JP2002082875A - Unitary management of e-mail - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide unitary management technique for e-mail which can easily and unitarily mange a plurality of e-mail addresses. SOLUTION: When the transmission source address of received e-mail is not a predetermined transfer destination address, a unitary management mail server 10 generates a virtual transmission source address in each combination of the transmission source address and a via-address. The server 10 transfers the received e-mail to transfer destinations 40 and 41 with all transmission source addresses as a virtual transmission source address. When the transmission source address of the received e-mail is the predetermined transfer destination address, the server 10 acquires the transmission source address and the via- address on the basis of a virtual transmission source address the received e-mail has and transmits the transmission source address and the via-address to transmission sources 20, 21 and 22 as a new transmission destination address and a new transmission source address respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology for centrally managing electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of electronic mail as information transmission means, the number of users who use a plurality of electronic mail addresses depending on the purpose is increasing. Such e-mail users have a demand to easily manage a plurality of e-mail addresses. Further, with the spread of mobile terminals, there is also a demand that the mobile terminal obtains an e-mail for an e-mail address that the user already owns.

Conventionally, an electronic mail transfer technique has been used as a solution to these requests. In the e-mail transfer technology, a plurality of e-mail addresses can be centrally managed by designating a plurality of e-mail transfer destinations to specific e-mail addresses. If the specific e-mail address is the e-mail address of the portable terminal, the portable terminal can acquire the e-mail sent to the e-mail address already owned by the portable terminal.

[0004]

However, the conventional e-mail transfer technology has the following problems. First, if you use the reply function of the e-mail application when replying to the forwarded e-mail, the specific e-mail address to which the forwarded e-mail was forwarded will be the new source, and you will receive the reply e-mail. May feel uncomfortable.

[0005] Even when it is desired to use only an existing e-mail address as a public e-mail address, a specific e-mail address as a transfer destination is made public, so that a specific e-mail address is kept private. I couldn't meet the need to do it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has as its object to provide a unified management technique for e-mail which can easily and integrally manage a plurality of e-mail addresses. . It is another object of the present invention to provide a technique for centrally managing e-mails that can reply to e-mails while keeping the transfer destination address of the e-mails private.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects To solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a method for centrally managing e-mail. First of the present invention
The unified management method for an e-mail according to the aspect, receives the e-mail, determines whether or not the source address of the received e-mail is a default transfer address, the source address is the predetermined transfer If it is determined that the address is not an address, assign a unique identification code to the original source address of the received e-mail, using the identification code, generate a virtual source address of the received e-mail, The received e-mail is transmitted to the predetermined transfer address using the virtual source address as a new source address.

[0010] According to the unified management method of the electronic mail according to the first aspect of the present invention, all new source addresses of the electronic mail transmitted to the predetermined transfer address can be set to the virtual source addresses. Therefore, all e-mails transmitted to the predetermined transfer address can be handled as e-mails transmitted from the virtual source address, and the unified management of a plurality of e-mail addresses can be facilitated.

In the unified management method for electronic mail according to the first aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the source address is the predetermined transfer address, the received electronic mail is sent to the virtual source address. Determining whether the received e-mail is a reply e-mail to the virtual source address, if the received e-mail is a return e-mail to the virtual source address, based on the identification code, the original source address And transmitting the reply e-mail to the acquired original transmission address using a public address different from the predetermined transfer address as a new transmission source address.

With the above configuration, the original source address can be obtained using the virtual source address, and a public address different from the predetermined transfer address is set as a new source address. An e-mail can be returned with the mail forwarding address kept private.

In the unified management method for electronic mail according to the first aspect of the present invention, a destination address is described at a position where the destination address of the body of the electronic mail transmitted from the predetermined transfer address can be specified. When it is determined that the source address is the predetermined transfer address, it is determined whether the received e-mail is a return e-mail to the virtual source address, If it is determined that the e-mail is not a reply e-mail to the virtual source address, a destination address is obtained from a position where a destination address of the body of the received e-mail can be specified, and the predetermined transfer address is obtained. The e-mail may be transmitted to the acquired destination address using a public address different from the new source address. Further, the position where the transmission destination address can be specified may be the first line of the text of the received e-mail.

[0012] With the above configuration, the destination address can be obtained from the position where the destination address of the body of the e-mail can be specified or the first line of the body of the e-mail. Since a different public address is used as a new source address, it is possible to transmit a newly created electronic mail while keeping the transfer destination address of the electronic mail private.

[0013] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for centrally managing electronic mail. A method for centrally managing e-mail according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: receiving e-mail;
It is determined whether the received e-mail is a transferred e-mail, and if it is determined that the received e-mail is a transferred e-mail, the original transmission address and transfer of the received e-mail Assigning a unique identification code to the original address, using the identification code to generate a virtual source address of the received email, and using the virtual source address as a new source address,
Transmitting the received e-mail to the predetermined transfer address.

[0014] According to the unified management method for e-mails according to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the received e-mail is a transfer mail, a new source address of the e-mail to be transmitted to the predetermined transfer address Can be all virtual source addresses. Also, since the virtual source address is generated using a unique identification code assigned to the original source address and the transfer source address, it is possible to manage both the original source address and the transfer source address by the virtual source address. This makes it possible to easily and centrally manage a plurality of e-mail addresses.

[0015] In the centralized e-mail management method according to the second aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the received e-mail is not a transferred e-mail, the source address of the received e-mail is set to a predetermined address. It is determined whether or not the address is a transfer address, and if it is determined that the source address is not the predetermined transfer address, a unique identification code is assigned to an original source address of the received e-mail, A virtual source address of the received e-mail may be generated using a code, and the received e-mail may be transmitted to the predetermined transfer address using the virtual source address as a new source address.

With the above configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the received e-mail is a reply mail of the e-mail addressed to the virtual source address. A plurality of e-mail addresses can be easily and centrally managed using all new source addresses of e-mails to be transmitted to the transfer address as virtual source addresses.

In the unified management method for e-mail according to the second aspect of the present invention, if it is determined that the source address is the predetermined transfer address, the received e-mail is sent to the virtual source address. Determining whether the received e-mail is a reply e-mail to the virtual source address, if the received e-mail is a return e-mail to the virtual source address, based on the identification code, the original source address Or, to obtain one of the original source address and the transfer source address, a public address different from the predetermined transfer address, or, as one of the transfer source address as a new source address,
The reply electronic mail may be transmitted to the acquired original transmission address.

With the above configuration, the original source address or the original source address and the transfer source address can be obtained based on the identification code, and a public address different from the predetermined transfer address is newly added. Since the e-mail address is set to a proper source address, it is possible to transmit a newly created e-mail while keeping the transfer destination address of the e-mail private. Further, since the original source address or one of the original source address and the transfer source address can be obtained by using the identification code, the centralized management of the electronic mail can be facilitated.

In the unified management method for e-mail according to the second aspect of the present invention, if it is determined that the source address is the predetermined transfer address, the received e-mail is sent to the virtual source address. It is determined whether or not it is a reply e-mail to, the destination address is described in a position that can specify the destination address in the body of the e-mail transmitted from the predetermined transfer address,
If it is determined that the received e-mail is not a reply e-mail to the virtual source address, a destination address is obtained from a position where a destination address in the body of the received e-mail can be specified, and the transfer is performed. The electronic mail may be transmitted to the obtained destination address, with a source address as a new source address. Further, the position where the transmission destination address can be specified may be the first line in the text of the received e-mail.

With the above configuration, it is possible to determine whether the received e-mail is a reply e-mail using the virtual source address. Also, the destination address can be obtained from the position where the destination address of the body of the e-mail can be specified or from the first line, and a public address different from the default transfer address is set as a new source address. It is possible to transmit a newly created e-mail while keeping the transfer destination address of the e-mail private.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic mail management apparatus for centrally managing electronic mail. Third of the present invention
The e-mail management device according to the aspect, the e-mail receiving means for receiving the e-mail transmitted to the basic address to be managed, and whether the source address of the received e-mail is a predetermined transfer address Source address determining means for determining whether or not the source address of the received e-mail is unique if the source address is not the predetermined transfer address. Extended address issuing means for issuing, virtual source address generating means for generating a virtual source address by combining the basic address and the extended address, and setting the virtual source address to a new source address and receiving E-mail transmitting means for transmitting the e-mail to the predetermined transfer address. To.

According to the e-mail management device according to the third aspect of the present invention, all of the source addresses of the e-mail transferred from the e-mail management device to the transfer address can be virtual source addresses. Therefore, the transferred e-mail can be centrally managed using the virtual source address.

The e-mail management device according to a third aspect of the present invention further includes the step of, when determining that the source address is the predetermined transfer address, sets the received e-mail to the virtual transmission An e-mail type determining unit that determines whether the e-mail is a return e-mail to the original address, and if the received e-mail is determined to be a return e-mail to the virtual source address, the virtual Destination address obtaining means for obtaining the original source address based on the source address, and a public address different from the predetermined transfer address as a new source address, with respect to the obtained original source address E-mail reply means for transmitting the reply e-mail.

With the above configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the received e-mail is a reply mail of the e-mail addressed to the virtual source address. A plurality of e-mail addresses can be easily and centrally managed using all new source addresses of e-mails to be transmitted to the transfer address as virtual source addresses.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an integrated electronic mail management apparatus for integrally managing electronic mail transmitted to a basic address to be managed. An integrated e-mail management device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes an e-mail receiving unit that receives an e-mail transmitted to the basic address, a source address of the received e-mail, and the predetermined transfer. Source address determining means for determining whether or not the address matches; and if it is determined that the source address does not match the predetermined transfer address, the received e-mail is sent to the source. Via address determining means for determining whether or not the received e-mail has been transferred via the via address, and a source address of the received e-mail if the received e-mail is determined to have been transferred via the via address Extension address generation means for generating a unique extension address for each combination of an address and the via address; A virtual source address generating means for generating a virtual source address, and setting the virtual source address to a new source address of the received e-mail; and Transmission information setting means for setting a transfer address to an actual destination address of the received e-mail, and e-mail transmission means for transmitting the e-mail to the set actual destination address are provided.

According to the unified e-mail management device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if the received e-mail is a transfer mail, the new transmission source address of the e-mail to be transmitted to the predetermined transfer address is changed. All can be extended addresses. Also, since a unique extended address is generated for each combination of the original source address and the via address,
With the extended address, it is possible to manage the original transmission address and the via address in a combination unit,
Centralized management of multiple e-mail addresses can be facilitated.

The unified electronic mail management device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention further includes the step of determining that the source address of the received electronic mail and the predetermined transfer address match each other. Destination address determining means for determining whether or not the extension address is included in the destination address of the e-mail; and when it is determined that the extension address is included in the destination address of the received e-mail. Comprises, using the unique extended address, extended address information acquiring means for acquiring the original source address and the transit address, and the transmission information setting means receives the acquired original source address. While setting the actual destination address of the e-mail, the acquired transit address is replaced with a new Xinyuan may be set to the address.

With the above configuration, the original source address, or the original source address and the transit address can be obtained based on the unique extended address, and the transit address is set as a new source address. Therefore, the newly created e-mail can be transmitted while keeping the transfer destination address of the e-mail private. Also,
Since the original source address or one of the original source address and the via address can be obtained using the unique extended address, the unified management of the e-mail can be facilitated.

In the unified e-mail management apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a destination address is described at a position where a destination address in the text of the received e-mail can be specified, and the unified e-mail is managed. The management device may further determine that the destination address of the received e-mail does not include the extension address, and determine the destination address in the body of the received e-mail from the position where the destination address can be specified. Real transmission destination address setting means for acquiring the electronic mail address, the transmission information setting means sets the transit address to a new source address of the received e-mail address, and sets the acquired transmission address to the received electronic mail address. It may be set to the actual destination address of the mail. The position where the destination address can be specified may be the first line of the received e-mail.

With the above configuration, it is possible to determine whether the received e-mail is a reply e-mail using the virtual source address. In addition, since the destination address can be obtained from the position where the destination address can be specified in the body of the e-mail or from the first line, and the transit address is set as a new source address, the e-mail transfer destination address You can send a newly created email while keeping it private.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first mail server for receiving an e-mail from a source to a first e-mail address and transferring the received e-mail to a second e-mail address; A second mail server having a second e-mail address and receiving the e-mail forwarded from the first e-mail server and re-forwarding the e-mail to a third e-mail address; And a third mail server for receiving the e-mail retransmitted from the second mail server. In the e-mail system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the second mail server includes:
An original source address obtaining means for obtaining an original source address based on the header information of the received electronic mail, and a source for determining whether the obtained original source address is the third electronic mail address. Source address determination means, and a transfer source that obtains a first email address based on header information of the received email when it is determined that the original source address is not the third email address. Address acquisition means, extension address generation means for generating a unique extension address for each combination of the acquired original source address and the acquired first e-mail address, the second e-mail address and the extension address Virtual source address generating means for generating a virtual source address by combining Transmission information setting means for setting a dress to a new source address of the e-mail and setting the third e-mail address to an actual destination address; Transmission means for transmitting an e-mail.

In the electronic mail system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the third mail server generates a new electronic mail, the third mail server sets a new transmission address on the first line in the body of the electronic mail. And an e-mail generating means for writing the first e-mail address on the second line.

In the electronic mail system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the second mail server determines that the obtained original source address is the third electronic mail address, E-mail type determining means for determining whether or not the received e-mail is a return e-mail to the virtual source address based on the header information of the received e-mail; and When it is determined that the reply mail is the reply mail to the original, there is provided destination information obtaining means for obtaining the original source address and the first e-mail address using the extended address, and the transmission information setting means Setting the acquired first e-mail address as a new source address of the e-mail, and setting the acquired The source may be set to the real destination address.

In the electronic mail system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the second mail server determines that the obtained original source address is the third electronic mail address, E-mail type determining means for determining whether or not the received e-mail is a return e-mail to the virtual source address based on the header information of the received e-mail; and When it is determined that the received e-mail is not a reply e-mail, a destination information acquisition unit that acquires the new transmission address and the first e-mail address from the first line of the body of the received e-mail, The transmission information setting means sets the acquired first e-mail address as a new source address of the e-mail. Rutotomoni, the acquired new transmission addresses may be set to the actual destination address.

According to the e-mail system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those of the unified management apparatus for e-mail according to the fourth aspect of the present invention.

[0036]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an integrated mail management system to which an integrated mail server according to the present invention is applied.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, a schematic configuration of a unified management system for electronic mail centered on a unified management mail server according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of a unified management system of electronic mail centered on a unified management mail server according to the present embodiment.

The unified management mail server 10, the sender 20,
The first and second mail servers 30, 22, the first mail server 31, the second mail server 31, and the transfer destinations 40, 41 are always connected via the Internet.

The unified management mail server 10 provides an account for each contractor (user), and a unique electronic mail address is assigned to each account. The unified management mail server 10 can be a destination mail server directly to the transmission source 20 and can be transmitted from the transmission sources 21 and 22 to the first or second via mail server 3.
It can be an indirect destination (first transfer destination) mail server via 0,31.

The transmission sources 20, 21, and 22 are terminals 20 for creating and transmitting electronic mail, or receiving and opening electronic mail.
1, 211, 221 and terminals 201, 211, 22
Send the e-mail sent from 1 to a predetermined address,
Alternatively, it includes mail servers 202, 212, and 222 that store received e-mails for each address. For convenience of explanation, the e-mail is sent first, so it is called the sender. However, in actuality, it is used as the receiver of the reply mail to the sent mail or the receiver of the e-mail sent from another sender. Also works. In some cases, the terminal itself functions as a mail server. When the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal use the same mail server, the transmission source can be formed only by the terminal.

First and second via mail servers 30, 3
1 provides an account for each contractor (user), and each account is assigned a unique e-mail address. The first and second via mail servers 30 and 31 have a function of transferring the e-mail to a preset destination when receiving the e-mail. In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, the e-mails received by the first and second via mail servers 30 and 31 are integrated into the unified management mail server 10.
Is set to be forwarded to

Therefore, when a user who has an account of the unified management mail server 10 also has an account in the first and second via mail servers 30 and 31, the user on the first and second via mail servers 30 and 31 has The e-mail address is released to the transmission sources 21 and 22. That is, the transmission sources 21 and 22 are merely transmitting e-mails to the e-mail addresses on the first and second via mail servers 30 and 31.

The recipients 40 and 41 are required to create /
Terminals 401, 41 for sending or receiving / opening
1 and mail servers 402 and 41 for transmitting e-mails transmitted from terminals 401 and 411 to a predetermined address, or storing received e-mails for each address.
2 inclusive. Note that, for convenience of explanation, the e-mail is received first, so it is referred to as a destination. However, it actually functions as a source of a reply mail to the received mail or a source of a new e-mail. In some cases, the terminal itself functions as a mail server. When the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal use the same mail server, the receiving destination can be formed only by the terminal.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an outline of the internal configuration of the unified management mail server 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows a centralized management mail server 10 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the internal configuration of.

The unified management mail server 10 includes the control device 1
00, a network connection device 110 for controlling connection to a network such as the Internet, a first storage device 120 for storing transit address data, a second storage device 130 for storing transfer destination address data, and a second storage device 130 for storing received data. Third storage device 140, fourth for storing transmission data
And a fifth storage device 160 for storing address correspondence data between the virtual source address, the pass-through address, and the source address. The control device 100 includes a central processing unit (C) that executes various arithmetic processes.
PU) 101, a read-only memory (ROM) 102 for storing a program and the like for executing each process after receiving a mail executed in the present embodiment, and a random access memory for temporarily storing a calculation result of the CPU 101 and the like. (RA
M) 103.

The network connection device 110 converts the electronic mail received via the network into a format that can be handled by the control device 100, and transmits the text of the electronic mail requested to be transmitted from the control device 100 via the network. To an appropriate format.

The first storage device 120 cumulatively stores the data of the transit addresses processed by the unified management mail server 10 so far, and the second storage device 130 stores the unified management mail server 10. A transfer address for referencing when transferring an e-mail is stored. The third storage device 140 stores header information and text data of the e-mail received by the unified management mail server 10, and the fourth storage device 150 stores the e-mail transmitted by the unified management mail server 10 Header data and body data are stored. As described above, the received data and the transmitted data are stored in the centralized management mail server 10, so that the user can use the centralized management mail server 10.
By using this, it is possible to centrally manage e-mail transmission / reception records. Finally, the fifth storage device 160
Stores a virtual source address generated by the centralized management mail server 10 in association with the via address and the source address. Therefore, the transit address and the source address can be searched using the virtual source address.

Next, the flow of electronic mail in the above system will be described with reference to FIG.

From the source 20 to the centralized management mail server 10
When an e-mail is sent directly to the e-mail, the destination address of the e-mail is set to an arbitrary e-mail address MSA on the centralized management mail server 10. On the other hand, when an e-mail is transmitted indirectly to the centralized management mail server 10, the transmission destination address of the e-mail transmitted from the transmission sources 21 and 22 is the first transit mail server 30 or This is set to the e-mail address of the account of the second via mail server 31. In this case, the first or second via mail server 30, 3
According to 1, the e-mail transmitted to an arbitrary e-mail address on each server is transferred to a preset destination address, that is, an arbitrary e-mail address MSA of the centralized management mail server 10.

Centralized management mail server 10 that has received an e-mail directly or indirectly from transmission sources 20, 21, 22
Executes a mail transfer process described later, and transfers the received electronic mail to the transfer destination 40 or the transfer destination 41. Each mail server 402, 412 of the transfer destinations 40, 41
Is received (read) through the terminals 401 and 411.

When a reply mail to the received mail is transmitted from the terminals 401 and 411, or when a new e-mail is transmitted, the e-mail is sent to the centralized management mail server 10 via the mail servers 402 and 412. Sent. The e-mail sent to the unified management mail server 10 is transmitted from the unified management mail server 10 to the sender 2
0, 21 and 22. Note that the terminal 40
E-mail from 1,411 is the unified management mail server 1
In the case of a reply mail to the e-mail from 0, the e-mail is transmitted to the virtual source address on the centralized management mail server 10 and, after undergoing processing described later, is transmitted to each of the transmission sources 20, 21, 22. Sent to On the other hand, when the newly created e-mail is transmitted to the unified management mail server 10 at the terminals 401 and 411, the desired e-mail is added to the first line of the body of the e-mail at the terminals 401 and 411. After the actual transmission destination address is described and the via address is described in the second line, it is transmitted to the address MSA of the central management mail server 10. The unified management mail server 10 that has received the e-mail executes the processing described below, and transmits the received e-mail to each of the transmission sources 20, 21, and 22.

Next, an e-mail transmission / reception process in the e-mail centralized management system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine executed by the centralized management mail server 10 according to the present embodiment after receiving an e-mail.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the mail transfer processing. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing routine executed to acquire a virtual source address. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the mail reply processing. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the mail transmission processing.

First, a processing routine executed when the unified management mail server 10 receives an electronic mail will be described with reference to FIG. This processing routine is hereinafter called
As described in detail, a mail transfer processing routine (step S) is performed in accordance with the destination address of the received e-mail.
150), a mail reply process (step S170) and a mail transmission process (step S180) are executed. That is, the e-mail address is a trigger for activating each processing routine (individual program).

The control device 10 of the central management mail server 10
When the e-mail is received, the source address OA is obtained from the Received header constituting the e-mail header (step S100). The control device 100 similarly obtains the mail transfer information FI including the via address from the Received header (step S110), and sends the mail text MB
Is acquired (step S120).

The control device 100 searches the second storage device 130 in which the transfer address DFA specified by the user is stored (step S130), and finds a default transfer address DFA that matches the acquired source address OA. It is determined whether or not it exists (step S140). The unified management mail server 10 according to the present embodiment includes a
Since the e-mail is received from both the e-mails 21 and 22 and the transfer destinations 40 and 41, the determination processing determines whether the received e-mail is the e-mail sent from the predetermined transfer destinations 40 and 41 or not. , 21 and 22 are determined.

If the control device 100 determines that there is no default transfer address DFA that matches the acquired source address OA (step S140: No), it executes a mail transfer process (step S150). If the source address OA and the default transfer address DFA do not match, the electronic mail received by the centralized management mail server 10 is an electronic mail received from the transmission sources 20, 21, 22. The transfer processing is performed for the predetermined transfer destinations 40 and 41 described later.

If the control device 100 determines that there is a predetermined transfer address DFA that matches the acquired source address OA (step S140: Yes), the destination address already described in the header of the e-mail will be described. TA
Is a virtual source address VA (step S160). That is, it is determined whether the e-mail is a reply e-mail to the e-mail transmitted from the centralized management mail server 10 or an e-mail newly created at the transfer destinations 40 and 41. When replying at the transfer destinations 40 and 41, in the case of a reply mail, the destination address TA is automatically set to the virtual source address VA, and in the case of a new mail, the destination address TA is unifiedly managed. The address of the mail server 10 is described.

If the control device 100 determines that the destination address TA described in the header of the e-mail is the virtual source address VA (step S160:
Yes), since the received e-mail is a reply mail to the e-mail transmitted from the centralized management mail server 10, the control device 100 executes a mail reply process described later (step S170). On the other hand, the control device 100
If it is determined that the destination address TA described in the header of the e-mail is not the virtual source address VA (step S160: No), the received e-mail is newly added to the transfer destinations 40 and 41. Since the new mail is created, the control device 100 executes a mail transmission process described later (step S180).

The mail transfer process in FIG. 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The control device 100 searches the acquired mail transfer information FI for the via address VIA (step S1500), and determines whether or not the via address VIA exists in the mail transfer information FI (step S1).
510). Note that the first and second via mail servers 3
0, 31 is the E-mail Receive
It is assumed that a server name and a transit address through which the e-mail has passed are described in the ived header, and whether or not the transit address exists can be determined based on the description. For example, in Sendmail which is a UNIX (registered trademark) standard mail program, when a transfer setting is performed, a server name and via address information are always described in a Received header.

If the control device 100 determines that the via address VIA exists in the mail transfer information FI (step S1510: Yes), the via address VIA
Is set as the transfer source address on the server that is the transfer source for the unified management mail server 10 (step S152).
0). On the other hand, if the control device 100 determines that the via address VIA does not exist in the mail transfer information FI (step S1510: No), the control device 100 sets the via address VIA to the address MSA on the centralized management mail server 10 (step S1510). S1530).

The control device 100 stores the obtained source address OA, route address VIA, and mail text MB in the received mail database constructed in the third storage device 140 (S1540). The control device 100 executes a virtual source address VA acquisition process (step S1).
550).

The virtual source address VA acquisition processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The control device 100 generates an array (combination) E = (OA, VIA) using the obtained source address OA and the via address VIA (step S1551), and assigns the virtual source address VA having the same array as the array E to the first position. The search is performed from the address corresponding data stored in the storage device 160 of No. 5 (step S1552).
If the control unit 100 determines that the virtual source address VA corresponding to the array E exists in the address corresponding data (step S1553: Yes), the virtual source address VA obtained by the search is subjected to the subsequent processing. Is set to the virtual source address VA used in (Step S155)
4). The processing of the reply mail to the e-mail received from the transmission sources 20, 21, 22 requires at least information on the source address OA and the via address VIA. Therefore, if a virtual source address VA exists for each combination of the source address OA and the via address VIA, the necessary source address O is determined based on the virtual source address VA.
A and the via address VIA can be specified.

When the control device 100 determines that the virtual source address VA corresponding to the array E does not exist in the address corresponding data (step S1553: No),
Generates a new virtual source address VA (step S
1555). As described above, the virtual source address VA
Is an identification code used to specify a combination of the source address OA and the via address VIA, and can be generated by various methods. For example, a mail program known as qmail (author: DJBernstei
n, available from http://cr.yp.to/qmail.html)
An extension address can be added to the original mail address using a hyphen. If this function is used, the unified management mail server 1 can be attached by adding an arbitrary extension address to the original source address OA.
A virtual source address VA effective only for 0 can be generated. Alternatively, the control device 100 may be provided with a random number generation function, and the generated random number may be added to the original source address OA.

The control device 100 sets the generated new virtual source address VA as the virtual source address VA to be used in the subsequent processing (step S1556). continue,
The control device 100 stores the correspondence between the array E and the virtual source address VA in the fifth storage device 160 in which the address correspondence data is stored (step S1557). Finally, the control device 100 outputs the virtual source address VA obtained by the search or the newly generated virtual source address VA, and returns to the mail transfer processing routine.

Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued.
00 executes the virtual source address VA obtaining process (step S1550), and then obtains the default transfer destination address DFA of the received e-mail from the second storage device 130 based on the source address OA (step S1560).
The control device 100 adds the source address O to the mail text MB.
A is described as a new mail text MB (step S1570), and the original source address OA is set.
Is set to the new source address of the received e-mail instead of the virtual source address VA (step S158)
0). Specifically, the From header of the received e-mail is rewritten to the virtual source address VA.

The control device 100 transmits the text MB of the e-mail having undergone the above-described processing, together with various types of header information, to a predetermined transfer destination address DFA (step S159).
0), and return to the original processing routine. Therefore, destination 4
0 and 41 recognize that the e-mail received from the centralized management mail server 10 is an e-mail transmitted from the virtual source address VA.

As a result, all e-mails transmitted (transferred) from the centralized management mail server 10 to the transfer destinations 40 and 41 have the virtual source address VA as the source address information, and Can be managed by the virtual source address VA without using an individual source address and a via address. The source address OA, the via address VIA, and the e-mail text MB of the e-mail received by the centralized management mail server 10 are stored in the third storage device 140.
The centralized mail server 1 is stored in the centralized mail server 1 by using the stored information as a reception log.
0, it is possible to collectively execute the e-mail reception management.

Next, mail reply processing when the electronic mail received by the unified management mail server 10 is a reply mail returned from the transfer destinations 40 and 41 will be described with reference to FIG.

The control device 100 sets the virtual source address V
A from the fifth storage device 160 in which the address corresponding data is stored, the original source address OA
And via address VIA (step S17)
00). In a typical email program, the destination 4
When the reply mail processing is performed on the e-mail from the unified management mail server 10 at the terminals 401 and 411 of 0 and 41, the destination address of the reply mail is automatically the address of the sender. The virtual source address VA is described.

The control device 100 determines the actual destination address TTA of the e-mail that has received the acquired source address OA.
(Step S1710), and similarly sets the obtained via address VIA as the actual source address TOA (step S1720). More specifically, the control device 100
Describes the obtained source address OA in the To header of the received e-mail, and passes the via address VIA in the From header.
Describe. The control device 100 sets the actual destination address TT
A, the actual source address TOA, and the mail text are stored in the outgoing mail database constructed in the fourth storage device 150 (S1730). The control device 100 transmits the text MB of the e-mail having undergone the above-described processes to the actual destination address TTA together with various header information (step S1740), and returns to the original processing routine.

As a result, the e-mail returned from the terminals 401, 411 of the transfer destinations 40, 41 to the transmission sources 20, 21, 22 via the centralized management mail server 10 is transmitted to the transmission source 2,
From the viewpoint of 0, 21 and 22, it is recognized as if a reply was received from the first or second via mail server 30, 31. Alternatively, in the case where the reply mail is a reply mail to the e-mail directly transmitted to the centralized management mail server 10, when viewed from the transmission sources 20, 21 and 22, it is as if the reply mail was returned from the centralized management mail server 10. Be recognized. In any case, destination 4
The existence of the e-mail addresses on the mail servers 402, 412 at 0, 41 remains private. Also, the actual destination address TTA of the reply mail and the actual source address TO
A and the e-mail text MB are stored in the fourth storage device 15.
Since the information is stored on the terminal 0, it is not necessary to manage the electronic mail transmission information on the terminals 401 and 411 by using the stored information as the transmission log.

Next, mail reply processing when the electronic mail received by the unified management mail server 10 is a newly created outgoing mail at the transfer destinations 40 and 41 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

Control device 100 obtains the actual destination address TTA from the first line of the text MB of the received e-mail (step S1800), and specifies the designated source address DOA from the second line of the text MB of the e-mail. Is acquired (step S1810). As described above, in this embodiment, when an e-mail is newly created at the terminals 401 and 411 of the transfer destinations 40 and 41, the actual transmission destination address TTA is added to the first line in the text. The specified source address DOA as the desired source is described in the second line. Therefore, under this premise, control device 100 acquires actual destination address TTA and designated source address DOA from the first and second lines of e-mail text MB.

The control device 100 searches the first storage device 120 storing the via address VIA data for the via address VIA (step S1820), and finds the via address VIA that matches the designated source address DOA.
It is determined whether or not exists (step S1830).
When the control device 100 determines that the designated source address DOA and the via address VIA match (step S1830: Yes), that is, when it determines that the designated source address DOA is the via address VIA, Specify the actual source address TOA with the specified source address DO
A is set (step S1840).

On the other hand, if control device 100 determines that the designated source address DOA and the via address VIA do not match (step S1830: No),
That is, the designated source address DOA is the
If it is determined that it is not IA, the actual source address TO
A is the mail address MS on the centralized management mail server 10
A is set (step S1850). In more detail, Fr
The designated source address DOA or the mail address MSA on the centralized management mail server 10 is described in the om header.
Note that the To header has the actual destination address T acquired earlier.
TA is described.

The control device 100 obtains the obtained actual transmission destination address TTA, real transmission source address TOA, and mail text MB.
Is stored in the outgoing mail database constructed on the fourth storage device 150 (step S1860). The control device 100 transmits the mail text MB together with the header information to the actual transmission destination address TTA (step S18).
70) Return to the original processing routine.

As a result, even if the electronic mail is newly created at the transfer destinations 40 and 41 and is not returned to the virtual source address VA, the e-mail addresses of the transfer destinations 40 and 41 are not disclosed, Can be sent to the destination. In addition, even for a newly created e-mail, its actual destination address TTA and actual source address T
The OA and the e-mail text MB are stored in the fourth storage device 1
Since the information is stored in the file 50, the stored information can be used as a mail transmission log. Therefore, irrespective of whether the mail is a new mail or a reply mail, the transmission management of the electronic mail is managed by the centralized management mail server 10.
The above can be performed collectively.

As described above, according to the unified management mail server 10 according to the present embodiment, the senders 20, 21,
A virtual source address VA is generated for each combination of the source address OA and the transit address VIA for all the e-mails received from No. 2. Therefore, using the virtual source address VA, whether the received e-mail is an e-mail received from the transmission sources 20, 21, 22
Alternatively, it can be determined whether the email is a reply or a newly created email from the transfer destinations 40 and 41. As a result, the processing for the e-mail received from the transmission sources 20, 21, 22 and the processing for the e-mail received from the transfer destinations 40, 41 can be appropriately distinguished and executed.

Further, since the virtual source address VA is generated for each combination of the source address OA and the via address VIA, the case where the electronic mail is centrally managed for each source address OA or each via address VIA is considered. In comparison, unified management can be simplified and facilitated, and the management load of the virtual source address VA in the unified management mail server 10 can be reduced.

The source address OA, the via address VIA, and the mail text MB of the electronic mail received by the transfer destinations 40 and 41 via the centralized management mail server 10 are stored in the third storage device 140 of the centralized management mail server 10. Is stored in Therefore, even if the third party has a plurality of e-mail addresses (public addresses) that can be transmitted, that is, even if it has a plurality of transit addresses VIA, the third-party management server 10 By using the information stored on the third storage device 140 as a reception log, the received mail can be centrally managed. Further, since the virtual source address VA is used, centralized management can be easily performed.

Further, the e-mail returned or newly transmitted from the transfer destinations 40 and 41 passes through the unified management mail server 10, and the real transmission destination address TTA, the real transmission source address TOA, and the mail text MB are unified management. It is stored on the fourth storage device 150 of the mail server 10. Therefore, by using the stored transmission information as the transmission log, the unified management of e-mails returned or newly transmitted from the transfer destinations 40 and 41 can be easily performed.

As described above, by setting the transmission destination of the e-mail address or the transfer destination in the centralized management mail server 10 according to the present embodiment, the transfer destinations 40, 4
Log of e-mail transferred to 1 and transfer destination 4
The logs of the e-mails sent and returned from 0 and 41 are both stored on the centralized management mail server 10. Therefore, it is not necessary to hold and manage the transmission / reception logs in the terminals 401 and 411 of the transfer destinations 40 and 41, and it is possible to easily manage the transmission and reception of the e-mail. Further, since the transmission and reception of e-mail can be managed on the centralized management mail server 10, the decentralization of e-mail management, which has been a problem when using the transfer function, can be solved.

[0108] Centralized management mail server 10 according to the present embodiment
Is used, the origin of the reply mail from the transfer destination and the newly created e-mail can be set to the public mail address (via address) owned by the user or the mail address on the centralized management mail server 10. it can. Therefore, even when replying to e-mail from the forwarding destination, by setting the public e-mail address as the sender address, it is possible to make the reply e-mail from the public e-mail address sent by the sender (reply recipient). it can. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which an e-mail from an unintended source address is received and the sender is confused. Also, without disclosing the forwarding address,
Public e-mail address or centralized mail server 1
The transmission / reception of an e-mail can be executed using the address of 0.

While the unified management system for the e-mail using the unified management mail server 10 according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiment of the present invention, the above-described embodiment of the present invention can be understood from the understanding of the present invention. This is for ease of use and does not limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

For example, in the above embodiment, the virtual source address VA is set to the source address OA and the via address VI.
A is generated for each combination of A, but the source address O
It may be generated in units of A.

The transmission route of the e-mail from the transmission sources 20, 21 and 22 is merely an example, and for example,
After passing through the passing mail server a plurality of times, the mail may reach the centralized management mail server 10 according to the present embodiment. In such a case, the mail address of the first transit mail server viewed from the transmission sources 20, 21, 22 is changed to the actual transmission source address TO.
A may be set.

Furthermore, the terms source and destination used in this embodiment merely define the source or destination of an e-mail at a specific point in time, and the relationship between them is reversed at different points in time. It could be.

In this embodiment, the virtual source address VA is automatically assigned to the received e-mail. For example, the virtual source address VA may be assigned to the speaker in advance on a bulletin board or the like. good. In such a case, it is not necessary for the speaker to disclose the private mail address, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which slander or the like to the comment is sent to the private mail address.

Further, the user of the unified management mail server 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a virtual source address VA in advance.
May be assigned and used as a time-limited e-mail address. In such a case, there is an advantage that the private mail address can be made public through several exchanges of e-mails without suddenly making the private mail address public. In any case, another embodiment utilizing the feature of the present embodiment that the mail address of the transfer destination is not disclosed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of a unified management system of electronic mail centered on a unified management mail server according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of a centralized management mail server 10 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine executed by the centralized management mail server 10 according to the embodiment after receiving an e-mail.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of a mail transfer process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing routine executed to acquire a virtual source address.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of mail reply processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed processing routine of a mail transmission process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Unification management mail server 100 ... Control device 101 ... Central processing unit (CPU) 102 ... Read-only memory (ROM) 103 ... Random access memory (RAM) 110 ... Network connection device 120 ... First storage device 130 ... Second storage Device 140: Third storage device 150: Fourth storage device 160: Fifth storage device 20, 21, 22 ... Source 201, 211, 221 Terminal 202, 212, 222 ... Mail server 30 ... First via mail server 31 ... Second via mail servers 40,41 ... Transfer destinations 401,411 ... Terminals 402,412 ... Mail servers

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A method for centrally managing e-mail, comprising: receiving an e-mail; determining whether a source address of the received e-mail is a predetermined transfer address; If it is determined that the address is not the predetermined forwarding address, a unique identification code is assigned to the original source address of the received e-mail, and the virtual transmission of the received e-mail is performed using the identification code. A method for centrally managing e-mails, comprising: generating an original address; and transmitting the received e-mail to the predetermined transfer address using the virtual source address as a new source address. 2. The unified management method of an electronic mail according to claim 1, wherein when the source address is determined to be the predetermined transfer address, the received electronic mail is sent to the virtual source address. It is determined whether the received e-mail is a reply e-mail to the virtual source address, if the received e-mail is determined to be a return e-mail to the virtual source address, the original source address based on the identification code And acquiring the reply e-mail to the acquired original transmission address using a public address different from the predetermined transfer address as a new transmission source address. 3. The unified management method of an electronic mail according to claim 1, wherein a transmission destination address is described at a position where a transmission destination address of a body of the electronic mail transmitted from the predetermined transfer address can be specified. If it is determined that the source address is the default transfer address, it is determined whether the received e-mail is a return e-mail to the virtual source address, If it is determined that the mail is not a reply e-mail to the virtual source address, a destination address is obtained from a position where a destination address of the body of the received e-mail can be specified, and the predetermined transfer address and Transmitting the e-mail to the obtained destination address with a different public address as a new source address. Centralized management method of that e-mail. 4. The electronic mail unifying method according to claim 3, wherein the position at which the destination address can be specified is a first line of the text of the received electronic mail. Centralized mail management method. 5. A method for centrally managing e-mail, comprising: receiving an e-mail; determining whether the received e-mail is a transferred e-mail; If it is determined that the received e-mail is, a unique identification code is assigned to the original transmission address and the transfer source address of the received e-mail, and using the identification code, a virtual A method for centrally managing e-mails, wherein a source address is generated, and the received e-mail is transmitted to the predetermined transfer address using the virtual source address as a new source address. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein when it is determined that the received e-mail is not a forwarded e-mail, the source address of the received e-mail is a predetermined transfer. It is determined whether or not the address is an address, and when it is determined that the source address is not the predetermined transfer address, a unique identification code is assigned to an original transmission address of the received e-mail, and the identification code is Generating a virtual source address of the received e-mail, and transmitting the received e-mail to the predetermined transfer address with the virtual source address as a new source address. Centralized management of email. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the source address is determined to be the predetermined transfer address, the received email is sent to the virtual source address. It is determined whether or not it is a reply e-mail, If the received e-mail is determined to be a reply e-mail to the virtual source address, the original source address based on the identification code, Alternatively, one of the original source address and the transfer source address is obtained, and a public address different from the predetermined transfer address, or one of the transfer source addresses as a new source address, Transmitting the reply e-mail to the acquired original transmission address. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the source address is determined to be the predetermined transfer address, the received email is sent to the virtual source address. It is determined whether or not it is a reply e-mail, and the destination address is described in a position where the destination address in the body of the e-mail transmitted from the predetermined transfer address can be specified, and the received e-mail is described. If it is determined that the mail is not a reply e-mail to the virtual source address, a destination address is obtained from a position in the text of the received e-mail where the destination address can be specified, and the transfer source address is newly set. Sending the e-mail to the obtained destination address as a unique source address Centralized management method. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the line at which the destination address can be specified is the first line of the body of the electronic mail. Management method. 10. An e-mail management device for centrally managing e-mail, an e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail transmitted to a basic address to be managed, and a source address of the received e-mail. Source address determining means for determining whether or not the address is a predetermined transfer address; and, when determining that the source address is not the predetermined transfer address, an original source of the received e-mail. Extended address issuing means for issuing a unique extended address to an address, virtual source address generating means for generating a virtual source address by combining the basic address and the extended address, and a new virtual source address. Forward the received e-mail with the source address set to the predetermined transfer address E-mail management device and a e-mail sending means. 11. The e-mail management device according to claim 10, further comprising: if the source e-mail is determined to be the predetermined transfer address, the received e-mail is sent to the virtual source. An e-mail type determining means for determining whether or not the received e-mail is a reply e-mail to the address; and if the received e-mail is judged to be a return e-mail to the virtual source address, the virtual transmission Destination address acquisition means for acquiring the original source address based on the original address, and a public address different from the predetermined transfer address as a new source address, with respect to the acquired original source address An electronic mail centralized management device, comprising: an electronic mail reply means for transmitting the reply electronic mail. 12. An integrated mail management apparatus for integrally managing electronic mail transmitted to a basic address to be managed, an electronic mail receiving means for receiving an electronic mail transmitted to the basic address, Source address determination means for determining whether the source address of the received e-mail matches the predetermined transfer address, and if the source address does not match the predetermined transfer address If it is determined, the transit address determining means for determining whether the received e-mail has been transferred via a transit address other than the source address, and that the received e-mail has been transferred through the transit address If it is determined, a unique address is set for each combination of the source address of the received e-mail and the transit address. Extension address generation means for generating an extension address; virtual source address generation means for generating a virtual source address by combining the basic address and the extension address; and Transmission information setting means for setting the predetermined transfer address to the actual transmission destination address of the received e-mail, and transmitting the e-mail to the set actual transmission destination address. An integrated e-mail management device comprising: 13. The integrated e-mail management apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: determining that the source address of the received e-mail matches the predetermined transfer address. A destination address determining means for determining whether or not the destination address of the mail includes the extension address; and determining that the destination address of the received email includes the extension address. An extended address information acquisition unit that acquires the original source address and the pass-through address using the unique extended address, wherein the transmission information setting unit transmits the acquired original source address to the electronic device. In addition to setting the actual destination address of the e-mail, the acquired transit address is replaced with the new e-mail address An e-mail centralized management device, which is set as a source address. 14. The centralized e-mail management device according to claim 13, wherein a destination address is described in a position where a destination address in a body of the received e-mail can be specified, and the centralized e-mail management is performed. The apparatus may further include, if it is determined that the extension address is not included in the destination address of the received e-mail, the destination address in a position where the destination address in the body of the received e-mail can be specified. Real transmission destination address setting means for acquiring, the transmission information setting means sets the transit address to a new source address of the received e-mail address, and sets the acquired transmission address to the received e-mail. A centralized e-mail management device, wherein the e-mail is set to the actual destination address of the e-mail. 15. The electronic mail central management apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the position at which the destination address can be specified is a first line of the body of the received electronic mail. Centralized management device. 16. A first mail server for receiving an e-mail from a source to a first e-mail address and transferring the received e-mail to a second e-mail address, and a second e-mail address. Together with the e-mail transferred from the first mail server,
E-mail system including a second mail server for re-forwarding to an e-mail address of a third mail server, and a third mail server having a third e-mail address and receiving e-mail re-forwarded from the second mail server In the above, the second mail server may include: an original source address obtaining means for obtaining an original source address based on header information of a received electronic mail; and the obtained original source address being the third electronic mail. An original source address determining means for determining whether or not the address is an address; and determining that the original source address is not the third electronic mail address, based on the header information of the received electronic mail. Transfer source address obtaining means for obtaining the first electronic mail address, the obtained original source address and the obtained first electronic mail address. An extension address generation unit that generates a unique extension address for each combination of mail addresses; a virtual source address generation unit that generates a virtual source address by combining the second email address and the extension address; Transmission information setting means for setting the generated virtual source address to a new source address of the electronic mail and setting the third electronic mail address to a real destination address; A transmission means for transmitting the electronic mail to the address. 17. The e-mail system according to claim 16, wherein the third mail server, when generating a new e-mail, adds a new transmission address to a first line in a body of the e-mail. An e-mail system comprising an e-mail generating means for writing the first e-mail address on the second line. 18. The e-mail system according to claim 17, wherein the second mail server determines that the obtained original source address is the third e-mail address. An e-mail type determining means for determining whether or not the received e-mail is a return e-mail to the virtual source address based on header information of the received e-mail; and If it is determined that the reply mail is a reply mail, the transmission information setting means includes: a transmission destination information acquisition unit that acquires the original source address and the first electronic mail address using the extension address. Setting the obtained first e-mail address as a new source address of the e-mail; E-mail system, characterized in that to set the source to the real destination address. 19. The e-mail system according to claim 17, wherein the second mail server determines that the obtained original source address is the third e-mail address. An e-mail type determining means for determining whether or not the received e-mail is a return e-mail to the virtual source address based on header information of the received e-mail; and A destination information acquisition unit that acquires the new transmission address and the first e-mail address from the first line of the text of the received e-mail when it is determined that the received e-mail is not a reply e-mail to the address; Transmission information setting means for setting the obtained first e-mail address as a new source address of the e-mail Rutotomoni, electronic mail system and sets the acquired new transmission address to the real destination address.