventional procedure for sending and receiving mail between a mail server and a terminal.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a user mail reading procedure.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a user mail transmission procedure.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection procedure between the relay server and the center.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a time management procedure.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a mail accumulation status of the relay server.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a case where a failure occurs in a relay server.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a center remotely manages a plurality of relay stations.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a configuration in which a center remotely manages a plurality of relay stations.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a procedure in which a relay station remotely manages a mail server.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a situation where a center remotely manages a relay station and a relay station remotely manages a user server.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an operation of copying customer information stored in a customer information storage unit of a center to a customer information storage unit of a relay management unit of a relay station using an e-mail.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of steady management between a user server and a relay station.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an example of routine management in which user server statistical data is transmitted from the relay management unit to the center.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of steady management between a relay station and a center.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection among a terminal, a user server, and a relay server.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a system for setting a user server of the information distribution system that constructs the information distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process of performing initial setting on a user server.

FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a method of installing a user server and a connection example of a relay station.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a method of installing a user server and a connection example of a relay station.

FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a method of installing a user server and a connection example of a relay station.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a method of installing a user server and a connection example of a relay station.

FIG. 38 is a diagram in which the relay management unit of the relay station remotely manages the user server in the system configuration of FIG. 34;

FIG. 39 is a diagram in which the relay management unit of the relay station remotely manages the user server in the system configuration of FIG. 35;

FIG. 40 is a diagram in which the relay management unit of the relay station remotely manages the user server in the system configuration of FIG. 36;

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing that the relay management unit of the relay station remotely manages the user server in the system configuration of FIG. 37;

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a connection example between a center and a relay station.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a connection example between a center and a relay station.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing a connection example between a center and a relay station.

FIG. 45 is a diagram of dialing up a user server directly to a relay server via a telephone line.

[Explanation of symbols]

30a-30c router, 31 mobile terminal, 32
Cellular phone, 33 FAX, 34 Line sorting device, 35 Terminal adapter (TA), 51
User server information, 52 relay server information, 53 domain information, 70 terminal equipment, 71 concentrator (HUB),
80 Certificate Authority, 90 Communication Network (Internet or Intranet), 91 Dedicated Line, 92 Public Line, 93
LAN, 200 center (management center), 210 D
NS server, 220 center management unit, 221 customer information storage unit (connection information storage unit), 222 user server management unit, 223 statistical data storage unit, 224 relay server management unit, 225 statistical data storage unit, 226 relay LOG
Storage unit, 230 center mail server, 240 center W
WW server, 300a-300i relay station, 310 relay server, 311 mail transmission unit (transmission unit), 312
Mail receiving unit (receiving unit), 313 user management unit, 31
4 UUCP-SSL processing unit, 315 mail server unit, 316 remote management corresponding unit, 317 relay LOG management unit (second operation information collection unit), 320 relay management unit,
322 user server management unit, 323 statistical data storage unit, 324 user server LOG storage unit, 335 relay LOG storage unit (second operation information storage unit), 390 relay server group, 400a to 400c user server, 401
Mail transmission unit, 402 mail reception unit, 403 user management unit, 404 UUCP-SSL processing unit (connection unit),
405 mail server unit, 406 remote management support unit, 407 ISP connection unit, 408 time management unit, 40
9 Mail capacity monitoring / warning section (Mail capacity monitoring section), 4
10 LOG management unit (operation information collection unit), 431 outgoing mail storage unit, 432 received mail storage unit, 433 user information storage unit, 434 relay server information storage unit (priority information storage unit), 435 LOG storage unit (operation information Storage unit), 490 user server group, 500a to 500
x, 700 terminals, 600 mail servers.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Ryozo Kiyohara 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsui Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akihiko Naito 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 3 Inside Ryo Denki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshikazu Morino 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Sanbishi Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Kosuke Yagi 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 2-3 Rishi Electric Co., Ltd. MB15 5K035 BB04 CC09 DD01 EE21 9A001 JJ14 JJ25 KZ56 LL09

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An operation information collection unit for collecting operation information of a user server to which one or more terminals for transmitting and receiving e-mail are connected, and a monitoring device for monitoring an operation state based on the operation information A user server, comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the operation information; and a reception unit that receives analysis result information about an operation state transmitted from the monitoring device. 2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a mail capacity monitoring unit that monitors a disk usage amount of the electronic mail and secures a free space for storing an unread electronic mail when the disk capacity approaches a limit. 1. The user server according to 1. 3. A transmission mail storage unit for storing an e-mail to be transmitted until a predetermined time, and a connection unit for connecting to the monitoring device at a predetermined time. The user server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. A receiving mail storage unit for storing a received e-mail, wherein the receiving e-mail is analyzed based on the e-mail address received from a terminal connected to the server. In the case where the terminal is connected to the server, the received mail is stored in the received mail storage unit as an internal mail, and in the case where the terminal indicated by the e-mail address is not the terminal connected to the server, the external mail is stored. The user server according to claim 3, wherein the user mail is stored in the outgoing mail storage unit. 5. A receiving unit for receiving operation information of the user server transmitted from a user server to which one or more terminals for transmitting and receiving e-mail are connected, and operating the user server based on the operation information. A monitoring device, comprising: a user server management unit that analyzes a situation and manages the user server. 6. The monitoring device according to claim 5, further comprising a transmission unit that transmits analysis result information analyzed by the user server management unit to the user server. 7. The user server management unit changes the access point of the user server when it is determined from the analysis result analyzed by the user server management unit that the transfer capability at the time of dial-up or the success rate of the dial-up is reduced. The monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein the monitoring device performs control to switch between providers. 8. One or more terminals that transmit and receive e-mails are connected, receive e-mails to be transmitted via a communication network from the terminals, store the e-mails until a predetermined time, and store at a predetermined time And a user server connected to a relay station that relays e-mail via a communication network, and an e-mail that is always connected to the communication network and is to be transmitted to a terminal connected to the user server. Via the communication network at a predetermined time, the stored electronic data to be transmitted to the terminal connected to the user server. Sending an e-mail to the user server, and receiving from the user server an e-mail to be transmitted via a communication network stored in the user server, and receiving the received e-mail via the communication network Information distribution system is characterized in that a relay station signals to. 9. The user server includes a received mail storage unit that stores a received e-mail, and a transmitted mail storage unit that stores an e-mail to be transmitted, wherein the user server has a terminal connected to its own server. Analyze the e-mail received from the e-mail address based on the e-mail address, and if the terminal indicated by the e-mail address is a terminal connected to the server itself, and store it in the received e-mail storage unit as an e-mail addressed internally, 9. The information delivery system according to claim 8, wherein when the terminal indicated by the e-mail address is not a terminal connected to the server, the e-mail address is stored in the outgoing mail storage unit as an e-mail addressed to the outside. 10. The user server further includes a priority information storage unit that stores priority information on a plurality of connectable relay stations, wherein the user server has a failure in the connected relay station. 10. In the case, the connection is switched to the relay station having the next priority based on the priority information stored in the priority information storage unit.
Information distribution system described. 11. The user server and the relay station,
The information delivery system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the electronic mail is transmitted and received based on a file exchange procedure for performing a standardized file transfer. 12. A management center for managing the user server and the relay station, wherein the management center stores domain information including an address for identifying the user server and the relay station on a communication network. The information according to any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising: an information storage unit; and a connection information storage unit that stores information indicating a connection relationship between the relay station and the user server. Delivery system. 13. The user server, comprising: an operation information collection unit that collects operation information of the user server; and an operation information storage unit that stores the operation information collected by the operation information collection unit. Transmitting the operation information stored in the operation information storage unit to the relay station at predetermined intervals, wherein the relay station analyzes the operation information and generates statistical data of the user server. The information distribution system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein: 14. The relay station, wherein: a second operation information collection unit that collects operation information of the relay station; and second operation information that stores the operation information collected by the second operation information collection unit. A storage unit, wherein the relay station transmits the statistical data of the user server and the operation information stored in the second operation information storage unit to the management center at predetermined intervals, and the management center Analyzing the operation information to generate statistical data of the relay station, and managing the user server and the relay station based on the statistical data of the user server and the statistical data of the relay station. The information distribution system according to claim 13, wherein: 15. The management center, based on statistical data of the user server and statistical data of the relay station,
Updating the connection relationship between the user server and the relay station,
The information distribution system according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein updated information is stored in the connection information storage unit. 16. The information stored in the connection information storage unit includes priority order information on a plurality of relay stations connectable to the user server, wherein the management center is configured to connect to the user server. When a failure occurs in the relay station, an instruction is issued to the user server to switch the connection to the relay station having the next priority based on the information stored in the connection information storage unit. The information distribution system according to any one of claims 12 to 15. 17. A user server setting method for initial setting a user server in accordance with an instruction from a management center, comprising: a first step of connecting a user terminal to the management center via a communication network; A second step of receiving information input according to an instruction on a homepage at the management center via the user terminal; and creating a procedure file required for initial setting of the user server at the management center based on the received information. And a fourth step of initially setting the user server based on the procedure file. 18. In the fourth step, the procedure file is recorded on a recording medium, and the recording medium is read by the user server, so that the user server is stored in the recording medium on the basis of the procedure file. 18. The user server setting method according to claim 17, wherein initial setting is performed.