JP2002269013A - Electronic card distribution system having return function using communication network, electronic card distribution method, recording medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic card distribution system having a return function using the Internet and the like. SOLUTION: Electronic card information, electronic card identification information, inquiry information and reporter information are associatively stored in a database of a service provider server 20 based on information form a sender. Read request information for reading to an electronic card is imparted to a receiver. Since the read request information is associated with electronic card identification information and receiver information, it can be discriminated that from which receiver the read request information of the electronic card is sent when it is sent from the receiver. Corresponding electronic card information and inquiry information and are made correspond to the receiver information and are sent to the receiver sending the reference request information, thus the receiver can read an inquiry article together with the electronic card.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic card distribution system having a reply function using a communication network such as the Internet, a distribution method, a recording medium, and a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a service for distributing an electronic card using a communication network such as the Internet has been provided. In this service, a sender who is an electronic card creator accesses a service provider server using a communication network, designates an e-mail address of a recipient to be delivered, and registers by inputting a common message. . The e-mail address data of the recipient and the common message are stored in the service provider server. Then, an electronic card creation notification mail indicating that the stored electronic card has been created is transmitted from the service provider server to the distribution destination address. Upon receipt of the electronic card creation notification mail, the card reader who is the recipient can access the service provider server, transmit a display request, and browse the common message stored in the service provider server. It is possible.

[0003]

However, in the above service, the card viewer who is the distribution destination only browses the common message. Therefore, even if the sender who is the electronic card creator wants to reply from the recipient who delivered it, there is no other way than to obtain the reply information individually from the recipient by e-mail or other means, and the management of the reply information is centralized There is a problem that it can not be done.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to enable distribution of an electronic card having a reply function.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system for distributing an electronic card having a reply function using a communication network such as the Internet. A database in which electronic card information to be displayed on the electronic card, electronic card identification information for identifying the electronic card, inquiry information to request a reply, and destination information on the destination to which the electronic card should be sent are stored in association with each other; Electronic card notifying means for notifying, via a communication network, browsing request information from a recipient for browsing the electronic card with the electronic card identification information and the recipient information, Receiving the browsing request information sent via the The card identification information and 該届 predecessors information associated with the information extracting electronic card information and query information stored in said database,
Electronic card transmitting means for transmitting the extracted electronic card information and inquiry information in association with the electronic card identification information and recipient information, and a reply for receiving response information to the inquiry information in association with the electronic card identification information and recipient information Information receiving means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the database of the first aspect, sender information relating to a sender of the electronic card is stored in association with the electronic card information, and is received by the reply information receiving means. Reply notification means for notifying, via a communication network, the sender associated with the corresponding electronic card information of the returned reply information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the database according to the first aspect stores sender information relating to a sender of the electronic card in association with the electronic card information, and further includes the reply information receiving means. And a permission unit for permitting a sender associated with the corresponding electronic card information to view the reply information stored in the reply database.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the permission means according to the third aspect allows the reply information stored in the reply database to be viewed by a destination person associated with the corresponding electronic card information. Is also allowed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distribution method for distributing an electronic card having a reply function from a distribution system using a communication network such as the Internet, comprising: electronic card information to be displayed on the electronic card; Electronic card identification information for identifying an electronic card, inquiry information to request a reply, and destination information regarding a destination to which the electronic card should be sent, and storing the information in a database of a distribution system in a mutually correlated manner. A request for browsing a card, in association with the electronic card identification information and the addressee information, notifying from the distribution system via the communication network, and transmitting the information from the addressee terminal via the communication network. Receiving the browse request information, the electronic card identification information associated with the browse request information And extracting, from the recipient information, electronic card information and inquiry information stored in the database in association with the information, and transmitting the extracted electronic card information and inquiry information from the distribution system to the recipient terminal. Displaying the electronic card information and the inquiry information transmitted to the recipient terminal, prompting a reply to the inquiry information, and returning information to the inquiry information input from the recipient terminal, the electronic card identification information and A step of adding the recipient information and a step of receiving the reply information by the distribution system.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform distribution processing of an electronic card having a reply function using a communication network such as the Internet. Registration of electronic card information to be displayed on the electronic card, electronic card identification information for identifying the electronic card, inquiry information to request a reply, and destination information to the destination to which the electronic card should be sent, and registering them in the database. Means, electronic card notifying means for notifying, via the communication network, browsing request information for browsing the electronic card to the recipient, in association with the electronic card identification information and the recipient information, and a communication network. Receiving the browsing request information sent from the recipient via From the electronic card identification information and the recipient information associated with the information, the electronic card information and the inquiry information stored in the database in association with the information are extracted, and the extracted electronic card information and the inquiry information are extracted. An electronic card transmitting unit that transmits the electronic card identification information and the recipient information in association with the electronic card identification information and a reply information receiving unit that receives the reply information to the inquiry information in association with the electronic card identification information and the recipient information; The program has been recorded.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to perform distribution processing of an electronic card having a reply function using a communication network such as the Internet. Registration means for associating electronic card information to be displayed, electronic card identification information for identifying the electronic card, inquiry information to request a reply to, and destination information regarding the destination to which the electronic card should be sent, and registering them in a database; Electronic card notifying means for notifying, via a communication network, browsing request information for browsing the electronic card with the electronic card identification information and the recipient information, and sending the information via a communication network. Receiving the browsing request information from the recipient, From the electronic card identification information and the recipient information, electronic card information and inquiry information stored in the database in association with these information are extracted, and the extracted electronic card information and inquiry information are extracted as electronic card identification information and An electronic card transmitting means for transmitting the information in association with the recipient information, and a reply information receiving means for receiving the reply information to the inquiry information in association with the electronic card identification information and the recipient information are made to function.

In the present invention, based on information from a sender,
Electronic card information, electronic card identification information,
The inquiry information and the recipient information are stored in association with each other. Then, it notifies the recipient of browsing request information for browsing the electronic card. Since this browsing request information is associated with the electronic card identification information and the recipient information, when the recipient sends the electronic card browsing request information, it is determined from which recipient the electronic card browsing request information was sent. Can be identified. In this way, the corresponding electronic card information and inquiry information are transmitted to the recipient who sent the browsing request information in association with the electronic card identification information and the recipient information, and the recipient sends the inquiry article together with the electronic card. In addition to being able to browse, when reply information to the inquiry information is sent from the recipient, the electronic card identification information and the recipient information can be transmitted in association with each other. In this way, the reply information can be obtained in association with the recipient information.
It is possible to identify which electronic card is returned from which receiver.

A process equivalent to a delivery having a reply procedure, for example, a return postcard or a reply postcard attached to an invitation, which has been performed by mail or the like, is electronically performed on a communication network such as the Internet. Since the reply information can be obtained electronically, the convenience is improved also in the subsequent processing. The recipient can simply perform a reply process because he only needs to reply to the inquiry.

Optionally, by notifying the sender of the reply information, the sender can grasp the reply status.

[0015] Optionally, the reply information is stored in a reply database so that the sender can browse the reply information related to the sender stored in the reply database, so that the sender can receive the reply information. You can check the reply status at any time. Also,
Since the database is automatically created, the sender does not have to create the database independently, which is convenient.

Optionally, the reply information stored in the reply database can be viewed not only by the sender but also by the recipient, so that the recipient can confirm the contents of the reply made by the recipient. In addition to this, when there are a plurality of recipients, it is possible to check the reply status from other recipients. Also, the reply database automatically constructed by the recipient can be used.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the specification, but can be variously modified within the scope of the claims.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration including an electronic card distribution system of the present invention and a system for implementing the method of the present invention. In the figure, reference numerals 10, 1
0,... Are computers or mobile phones or PHSs that can be connected to a public communication network such as the Internet via wired or wireless telephone lines and providers.
It is a terminal such as a wireless terminal such as a telephone, and its browser function allows transmission and reception of data of the following service provider server 20 and browsing of image files such as an electronic card registration screen via a public communication network. The electronic card creator (that is, the sender of the electronic card) and the electronic card reader (that is, the addressee of the electronic card) can operate the electronic card in a timely manner.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a service provider server as an electronic card distribution system of the present invention, which is always connected to a public communication network such as the Internet.
A homepage for creating electronic cards has been established on public communication networks such as the Internet. Of course, the electronic card distribution system may be composed of not only a single service provider server as shown, but also a plurality of devices, and it does not matter whether these devices are physically separated. .

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the service provider server 20. This service provider server 20
An input / output control circuit 202 for controlling input / output of data with the terminal 10 connected via a communication network such as the Internet; a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like; And a control circuit 204 for storing a main program and a storage device such as a hard disk. Various programs are stored in the storage device, and the electronic card distribution system according to the present invention operates based on the programs. As an electronic card distribution program for executing this series of electronic card distribution processing, the service provider server 20
The electronic card registration unit 240, the electronic card creation / transmission unit 242, the registration notification creation / transmission unit 243, the electronic card notification creation / transmission unit 244, the distribution completion notification creation / transmission unit 24
6, a program for functioning as an electronic card confirmation notification creation / transmission unit 247, a reply processing unit 248, and a response notification creation / transmission unit 250 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic card distribution system stores a program stored in a compact disk 40 or a floppy (registered trademark) disk 50 as a recording medium in a CD drive 42 of the service provider server 20 or a floppy disk. The operation may be performed by inserting the compact disk 40 or the floppy disk 50 into the disk drive 52 and copying it to a storage device such as a hard disk of the service provider server 20. In addition, as the recording medium, in addition to the above, an optical recording medium such as a DVD, a magnetic recording medium such as an MD,
Alternatively, an IC card or the like can be used.

Further, the storage device of the service provider server 20 has an electronic card registration database 220 in which data such as electronic card information for displaying each electronic card is registered, and a reply in which reply information to the electronic card is stored. A database 224 is provided, and a display file described in html or the like for displaying a registration initial screen or the like is stored.

In the electronic card distribution system configured as described above, the operation of each function and the details of its database will be described below (see FIG. 3).

First, the electronic card creator specifies the URL of the homepage for creating an electronic card of the service provider server 20 from the computer or the wireless terminal, and displays the registration initial screen on the display unit (FIG. 4). The registration screen may be any screen. In this example, the registration screen is a screen for prompting selection of image data to be displayed on a card from a plurality of image data candidates. When the desired image data is selected and the “create card” button is selected (or clicked, the same applies hereinafter), the electronic card registration unit 240 is activated, and the selected image data and detailed data are stored. A registration screen for prompting registration is displayed (FIG. 5). Items to be registered by the sender include the name of the sender who is the electronic card creator,
In addition to the sender information such as the sender's e-mail address, the recipient's name, the recipient's information such as the recipient's e-mail address, the delivery date, the electronic card information such as the message put on the electronic card, as well as inquiries, selection items, and comments Inquiry information such as the presence or absence of a column is included. This inquiry information is information that the recipient wants to reply to.For example, if the message of the distribution information is a notification about the holding of the event and you want to inquire about the attendance, Please, "and" selection items "can be" I will attend "," I will be absent "," Undecided ", etc.

When these items are entered and the “register card” button is selected, the input data is transmitted to the service provider server 20 and the electronic card registration unit 240
Thus, these data (hereinafter referred to as electronic card information) are stored in the electronic card registration database 220 of the service provider server 20. At the same time, the electronic card registration unit 240 sends a card ID every time the electronic card is registered.
A number (or symbol) is issued, and the electronic card registration database 2 is associated with the card ID number and the registered data.
20. The card ID number can function alone or together or selectively with other numbers (or symbols) as electronic card identification information identifying the electronic card.

Next, the registration notification creation / transmission unit 243 starts up, and creates / transmits a registration notification e-mail to the sender's e-mail address. The registration notification e-mail includes a notification that the electronic card registration has been completed, as shown in FIG.

Next, the electronic card notification creation / transmission unit 24
4 starts and addresses each recipient's e-mail address.
Create and send electronic card notification emails. As shown in FIG. 7B, the electronic card notification e-mail includes a notification that the electronic card has been sent, and a URL (hereinafter, referred to as an electronic mail) as browse request information for browsing the electronic card creation. Card URL). In the electronic card URL, a program for creating an electronic card is specified, and an electronic card ID number (or a symbol) and a number (or a symbol) for identifying a recipient are associated and specified as arguments. ing. After sending the electronic card notification e-mail, the distribution completion notification creation / transmission unit 2
46 is started, and a delivery completion notification email is created and transmitted to the sender's email address again. The electronic card delivery completion e-mail includes a notification that the electronic card has been delivered, as shown in FIG. 7C.

Next, when the electronic card URL notified by the electronic mail is specified from the terminal 10 of the recipient who has received the electronic card notification electronic mail, the electronic card creation / transmission unit 242 starts. Electronic card creation / transmission unit 242
Identifies the corresponding electronic card and the corresponding recipient from the specified argument, and registers the electronic card registration database 2
From the corresponding data stored in 20, data for displaying an electronic card on the display unit of the terminal 10 of the corresponding recipient is transmitted via the communication network. The transmission data for displaying the electronic card includes, for example, image data selected by the sender, the name of the recipient, the message, the name of the sender, an inquiry, a selection item, and a comment column (if there is a comment column). Contains data. FIG. 6 is an example of an electronic card displayed on the display unit of the terminal 10. The electronic card displays the selected image data, the message of the sender, and the like, as well as the normal electronic card, and displays the inquiry information based on the designation of the sender, and prompts the user to input the inquiry information. It has become. When the electronic card creation / transmission unit 242 creates an electronic card for a certain recipient, the electronic card confirmation notification creation / transmission unit 247 is activated with this creation as a trigger and sends an electronic mail to the sender's email address. Create and send a card confirmation notification email.
As shown in FIG. 7D, the electronic card confirmation notification e-mail includes a notification that the corresponding recipient has viewed the electronic card.

When the inquiry information shown in FIG. 6 is input from the terminal 10 of the recipient and the "send" button is selected, the reply information is transmitted to the service provider server 20 via the communication network. You. At this time, the transmitted data includes, in addition to the reply information to the inquiry input from the recipient terminal 10, a card ID number (or symbol) attached to the display file of the electronic card, and a number for identifying the recipient. (Or symbol) data is transmitted in association with return information. On the service provider server 20 side, the reply processing unit 248 starts up and stores the card ID number (or symbol) in the reply database 224.
Reply information is stored in association with the data of the number (or symbol) for identifying the recipient. Next, create a reply notification
The transmitting unit 250 is activated, and creates and transmits a reply notification e-mail to the sender's e-mail address. As shown in FIG. 7 (e), the reply notification e-mail can include the name of the recipient and reply information.

In this manner, the sender can receive a notification of the reply result from each recipient regarding the inquiries requested by him / her, and therefore can centrally manage the reply data. On the recipient side,
You only need to answer the inquiry information and select the "Send" button.Especially, you do not have to start the e-mail creation software yourself and enter the reply text, and you can easily perform the reply process It can be convenient.

FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 are views showing a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the sender who is the electronic card creator can browse the reply database 224, and is used for managing the access right of the reply database 224. An authentication section (permission means) 254 and a reply data reading section 256 for reading reply data stored in the reply database 224 are provided. When registering an electronic card, the electronic card registration unit 240 issues a password together with the card ID number, and stores the card ID number and the password in the electronic card registration database 220 in association with electronic card information. . Then, the registration notification creation / transmission unit 243 sends a notification to the sender that the electronic card registration has been completed,
Card ID number (or symbol), password and reply database 2 issued by the electronic card registration unit 240
The user is notified of a URL for browsing 24 (hereinafter referred to as a reply browsing URL).

After receiving the registration notification e-mail, the sender can designate the reply viewing URL notified by the registration notification e-mail from the terminal 10 as appropriate. When the reply browsing URL is designated, a screen prompting for input of a card ID number (or symbol) and a password is displayed as shown in FIG. The notified card ID
When the number (or symbol) and the password are input and the “Send” button is selected, the authentication unit 254 is activated, and the card ID number (or symbol) and the password stored in the electronic card registration database 220 are entered. It is determined whether the combination is correct. If the combination is correct, the process proceeds to the next process. If the combination is not correct, an error message is displayed to prompt the user to input again. After the authentication unit 254 determines that the combination of the ID number (or symbol) and the password is correct, the reply data reading unit 256
The data from the reply database 224 storing the reply information associated with the D number (or symbol) is read out and displayed in a list on the display unit of the sender terminal 10 (see FIG. 10). In this way, the sender can check the data of the reply database 224 at any time to check who has sent the reply and who has not sent the reply, and can check the answer result. For example, in the case of the illustrated example,
Since the attendance list is automatically created, this list can be printed or downloaded and used as appropriate. As described above, since the list is automatically created, the management of the sender can be further saved.

As a modified example of the second embodiment, not only the sender but also the reply database 2 can be selectively received from the recipient.
24 data can be browsed. For example,
On the registration screen shown in FIG. 5, an item of a browsing permission flag for permitting or prohibiting browsing of the reply database 224 of the recipient is added. The electronic card registration unit 240
This browsing permission flag is stored in the electronic card registration database 220 together with other electronic card information,
A card ID number and a password are issued, and these are also stored in the electronic card registration database 220 in association with each other.

The registration notification creation / transmission unit 243 transmits the registration notification electronic mail to the electronic card registration unit 2 in the same manner as described above.
At step 40, the card ID number (or symbol) issued at 40, the password, and the reply viewing URL for browsing the reply database 224 are notified.
After determining whether or not the viewing permission flag is permitted, the transmitting unit 244 transmits the card ID number (or symbol), the password, and the reply database 224 by an electronic card notification e-mail when the permission is permitted. The reply viewing URL for viewing is notified. Alternatively, a card ID number (or a symbol), a password, and a reply viewing URL may be displayed on an electronic card instead of notifying by electronic card notification e-mail.

The recipient accesses the service providing server 20 by specifying the reply viewing URL from the terminal 10 of the recipient by the same procedure as that of the sender, receives the authentication processing by the authentication unit 254, and returns the reply information. Can be browsed. Thus, for example, it is possible to browse the attendance trends of other recipients. When the inquiry information includes, for example, attribute information of the recipient (for example, the address of the current recipient), by storing the returned information, the attribute information of all the recipients (for example, the latest address book) ) Is automatically created, which is information that can be shared by all recipients including the sender. This eliminates the need for the sender to create a database from the returned data and to distribute the created tables and the like.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the electronic card can be provided with a reply function, reply information can be centrally managed. In addition, the recipient can easily reply only by replying to the inquiry information. As a result, it is possible to realize, on a communication network, a function that is equal to or more than that of the conventional round-trip postcard and reply postcard.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration including an electronic card distribution system of the present invention and a system for implementing a method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a service provider server as an electronic card distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of information in the electronic card distribution system.

FIG. 4 is an example of an electronic card registration initial screen.

FIG. 5 is an example of a registration screen for prompting registration of detailed data.

FIG. 6 is a display example of an electronic card.

FIG. 7 is an example of various notifications by e-mail.

FIG. 8 is a configuration block diagram of a service provider server as an electronic card distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example of a screen for inputting a card ID number and a password.

FIG. 10 is a list display example of reply information.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 terminal 20 service provider server (electronic card distribution system) 220 electronic card registration database 224 reply database 240 electronic card registration unit (registering means) 242 electronic card creation / transmission unit (electronic card transmission means) 244 electronic card notification creation / transmission Section (electronic card notification means) 248 Reply processing section (reply information receiving means) 250 Reply notification creation / transmission section (reply notification means) 254 Authentication section (permission means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A computer system for delivering an electronic card having a reply function using a communication network such as the Internet, comprising: electronic card information to be displayed on the electronic card; electronic card identification information for identifying the electronic card; A database in which inquiry information to be sought and addressee information relating to an addressee to whom the electronic card should be sent are stored; and, to the addressee, browse request information for viewing the electronic card, the electronic card identification information. And an electronic card notifying unit for notifying through the communication network in correlation with the recipient information, and receiving the browsing request information from the recipient sent through the communication network, From the associated electronic card identification information and the recipient information, Electronic card transmitting means for extracting the electronic card information and the inquiry information stored in the database and transmitting the extracted electronic card information and the inquiry information in association with the electronic card identification information and the addressee information; A reply information receiving means for receiving reply information in association with the electronic card identification information and the destination information, and an electronic card distribution system having a reply function using a communication network, comprising: 2. The database stores sender information relating to the sender of the electronic card in association with the electronic card information, and associates the reply information received by the reply information receiving means with the corresponding electronic card information. The electronic card distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising: a reply notification unit that notifies the sender via the communication network. 3. A reply database storing sender information relating to a sender of the electronic card in the database in association with the electronic card information, further comprising: a reply database storing reply information received by the reply information receiving means; Viewing reply information stored in the reply database,
3. The electronic card distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising: permission means for permitting a sender associated with the corresponding electronic card information. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the permission means permits the destination information associated with the corresponding electronic card information to view the reply information stored in the reply database.
Electronic card distribution system as described. 5. A distribution method for distributing an electronic card having a reply function from a distribution system using a communication network such as the Internet, comprising: electronic card information to be displayed on the electronic card; and electronic card identification for identifying the electronic card. Correlating information, inquiry information for which a reply is required, and destination information regarding a destination to which an electronic card is to be sent, and storing the information in a database of a distribution system; and a browsing request to the destination for viewing the electronic card. Information, in association with the electronic card identification information and the recipient information, notifying the distribution system via a communication network, and receiving the browsing request information transmitted from the recipient terminal via the communication network, From the electronic card identification information and the recipient information associated with the browsing request information, Extracting electronic card information and inquiry information stored in the database in association with the information, and transmitting the extracted electronic card information and inquiry information from the distribution system to the recipient terminal; Displaying the electronic card information and the inquiry information transmitted to the user and prompting a reply to the inquiry information; and adding the electronic card identification information and the recipient information to the reply information to the inquiry information input from the recipient terminal. An electronic card distribution method having a reply function using a communication network, comprising the steps of: 6. A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to perform distribution processing of an electronic card having a reply function using a communication network such as the Internet is recorded, and the computer should be displayed on the electronic card. Electronic card information, electronic card identification information for identifying the electronic card, inquiry information to request a reply, and contact information for the recipient to whom the electronic card should be sent, and registration means for registering the recipient information in a database, and to the recipient, Electronic card notification means for associating browsing request information for browsing the electronic card with the electronic card identification information and the destination information, and notifying through a communication network; and a destination sent through the communication network. Receiving the browsing request information from a person, From the child card identification information and the recipient information, electronic card information and inquiry information stored in the database in association with the information are extracted, and the extracted electronic card information and inquiry information are extracted from the electronic card identification information and An electronic card transmitting means for transmitting the information in association with the addressee information; a reply information receiving means for receiving the response information to the inquiry information in association with the electronic card identification information and the addressee information; Computer readable recording medium. 7. A program for causing a computer to perform distribution processing of an electronic card having a reply function using a communication network such as the Internet, the computer comprising: electronic card information to be displayed on the electronic card; Registration means for associating electronic card identification information, inquiry information for which a reply is required, and addressee information relating to an addressee to whom the electronic card is to be sent with and registering the information in a database; and browsing the electronic card to the addressee. Electronic card notifying means for notifying, via a communication network, browsing request information for associating the browsing request information with the electronic card identification information and the recipient information, and the browsing request from the recipient sent via the communication network Receiving the information, the electronic card identification information associated with the browsing request information; and From the recipient information, electronic card information and inquiry information stored in the database in association with such information are extracted, and the extracted electronic card information and inquiry information are associated with the electronic card identification information and recipient information. And a reply information receiving means for receiving reply information to the inquiry information in association with the electronic card identification information and the addressee information.