JP2003216546A - Communication apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus capable of preventing the transmission of electronic mail from obstructing even if a mail server which is usually used can not be used. <P>SOLUTION: This communication apparatus 1 can register information for a plurality of mail servers 2-5 or the like as a mail server information 14 in a storing part 13. When the server 2 can not be used by the trouble of the mail server 2 usually used, the apparatus acquires other mail server information from the mail server information 14 according to a prescribed priority level, and can transmit the electronic mail to the mail server 3 or the mail server 4. As a result, even if the mail server usually used can not be used, the transmission of emergent electronic mail is prevented from obstructing. In this case, the mail can be transmitted without delaying by using an empty mail server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting electronic mail to a mail server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of network technology in recent years, communication using electronic mail has become popular.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of communication using a general electronic mail. In the figure, 21 and 24 are mail clients,
22 and 23 are mail servers. For example, when sending an e-mail from the mail client 21 to the mail client 24, first, the mail client 2
Mail server 22 provided in the domain to which 1 belongs
In response, the electronic mail addressed to the mail client 24 is transmitted using, for example, SMTP. Mail server 22
Transfers the electronic mail received from the mail client 21 to the mail server 23 provided in the domain to which the destination mail client 24 belongs. The mail server 23 receives and holds an electronic mail addressed to the mail client 24 from the mail server 22. Then, when the mail client 24 requests the mail server 23 to retrieve the electronic mail by POP or the like, the electronic mail addressed to the mail client 24 sent from the mail client 21 reaches the mail client 24.

For example, even when sending e-mails having the same contents to a plurality of destinations, the mail client 21 only sends one e-mail designating a plurality of destinations and the mail server 2
You can send it to 2. In this case, the mail server 22 delivers the electronic mail to the mail server in the domain including each destination. Therefore, there is a merit that the broadcast transmission can be easily performed for the electronic mail with only one transmission time.

Generally, when sending an electronic mail from the mail client 21, the fixed mail server 22 is always used. For example, in an Internet facsimile machine having a function of transmitting an image using electronic mail, only one mail server for transmission used when transmitting electronic mail can be registered, Sending e-mail to the only registered mail server.

However, if the only registered mail server fails, there is a problem that electronic mail cannot be sent. If you are not in a hurry, you may have to wait for the recovery of the damage to the mail server, but if you cannot communicate with the registered mail server in an emergency, for example, the business itself may stop, or
There is also concern about social impact.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and should not hinder the transmission of e-mail even if the mail server normally used cannot be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device and a program for performing such communication processing.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in a communication device, a storage means for storing information of a plurality of mail servers, a communication means for communicating via a network, and a predetermined mail server from the communication means are provided. When the predetermined mail server cannot be used, the control means has a control means for transmitting an electronic mail by using the information of another mail server stored in the storage means to transmit the electronic mail. It is characterized by performing. This makes it possible to send e-mail using another mail server even if the specified mail server that you normally use fails. It can be done without any trouble.

When using the information of another mail server, the information of another mail server can be selected in accordance with a predetermined priority. The priority is
For example, it can be added to the information of the mail server, or the priority order can be determined based on various other information in accordance with a predetermined criterion. Further, information on a plurality of mail servers can be configured to be registered for each mail account.

Further, according to the present invention, in a communication device, a storage means for storing information of a plurality of mail servers, a communication means for performing communication via a network, and a mail server information stored in the storage means are used. It is characterized by comprising selection means capable of selecting a mail server to be operated, and control means for transmitting an electronic mail from the communication means to the mail server selected by the selection means. Thus, even if a certain mail server fails and cannot be used, another mail server can be used to send an electronic mail. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transmission of electronic mail from being hindered in an emergency. In addition, it is expected that a mail server that is normally used will process a large amount of electronic mail and thus delay delivery. In such a case, it is possible to send an urgent e-mail without delay by using a mail server that is relatively busy for urgent e-mail.

At this time, if many users use the emergency mail server, they cannot be effectively used in an emergency. In order to avoid such a situation, for example, the selecting means determines whether or not the user has the authority to select the mail server, and only when it is determined that the user has the authority, the mail server It can be configured to accept the selection. If you do not have the authority, you can use a normal mail server.

Further, the present invention is a program to be executed by a computer, wherein information of a plurality of mail servers is registered in advance, an electronic mail is transmitted using a predetermined mail server, and the predetermined mail is transmitted. When the server cannot be used, the computer is caused to execute a process of transmitting an electronic mail by using the information of another mail server. Further, the present invention is a program to be executed by a computer, in which information of a plurality of mail servers is registered in advance, and a mail server selection instruction is received from the registered information of a plurality of mail servers. It is characterized by causing a computer to execute a process of transmitting an electronic mail using a mail server. By using these programs, it is possible to obtain the same operations and effects as those of the communication device described above.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a communication mode in a communication system including an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 and 6 are communication devices, 2 to 5 are mail servers,
11 is a control unit, 12 is a communication unit, 13 is a storage unit, 14 is mail server information, and 15 is an operation unit. The communication device 1 is the communication device of the present invention, and is capable of transmitting electronic mail via at least a network.

The communication device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12,
The storage unit 13 and the like can be included. The control unit 11 uses the communication unit 12 as information to be transmitted as an electronic mail.
Send from At this time, normally, a predetermined mail server among the mail servers registered as the mail server information 14 stored in the storage unit 13 is used for transmission. Further, when a predetermined mail server cannot be used, for example, when a predetermined mail server fails, another mail server is selected from the mail server information 14 stored in the storage unit 13 according to a predetermined priority order. Then, the e-mail is sent using the mail server. In FIG. 1, three mail servers 2 to 4 that can communicate
Is displayed. For example, when the mail server 2 is normally used and the e-mail cannot be sent due to a failure of the mail server 2, the mail server 3 or the mail server 4 is selected, Send emails to these mail servers.

The communication unit 12 can communicate with at least a mail server. Therefore, for example, it is configured as a LAN interface and can communicate with a mail server on the LAN or a mail server connected via a gateway on the LAN. Alternatively, NCU
And a modem or the like, and can communicate with a mail server of a provider via a public line.

The storage unit 13 can store various information that needs to be saved in the communication device 1. In particular,
The mail server information 14 is stored. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of mail server information. Mail server information 1
In 4, a plurality of pieces of information regarding communicable mail servers can be registered. This example shows an example in which information such as mail server name, domain name, and priority order is registered. Of course, a server name or an IP address may be used instead of the domain name. Further, for example, when the registration order is the priority order or the priority order is determined by another method, the priority order information may not be registered. In addition to this, it is possible to register various kinds of information regarding communication with the mail server. The mail server information 14 can be registered for each mail account.

The operation unit 15 has a display unit, an input unit, etc., and receives various instruction inputs from the user. For example, when sending an e-mail, when selecting a destination e-mail address or a mail server to be used, an instruction to that effect, selection input of a mail server, and an instruction of transmission can be performed. Further, it is also possible to input an operation for registering the mail server information 14.

The mail servers 2 to 5 are commonly used mail servers, and the communication device 6 may be a general communication device capable of receiving electronic mail. Of course, the communication device 6 may also be the communication device of the present invention.

Next, an outline of an example of the communication operation in the communication system including the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Information about available mail servers is registered as the mail server information 14 in the communication device 1 in advance. Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the mail server information 14 of the mail servers 2 to 4 is registered.

In normal communication, for example, the mail server 2 is used. In that case, the communication device 1 transmits to the mail server 2 using, for example, SMTP. The mail server 2 transfers the electronic mail received from the communication device 1 to a mail server provided in the domain to which the destination mail client belongs, for example, the mail server 5. The mail server 5 is the mail server 2
Receive and retain emails from. Then, for example, when there is a request from the communication device 6 to the mail server 5 via the POP or the like, the e-mail stored until then is transferred and the e-mail reaches the destination.

It is assumed that the communication device 1 cannot send an electronic mail to the mail server 2 due to a failure of the mail server 2. In such a case, the communication device 1 selects the next mail server according to the mail server information 14 stored in the storage unit 13. For example, if the mail server 3 is selected,
The communication device 1 transmits an electronic mail to the mail server 3 using, for example, SMTP. The mail server 3 is sent to the mail server 5 as in the case of the mail server 2 described above.
The electronic mail received from the communication device 1 will be transferred. The same applies when the mail server 4 is selected.

As described above, even when the normally used mail server cannot be used, the electronic mail can be sent by using another registered mail server.
Therefore, for example, even when the e-mail must be sent urgently, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the e-mail cannot be sent due to a failure of the mail server or the like, and the urgent e-mail can be sent without any trouble.

In the above description, an example of automatically selecting another mail server when the normally used mail server 2 is not available has been described.
It is also possible to select from five. As an example, when the user instructs the selection of the mail server from the operation unit 15, the control unit 11 reads the mail server information 14 from the storage unit 13 and causes the operation unit 15 to display a list.
The user may select a desired mail server from among them. As a result, it is possible to send e-mail using a mail server different from the mail server that is normally used. On the mail server that is normally used, it is possible that multiple delivery jobs are retained. Therefore, when sending an urgent e-mail, an urgent transmission can be sent without delay by using a mail server different from the mail server that is normally used.

At this time, it is feared that if many users select and use an emergency mail server, they cannot be effectively used in an emergency. In order to avoid such a situation, for example, it is determined whether or not the user operating the operation unit 15 has the authority to select the mail server, and only when it is determined that the user has the authority. , Can be configured to accept a mail server selection. To determine whether you have authority,
The user inputs a password or the like from the operation unit 15,
It is possible to apply various determination methods such as performing authentication by an ID card or other authentication technology, performing a predetermined operation that other users do not know, and separately operating a key switch. . Also, when receiving a request to send an email from an external device, the user ID
It is possible to determine whether or not there is authority by using various existing electronic authentication technologies.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation at the time of sending an electronic mail in the embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention. The operation of the communication device 1 that realizes an example of the above-described communication operation at the time of sending an electronic mail is collectively shown in FIG. First, in S31, necessary settings such as inputting a destination are performed. At this time, when the user selects the mail server, the mail server selection operation is also performed here. When determining the authority of the mail server selection operation, the determination may be made at this point and only the mail server selection operation from the authorized user may be accepted.

When various settings are completed and communication start is instructed, in S32, information to be transmitted as an electronic mail is prepared. For example, if the communication device 1 is an Internet facsimile, the image on the original is read in S32.

In S33, it is determined whether the user has selected the mail server. If the user has not selected the mail server, a predetermined mail server that is normally used is selected in S34. Then, in S35, the electronic mail is transmitted to the selected mail server.

In S36, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the electronic mail has been completed normally. If it completed normally,
The e-mail transmission process ends. If the e-mail is not normally sent, it is determined in S37 whether another mail server that is not yet used is registered. If there is another available mail server, one is selected from the other available mail servers according to a predetermined priority in S38. Then, the process returns to S35, and the electronic mail is transmitted to the other mail server selected in S38.

In this way, even if the mail server that is normally used cannot be used, if another mail server is registered, another registered mail server is automatically selected and an electronic mail is sent. Can be sent. If none of the registered mail servers can be used, an error is notified to the user in this example, and the transmission process ends.

In this example, when the normally used mail server cannot be used, another mail server is always automatically selected to send an electronic mail. However, not limited to this, for example, in the event of an emergency, the above operation is performed, and in the case of non-emergency email, a communication error occurs without selecting another mail server, or after a predetermined time has elapsed, normal use is resumed. It may be configured to try to send to an existing mail server.

When the mail server is selected by the user in S31, the process proceeds from S33 to S39, it is determined that the mail server selected by the user is used, and S40
At, the electronic mail is transmitted to the mail server.
If the mail server you normally use is expected to be crowded, when sending an urgent e-mail, select the mail server that the user thinks is available as described above. Can be used. This enables urgent transmission to be transmitted without delay. When the user selects the mail server, if the mail server cannot be used, an error is notified to the user, and the transmission process ends. Alternatively, it may be configured to prompt the user to select another mail server and to try sending again by the selected mail server. Also in this case, it may be configured to determine whether the user has the authority to select the mail server.

In the above-described operation example, the information to be transmitted by e-mail is read, for example, in S32, but it is also possible to receive the e-mail transmission request from another external device. In that case, the information set in S31 and S3
The information to be transmitted prepared in 2 is received from the external device. The present invention can also be used as such a server.

Further, in the above-mentioned operation example, the description is made on the premise that the mail server information 14 is shared by one or a plurality of mail accounts, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an electronic mail is transmitted. The mail server information 14 may be registered for each user's mail account, and the mail server information 14 to be used may be switched when the mail account is designated in S31, for example. Even in that case, the mail server that is normally used may be shared, or the mail server information 14 itself may be shared so that usable mail accounts can be set.

The various operations in the above-described embodiment of the present invention can be realized by, for example, being described in a program and being executed by a computer. In that case, the data such as the program and the mail server information may be stored in an external storage means such as a memory or a disk, or may be recorded in various recording media. Alternatively, the program can be transferred to a computer via a network and executed.

[0034]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, information about a plurality of mail servers can be registered and a plurality of registered mail servers can be used. Even if the mail server in use cannot be used due to a failure or the like, the mail can be sent using another mail server. Therefore, for example, even when an urgent e-mail is sent, there is an effect that it does not hinder the sending of the e-mail.

Further, since the mail server to be used can be selected and transmitted from the plurality of registered mail servers, it is possible to transmit an urgent e-mail without delay. At this time, by determining the selection right of the mail server, it is possible to select the mail server only when sending a truly urgent e-mail.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a communication mode in a communication system including an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of mail server information.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation at the time of sending an electronic mail in the embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of communication using general electronic mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 6 ... Communication device, 2-5 ... Mail server, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Communication part, 13 ... Storage part, 14 ... Mail server information, 15 ... Operation part, 21, 24 ... Mail client, 22, 23 … Mail server.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing information of a plurality of mail servers, a communication means for communicating via a network, and a control means for transmitting an electronic mail from the communication means using a predetermined mail server. However, the control means is
A communication device, wherein when the predetermined mail server is not available, the electronic mail is transmitted using information of another mail server stored in the storage means. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects the information of the other mail server according to a predetermined priority when using the information of the other mail server. . 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means can store information of a plurality of the mail servers for each mail account. 4. A storage means for storing information of a plurality of mail servers, a communication means for communicating via a network, and a mail server to be used can be selected from the mail server information stored in the storage means. A communication apparatus comprising: a selection unit and a control unit for transmitting an electronic mail from the communication unit to the mail server selected by the selection unit. 5. The mail server by the selecting means determines whether or not the control means has the authority to select the mail server by the selecting means, and only when it is determined that the mail server has the authority. 5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the selection is accepted. 6. Information of a plurality of mail servers is registered in advance, an e-mail is transmitted using a predetermined mail server, and when the predetermined mail server is unavailable, another mail server A program that causes a computer to execute a process of transmitting an electronic mail using information. 7. Information of a plurality of mail servers is registered in advance, a mail server selection instruction is received from the registered information of a plurality of mail servers, and the selected mail server is used to send an e-mail message. A program that causes a computer to execute a process of transmitting.