JP2002330245A - Super facsimile system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for sending and distributing a large number of letters or documents over a wide range in a short time. SOLUTION: In the super facsimile system for transmitting letters or the like, this system is provided with a step (1) that a transmitting person 1 enciphers a delivery destination list 11 of letters or the like and to save it in a data server or the like on the Internet, a step (2) that the transmitting person registers the contents of sentences, pictures or the like, postal codes, indexes and the information of links to the delivery destination list on a delivery center Web site 21, a step (3) that a delivery destination center performs sorting while utilizing postal codes and transmits the contents of sentences, pictures or the like, the indexes and the information of links to the delivery destination list to delivery stations 5a and 5b, a step (4) that print-out devices 6a and 6b of closest delivery stations acquire the delivery destination list from the data server where the list is located, based on the link information and a step (5) for printing out the contents and the address of a delivery destination or the like by using the delivery destination index after the delivery destination list 11 is acquired.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a delivery system for new letters and the like. In that sense, it relates to a system that can also be called a “new postal system”, but in this application, it will be referred to as a “super facsimile system”.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a system that creates a letter or document content on the Internet, issues a delivery instruction, and enables delivery or mailing of private information such as a delivery destination and a mailing address without being known to an intermediate company or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for a mail of a type pattern such as a New Year's card, a content design such as a pattern is accepted on a web (WWW) site on the Internet, or the design is printed using a thing on the Internet. There are printing companies, etc. that are implementing a business of enclosing, sealing, and sending out to a post office. However, in this case, it is necessary to pass the mailing address list to a printer or the like via the Internet, and if the privacy protection system of the intermediate company is inadequate or a malicious person on the Internet route, In case of eavesdropping,
There is a risk that privacy information is leaked. Also, with the enclosing and sealing by printing companies and the like, and postal delivery to post offices, the postal system is the same as the conventional system, and thus there is a problem in that costs such as postage are increased.

[0003]

Therefore, in the present invention,
Creates contents of letters and documents on the Internet and instructs delivery, but research was conducted to establish a system that prevents leakage of personal information and privacy information by intermediate companies and to rationalize the postal system. It is.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is to provide a super facsimile system for transmitting a large number of letters or documents from a sender in a short period of time in a super facsimile system. Encrypting the distribution list and storing it on a data server or distributed data archive device on the Internet;
The sender puts the contents such as text, design, etc. for each destination of the letter or document, the postal code of the destination, the index in the destination list, and the destination list on the website of the distribution center on the Internet. The process of registering content data consisting of link information to a certain place, and the delivery destination center sorts the content data using the postal code, and sends the content such as text, design, etc. to the nearest delivery station of the delivery destination. Transmitting an index in the delivery list and link information to a place where the delivery list is located; and a printout device installed in the nearest delivery station of the delivery destination,
A step of obtaining a distribution list by accessing the data server having the distribution list or the distributed data archiving apparatus from the link information to the place where the distribution list is placed; and obtaining the distribution list. Using the index in the delivery destination list to search for the delivery address and name, and printing out the contents such as text and design and the delivery address and name in a letter or document. Super facsimile system.
Because of this super facsimile system, it is possible to protect privacy information and streamline delivery.

[0005] In the above, at the time of printout, if the SAM in the printout device authenticates the printout device as a valid printout device of the present system, unauthorized printout can be prevented. Further, if the delivery destination list is deleted from the storage device after the printout, it is possible to prevent the delivery destination list from being improperly output and misused. Further, after printing out at the nearest delivery station of the delivery destination, by returning the printed information to the sender, the sender can confirm that there is no mistake in the printout.

In the above, if at least a part of the content data is encrypted and transmitted, and is decrypted and printed out by a printout device installed in the nearest delivery station at the delivery destination, privacy information can be obtained. Can be further protected. Further, the distributed data archive device has a function of distributing and storing storage target data in a plurality of data servers accessible via a network, and a function of extracting stored data as needed. A distributed data archiving apparatus, comprising: dividing means for dividing data to be stored into a plurality of divided files based on a predetermined dividing method at the time of data storage; and Integrating means for integrating files and restoring the original storage target data makes it difficult to retrieve the stored data, thereby preventing misuse of the data by others.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a super facsimile system according to the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a super facsimile system of the present invention. The sender 1 of the letter or the document encrypts the delivery list 11 of the letter or the document and transmits it to the data server or the distributed data archive device in the data center 2 on the Internet for storage. The delivery destination list 11 describes a delivery address (AD), a name (AN), and an index (Idx) in the list.

[0008] The sender 1 sends an index (Idx) in the delivery destination list 11 and a sentence (C1) to the web (WWW) site 21 of the delivery center 4 on the Internet for each delivery destination of a letter or document. , Design (C2), the postal code (Mn) of the delivery destination, and link information (Li) to the place where the delivery destination list is placed. The address and name of the sender can be included in the content and handled. These are hereinafter referred to as “content data”. The delivery center 4 sorts the content data 3 using the postal code (Mn), and the nearest delivery station (post office or the like) 5 of the delivery destination.
In the print output devices 6a, 6b,... in a, 5b,..., the contents (C) such as symbols, the index (Idx) in the delivery destination list, and the link information ( Li). The link information is information on which file or the like of which data server or distributed data archive device of which data center is recorded.

The data server in the data center 2 on the Internet is a server having a normal data storage function, which is not specifically shown and described, and authenticates a partner for input / output and provides a delivery destination list. Any data can be used as long as the data can be input and output. In cases other than a heavy facility such as a postal service, a general-purpose data server function is sufficient.

Next, a distributed data archive apparatus used in the present invention will be described. The data archive device usually means an archive file. However, the distributed data archive device used in the present invention stores data to be stored in a distributed manner in a plurality of data servers accessible via a network. A distributed data archive device having a function and a function of extracting stored data as needed, wherein at the time of data storage, data to be stored is divided into a plurality of divided files based on a predetermined dividing method. It is preferable to have a dividing unit and an integrating unit that integrates the plurality of divided files and restores the original storage target data in consideration of the dividing unit when extracting data.

Such a distributed data archive apparatus is disclosed in an international application (PCT / JP00 / 0898) filed by the present applicant.
The device according to 6) is outlined below. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a distributed data archive device used in the present invention. The distributed data archive device 40 has a function of storing desired data via a network 48 to a plurality of data servers 41 (41a, 41b, 41c,... In FIG. have. This distributed data archive device 40 includes:
A portable recording medium 50 can be inserted, and when performing the above function, a cooperative operation between the distributed data archive device 40 and the portable recording medium 50 is performed. As shown in FIG. 5, the distributed data archive device 40 includes a read / write unit 42, an authentication unit 43, a division / encryption unit 44, a decryption / integration unit 45, and a data management unit 4.
6. It is composed of network communication means 47.

In order for a user to store data using the distributed data archive device 40 shown in FIG. 5, data to be stored is given to the distributed data archive device 40 in file units. Good. In FIG. 5, three files F1 and F
2 and F3 are given to the distributed data archive device 40. This distributed data archive device 40
Can be realized by incorporating a dedicated software program into a general-purpose computer including a drive device for the portable recording medium 50. On the other hand, each data server 41 includes a server main body 51 and an external storage 52. Data to be stored is stored in the network 4 for each file.
8, a plurality of data servers 41a, 41b, 4
1c is stored according to a predetermined data storage procedure. Since the distributed data archive device 40 has such a configuration, sufficient security can be ensured even when the scale of the network is increased.

In the data server and the distributed data archive device used in the present invention, it is preferable to add period restriction information indicating a restriction on the period of data to be stored, and then store the information in the data server. When performing the removal process, it is to impose a restriction based on this period restriction information. Specifically, a process of adding the period limitation information in a predetermined format to each of the data files and storing the information in each data server may be performed. For example,
For a file to which period restriction information such as "Prohibition of retrieval after the end of December 2001" is added, even if a user issues a retrieval instruction, the instruction is given after the retrieval prohibition period If this is the case, it is possible to operate such that extraction is restricted.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a delivery destination list. Actually, the address and name are transmitted after being encrypted, so that the contents cannot be decrypted until output by the printout device. This has the advantage that address data cannot be stored as digital data. Therefore, FIG. 2 can be considered as a list before encryption. The delivery destination list 11 describes the delivery destination address (AD), name (AN), link information (Li), and index (Idx).
As the link information, the IP address of the data center where the delivery destination list 11 is located is recorded. In the case of FIG.
The IP address “1A01” is specified.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing content data. As described above, the content data 3 includes the link information (Li), the index (Idx), the postal code (M
n), contents (C1 + C2) related to characters and symbols are recorded. It is preferable that portions other than the postal code of the content data be encrypted.

The print output devices 6a, 6 installed at the nearest delivery stations 5a, 5b in the delivery destination areas A and B.
b,... accesses the data server of the data center 2 where the delivery destination list is placed, and obtains the delivery destination list 11 from the link information (Li) to the place where the delivery destination list 11 is placed. At that time, the print output devices 6a, 6b,
Are authenticated by the SAMs 61a, 61b,... Within the SAMs 61a, 61b,. The print output devices 6a, 6b,... Search the delivery address using the index (Idx) in the delivery destination list, and search the contents (C1 + C2) and the postal code (M).
n), the delivery address (AD) and the name (AN) are integrated and printed out for each delivery (letter or document).

It is preferable that after printing out at the nearest delivery station of the delivery destination, the printed information is returned to the sender. Thereby, the sender can confirm that there is no mistake in the print output. After the printout, the delivery list will be
It is preferable to delete the data from the storage device of the print output device.
Each printed letter or document is delivered to the addressee like a regular mail piece, but is delivered by the delivery station closest to the addressee, greatly reducing the delivery cost compared to the conventional mail system. Can be achieved.

Since a large number of such content data 3 are accumulated in the delivery center 4 from a large number of subscribers, each content data is sorted by zip code and transmitted to the delivery station closest to the delivery destination. For example, regarding Sapporo-city related to Hokkaido, a large amount of data other than the index 10001 in the list of FIG. 1 is collected, and this is accumulated and transmitted to the distribution center in Sapporo. For Sendai City, Nagoya City, etc., they are collected and transmitted in the same way.

At the delivery station 5 in Sapporo City, the address (AD) and the name (AN) of the delivery destination are not known just at the stage of receiving the content data. Then, based on the link information (Li) and the index (Ix) of the content data, the data center requests transmission of the address and name data of the delivery destination. For example, since the delivery address and the name of the content of the index 10001 are described in the 01 file of the A data center, the transmission is requested. At that time, it is preferable that the SAMs 61a, 61b,... In the print output devices 6a, 6b,.

Here, the SAM (Secure Access Module) is a device that can be called a calculation engine having a program and a function for calculation, and can perform complicated calculations exclusively. More specifically, it is a device that is attached to a printer and performs a complicated public key cryptographic calculation to confirm whether the printer on the printing side is the correct printer, whether the printer is a fake replaced by a bad guy, and the like. Generally, it is mounted in a printer in the form of an IC card or SIM.

In addition to the SAM authentication of the print output device, timed encryption (can be decrypted only during a certain period) may be used. This can be done by adding in advance a decryptable period restriction condition for each file and setting it so that decoding is not possible before the restricted period or after the restricted period. Become. Encryption is
There are a method using a public key and a secret key encryption key and a common key method, and both can be adopted. However, using the common key method can reduce cost.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of a delivery document.
In FIG. 4, the delivery destination list output information 11d is output in the upper part of the postcard, and the content data output information 3d is output in the lower part of the postcard. Although the delivery address, name and contents are output on the front side of a normal postcard, the delivery document 7 by this system can of course be output on the front and back of the postcard. Can be prevented from being seen by a third party as a letter document in an envelope. As print output technology has improved in recent years,
Of course, color printing is also possible, and if an image is taken with a scanner, the taste of handwriting can be left. If desired, the quality of the paper to be output, for example, output to high quality paper, cardboard or Japanese paper, can be selected, so that the state is not different from the actual mail.

As described above, in the super facsimile system of the present invention, the delivery destination list and the content data are transmitted through different communication paths. Can not be known by linking Also, even when not linked to content, a delivery destination list for a certain purpose may itself have valuable value, and it is important that the content is transmitted in an encrypted form. The delivery list is encrypted and transmitted, which protects the privacy of the individual and prevents theft of the list, but excludes part of the content data, at least the postal code, index and link information in the delivery list, etc. The part can also be encrypted and transmitted. In this case, personal privacy information can be further protected.

In the system of the present invention, since data is transmitted via the Internet in this way, unlike a system that involves physical distribution in all processes from sending to delivery as in the current postal business, the delivery destination is different. Most of the logistics can be omitted except for the process immediately before being passed to the person, so that the overall logistics cost can be greatly reduced. Further, since the data is transmitted by communication, it is possible to shorten the time until delivery at least as compared with the current postal system. As with actual mail, transport of actual goods is indispensable, as is the delivery of local specialty products such as “Yu-Pack”. It is thought that it is planned. In addition,
As a development of this system, it is conceivable that the print output device is installed not only in the delivery station but also in the delivery destination office or home and directly outputs the print output device.

[0025]

As described in detail above, in the super facsimile system of the present invention, the mailing list is stored in the data server of the data center or the distributed data archive device, and is a legitimate print output device. Since the data is not passed unless the user is authenticated, the delivery list is not known to a third party or the collection and delivery station of the present system, and personal privacy information is properly protected. Since digital data is automatically sorted using a postal code, there is no need for the sender to enclose, seal, send to a post office, sort at the sender's post office, etc. Since the distribution range is also limited, costs can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a super facsimile system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a delivery destination list.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing content data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of a delivery document.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a distributed data archive device used in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 sender 2 data center 3 content data 4 delivery center 5a, 5b delivery station 6a, 6b printout device 7 delivery document by this system 11 delivery destination list 21 website (WWW site) 40 data server, distributed data archiver device 41 Data server 42 reading / writing means 43 authentication means 44 division / encryption means 45 decryption / integration means 46 data management means 47 network communication means 48 network 50 portable recording medium 51 server body 52 external storage 61a, 61b SAM

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B075 KK02 ND16 ND36 PQ05 UU09 UU32 5C062 AA29 AC04 AC22 AC23 AC43 AC51 AF02 BC01 5C075 BA08 CF02 EE03 FF90

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A super facsimile system for transmitting a wide range and a large number of letters or documents from a sender in a short period of time, wherein the sender encrypts a delivery destination list of the letters or documents, and transmits the encrypted data to a data server or distributed data on the Internet. The step of storing in an archive device, the sender sends the contents such as texts and designs for each destination of the letter or document, the postal code of the destination, and the index in the destination list to the distribution center website on the Internet. And a process of registering content data consisting of link information to a place where a delivery destination list is placed.The delivery destination center sorts the content data using the zip code, and sends it to the nearest delivery station of the delivery destination. , Text, design, etc., index in delivery destination list, and delivery Transmitting the link information to the place where the delivery list is placed; and the printout device installed in the nearest delivery station of the delivery destination, the link information to the place where the delivery list is placed is obtained from the delivery destination list. Obtaining a distribution list by accessing a data server or a distributed data archiving apparatus in which is located, and obtaining the distribution address, using the index in the distribution list after obtaining the distribution list. A step of searching and printing out contents such as texts and designs, a delivery address and a name on a letter or a document. 2. When printing is performed, the SA in the print output device is
2. The super facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein M authenticates a valid print output device of the present system. 3. The super facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein the destination list is deleted from the storage device after the printout. 4. The super facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein after printing is output at the nearest delivery station of the delivery destination, the printed information is returned to the sender. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the content data is encrypted and transmitted, and is decrypted and printed out by a print output device installed in a nearest delivery station of a delivery destination. Or the super facsimile system according to claim 2. 6. A distributed data archiving apparatus, comprising: a plurality of data servers accessible via a network;
A distributed data archive device having a function of distributing and storing data to be stored and a function of extracting stored data as needed, wherein at the time of data storage, the data to be stored is divided into predetermined methods. Dividing means for dividing the plurality of divided files in consideration of the dividing means at the time of data extraction and restoring the original data to be stored. The super facsimile system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein