JP2003124998A - Information communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that communication function information of only an adjacent information communication device can be known in a conventional information communication system. SOLUTION: An SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server is provided with a processing function (S201-S209) of transmitting a request command for acquiring function information to an adjacent SMTP server via a network to acquire expansion function information of other servers obtained by the server, and correlating the acquired expansion function information with a domain name corresponding to this to store it; and a processing function of notifying the communication function information which is previously stored in response to the acquisition request from the adjacent server via the network.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information communication device for transmitting and receiving a message via a network, and is particularly suitable for application to a store-and-forward information communication device such as an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art S is an example of a communication protocol used when sending and receiving a message via a network.
MTP is widely known. A server (SMTP server) that transfers a message according to the SMTP temporarily stores the message received on the network and then transfers the message. Therefore, the server belongs to a store-and-forward information communication device.

[0003] SMTP is a simple communication protocol in the first place, but in recent years, various extended functions have been added depending on the wishes of users who use electronic mail and the development of network technology corresponding thereto. Specific examples of the extended function include a DSN (delivery confirmation notification) function and a function of confirming the maximum message size (maximum capacity) between servers.

[0004]

By the way, in an information communication apparatus of a storage transfer type such as an SMTP server, even if various functions are expanded in the network, what kind of expanded function each information communication apparatus has It is limited to the nearest information communication device (that is, the information communication device that can directly transfer the message from the own device) adjacent to the other via the network. Therefore, in the conventional information communication apparatus, it is impossible to know how much the extended function desired by the user of the message transmission source is supported up to the final destination.

As a result, for example, when the extended function desired by the user is the DSN function, the following problems occur.
That is, the original purpose of the DSN function is to notify the user of the transmission source that the message has reached the final destination. However, each S scattered on the network
If the SMTP server on the way does not support the DSN function in the process of sequentially transferring the messages between the MTP servers, only the delivery confirmation up to that SMTP server can be confirmed. Therefore, the user of the message transmission source may not be able to confirm whether the message has reached the final destination.

[0006]

An information communication apparatus according to the present invention is an information communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving a message via a network, and includes communication function information of a first information communication apparatus adjacent to the information communication apparatus via the network. Acquisition means for acquiring communication function information of another information communication apparatus held by the first information communication apparatus, and communication function information acquired by this acquisition means is stored in association with identification information of the corresponding information communication apparatus. And a notification unit for notifying the communication function information stored in the storage unit in response to an acquisition request from the adjacent second information communication device via the network.

In this information communication device, the communication function information of the first information communication device adjacent via the network and the communication function information of the other information communication device held by the first information communication device are acquired by the acquisition means. In addition to the communication function information of the information communication devices adjacent to each other via the network, the acquired communication function information is stored in the storage means in association with the identification information of the corresponding information communication device, The communication function information of another information communication device can be held in the device itself. Further, in the second information communication device, the communication function information stored in the storage device is notified by the notification device in response to the acquisition request from the adjacent second information communication device via the network. It is possible to acquire the communication function information of another information communication device that is not adjacent to the.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, as an information communication device to which the present invention is applied,
An example of an SMTP server, which is a store-and-forward type information communication device, is shown.
a Network) or the configuration connected via a network such as the Internet.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an information communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, four SMTP servers (hereinafter abbreviated as servers) 1,
2, 3, 4 are connected via networks 5, 6, 7 respectively. More specifically, the server 1 is connected to the server 2 via the network 5. Also,
The server 2 is connected to the server 3 via the network 6, and the server 3 further connects to the server 4 via the network 7.
It is connected to the. As a result, bidirectional communication is possible between the server 1 and the server 2 via the network 5. In addition, bidirectional communication is possible between the server 2 and the server 3 via the network 6, and bidirectional communication is possible between the server 3 and the server 4 via the network 7.

On the other hand, a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as personal computer) 8 corresponds to a communication terminal which is a sender of a message, and is operated by a user who is a message sender. The personal computer 8 incorporates mail software (mailer) for transmitting, receiving, and managing electronic mail. A user who is a message sender operates an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.) of his / her own personal computer 8 to specify an e-mail destination, and if there is a desired extended function among the extended functions of SMTP, Select to use it and send the message.

In the information communication system (e-mail system) having the above-mentioned configuration, the data (message) of the e-mail transmitted from the personal computer 8 is first received by the server 1, and the server 1 then receives the other servers 2. 3,4
Will be sent to the final destination in order. At that time, server 1
Between the server and the server 2, the server 1 operates as an SMTP client, while the server 2 operates as an SMTP server. As a result, the server 2 receives the electronic mail data transmitted by the server 1 via the network 5. Similarly, between the server 2 and the server 3, the server 2 operates as an SMTP client, while the server 3 operates as an SMTP server. Further, between the server 3 and the server 4, the server 3 operates as an SMTP client, while the server 4 operates as an SMTP server. As a result, the electronic mail data transmitted from the personal computer 8 is sent to the final destination via the servers 1, 2, 3, 4 in order.

[0012] Here, two neighbors via the network
When the server 2 transmits the e-mail data as an SMTP client between two servers, for example, between the server 2 and the server 3, the “RFC (Request for comments) 18
61 ”, the server 3 which receives the EHLO command by sending the EHLO command from the server 2 to the server 3 instead of the HELO command which is the old SMTP command is owned by the server 3 itself (supported). The extended function information (communication function information) of the SMTP that is being performed is to be presented to the server 2 (SMTP client).

At this time, the processing operation of the server 2 serving as the SMTP client will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the server 2 connects to the server 3 operating as an SMTP server (step S101),
An EHLO command is issued and transmitted to the server 3 (step S102). At this point, the server 2 is in a state of waiting for a response from the server 3.

After that, when the server 2 receives the response from the server 3, the response code (number) included in the response.
Whether or not is "250" (step S1)
03). When the response code is “250”, it means that the requested process can be executed and the process is completed. Therefore, when the response code is “250”, it is determined that the server 3 of the connection destination has the extended function of SMTP, and the extended function information of the server 3 is acquired from the response character string (keyword) (step). S111).

FIG. 5 shows how concrete commands and responses are exchanged between the client and the server.
In FIG. 5, “C:” indicates a command from the SMTP client (server 2) side, and “S:” indicates a response from the SMTP server (server 3) side. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the server 2 first adds the domain name "smtpserver2" of its own and transmits the EHLO command, and in response, the server 3 sends the response code "250" to the server itself. Response string (keyword) indicating the extension
Is added and returned.

When the command and the response as shown in FIG. 5 are exchanged, the response code from the server 3 is "250". Therefore, in the server 2, the server 3 indicated by the response character string is displayed. Extended function information (DSN, HEL
P, FUNC) is acquired in step S111. After that, in the server 2, the domain name (identification information) of the server 3 that is the information acquisition destination (connection destination) and the previously acquired extended function information of the server 3 are associated and stored in the device itself (step S112). . Then, the server 3 acquired earlier
The electronic mail data transmission operation is performed based on the extended function information (step S113).

On the other hand, the response code from the server 3 is "25.
When it is not 0 ”(for example, when the response code is“ 502 ”indicating that the specified command is not implemented)
Indicates that the domain name of the server 3 that has acquired the information is "SM
The information "no TP extension function" is associated and stored in the device itself (step S121). Then the server 2
After issuing the HELO command and transmitting it to the server 3 (step S122), the old SMTP command (MAI
L, RCPT, DATA, QUIT, etc.) is used to transmit the electronic mail data (step S123).

By the way, as a situation where the response code from the server 3 does not become "250", the EHLO command sent from the server 2 cannot be understood by the server 3 or the server 3 does not have the extended function. For example, the case where it is possible is considered.

By the above processing operation, the server 2 holds the extended function information of the server 3. When such processing operation is performed between the server 1 and the server 2,
The server 1 holds the extended function information of the server 2, and the server 3
And the server 4, the server 3 retains the extended function information of the server 4. Further, when the processing operation is performed by reversing the positions of the SMTP client and the SMTP server, the extended function information of the server 1 is transferred to the server 2
However, the server 3 holds the extended function information of the server 2, and the server 4 holds the extended function information of the server 3. Therefore, the extended function information held by a certain server is limited to the extended function information of the server adjacent thereto (in other words, the nearest server that can directly send and receive messages).

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as one of the server processing functions, in addition to the extended function information of the adjacent server via the network, the extended function information of the other server held by the adjacent server is acquired. The acquisition function is provided, and the function information acquired by the acquisition function is provided in the storage unit (for example, hard disk) in the device in the form of a list or a table. Further, when an acquisition request is received from another adjacent server via the network, as a response to the acquisition request, a notification function for notifying the extended function information stored in the own device is provided.

As a concrete example, the processing operation of the server 1 when the server 1 is an SMTP server and the server 2 is an SMTP server for sending and receiving messages is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of. In addition, here S
As an extension of the MTP command, two new commands "S
VRS "and" FUNC "shall be introduced. The meaning of each command will be clarified in the following description (processing content). Also, the above two commands (SVRS, F
Whether or not (UNC) can be used with the server of the connection destination is determined by whether or not the response when the EHLO command is transmitted includes the character string "FUNC".

First, the server 1 as an SMTP client connects to the server 2 operating as an SMTP server (step S201), then issues an EHLO command and sends it to the server 2 (step S202). At this point, the server 1 waits for a response from the server 2.

After that, when the server 1 receives the response from the server 2, the response code included in the response is "25".
It is confirmed whether or not it is "0" (step S203).
At this time, if the response code is not "250",
The same process as the process from step S121 shown in FIG. 4 is performed. If the response code is "250", then "F" is added in the response character string from the server 2 after this.
It is confirmed whether or not the character string "UNC" is included (step S204), and if not included, the same process as the process from step S111 shown in FIG. If the extended function information of the server 2 is not held when the code “250” is sent, the server 1 sets the extended function information of the server 2 indicated by the response character string to the domain name of the server 2. It is stored in association with.

The response character string from the server 2 is "FU
If the character string "NC" is included, the SVRS command is issued and transmitted to the server 2 (step S20).
5). At this time, the server 2 that has received the SVRS command
The side returns a list of domain names of servers that own (store) the extended function information in their own device (server 2) according to the meaning of the command. That is, SVRS
The command is a command that means a request to acquire the domain name list of the server that holds the extended function information on the server side that receives the command. As a result, the server 1 obtains the domain name list transmitted from the server 2 as a response to the SVRS command (step S206).

At this time, assuming that the server 2 holds the extended function information of the servers 1, 3, 4, the servers 1, 2,
The exchange of commands and responses between them is represented as shown in FIG. That is, when the server 1 transmits the SVRS command (indicated by “C:” in the figure), the server 2 responds with the response.
Returns the response code of "250" with the server's own domain name added (represented by "S:" in the figure).

After that, the server 1, which has received the domain name list from the server 2, uses one of the servers included in the domain name list (domain name of the server) as an argument,
This argument is added to the FUNC command and transmitted to the server 2 (step S207). At this time, on the side of the server 2 that receives the FUNC command, the extended function information of the server designated by the argument is included in the response data and returned in accordance with the meaning of the command. That is, the FUNC command is a command meaning an acquisition request for the extended function information of the server specified by the argument. This allows server 1
Acquires the extended function information transmitted as a response to the FUNC command and stores it in association with the domain name of the server previously used as an argument (step S20).
8).

At this time, the exchange of commands and responses between the servers 1 and 2 is represented as shown in FIG. That is, server 1
Sends a FUNC command with the domain name of the server 4 included in the above list (indicated by "C:" in the figure), the server 2 responds to the response code of "250" by itself. The response character strings “DSN” and “FUNC” indicating the extended function information of the server 4 are added and returned (indicated by “S:” in the figure).

After that, the server 1 judges whether or not the acquisition of the necessary extended function information has been completed (step S20).
9). Here, in the domain name list acquired from the server 2 in the previous step S206, if there is a domain name of a server that does not possess or acquire the extended function information in its own device, it is determined as unfinished and remains. If not, it is judged to be finished. Then, when it is determined that the processing is not completed, the processing returns to the previous step S207 and the same processing is repeated.

Incidentally, when the server 1 receives the "SVRS" command and the "FUNC" command requesting acquisition of the extended function information from the server 2 adjacent thereto,
Similar to the process on the server 2 side described above, a process of notifying the server 2 of the extended function information of another server that the server 1 itself holds (stores) is performed. In addition, when the server 1 is connected to a server other than the server 2 via a network different from the network 5, the server 1 also performs the extended function information notification process in response to the acquisition request from the server. Therefore, the "first information communication device" in the present invention
The “second information communication device” and the “second information communication device” can be both the same device and different devices.

According to the processing of the server 1 according to the first embodiment described above, in addition to the extended function information of the adjacent server 2 via the network 5, the extended function information of the non-adjacent servers 3 and 4 is also acquired. It becomes possible. If the server 5 is connected to another server (not shown) other than the server 2 via another network, the network 5
Acquisition request ("SVR
In response to the "S" command and the "FUNC" command), the server 2 notifies the server 2 of the extended function information of the other server held by the server 1 itself, so that the server 2 also has the extended function of the server 1 adjacent thereto. In addition to the information, it becomes possible to acquire extended function information of other servers that are not adjacent to each other.

Therefore, the above-described extended function information transfer processing is performed between adjacent servers (server 1 and server 2, server 2 and server 3, server 3 and server 4) via the network. In this way, each server can acquire the extended function information of the server that is not adjacent (the server in the distance) in addition to the extended function information of the adjacent server. As a result, it becomes possible for each server to know whether or not a server adjacent to this server or a distant server that is not adjacent thereto has the extended function desired by the user.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an information communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, five SMTP servers (hereinafter abbreviated as servers) 2
1, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are connected via networks 26, 27 and 28, respectively. More specifically, the server 21 is connected to the server 22 and the server 23 via the network 26, respectively. Also,
The server 22 is connected to the server 24 via the network 27, and the server 23 is connected to the server 25 via the network 28. As a result, bidirectional communication via the network 26 is possible between the server 21 and the server 22 and between the server 21 and the server 23. In addition, bidirectional communication is possible between the server 22 and the server 24 via the network 27, and bidirectional communication is possible between the server 23 and the server 25 via the network 28.

On the other hand, the personal computer 29 corresponds to the communication terminal of the sender of the message and is operated by the user who is the message sender. The personal computer 29 has an e-mail for sending, receiving and managing e-mail.
Software (mailer) is incorporated. A user who is a message sender operates an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.) of his / her own personal computer 29 to specify an e-mail destination, and if there is a desired extended function among the extended functions of SMTP, Select to use it and send the message. The data (message) of the e-mail sent from this personal computer 29 is first sent to the server 2
1 is received, and is sent from this server 21 to the final destination via another server.

Here, the extended function desired by the user is, for example, a DSN (delivery confirmation notification) function, and each of the servers 21, 22, 23, and 24 has this DSN function, and only the server 25 has the DSN function. Make it not exist.
In such a case, as a transfer route of the message transmitted from the personal computer 29, a route that sequentially passes from the server 21 to the server 22 and the server 23 may be selected so as not to pass through the server 25 that does not have the DSN function desired by the user. desirable.

The processing procedure of the server 21 for setting the message transfer route under such conditions will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It should be noted that the server 21 performs the processing of transferring the extended function information between the servers in the first embodiment, so that the other servers 22, 2
It is assumed that the extended function information items 3, 24 and 25 are stored in association with the domain name. Further, the following processing procedure is applied when the server 21 receives a message sent from the personal computer 29 and transfers the received message to an adjacent server via the network.

First, the value of the counter n indicating the candidate number of the message transfer destination is initialized to "1" (step S30).
1). Next, of the servers 22, 23, 24, 25 holding the expanded function information in its own device, it is checked whether or not the nth server as a transfer destination candidate has the DSN function (step S302). . Since message transfer destination candidates are extracted one by one from the servers adjacent to the server 1, one of the servers 22 and 23 is the nth transfer destination candidate. In this case, since both the servers 22 and 23 have the DSN function, whichever becomes the nth transfer destination candidate, “Yes” is determined in step S302 and the process proceeds to step S303.

If the nth transfer destination candidate server does not have the DSN function, step S3 is performed.
Since it is determined to be "No" in 02, the process proceeds to step S305, where the value of n is incremented (+1).
To do. Next, it is determined whether or not the value of n exceeds the maximum value (the total number of transfer destination candidate servers) (step S30).
6) If the maximum value is not exceeded (if there are other transfer destination candidate servers remaining), then the above step S30
Returning to the processing of 2, when the maximum value is exceeded (when there is no other server as a transfer destination candidate), the transfer destination of the message is determined as the default transfer destination (step S30).
7).

On the other hand, in step S303, it is checked whether or not the nth next transfer destination server which is the transfer destination candidate first has the DSN function. At this time,
When the nth transfer destination candidate is the server 22, it is checked whether the next server 24 adjacent to this server 22 has the DSN function. If the nth transfer destination candidate is the server 23, it is checked whether the next server 25 adjacent to this server 23 has the DSN function. In this case, when the nth transfer destination candidate is the server 22, the next transfer destination server 24 adjacent to this is the server 22.
Has a DSN function, the determination in step S303 is "Yes" and the process proceeds to step S304.
If the nth transfer destination candidate is the server 23, the next transfer destination server 25 adjacent to the server 23 does not have the DSN function, and thus “No” in step S303.
Then, the process proceeds to step S305.

In step S304, the n-th transfer destination candidate server is determined as the message transfer destination. Next, after the message transfer destination server (server 22 in the present embodiment example) of the previously determined message is connected as the connection destination (step S308), the message is transferred to that server (step S309), and this message is transmitted. When the transfer is completed, the connection with the transfer destination server is disconnected (step S310).

According to the processing of the server 21 according to the second embodiment described above, when the message received from the personal computer 29 is transferred, the extended function information stored in advance in its own device is used to make a connection to the server 21. It sequentially checks whether the transfer destination candidate server and the next transfer destination server have the extension function desired by the user, and if both servers have the extension function desired by the user, the transfer destination is determined. Since the candidate server is determined as the message transfer destination, the message transfer destination server can always transfer the received message to the server having the extended function desired by the user. As a result, it is possible to set a message transfer route by a route that is selected as far as possible from a server having an extended function desired by the user.

In the second embodiment, the nth transfer destination candidate server and the nth next transfer destination server are extended functions desired by the user (D in the present embodiment example).
In the case of having the SN function), the server which is the nth transfer destination candidate is decided as the transfer destination of the message.
The number of transfer destinations from the n-th transfer destination candidate to which the presence or absence of the extended function is confirmed can be arbitrarily changed.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an information communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, five SMTP servers (hereinafter abbreviated as servers)
31, 32, 33, 34, 35 are connected via networks 36, 37, 38, respectively. More specifically, the server 31 is connected to the server 32 via the network 36, and the server 32 is connected to the server 33 via the network 37. The server 33 is also connected to the server 34 and the server 35 via the network 38. As a result, bidirectional communication is possible between the server 31 and the server 32 via the network 36, and bidirectional communication is possible between the server 32 and the server 33 via the network 37.
In addition, between the server 33 and the server 34, and the server 33
And the server 35 are capable of bidirectional communication via the network 38.

On the other hand, the personal computer 39 corresponds to the communication terminal of the message sender, and is operated by the user who is the message sender. The personal computer 39 has an e-mail for sending, receiving and managing e-mail.
Software (mailer) is incorporated. A user who is a message sender operates an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.) of his / her own personal computer 39 to specify an e-mail destination, and if there is a desired extended function among the extended functions of SMTP, Select to use it and send the message. The data (message) of the e-mail sent from this personal computer 39 is first sent to the server 3
1 is received, and is sent from this server 31 to the final destination via another server.

Here, the extended function desired by the user is, for example, a DSN (delivery confirmation notification) function, and each of the servers 31, 32, 33, and 34 has this DSN function, and only the server 35 has the DSN function. Make it not exist.
In such a case, when determining the transfer destination of the message by the processing function in the second embodiment, for example, in a situation where there are many transfer destination candidates, the two-step determination process shown in steps S302 and S303 of FIG. 10 described above. If you do, there is a concern that the processing time becomes long. Further, if the candidate transfer destinations of the message are randomly extracted, there is a concern that the transfer route of the message may loop.

Therefore, the processing procedure of the server 33 for eliminating such a concern will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The server 33 stores the extended function information of the other servers 31, 32, 34, and 35 in association with the domain name by the process of passing the extended function information between the servers in the first embodiment. I shall. In addition, the e-mail message transmitted from the personal computer 39 with the DSN request is transmitted to the servers 31, 32.
It has been transferred to the server 33 via.

First, the value of the counter n indicating the candidate number of the message transfer destination is initialized to "1" (step S32).
1). Next, of the servers 31, 32, 34, and 35 holding the extended function information in its own device, whether or not the nth server which is a transfer destination candidate of the message corresponds to the passed server of the message. Judge (step S32)
2). Incidentally, in the third embodiment as well, the message transfer destination candidates are extracted one by one from the servers adjacent to the server 33, so that any one of the servers 32, 34, and 35 is the nth transfer destination. Become a candidate.

The determination process in step S322 is as follows.
The mail header information of the message received via the servers 31 and 32 is used. That is, since the mail header information includes transfer history information such as the name or domain name of the server through which the message has already passed, the transfer history information is extracted and the domain name of the server that is the nth transfer destination candidate is acquired. Collate. If the domain names or the server names of the both do not match, it is determined that the server that has become the nth transfer destination candidate is not already passed and is left as the transfer destination candidate (step S323). If both domain names or server names match, it is determined that the nth transfer destination candidate server has already passed, and is excluded from the transfer destination candidates (step S324).

After that, the value of n is incremented (+1)
After that (step S325), it is determined whether or not the value of n exceeds the maximum value (the total number of transfer destination candidate servers) (step S326). If the maximum value is not exceeded, the process returns to step S322, and if the maximum value is exceeded, the same process as the process from step S301 in FIG. 10 is performed.

According to the processing of the server according to the third embodiment described above, when determining the transfer destination of a message received via the network, the transfer history information included in the mail header information of the message is referred to and Since the already-passed server is excluded from the transfer destination candidates based on the reference result, it becomes possible to quickly determine a transfer route that satisfies the function desired by the user without looping the message transfer route.

[0050]

As described above, according to the information communication apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the communication function information of the first information communication apparatus which is adjacent via the network, the communication function of the remote information communication apparatus which is not adjacent is also provided. It becomes possible to retain information in its own device. In addition, the second adjacent to the second via the network
In response to the acquisition request from the information communication device, the communication function information held in the own device is notified, so that the communication function information of the information communication devices not adjacent to the second information communication device is also notified. It becomes possible to own. As a result, in the information communication device that sends and receives a message via the network, the communication function information of the other information communication device held in the device itself is used to set the transfer route of the message adapted to the communication function desired by the user. It can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an information communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart (No. 1) showing a basic processing procedure when the SMTP server operates as a client.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (No. 2) showing a basic processing procedure when the SMTP server operates as a client.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (No. 3) showing a basic processing procedure when the SMTP server operates as a client.

FIG. 5 is a diagram (part 1) showing the exchange of commands and responses between a client and a server.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram (part 2) showing the exchange of commands and responses between the client and the server.

FIG. 8 is a (third) diagram showing exchange of commands and responses between the client and the server.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an information communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a server according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an information communication system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a server according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,2,3,4,21,22,23,24,25,3
1, 32, 33, 34, 35 ... Servers, 5, 6, 7, 2
6, 27, 28, 36, 37, 38 ... Network,
8, 29, 39 ... Personal computer (PC)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information communication device for transmitting and receiving a message via a network, comprising communication function information of a first information communication device adjacent to the network and other information held by the first information communication device. An acquisition unit that acquires communication function information of the communication device; a storage unit that stores the communication function information acquired by the acquisition unit in association with the identification information of the corresponding information communication device; An information communication device, comprising: a notification unit that notifies the communication function information stored in the storage unit in response to an acquisition request from the information communication device. 2. When the received message is transferred to the adjacent information communication device via the network, the determining means determines the transfer destination of the message based on the communication function information stored in the storage means. The information communication device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The determining means sets information communication devices adjacent to each other via a network as message transfer destination candidates, and at least the transfer destination candidate information communication device and an information communication device to be the next transfer destination. 3. The information communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the user has a communication function desired by the user, the transfer destination of the message is determined to be the transfer destination candidate information communication apparatus. 4. The information according to claim 3, wherein the determining unit excludes, from the transfer destination candidates, an information communication device that has passed the message based on transfer history information of the received message. Communication device.