JP2002312288A - Electronic mail address with limitation and communication system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the security by opening an electronic mail address, which automatically lapses in response to a specified limit condition. SOLUTION: The only part of a user name of one's electronic mail address is changed to open a temporary mail address with limitation. As a limitation item, at least one or both of the number of effective use and the effective period are limited, and when the number of effective use and the period exceed the limitation, the temporary mail address can not be used. In the case of the Internet communication using the temporary mail address, even if other person aims to illicitly use the temporary mail address, the mail address lapses to prevent the illicit use of the mail address.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a restricted e-mail address and a communication system using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, all e-mails such as exchanging e-mails with friends, contacting e-mails related to work, requesting materials on a homepage, applying for sweepstakes by e-mail, and responding to auctions. Use one or a few e-mail addresses. In the process, the sender informs the recipient of his mail address. Even in the case of passing through a mailbox, the user is notified of the mailbox account.
Therefore, if a bad recipient is encountered unfortunately, the privacy of the sender may be violated.

When a malicious mail comes to be sent, the following method must be mainly used. (1) exclude emails from specific email addresses,
(2) Change mailbox, (3) Cancel email address.

In the case of the above (1), if a different mail address is used, it cannot be excluded. Since there are many free connection companies and email addresses, it is easy to obtain a different email address.

In the case of the above (2), (1) the past mail must be saved, (2) the change procedure must be performed, (3) the mailbox may be temporarily unavailable, 4) Depending on the merchant, re-registration fees may be incurred, and (5) a new mailbox must be notified. In addition, (6) there is a problem that a mail may be sent to an old mailbox re-registered by a third party without knowing the circumstances.

In the case of the above (3), (1) the past mail must be stored, (2) the cancellation procedure must be performed, (3) the mail address may be temporarily lost, (4) ) You have to apply for a new email address, (5) you may have to pay an initial registration fee depending on your provider, and (6) you must give your new email address. (7) There is a complicated problem that an e-mail may be sent to an old e-mail address re-registered by a third party without knowing the circumstances.

[0007]

It is troublesome to adopt any of the above methods. When a malicious e-mail is newly sent, the above is repeated. Therefore,
It is an object of the present invention to prevent the above-described inconvenience by opening a mail address that automatically disappears or becomes unusable according to a specific restriction condition.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a temporary mail address in which only a user name of a mail address unique to a user is changed, and at least one of a valid use count and a valid use period is provided. It has imposed restrictions on both, or both, so that restricted e-mail addresses could be opened that would expire or become unusable if the restrictions were exceeded.

The above-mentioned restricted e-mail address may be mixed with the user's own unique e-mail address, or linked to the unique e-mail address so that the user can use the unique e-mail address. Only the temporary mail address may be distributed on the Internet.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, terms used in the following embodiments will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a part of "ABC" on the left side of the at mark 1 in the mail address is a user name, and a part of "abc.co.jp" on the right side is a domain name.

Next, a restricted e-mail address (hereinafter referred to as "
A method of establishing a temporary email address will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the user 10 can communicate data with a server (provider) 20 via a public line communication network using communication means such as a personal computer 11, a mobile phone 12, and a PDA 13. Has a homepage for setting up a temporary email address.

As shown in steps 30 to 33 of FIG.
First, open the temporary mail address establishment homepage and enter your own unique mail address and desired user name.
Of course, this user name may be assigned by the server 20. Then, the restriction items are set. Here, the restriction items are the number of valid uses, the valid period, and other purposes of use.If these restrictions restrict the provisional e-mail address and exceed the number of valid uses or the valid period, or deviate from the purpose of use, etc. Make that email address unusable. Of course, the restriction items can be combined. For example, by combining the number of valid uses and the valid period, the temporary e-mail address can be invalidated by the restriction item that has exceeded any of them earlier. Needless to say, it can be combined with other restriction items. The number of times of use may be either the number of times of transmission or the number of times of transmission / reception. The temporary mail address thus established has the same domain name as the unique mail address, but differs only in the user name. One or more temporary mail addresses can be established.

When the user 10 sends an e-mail using the temporary address, as shown in steps 40 to 44 in FIG. The server etc. determines whether it is a temporary email address, if it is a temporary email address, confirms that it is within the conditions of the restriction item, if it is within the conditions, sends it with the temporary email address, and if it is outside the conditions, it notifies that transmission is impossible To the user.

When receiving the mail, as shown in steps 50 to 55 in FIG. 5, the mail server checks whether or not the destination of the received mail is a temporary mail address. It is determined whether or not the condition (1) is satisfied. If the condition is satisfied, the mail is delivered with a temporary mail address (input to a mailbox). If the condition of the restriction item is not satisfied in step 53, for example, if the validity limit period has been exceeded, the mail sender is notified without a mail address.

In the processes of FIGS. 3 to 5, the user 10 selects and sends a unique mail address or a temporary mail address. However, the temporary mail address is linked to the unique mail address, 10 may use only a unique e-mail address, and while the provisional e-mail address is valid, transmission and reception may be performed on the Internet using only the provisional e-mail address.

[0016]

According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to open an e-mail address with restrictions on the number of times of use and the period of use, and when these restrictions are exceeded, the e-mail address is deleted or Since it has been disabled, it helps improve security for unique email addresses.

Further, since only the user name of the e-mail address needs to be changed, the opening means is simple, there is no problem such as shortage of the e-mail address, and the e-mail address is handled as a normal e-mail address on the Internet.
There is no danger of disrupting the Internet system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an e-mail address.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a restricted mail address opening system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for opening a restricted mail address.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of transmitting with a restricted e-mail address.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process for receiving at a restricted e-mail address.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 At-sign 10 User 11 Personal computer 12 Mobile telephone 13 PDA 20 Server 30-33 Opening temporary mail address 40-44 Sending step using temporary mail address 50-55 Receiving step using temporary mail address

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A temporary e-mail address in which only a user name of an e-mail address unique to a user is changed, and at least one or both of a valid use count and a valid period are restricted, and disappears when the restriction is exceeded. Or a restricted email address that you have disabled. 2. A communication system using a restricted e-mail address in which a user selects either a unique e-mail address or the restricted e-mail address of claim 1 to perform Internet communication. 3. An e-mail address unique to a user and a restricted e-mail address of claim 1 are linked, and the user can enter a restricted e-mail address for performing Internet communication using only the e-mail address. Communication system used.