JP2003051851A - Electronic mail reception method, and mail server, web server, reception terminal and electronic mail reception system employing the electronic mail reception method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic mail reception system that can relieve a traffic load, reduce transfer time, attain high security, allow reception terminal to browse the contents of a message main text of electronic mail in advance, and allow a receiver to browse the contents of an attached file as required and designate whether the contents of an attached file are to be stored. SOLUTION: In this electronic mail reception system, a mail server 3 separates an attached file from electronic mail when receiving the electronic mail having the attached file, stores the file into a web server 4, generates notice electronic mail where a URL is attached to the message main text of the electronic mail having the attached file in a link-enabled way and transmits the mail to a reception terminal 2. The reception terminal 2 accesses the URL to browse the contents of the attached file.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail receiving method in which the contents of a message body of an electronic mail can be browsed in advance by any receiving terminal, and the contents of an attached file can be viewed by a browser if necessary, and an attached file for that purpose. A mail server that can be transferred separately, a web server that allows you to browse the contents of attached files with a browser, a receiving terminal that can browse the contents of the message text in advance and browse the contents of the attached files with a browser, and an email consisting of these Transmission and reception system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the spread of network technologies such as the Internet has been remarkable, and along with this movement, e-mail has become the leading communication means for business and personal use. There is a feeling of coming. Some of these e-mails have relatively small amount of data only as body messages, but recently, with the progress of informationization, the number of users has expanded and the amount of data of individual e-mails has become huge, resulting in large files. Are being transmitted and received in large numbers.

When a large number of users use a large amount of electronic mail, the load on the network is larger than expected, which causes a delay in the transfer processing of communication equipment on the network such as a mail server. Most recently, 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps, some 1 Gbps
With the emergence of high-speed wired lines such as this, it seems that such increase in data volume has become less of a problem. However, the wireless line is 9600bp for mobile phones.
Since the communication speed of only 64 Kbps can be realized even in s and PHS, when connecting to a network wirelessly from the moving destination, there is a limit to the speedup in view of the communication speed and processing capacity of the receiving device. This is exactly the same with other conventional receiving terminals that use ordinary telephone lines to communicate using modems. The rapid spread of high-speed wireless lines cannot be expected for some time, and it is currently not hoped that the receiving terminals with which they carry will comfortably receive e-mail. As described above, the transfer time from the mail server to the receiving terminal using the wireless or the modem requires a long time, which impairs the convenience of the electronic mail.

In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-345182 has been proposed. This conventional e-mail receiving system prevents the performance of each device connected to the Internet from decreasing by efficiently transmitting the body of the e-mail and the attached file of this e-mail separately via different transmission routes. It is intended to often send e-mail.

In order to solve this problem, in the conventional electronic mail receiving system, when the electronic mail to be transmitted has an attached file, the transmitting terminal stores the attached file in the file server and the stored address is stored in the electronic mail. Write it in the text of the email and send it to the sending mail server. The sending-side mail server receiving this sends the text of this electronic mail to the receiving-side mail server, and the receiving-side mail server sends it to the receiving terminal. The receiving terminal acquires the attached file from the storage address of the file server described in the text of the received electronic mail.

In addition, an electronic mail receiving service has been proposed in which the attached file and the body message can be browsed separately by CGI on the web. However, in order to enjoy this service, it is necessary to register the user, and security can be maintained by this registration. Then, it is necessary to operate the mail server by CGI on the web every time it is received. And, the form that can be received was a fixed service with a low degree of freedom.

[0007]

As described above,
Many users often send large-capacity attached files by e-mail, and the traffic load on the mail server, receiving terminal, etc. is increasing. For this reason, the mail server or the like may cause a delay in the transfer process, and it takes a long time for the receiving terminal to transfer the electronic mail from the mail server.

In particular, the receiving terminal, for example, a portable terminal, must be wirelessly connected to the network from the moving destination, and in view of the communication speed and processing capacity of the device, there is a limit to the speedup, which is inefficient. It was a thing. Considering the future of e-mail, it is expected that a small-sized receiving terminal carried at the destination can comfortably receive e-mail.

As far as the present situation is concerned, the electronic mail receiving system is mainly composed of the sender, and the recipient side is passive and only receives the electronic mail. In other words, the system is such that the content of the electronic mail can be understood only after receiving it. This is fine if all emails are of equal value to the recipient, but there are many emails of poor value, such as spam. Sending and receiving such poor-value e-mail is a waste of resources on the network, is inefficient, and is not the expected form of the network. Therefore, rather, a system is expected in which the recipient side can voluntarily select the electronic mail to be received.

On the other hand, the conventional electronic mail receiving system proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-345182 transmits the text of the electronic mail and the attached file of the electronic mail separately via different transmission routes, It is intended to prevent the performance of each device connected to the Internet from being deteriorated and to efficiently transmit an electronic mail. Since the attached file is stored in the file server and the storage address is described in the text of the e-mail and sent, the recipient can access the file server using the stored address without sending the attached file itself. Although it is possible and within a limited range, the receiving terminal can specify the electronic mail.

However, in this conventional electronic mail receiving system, the sending terminal must store the attached file in the file server and describe the storage address in the text of the electronic mail. This system works only when the sender has special mail software with such a function. However, it is impossible to expect this, and it is impossible for the sender himself to install mail software that prevents the other party from receiving the e-mail that he or she wants to read, in other words In addition, the recipient cannot view the contents of the attached file before saving the attached file, and can view it after saving the attached file. So to speak, it is not possible to eliminate spam even before it is captured. , It was not a system that basically changes the current status of sender-centered email receiving systems.

An e-mail service that allows e-mail with an attachment file to be viewed on the web by CGI or the like requires registration in order to receive the service, and this is just the security maintained by this registration. It wasn't like getting a service. CG every time
The I operation is cumbersome and the reception form has a low degree of freedom.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the traffic load can be reduced, the transfer time can be shortened, the security is high,
The purpose is to provide an e-mail receiving method in which the contents of the message body of an e-mail can be viewed in advance on any receiving terminal, and the receiving side can specify whether to view and save the contents of the attached file as necessary. To do. In the following, security is used to mean that the secrecy of communication required for sending and receiving electronic mail is sufficiently secured as usual.

Further, the present invention can reduce the traffic load, can shorten the transfer time, has high security, allows any receiving terminal to browse the content of the message body of the email in advance, and if necessary, to attach the attached file, The purpose is to provide a mail server that can browse the contents.

Further, according to the present invention, the traffic load can be reduced, the transfer time can be shortened, the security is high,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a web server that allows any receiving terminal to browse the contents of an attached file as needed.

Further, the present invention has a high security, allows the contents of the message body of the electronic mail to be browsed in advance, and allows the receiving side to specify whether the contents of the attached file are browsed and saved as necessary. The purpose is to provide.

Further, according to the present invention, the traffic load can be reduced, the transfer time can be shortened, the security is high,
The purpose is to provide an e-mail receiving system that allows any receiving terminal to browse the contents of the e-mail message body in advance and, if necessary, browse the contents of the attached file and specify whether the receiving side can save it. To do.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic mail receiving method of the present invention, when receiving an electronic mail, judges whether or not the electronic mail has an attached file,
In the case of an e-mail with an attached file, the attached file is separated, the separated attached file is stored in the web server, and the URL is added to the message body of the separated e-mail message so that it can be linked and notified. Create an e-mail for notification, and let the mail server receive the notification e-mail again as an e-mail with no file attached,
The content of the attached file is browsed by accessing the URL by the receiving terminal that has received the notification e-mail.

As a result, the traffic load can be reduced,
The transfer time can be shortened, the security is high, the contents of the message body of the e-mail can be viewed in advance on any receiving terminal, and the receiver specifies whether to view the contents of the attached file and save it as necessary. it can.

Further, when the mail server of the present invention receives an electronic mail, it judges whether or not the electronic mail has an attached file. If the electronic mail has an attached file,
E-mail management means for separating the attached file, file transfer means for transferring the attached file separated by the e-mail management means to a web server, URL creating means for creating a URL for storing the separated attached file, and memory section E-mail management means that can be linked to the message body of the e-mail after the attachment is separated.
It is characterized in that an RL is added to create a notification e-mail, the notification e-mail is re-received as a file-unattached e-mail, and protocol processing is performed.

As a result, the traffic load can be reduced,
The transfer time can be shortened, the security is high, and the contents of the message body of the e-mail can be viewed in advance by any receiving terminal, and the contents of the attached file can be viewed as necessary.

Then, the web server of the present invention has a URL
A web data storage unit that stores a separated attachment file having the same name as the URL in the URL created by the creation unit, and a URL management unit that sends the attachment file from the Web data storage unit according to the URL when accessed by the receiving terminal. It is characterized in that the attached file is displayed on the browser means of the receiving terminal.

As a result, the traffic load can be reduced,
The transfer time can be shortened, the security is high, and the contents of the attached file can be viewed by any receiving terminal as needed.

The receiving terminal of the present invention transfers the attached file having the same name as the URL stored in the URL of the above web server and the PC mail means for receiving the electronic mail from the above mail server, It is characterized in that a browser means for starting an application program in the program storage unit from the extension included in the attached file name to open the attached file on the browser is provided.

With this, the security is high, the contents of the message body of the electronic mail can be browsed in advance, and the receiver can specify whether to browse and save the contents of the attached file as needed.

Further, in the electronic mail receiving system of the present invention, when an electronic mail with an attached file is sent, the mail server separates the attached file and stores it in the web server, and after the attached file is separated from the mail server. A feature is that a notification e-mail is created by adding a URL to a message body of the e-mail so that it can be linked, is sent to a receiving terminal, and the content of the attached file is browsed by the receiving terminal by accessing the URL from the receiving terminal. To do.

As a result, the traffic load can be reduced,
The transfer time can be shortened, the security is high, the contents of the message body of the e-mail can be viewed in advance on any receiving terminal, and the receiver specifies whether to view the contents of the attached file and save it as necessary. it can.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention, when a mail server receives an electronic mail via a network, it is judged whether or not the electronic mail has an attached file, and the file is not attached. In the case of e-mail, after storing the e-mail in the mailbox, the e-mail is sent after waiting for access from the receiving terminal. In the case of e-mail with an attached file, the attached file is separated and Store the attached file after separation on the web server,
Furthermore, a URL is added to the message body of the e-mail after separating the attached file so that it can be linked to create an e-mail for notification, and the e-mail for notification is received again by the mail server as an e-mail with no file attached, Since the receiving terminal that receives the e-mail accesses the URL and browses the content of the attached file, the e-mail receiving method separates the attached file from the e-mail and stores it in the web server for notification. URL containing the attachment file in the message body of the email
Is added so that it can be linked and is transmitted to the receiving terminal, so that the amount of data sent to the receiving terminal is significantly reduced. You can browse the content of the message body on any receiving terminal, access this URL with a browser only when necessary, browse the content of the attached file, check the content, and then decide whether to save it. Therefore, the attached file can be saved only when it is necessary, and the unnecessary saving can be eliminated on the receiver side. Since the notification e-mail is received by the mail server again as an e-mail with no file attached, the protocol of the e-mail for notification can be easily matched to any e-mail with an attached file, and the protocol processing is extremely simple. It is easy to create a notification e-mail, and it is possible to realize a state in which an e-mail with an attached file is apparently separated from the attached file and converted into a notification e-mail.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the case of an electronic mail with an attached file, the attached file is separated and a URL for storing the attached file in the web server is created. The attachment file after separation is stored in the URL, the URL is attached to the message body of the email after attachment separation so that it can be linked, and the sender address is included in the header information of the email message with the attachment file. Since the notification e-mail rewritten into the address is created, the method of receiving the e-mail according to claim 1 creates a URL storing an attached file and attaches it to the message body so that it can be linked. , Correct the sender address to the original sender address, and receive it again as an email with no file attached to the mail server. As a result, the amount of data sent to the receiving terminal is significantly reduced, and the protocol of the notification e-mail can be easily matched to any e-mail with an attached file, and the protocol processing is extremely simple. Is easy to create, and the email with the attachment is apparently separated from the attachment,
It is possible to realize whether the email has been converted to a notification email.

The invention described in claim 3 of the present invention is U
3. The electronic mail receiving method according to claim 1, wherein the RL is created in association with the time when the electronic mail is received by the mail server and the extension indicating the application program. UR
It is possible to automatically start up the application program without double occurrence of L.

The invention described in claim 4 of the present invention is U
4. The electronic mail receiving method according to claim 3, wherein the RL is created in association with a processing sequence number generated for processing the mail server process. Since the URL is created including the serial number, the URL is not duplicated and the security is extremely high.

The invention described in claim 5 of the present invention is U
The attached file name which is the same as that of the RL is added to the separated attached file and stored in the URL.
Since it is the email receiving method described in any one of 4 above,
The URL and the attached file can be easily managed, and the extension indicating the attribute of the URL can be used for starting the application program.

The invention described in claim 6 of the present invention is U
When the attached file is transferred from RL, the receiving terminal sends U
The method according to claim 5, wherein the application program is started based on the extension of the attached file having the same name as the RL, the attached file is opened, and is displayed on the browser. Because the extension of the attached file after separating the same name as the URL is used instead of using the extension of the attached file, the externally visible attachment file name is unique and has no meaning unrelated to the original file name. It is a file name with a certain value, and because the attachment file transfer route is different from the conventional one, it will not happen that the contents of the attachment file can be easily seen from the outside, ensuring sufficient security required for sending and receiving e-mail. However, since the extension itself indicating the application is used continuously, file management is easy and The receiving terminal can view the attachment in a browser automatically activates the application program.

The invention described in claim 7 of the present invention is a memory unit provided with a mailbox for storing the received electronic mail, and whether or not the electronic mail with an attached file is received when the electronic mail is received. Judgment, in the case of an e-mail without a file attached, the e-mail is stored in a mailbox, and in the case of an e-mail with an attached file, an e-mail management means for separating the attached file, and an e-mail management means. A file transfer means for transferring the separated attached file to the web server, a URL creating means for creating a URL for storing the separated attached file, and a mail server control section for loading and controlling a program from the memory section. E-mail management means can be linked to the message body of the e-mail after separating the attachment URL
Is added to create a notification e-mail, the notification e-mail is re-received as a file-unattached e-mail, and protocol processing is performed. It can be separated and this attached file can be transferred to the web server by the file transfer means. U is automatically created by the URL creation means.
Since the RL can be created and the e-mail management means processes the notification e-mail with the URL added as a file-unattached e-mail, the notification e-mail protocol can be easily matched to any e-mail with an attached file. Therefore, it is possible to realize the state in which the protocol processing is extremely simple, the notification e-mail is easily created, and the e-mail with the attached file is apparently separated from the attached file and converted into the notification e-mail.

In the invention described in claim 8 of the present invention, the electronic mail management means attaches the URL to the message body of the electronic mail after the attachment file separation so as to be linkable, and the transmission mail address with the attachment file. 8. The mail server according to claim 7, wherein the notification e-mail is created by rewriting the sending e-mail address included in the header information of the e-mail, so that the sender e-mail address is an electronic mail with the original attachment file. Since the sender's email address of the email is corrected and the email is sent again from the mail server to the receiving terminal as file-unattached email, the amount of data sent to the receiving terminal is significantly reduced, and any email with an attached file is used for notification. E-mail protocols can be easily matched, making protocol processing extremely easy It is easy to create a notification e-mail, e-mail with the apparent attachment is separated attachments can be realized whether the state has been converted to notification e-mail.

The invention described in claim 9 of the present invention is U
The URL associated with the time when the RL creating means receives the email and the extension indicating the application program
The mail server according to claim 8 is characterized in that the same URL is not generated twice, and the application program can be automatically started.

The invention described in claim 10 of the present invention is
10. The mail creating server according to claim 9, wherein the URL creating means creates the URL in association with the processing sequence number created by the processing sequence number generating means for the process processing of the mail server control unit. Since the URL is created by including the processing serial number in addition to the extension, the URL is not duplicated and the security is extremely high.

The invention described in claim 11 of the present invention is
A web data storage unit that stores a separated attachment file having the same name as the URL in the URL created by the URL creation unit, and a URL management unit that sends the attachment file from the Web data storage unit according to the URL when accessed by the receiving terminal. And a web server characterized by displaying the attached file on the browser means of the receiving terminal,
The URL and the attached file can be easily managed, and the extension indicating the attribute of the URL can be used for starting the application program.

The invention described in claim 12 of the present invention is
A PC mail means for receiving an electronic mail from the mail server according to any one of claims 7 to 10, a program storage unit storing an application program for opening an attached file, and a URL stored in the web server according to claim 11. Transfer the attached file with the same name as the URL,
A browser means for activating an application program in the program storage unit from the extension included in the attached file name to open the attached file on a browser, a display unit for displaying a browser screen, and a program loaded from the program storage unit. Since the receiving terminal is characterized by including the PC control unit for performing system control, the browser unit can immediately start the application program from the application storage unit and capture and display the attached file on the browser screen. . This allows
You can browse the attached file before saving it.

The invention described in claim 13 of the present invention is
13. The PC control unit activates the application program in the program storage unit to open the attached file instead of the browser means for activating the application program in the program storage unit according to claim 12 to open the attached file on the browser. Therefore, the PC control unit can activate the application program and directly display the attached file on the display unit. This makes it possible to browse the attached file before saving.

The invention according to claim 14 of the present invention is
A mail server according to any one of claims 7 to 10, a web server according to claim 11, and a web server according to claim 1.
When the e-mail with the attached file is sent, the mail server separates the attached file and stores it in the web server, and the e-mail after the attached file is separated from the mail server. Create a notification e-mail with a URL that can be linked to the message body of
Since the e-mail receiving system is characterized in that the content of the attached file is browsed by the receiving terminal by accessing the RL, the attached file is separated from the e-mail with the attached file and stored in the web server, and the notification electronic Since the URL storing the attached file is added to the mail and transmitted to the receiving terminal, the amount of data to be sent to the receiving terminal is significantly reduced. You can browse the content of the message body on any receiving terminal, access this URL with a browser only when necessary, browse the content of the attached file, check the content, and then decide whether to save it. Therefore, the attached file can be saved only when it is necessary, and the unnecessary saving can be eliminated on the receiver side. Since the notification e-mail is received by the mail server again as a file-unattached e-mail, the protocol of the notification e-mail can be easily matched to any e-mail with an attached file, and the protocol processing is extremely simple. It is easy to create a notification e-mail, and it is possible to realize a state in which an e-mail with an attached file is apparently separated from the attached file and converted into a notification e-mail. (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, an electronic mail receiving method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and a mail server used therefor,
The web server and the electronic mail receiving system will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is an electronic mail receiving system including a mail server, a web server, and a receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a network such as the Internet and Intranet that can send and receive electronic mail, and 2 is a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC).
Receiving terminal that can be connected to the network by, for example, 2'is a sending PC, sending terminal, 3 is a receiving mail server provided on the network, and 3'is a sending mail server provided with a network. Reference numeral 4 is a web server capable of storing an attachment file separated from an email with an attachment file, and 4'is another web server on the network.

First, the receiving terminal 2 will be described. In FIG. 1, 20 is a PC communication control unit that controls communication with a network according to a protocol such as POP, SMTP, HTTP, and 21 is a P control unit that controls the system of the receiving terminal 2 as a whole.
C control unit, 22 is a PC memory unit that stores data used by the PC control unit 21, 22a is a program storage unit that stores a program to be loaded into the PC control unit 21, and 22b is a RAM that is a work area of the PC control unit 21. Is. The program storage unit 22a also stores an application program (hereinafter referred to as an application) that opens an attachment file attached to an electronic mail. Reference numeral 23 is a PC mail means for transmitting and receiving electronic mail of the receiving terminal 2, and 24 is a URL (Uniform Res
Reference numeral 25 denotes a display unit such as an LCD, which is a browser unit capable of accessing ource Locator) to browse a web page. Incidentally, the PC mail means 23 may be provided with another processing device in addition to the central processing device constituting the PC control unit 21,
The mail software is preferably stored in the program storage unit 22a and loaded as the functional unit by loading it in the PC control unit 21. The browser unit 24 is also the same, and the program storing unit 22a stores the web page browsing program. Is preferably stored and loaded into the PC control unit 21 to be configured as a functional unit.

From the input means (not shown) of the receiving terminal 2, the PC mail means 23 is activated by the action of the PC control section 21, and a request from the PC mail means 23 causes a mail box 32a (described later) in the mail server 3 to operate. The e-mail is transferred and displayed on the display unit 25. Also, by similarly starting the browser means 24 and connecting to the web servers 4, 4'on a network such as the Internet, it becomes possible to browse the web page of each site.

The configuration of the transmitting terminal 2'is exactly the same as that of the receiving terminal 2 described above except that the transmission and reception are reversed, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the mail server 3 will be described. Figure 1
In the figure, 30 is a mail server communication control unit that controls communication with a network according to a protocol such as POP, SMTP, HTTP, 31 is a mail server control unit that controls the entire system of the mail server 3, and 32 is a mail server control unit 31. A mail server memory unit for storing data used in, a mail box for storing an e-mail addressed to the receiving terminal 2 and an e-mail sent from the sending terminal 3 ′, and 32b for loading a program to the mail server control unit 31. The stored program storage unit 32c is a RAM serving as a work area of the mail server control unit 31.

When the electronic mail is received, 33 determines whether it is an electronic mail with an attached file. If the electronic mail does not have a file attached, this is stored in the mail box 32a and then sent to the receiving terminal 2. In the case of an email with an attached file, the attached file that is encoded and attached is separated and decoded, and the web server 4
E-mail management means for sending attachments separated into 3
Reference numeral 4 is a URL creating means for creating a URL for storing the attached file. As will be described later, the attached file is a protocol MIME (Multipurpose Internet Message Extensions).
ion), and in the present specification, it will be described below that the attachment file is simply separated. However, this means that the email management means 33 cuts out and decodes the corresponding area of the encoded attachment file. Means

The URL creating means 34 automatically creates at least a URL in which at least these two are associated by using at least the time when the electronic mail is received and the extension indicating the application associated with the attached file. . This is because emails are rarely received at the same time, and even attachment files cannot be the same, and the adoption of these two does not cause duplicate URLs. This is because the file can be stored reliably. Moreover, the web server 4
By using this extension, the attached file sent from the browser means 24 can automatically start the application. Further, in the first embodiment, the URL is created in association with not only the time and extension but also the processing sequence number of the processing executed by the mail server control unit 31 in order to improve security. Therefore, the above 2
Since the processing serial number is added to one element, the URL is never duplicated and security is extremely high.

The URL creating means 3 of the first embodiment will be described below.
A specific example of the URL created by 4 will be described below. The extension indicating the application program of the attached file is "xyz", and the processing sequence number (process ID) generated by the processing sequence number generation unit 36 described later at "17:52:00 on June 11, 2001, Japan time" It is assumed that the URL is created with "23061". This time is "Jul 11 17:52:00 J.
S. T. Since it is written as "2001", only the characters are left without ".", ":", And spaces, and the character string "Jul11175200JST2001" is obtained. The processing sequence number character string "23061" is combined with this character string, the extension "xyz" is added, and the attached file name "Jul1117252" which becomes the object name of the target URL.
00JST200123061. xyz "is obtained. A domain name (web server name) and a protocol name (for example, http: ///) are added to this portion to complete the URL. Since the processing sequence number generated by the processing sequence number generation means 36 is incremented, the certain period from the time when the processing sequence number becomes the maximum until the increment starts again from 1 is certainly unique, but beyond this certain period. Uniqueness cannot be guaranteed when the next increment cycle is entered. Therefore, taking advantage of this characteristic, the first embodiment uses a combination of the time, the extension, and the processing serial number. It should be noted that, instead of this processing sequence number, an increasing number sequence that constitutes another circulation group may be added. As described above, since uniqueness can be ensured in many cases only by the time and extension, whether or not to add such a character string may be selected according to the situation such as the frequency of e-mail. However, in order to ensure certainty, the time, extension, and processing serial number are related and UR
It is desirable to create L.

Reference numeral 35 is a file transfer means having a function for the electronic mail management means 33 to transfer the decoded attached file separated from the electronic mail with the attached file to the web server 4. The file transfer means 35 is also preferably configured as a functional means by storing a file transfer program in the program storage section 32b and loading it into the PC control section 21. Reference numeral 36 denotes the above-mentioned processing sequence number generation means, and when the process which is the processing unit of the mail server control unit 31 is generated, the operating system of the central control unit constituting the mail server control unit 31 is originally used for process identification. It is a means to prepare for.

When the mail server 3 of the first embodiment receives an e-mail, the e-mail management means 33 judges whether or not the e-mail has an attached file and judges whether only the file-unattached e-mail, that is, the body message. In this case, the file is stored in the mailbox 32a as it is, and in the case of an electronic mail with an attached file, the attached file is separated and the file transfer means 35 transfers it to the web server 4.
At this time, the same name as the URL is given and stored. The data of the area containing the encoded attachment file is deleted together with the header part information of this part, and the separated attachment file is decoded into a data format that can be read by an application. As shown in FIG. 2, the e-mail with the attached file is created in the data format of the protocol MIME, and a header (--next part) indicating the area content is provided every time the data area is provided, and the type of the data content is provided here. (Content-type: text or application), the encoding format and the fact of attachment, attachment file name and extension, and data are written. By referring to this, the attachment file is separated. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a description example of an electronic mail with an attached file.

Therefore, if there is a description indicating the existence of an attached file in this header information, the electronic mail management means 33 determines that the electronic mail has an attached file, and the electronic mail management means 33 deletes the corresponding area and encodes it. The existing data is decoded to restore the original data format, and the file transfer means 35 transfers this together with the attached file name and extension to the web server 4.
When the data content type (content-type) is text and only the body message, it is determined that this is an electronic mail with no file attached, and each is stored in the mailbox 32a.

By the way, when the electronic mail is an electronic mail with an attached file, the electronic mail management means 33 creates a notification electronic mail in which a URL is added to the message body of the electronic mail with an attached file. That is, the URL created by the URL creating means 34 is added to the e-mail from which the area of the attached file has been deleted so that the URL can be linked on the web, and the URL is notified together with the message. The object name of the above-mentioned attached file name is described in this URL. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a description example of the notification electronic mail.

Since the notification e-mail sent at this time is sent from the mail server 3 to the receiving terminal 2, the header information is different from that of the original e-mail with the attached file. Then, the receiving terminal 2
The browser means 24 does not display the sender name of the electronic mail with the attached file on the display unit 25 as it is, but displays the mail server name. With this, it is not possible to correctly evaluate who sent the e-mail on the receiving terminal 2 side, so in the first embodiment, the e-mail management means 33 performs the following processing.

That is, the electronic mail management means 33 is UR
After creating an e-mail for notification by adding L, the sender address (from from in the header information of this e-mail for notification
Rewrite the mail server) and the destination address (to the destination email address) to the source address (from the source email address) and the destination address (to the destination email address). The rewritten notification e-mail is mailed to the recipient from the mail server communication control unit 30, so to speak, and is received by the mail server 3 again.

Due to this mailing, the protocol of the notification electronic mail which has been undefined by the processing in the mail server 3 is adopted as the protocol adopted in the network 1 side of the mail server 3 (for example, SMTP). Thus, like other e-mails with no files attached, they are sent to the mailbox 32a as e-mails with no files attached. As a result of such processing in the mail server 3, the file-unattached e-mail to which the URL is added is sent from the sending terminal 2 ′ from the beginning, and the e-mail management means 33 executes the attached file processing and the notification e-mail processing. It is possible to realize the state as if it never existed. In other words, the e-mail management means 33 can easily separate the attached file from the e-mail with the attached file and convert it into the notification e-mail without performing complicated protocol processing for transfer. Moreover, at this time, if the receiver side needs troublesome registration or the like to receive such a service, these are completely unnecessary and anyone on the receiving terminal side can automatically enjoy this service.
It should be noted that depending on the attached file, it is extremely easy and easy to send and receive an e-mail with an attached file as shown in FIG. 2 and a notification e-mail as shown in FIG. 3 depending on the attached file. The amount of data can be reduced to one tenth or less.

Next, the web server 4 will be described. Figure 1
Reference numeral 40 denotes a web server communication control unit that controls communication with a network according to a protocol such as HTTP.
Reference numeral 41 is a web server control unit that controls the entire system of the web server 4, 42 is a web server memory unit that stores data used by the web server control unit 41, and 42a is a URL that stores web pages and attached files. A web data storage unit, 42b is a program storage unit that stores a program to be loaded into the web server control unit 41, and 42c is a work area of the web server control unit 41.
AM.

Reference numeral 43 denotes a URL management means, which transfers the HTML file and causes the browser means 24 to display the web page when a general web page browsing request is made from the receiving terminal 2. When there is a browsing request from the browser means 24 using the URL linkably attached to the notification e-mail as in the first embodiment, the object name “Jul1117252” of the URL.
00JST200123061. The attached file having the same name as “xyz” is transmitted to the receiving terminal 2. At the receiving terminal 2,
The browser unit 24 recognizes the application program from the extension "xyz", reads it from the program storage unit 22a, activates it, and expands the attached file on the browser to make it viewable. At this time, instead of opening the attached file on the browser screen, it is also preferable to directly start the application program by the PC control unit 21 to open the attached file. In this way, the recipient looks at the list of the reception status of the electronic mails on the display unit 25 and determines whether or not to browse the message body (the first of unnecessary mails).
Screen), select only the attachments that you think are necessary from the content of the message body (second screening of unnecessary emails), and acquire only this file data and browse in advance. The attachments acquired at this time are temporarily compiled. It is a state of a file (temp file), and finally the recipient may store it in the corresponding holder of the PC memory unit 22 (third screening of unnecessary mail).

Next, the procedure of the mail size reduction processing of the electronic mail in the first embodiment and the operations of the mail server, the web server and the receiving terminal will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a mail size reduction process when the mail server according to the first embodiment of the present invention receives an electronic mail, and FIG. 5 is an attachment when the receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention receives an electronic mail. FIG. 6 is a flow chart for storing a file, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen when an electronic mail is received by the receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display screen when an electronic mail is received when the conventional mail server does not perform size reduction processing.

In FIG. 4, when an electronic mail is received from the network 1 (step 1), it is judged whether or not the electronic mail has an attached file (step 2). step
If it is determined in step 2 that the e-mail has no file attached, it is stored in the mail box 32a as it is (step 3),
Wait until there is access from the receiving terminal 2 (step
4). When it is determined in step 2 that the e-mail has an attached file, the e-mail management means 33 separates the attached file (step 5). At the same time, the URL creating means 34 determines the time and the mail server control unit 4
A URL is created using the processing sequence number 1 and the extension of the application program (step 6).

Subsequently, the file transfer means 35 stores the attached file having the same name as the URL in the URL of the web server 4 (step 7). After that, for the e-mail with the attached file in which the attached file is separated, the e-mail management means 33 adds the URL so that the URL can be linked after the message body to create the notification e-mail body (step).
8). Further, the electronic mail management means 33 corrects the source address of the header of the electronic mail with the attached file in which the attached file is separated to the original source address (step
p9), and the mail is transmitted from the mail server communication control unit 30 as an electronic mail with no file attached (step 10). After that, the process returns to step 1 again, and waits for the access from the receiving terminal 2 via steps 2 to 3 as in the case of other e-mails with no file attached.

Next, the procedure of how the receiving terminal 2 browses and saves the attached file is described. In FIG. 5, when the mail server 3 is accessed from the receiving terminal 2, a list of incoming e-mails is displayed by the PC mail means 23 (step 1).
1). This state is the display screen of FIG. From this list display, it is determined whether or not to read the e-mail (step 1
2) When browsing, open the e-mail and browse the message body (step 13). When not browsing, the unnecessary mail is subjected to END processing such as marking it as read.
When reading the message body, the URL is added and it is necessary to browse the contents of the attached file.
When it is judged that it is better to access L (step
14) When this URL is opened as shown in FIG. 6, the browser means 24 starts up and acquires the attached file from the URL, and automatically starts the application program to open the attached file on the browser (step 1).
5). The attached file displayed on this browser is browsed, and it is determined whether or not it is necessary to store this in the PC memory unit (step 16), and if necessary, it is stored in the PC memory unit 22 (step 17). END processing is performed. If it is not necessary, if the browser is closed as it is, the attached file is END processed without being saved. Spam mails are screened at steps 12 and 14, and at worst are eliminated by the third screening at step 16, so that a large amount of data is not received and charged, and troublesome work such as deletion becomes unnecessary.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the attached file is browsed in advance and only the necessary file is displayed on the PC.
Although it can be stored in the memory unit 22, the state when a conventional electronic mail with an attached file is received is shown in FIG. That is, when there is an attached file by looking at the list of e-mails, the contents cannot be browsed and judged, and the attached file is first stored in the PC memory unit 22. After that, the content of the attached file becomes clear by starting the application program from the attached file icon in FIG. 7 and opening the saved attached file.

[0064]

According to the electronic mail receiving method of the present invention, in the case of an electronic mail with an attached file, the attached file is separated and the separated attached file is stored in the web server, URL that can be linked to the message body of the e-mail after the attachment is separated
To create a notification e-mail, add the notification e-mail to the mail server again as an e-mail without a file attached, and the receiving terminal that received the notification e-mail accesses the URL to attach the file. Since the contents of is viewed, the attachment file is separated from the e-mail and stored on the web server, and the URL storing the attachment file is added to the message body of the notification e-mail so that it can be linked and sent to the receiving terminal. The amount of data sent to the receiving terminal is significantly reduced. Browse the contents of the message body on any receiving terminal, access this URL with a browser only when necessary to browse the contents of the attached file,
Since it is possible to check the content and then decide whether or not to save it, the attached file can be saved only when necessary, and unnecessary saving can be eliminated on the receiver side. Since the notification e-mail is received by the mail server again as an e-mail with no file attached, the protocol of the e-mail for notification can be easily matched to any e-mail with an attached file, and the protocol processing is extremely simple. It is easy to create a notification e-mail, and it is possible to realize a state in which an e-mail with an attached file is apparently separated from the attached file and converted into a notification e-mail. Therefore, the method of receiving an email according to claim 1 can reduce the amount of data sent to the receiving terminal to reduce the traffic load, shorten the transfer time, and allow any receiving terminal to browse the content of the email message body in advance. The receiving side can specify whether to browse and save the contents of the attached file as needed.

The electronic mail receiving method according to the second aspect of the present invention creates the notification electronic mail in which the sender address is rewritten to the sender address included in the header information of the electronic mail with the attached file. , The amount of data sent to the receiving terminal is much smaller, and the protocol of the notification e-mail can be easily matched to any e-mail with an attached file, and the protocol processing is extremely simple, creating the notification e-mail. This makes it possible to realize a state in which an electronic mail with an attached file is apparently separated from the attached file and converted into a notification electronic mail.

In the electronic mail receiving method according to the third aspect of the present invention, the URL is created in association with the time when the electronic mail is received by the mail server and the extension indicating the application program. According to the electronic mail receiving method according to the present invention, the same URL does not occur twice and the application program can be automatically started.

In the electronic mail receiving method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the URL is created in association with the processing sequence number generated for the processing of the mail server. Besides, since the URL is created including the processing sequence number, the URL is not duplicated and the security is extremely high.

In the electronic mail receiving method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same attached file name as the URL is added to the separated attached file and stored in the URL.
The attached file can be easily managed, and the extension indicating the attribute of the URL can be used for starting the application program.

In the electronic mail receiving method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the attached file is transferred from the URL, the receiving terminal activates the application program based on the extension of the attached file having the same name as the URL. Since the attached file is opened and displayed in the browser by using the extension of the attached file before separation, the extension of the attached file after separation having the same name as the URL is used.
The externally attached file name is a unique file name that has no meaning and has nothing to do with the original file name.
Because the attachment file transfer route is different from the conventional one, it will not happen that the contents of the attachment file can be easily seen from the outside, and while ensuring sufficient security required for sending and receiving e-mail, an extension that shows the application Since the child itself is continuously used, file management is easy, and when recognizing this, the receiving terminal can automatically start the application program and display the attached file on the browser.

In the case of an electronic mail with an attached file, the mail server according to claim 7 of the present invention sends an electronic mail management means for separating the attached file and an attached file separated by the electronic mail management means to the web. A file transfer means for transferring to the server and a URL creation means for creating a URL for storing the separated attachment file are provided, and the e-mail management means adds the URL in a linkable manner to the message body of the e-mail after the attachment file is separated. Then, the notification e-mail is created, and the notification e-mail is re-received as a file-unattached e-mail and protocol processing is performed.
The attached file can be separated by the electronic mail management means, and this attached file can be transferred to the web server by the file transfer means. The URL creation means can automatically create a URL, and the email management means processes the notification email with the URL added as a file-unattached email. Therefore, any email with an attached file is treated as a notification email. The protocol can be easily matched, the protocol process is very simple, the notification email is easy to compose, and the email with the attachment is apparently separated from the attachment and converted to the notification email. A high state can be realized. Therefore, the mail server according to claim 7 can reduce the amount of data sent to the receiving terminal to reduce the traffic load, shorten the transfer time, and have high security. You can browse, and you can browse the contents of the attached file as needed.

In the mail server according to claim 8 of the present invention, the e-mail management means attaches the URL to the message body of the e-mail after the attachment file separation so that it can be linked, and the transmission mail address with the attachment file. Since the notification e-mail is rewritten with the sent e-mail address included in the header information of the e-mail, the sender e-mail address is corrected to the sender e-mail address of the original e-mail with the attached file and the file is not attached. Since it is sent again from the mail server to the receiving terminal as an email, the amount of data sent to the receiving terminal is significantly reduced, and the protocol of the notification email can be easily matched to any email with an attached file. Very easy protocol processing, easy to create notification email, Only e-mail with the above attachments are separated from the attached file, it is possible to realize one of the state has been converted to the notification e-mail.

In the mail server according to claim 9 of the present invention, the URL creating means creates the URL associated with the time when the electronic mail is received and the extension indicating the application program. The application program can be automatically started without double occurrence.

In the mail server according to claim 10 of the present invention, the URL creating means creates the URL in association with the processing sequence number created by the processing sequence number generating means for the process processing of the mail server control section. , URL is created by including the processing serial number in addition to the time and extension.
Is not duplicated and security is extremely high.

The web server according to claim 11 of the present invention can be accessed from the receiving terminal and a web data storage unit that stores the attached file having the same name as the URL in the URL created by the URL creating means. If there is, U will send the attached file from the Web data storage unit according to the URL.
Since the RL management unit is provided and the attached file is displayed on the browser unit of the receiving terminal, the URL and the attached file can be easily managed, and the extension indicating the attribute of the URL can be used for starting the application program. Therefore, the web server according to claim 11 can reduce the amount of data to be sent to the receiving terminal, thereby reducing the traffic load and shortening the transfer time, the security is high, and the content of the attached file can be increased as necessary. Can be viewed by any receiving terminal.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a receiving terminal has a PC mail means for receiving an electronic mail from the above mail server and the same name as the URL stored in the URL of the above web server. Transfer attachments,
Since the browser means for launching the application program in the program storage unit from the extension included in the attached file name to open the attached file on the browser is provided, the browser unit immediately launches the application program from the application storage unit, The attached file can be captured and displayed on the browser screen. This makes it possible to browse the attached file before saving. Therefore, the receiving terminal of claim 12 can browse the content of the message body of the electronic mail in advance, and can specify on the receiving side whether or not to browse and save the content of the attached file on the browser as necessary.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the PC control unit activates the application program in the program storage unit and opens the attached file. Therefore, the PC control unit activates the application program and displays the attached file. It can be displayed directly on the department. This makes it possible to browse the attached file before saving.

In the electronic mail receiving system according to claim 14 of the present invention, when an electronic mail with an attached file is sent, the mail server separates the attached file and stores it in the web server. Create a notification e-mail with a URL that can be linked to the message body of the e-mail after separating the attached file, send it to the receiving terminal, and browse the content of the attached file on the receiving terminal by accessing the URL from the receiving terminal. Since the electronic mail receiving system is characterized in that the attached file is separated from the electronic mail with the attached file and stored in the web server, and the URL storing the attached file is added to the notification electronic mail, the receiving terminal Therefore, the amount of data to be sent to the receiving terminal is significantly reduced. You can browse the content of the message body on any receiving terminal, access this URL with a browser only when necessary, browse the content of the attached file, check the content, and then decide whether to save it. Therefore, the attached file can be saved only when it is necessary, and the unnecessary saving can be eliminated on the receiver side. Since the notification e-mail is received by the mail server again as a file-unattached e-mail, the protocol of the notification e-mail can be easily matched to any e-mail with an attached file, and the protocol processing is extremely simple. It is easy to create a notification e-mail, and it is possible to realize a state in which an e-mail with an attached file is apparently separated from the attached file and converted into a notification e-mail. Therefore, the e-mail receiving system according to claim 14 can reduce the traffic load by reducing the amount of data sent to the receiving terminal, can shorten the transfer time, and can read the content of the e-mail message body in advance by any receiving terminal. The receiving side can specify whether to browse and save the contents of the attached file as needed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electronic mail receiving system including a mail server, a web server, and a receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a description example of an e-mail with an attached file.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a description example of a notification email.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a mail size reduction process when the mail server according to the first embodiment of the present invention receives an electronic mail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for storing an attached file when the receiving terminal receives an electronic mail according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen when an electronic mail is received by the receiving terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display screen when an email is received when the conventional mail server does not perform size reduction processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 network 2 Receiving terminal 2'sending terminal 3 Receiving mail server 3'Sending mail server 4,4 'web server 20 PC communication controller 21 PC controller 22 PC memory section 22a, 32b, 42b Program storage section 22b, 32c, 42c RAM 23 PC mail means 24 browser means 25 Display 30 Mail server communication controller 31 Mail server control unit 32 Mail server memory section 32a mailbox 33 E-mail management means 34 URL creation means 35 File Transfer Means 40 Web server communication controller 41 Web server controller 42 Web server memory section 42a Web data storage unit 43 URL management means

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. When a mail server receives an electronic mail via a network, it judges whether or not the electronic mail has an attached file. If the electronic mail does not have a file attached, the electronic mail is stored in a mailbox. Then, the e-mail is sent after waiting for access from the receiving terminal. In the case of an e-mail with an attached file, the attached file is separated and the separated attached file is stored in the web server. A URL is attached to the message body of the separated e-mail so that it can be linked to create a notification e-mail, and the e-mail for notification is received again by the mail server as an e-mail without a file attached. The receiving terminal that received the mail is the URL
A method for receiving an electronic mail, wherein the contents of the attached file are browsed by accessing the. 2. In the case of an electronic mail with an attached file, a URL for separating the attached file and storing the attached file in a web server is created, and the UR is created.
The attached file after separation is stored in L, the URL is linkably added to the message body of the email after attachment separation, and the sender address is included in the header information of the email with the attachment. The electronic mail receiving method according to claim 1, wherein the notification electronic mail is rewritten with the sender address. 3. The electronic mail according to claim 1, wherein the URL is created in association with a time when the electronic mail is received by the mail server and an extension indicating an application program. Receiving method. 4. The electronic mail receiving method according to claim 3, wherein the URL is created in association with a processing serial number generated for processing the mail server. 5. The electronic mail receiving method according to claim 1, wherein the same attached file name as the URL is added to the separated attached file and stored in the URL. 6. Upon receiving the transfer of the attached file from the URL, the receiving terminal starts an application program based on the extension of the attached file having the same name as the URL to open the attached file and display it on the browser. The electronic mail receiving method according to claim 5, wherein 7. A memory unit provided with a mailbox for storing the received e-mail, and when the e-mail is received, it is judged whether or not the e-mail has an attached file, and the e-mail with no file attached In this case, the e-mail is stored in the mailbox, and in the case of an e-mail with an attached file, an e-mail management means for separating the attached file, and the attached file separated by the e-mail management means are stored in a web server. U for creating a file transfer means for transferring and a URL for storing the separated attachment file
An RL creating unit and a mail server control unit that loads and controls a program from the memory unit are provided, and the electronic mail management unit adds the URL to a message body of an electronic mail after attachment file separation so that the URL can be linked. A mail server, wherein a notification e-mail is created, and the notification e-mail is re-received as a file-unattached e-mail to perform protocol processing. 8. The e-mail management means attaches the URL to a message body of the e-mail after the attachment file is separated so as to be linkable, and sends a transmission mail address included in the header information of the e-mail with the attachment file. The mail server according to claim 7, wherein the notification electronic mail is rewritten into a mail address. 9. The URL creating means creates a URL associated with the time when the electronic mail is received and the extension indicating the application program.
The listed mail server. 10. The mail server according to claim 9, wherein the URL creating means creates the URL in association with the processing sequence number created by the processing sequence number generating means for the process processing of the mail server control unit. 11. A web data storage unit in which a separate attachment file having the same name as the URL is stored in the URL created by the URL creating unit, and an attachment file from the web data storage unit according to the URL when accessed by the receiving terminal. A web server comprising a URL managing means for transmitting the attached file and causing the browser means of the receiving terminal to display the attached file. 12. A PC mail means for receiving an electronic mail from the mail server according to claim 7, a program storage unit storing an application program for opening an attached file, and a web server according to claim 11. A browser for transferring an attachment file having the same name as the URL stored in the URL, starting an application program in the program storage unit from the extension included in the attachment file name, and opening the attachment file on the browser A receiving terminal comprising: a unit, a display unit that displays a browser screen, and a PC control unit that loads a program from the program storage unit to control the system. 13. The PC control unit activates the application program in the program storage unit in place of the browser means for activating the application program in the program storage unit and opening the attached file on the browser according to claim 12. A receiving terminal characterized by opening an attached file. 14. A mail server according to claim 7, a web server according to claim 11, a receiving terminal according to claim 12 or 13, and an attachment file. When an e-mail is sent, the mail server separates the attached file and stores it in the web server, and a URL is added to the message body of the e-mail after separating the attached file from the mail server so that the URL can be linked for notification. An e-mail receiving system, wherein an e-mail is created and sent to the receiving terminal, and the contents of the attached file are browsed by the receiving terminal by accessing the URL from the receiving terminal.