JP2004145511A - Electronic mail distribution device, distribution method, distribution program and record medium recorded with program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic mail distribution device capable of deciding a distribution destination by a latest database, generating electronic mail to each distribution destination user, and generating user registration screen data related to a distribution schedule. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic mail distribution device has: a communication part 7 transmitting distribution schedule setting screen data receiving setting of the distribution schedule to a client computer 40 in response to a request from the client computer 40; a record part 3 recording the distribution schedule received from the client computer 40; a clocking part 8; and a data processing part 1 using a prescribed distribution destination retrieval key, retrieving a user registration database correlatively recording user information and a mail address, deciding a distribution destination mail address, and distributing the electronic mail to the decided distribution destination mail address, when distribution time arrives when retrieval distribution information is included in the distribution schedule. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an e-mail distribution device that automatically distributes e-mail, a distribution method, a distribution program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the progress of computer technology and communication technology, a large amount of information has been exchanged via public communication networks and dedicated communication networks in various industrial fields. In particular, with the spread of the Internet, companies use homepages and e-mails as their own advertising media and sales promotion tools.
[0003]
With regard to electronic mail, a mail distribution service called a mail magazine that provides various kinds of information to general users or specific users regularly or irregularly has become widespread. For example, a user who wants to distribute an e-mail magazine registers his / her personal information and a genre which he / she wants to distribute from a homepage, and an e-mail having contents corresponding to the registered information is sent to the e-mail of the registered user. Sent to the address.
[0004]
In order to efficiently distribute a mail magazine, registered user information is stored in a database, and a distribution destination is determined by searching a database in advance. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163, in order to improve the efficiency and appeal of an e-mail magazine, a client requesting a distributor to distribute an e-mail has a distribution destination obtained by searching a registered database. There is disclosed an e-mail distribution system capable of confirming the number and cost estimate and performing a search for narrowing down the number of distribution destinations.
[0005]
In addition, a delivery schedule including a delivery date and a delivery destination mail address is set in advance, and an email is automatically delivered according to the schedule.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-63113
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the delivery destination is determined by searching the database, the user registration database is constantly updated in accordance with new registration and changes in registration information by the user, but the delivery destination of e-mail is determined by advance search, so There have been problems such as the fact that an e-mail may not be delivered even to a registered user, may be delivered to a user whose delivery has been canceled, or may be delivered to a mail address before change.
[0008]
Further, it has been cumbersome and difficult for a mail distribution requester to customize and distribute the contents of an e-mail for each registered user and to associate registered user information with a distribution schedule.
[0009]
The present invention, with respect to the above problem, according to a predetermined distribution schedule, determines the distribution destination using the latest user registration database, it is possible to distribute the e-mail content according to the user of the distribution destination, It is another object of the present invention to provide an e-mail distribution device, a distribution method, a distribution program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded, which can provide user registration screen data associated with a distribution schedule.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.
[0011]
That is, an electronic mail distribution device (1) according to the present invention is an electronic mail distribution device that distributes an electronic mail according to a distribution schedule, and receives a setting of the distribution schedule in response to a request from a client computer. A communication unit that transmits screen data to the client computer; a recording unit that records the distribution schedule received from the client computer; a clock unit that outputs time information; and the distribution schedule includes search distribution information. In the case, when the time obtained from the clock unit reaches a time corresponding to the distribution time included in the distribution schedule, the user information and the mail address are recorded in association with each other using a predetermined distribution destination search key. Search the registered user registration database and Determine the-less, is characterized in that said the determined the destination mail address and a data processing unit to deliver the e-mail.
[0012]
According to the above-described electronic mail distribution device (1), the electronic mail is distributed to the mail address of the user selected from the latest user registration database at the time of distribution according to the electronic mail distribution schedule set by the client computer. Becomes possible.
[0013]
An e-mail distribution device (2) according to the present invention is an e-mail distribution device that distributes an e-mail according to a distribution schedule, and in response to a request from a client computer, a mail subject and a mail body constituting the e-mail. A communication unit for transmitting e-mail creation screen data to the client computer that accepts the input of the e-mail, a recording unit for recording the e-mail subject and the e-mail text received from the client computer, a clock unit for outputting time information, In the case where an embedded tag designating a parameter to be replaced exists in the mail text or the mail subject, when the time acquired from the clock unit becomes a time corresponding to the delivery time included in the delivery schedule, To the delivery address of the e-mail recorded in the recording unit From the corresponding user information, obtain information corresponding to the parameter to be replaced sandwiched between embedded tags in the mail text or the email subject, and replace the parameter in the email text or the email subject. And a data processing unit that replaces the information with the acquired information.
[0014]
According to the above-described e-mail delivery device (2), in accordance with the client's designation, the e-mail subject or the e-mail body contains e-mail in which user-specific information such as the name of each registered user and the registration date is described. It is easy to automatically generate and send mail, and it is possible to improve the appeal of electronic mail to users.
[0015]
Further, in the electronic mail distribution device (3) according to the present invention, in the electronic mail distribution device (1) or (2), the recording unit records a set of a plurality of the distribution schedules as a scenario, and Unit transmits, to the client computer, an item designation screen data for receiving designation of an item to be displayed on the user registration screen and designation of an association between the item and the scenario, and the data processing unit transmits the item from the client computer to the client computer. Receiving the first information designating the item and the second information designating the association between the item and the scenario, generating user registration screen data according to the first information and the second information. When read by the computer, the item corresponding to the first information and the transmission button are displayed on the display device of the user computer. It is displayed, when the transmission button is pressed, the information and the second information corresponding to the displayed said item, is characterized in that it is configured to be transmitted from the user computer.
[0016]
According to the above-described electronic mail distribution device (3), it is possible to easily provide user registration screen data corresponding to a desired distribution scenario to a client having little computer programming knowledge.
[0017]
An e-mail distribution method (1) according to the present invention is an e-mail distribution method for distributing an e-mail according to a distribution schedule, wherein the e-mail is distributed in response to a request from a client computer via a communication network. A transmission schedule setting screen data transmission step of transmitting distribution schedule setting screen data for accepting a schedule setting to the client computer; a distribution schedule recording step of receiving the distribution schedule from the client computer and recording it in a recording unit; A time monitoring step of monitoring whether or not a time corresponding to the delivery time included in the delivery schedule; and when it is determined that the time corresponds to the delivery time, search delivery information is included in the delivery schedule. Have been A search / delivery determining step of determining whether or not the search / delivery information is included, and a user registration database in which user information and a mail address are recorded in association with each other using a predetermined destination search key. And a delivery destination determining step of determining a delivery destination email address, and an email delivery step of delivering the email to the delivery destination email address searched in the delivery destination determination step. .
[0018]
According to the above-described electronic mail distribution method (1), it is possible to achieve the same effects as those of the electronic mail distribution device (1).
[0019]
An e-mail distribution method (2) according to the present invention is an e-mail distribution method for distributing an e-mail according to a distribution schedule, and forms an e-mail in response to a request from a client computer via a communication network. An e-mail creation screen data transmission step of transmitting e-mail creation screen data to the client computer for accepting input of an e-mail subject and an e-mail body; and receiving the e-mail subject and the e-mail body from the client computer and recording them in a recording unit. An e-mail recording step, a time monitoring step for monitoring whether or not the current time is a time corresponding to the distribution time included in the distribution schedule, and when it is determined that the time corresponds to the distribution time, Replace in the email body or the email subject A tag inspecting step of inspecting whether an embedded tag specifying an elephant parameter is present, and, when it is determined that the embedded tag is present, from the user information corresponding to a mail address to which the electronic mail is delivered, the mail A replacement information obtaining step of obtaining information corresponding to the replacement target parameter sandwiched between embedded text in the body text or the email subject, and the replacement target parameter in the email body or the email subject is obtained. And substituting with information.
[0020]
According to the above-described e-mail distribution method (2), the same effects as those of the e-mail distribution device (2) can be obtained.
[0021]
In the electronic mail distribution method (3) according to the present invention, in the electronic mail distribution method (1) or (2), a scenario recording step of recording a set of a plurality of the distribution schedules as a scenario in the recording unit; An item specification screen data transmission step of transmitting, to the client computer, an item specification screen data for receiving specification of an item to be displayed on a user registration screen and specification of the relation between the item and the scenario; and transmitting the item from the client computer. An item information receiving step of receiving first information to be specified and second information to specify an association between the item and the scenario, and a registration screen data generating step of generating user registration screen data according to the first and second information And the user registration screen data is read into the user computer In this case, an item corresponding to the first information and a transmission button are displayed on a display device of the user computer, and when the transmission button is pressed, information corresponding to the displayed item and the second information are displayed. Is transmitted from the user computer.
[0022]
According to the above-described e-mail distribution method (3), the same effects as those of the e-mail distribution device (3) can be obtained.
[0023]
Also, an electronic mail distribution program (1) according to the present invention includes a data processing unit, a recording unit, a communication unit, and a timing unit. The data processing unit distributes the electronic mail according to a distribution schedule. A function of transmitting distribution schedule setting screen data for accepting the setting of the distribution schedule to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the client computer, and a function of receiving the distribution schedule from the client computer and recording the data in the recording unit When search delivery information is included in the delivery schedule, a predetermined delivery destination search key is used when the time acquired from the clock unit is a time corresponding to the delivery time included in the delivery schedule. And record user information and email address in correspondence Searching the user registration database, the ability to determine the delivery destination mail address, and the determined the destination mail address, it is characterized in that to realize the function of delivering the electronic mail.
[0024]
According to the above-described electronic mail distribution program (1), the same effects as those of the electronic mail distribution device (1) and the electronic mail distribution method (1) can be achieved.
[0025]
Also, an e-mail distribution program (2) according to the present invention includes a data processing unit, a recording unit, a communication unit, and a timing unit, and the data processing unit distributes the e-mail according to a distribution schedule to the computer. A function of transmitting to the client computer e-mail creation screen data for accepting an input of an e-mail subject and an e-mail text constituting an e-mail in response to a request from the client computer through the e-mail subject and the e-mail text from the client computer The function of receiving and recording in the recording unit, if there is an embedded tag that specifies a parameter to be replaced in the mail body or the mail subject, the time obtained from the clock unit is included in the distribution schedule When the time corresponds to the delivery time A function of acquiring, from the user information corresponding to the delivery address of the e-mail recorded in the recording unit, information corresponding to the parameter to be replaced, which is sandwiched between embedded tags in the e-mail body or the e-mail subject. And a function of replacing the replacement target parameter in the mail text or the mail subject with the acquired information.
[0026]
According to the above-described electronic mail distribution program (2), the same effects as those of the electronic mail distribution device (2) and the electronic mail distribution method (2) can be achieved.
[0027]
The electronic mail distribution program (3) according to the present invention, in the electronic mail distribution program (1) or (2), a function of recording a set of a plurality of the distribution schedules as a scenario in the recording unit; A function of transmitting an item designation screen data for accepting designation of an item to be displayed on the user registration screen and designation of an association between the item and the scenario to the client computer via the client computer; a first function for designating the item from the client computer Information, and a function of receiving second information specifying the association between the item and the scenario, and a function of generating user registration screen data in accordance with the first and second information. , When read by the user computer, an item corresponding to the first information and a transmission button The information corresponding to the displayed item and the second information are displayed on the display device of the user computer, and the second information is transmitted from the user computer when the transmission button is pressed. It is characterized by.
[0028]
According to the above-described electronic mail distribution program (3), the same effects as those of the electronic mail distribution device (3) and the electronic mail distribution method (3) can be achieved.
[0029]
Further, a computer-readable recording medium (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that any one of the electronic mail distribution programs (1) to (3) is recorded.
[0030]
According to the above-described computer-readable recording medium (1), it is possible to achieve the same effects as any of the above-described electronic mail distribution programs (1) to (3).
[0031]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, the description of mail means electronic mail.
[0032]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an e-mail distribution device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a state where the e-mail distribution device 10 is connected to a communication network 60.
[0033]
The e-mail distribution device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a data processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU) 1 that controls each component, a temporary storage unit (hereinafter, referred to as a memory) 2, which temporarily records data, A recording unit 3 for continuously recording data, an internal bus 4 for exchanging data between the constituent units, an input interface unit 5 for receiving an instruction via an operation unit 20, and a video signal to be displayed on a display unit 30 , A communication interface unit 7 connected to the communication network 60, and a clock unit 8. FIG. 1 shows a client computer (hereinafter, referred to as a client PC) 40 which is a computer used by a client requesting distribution of an e-mail, and a user computer (hereinafter, referred to as a user PC) which is a computer used by a general user. Reference numeral 50 indicates a state where the communication network 60 is connected. Usually, a plurality of client PCs 40 and user PCs 50 are connected to the communication network 60, but FIG. 1 typically shows only one each.
[0034]
The CPU 1 controls each component of the electronic data distribution device 10 and distributes an e-mail to the user PC 50, receives distribution conditions from the client PC 40, and receives a It performs user registration data reception processing and the like. Various settings relating to e-mail delivery can also be made from the operation unit 20. The display unit 30 appropriately displays information such as the setting of the e-mail distribution and the movable state.
[0035]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing performed by the electronic mail distribution device 10 according to the present embodiment. In the following description, the processing performed by the CPU 1 will be described unless otherwise specified. That is, the CPU 1 reads necessary data from the recording unit 3 onto the memory 2, executes a predetermined process on the read data on the memory 2, and records the processing result on the recording unit 3. Further, the CPU 1 converts the read data, the processing result data, and the like into a video signal via the video unit 6 and causes the display unit 30 to display the video signal.
[0036]
First, in step 100, it is determined whether or not a login request from the client PC 40 has been received via the communication interface unit 7. If it is determined that a login request has been received, the process proceeds to step 200, where a setting task for receiving various settings relating to e-mail distribution and the like is activated, and then proceeds to step 300. If it is determined that the login request has not been received, the process proceeds to step 300. Details of the processing in step 200 will be described later.
[0037]
In step 300, the current time is acquired from the clock unit 8, and the acquired time is compared with the distribution time of a mail distribution schedule (hereinafter, referred to as a schedule) recorded in the recording unit 3 in advance. That is, when it is determined that the same time or the distribution time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 400, activates the distribution task for distributing the mail, and then proceeds to step 500. Details of the processing in step 400 will be described later. If it is determined that the current time has not reached the distribution time, the process proceeds to step 500.
[0038]
In step 500, it is determined whether or not user registration data has been received from the user PC 50 via the communication network 60. For example, a user registration screen is displayed as a home page on the user PC 50, information on a designated item is input by the user, and when the transmission button is pressed, the input information is transmitted as user registration data. Here, the email distribution device 10 records the user registration data in a database for each client. Also, home pages provided from a specific client PC 40 are classified into a plurality of groups such as, for example, for each genre and for each product. , Scenario) is added to the information input by the user and transmitted. As will be described in detail later, the scenario includes a plurality of schedules specifying the mail to be delivered, the delivery timing and the delivery destination, and is managed for each client. If it is determined that the user registration data has been received, the process proceeds to step 600, and if it is determined that the user registration data has not been received, the process proceeds to step 700.
[0039]
In step 600, the received user registration data is recorded in the recording unit 3. At this time, the information input by the user is registered in the user registration database, and the user is added to the distribution destination list of the relevant distribution scenario according to the scenario-related information. The user registration database is used at the time of mail distribution as described later.
[0040]
In step 700, it is determined whether or not an end instruction has been issued via the operation unit 20 and the input interface unit 5. If it is determined that the termination instruction has been given, the process ends. If it is determined that there is no end instruction, the process returns to step 100 and the above processing is repeated.
[0041]
Next, the processing in steps 200 and 400, the description of which has been omitted above, will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing of a setting task for receiving various settings related to mail distribution in step 200 (FIG. 2). Here, the processing performed by the CPU 1 will be mainly described.
[0042]
As a preliminary process, a management number I is determined to identify the client PC 40 that has requested login, and the process is started as a setting task I. The client PC 40 is requested for a user ID and a password, and the request is compared with information recorded in the recording unit 3 in advance. When it is determined that an appropriate user ID and password are received, the process proceeds to step 201. Here, in order to identify a plurality of client PCs, a unique number is determined for each login request, and is recorded, for example, in a predetermined area of the memory 2 and held until a logout process described later is completed.
[0043]
In step 201, it is determined whether or not a request for data generation of a user registration screen presented to the user PC 50 via the communication network 60 from the client PC 40 has been received. If it is determined that the request for generating the user registration screen data has been received, the process proceeds to step 202, and if it is determined that the request for generating the user registration screen data has not been received, the process proceeds to step 205.
[0044]
In step 202, item designation screen data for designating the conditions of the user registration screen is transmitted to the client PC 40. For example, when the browser of the homepage is installed in the client PC, the e-mail distribution device 10 transmits an HTML item specification screen data file to the client PC 40. Thus, the browser of the client PC 40 interprets the received HTML file and displays a list of items that can be displayed on the user registration screen as a graphical input interface as shown in FIG. 4, that is, a window screen. In FIG. 4, the left column of "selection of items" indicates items that can be displayed on the user registration screen, and the first square symbol of the item desired by the client is checked. If the client wishes to display an item on the user registration screen as a required input item, the square symbol in the right column of "selection of item" is checked. In FIG. 4, all items other than the FAX number are selected, and only the name, telephone number, and mail address among them are specified as required input items. Further, since the e-mail distribution device 10 manages a set of a plurality of schedules as a scenario, by checking a square symbol in the column of “selection of a scenario to be associated”, the user PC 50 can input a user registration screen. Scenario to be associated with the data. This sets the scenario-related information described in steps 500 and 600.
[0045]
In step 203, it is repeatedly determined whether or not the setting data of “selection of item” and “selection of scenario to be associated” is received from the client PC 40. A “Create registration screen data” button is displayed on the display device of the client PC 40 as shown in FIG. 4, and when the button is pressed by a mouse, the “Select item” and “Select related scenario” settings are made. The data is transmitted to the e-mail distribution device 10. The data transmission from the client PC 40 to the e-mail distribution device 10 can use a well-known method of creating an item designation screen data file in HTML format and describing it using a FORM tag therein. If it is determined in step 203 that the setting data of “selection of item” and “selection of scenario to be related” has been received from the client PC 40, the process proceeds to step 204.
[0046]
In step 204, from the received data, the associated scenario, item name, and information on the presence or absence of the mandatory input are extracted, and based on the information, the user registration screen data is converted into a predetermined format, for example, HTML format. Generate. FIG. 5 shows an example of a user registration screen displayed on the display device of the user PC 50. At this time, a user registration screen is displayed on the user PC 50, and text information is input to the item by the user, and when the “register” button is pressed, the input text information is transmitted to the e-mail distribution device 10. Thus, the parameters of the FORM tag are described in the user registration screen data file. For example,
<FORM ACTION = “http://www.abcd.com/user.cgi” METHOD = “POST”>, followed by a parameter for storing data with an INPUT tag. Here, www. abcd. com corresponds to the IP address of the electronic mail distribution device 10. As a result, the user registration data is transmitted from the user PC 50 to the e-mail distribution device 10, and the program user. Processed by cgi.
[0047]
The association with the scenario is, for example, when relating to all scenarios, in the user registration screen data file,
This can be realized by describing <INPUT TYPE = “HIDDEN” NAME = “SCENARIO” VALUE = “all”>. In this case, the user registration data transmitted from the user PC 50 to the e-mail distribution device 10 includes SCENARIO = "all" corresponding to the data "all" set by VALUE. In the e-mail distribution device 10, the CPU 1 determines that the value of the variable SCENARIO is "all", and associates the received user registration data with all scenarios. That is, it is possible to specify the relevance to a predetermined scenario by previously assigning the scenario-related information for each scenario, setting the predetermined scenario-related information to VALUE, and generating a user registration screen data file. .
[0048]
The generated user registration screen data file can be immediately transmitted to the client PC 50, separately transmitted to a designated address of the client by e-mail, or recorded on a recording medium and transmitted to the client. It is. The client records the acquired user registration screen data file as it is or after modifying it as necessary, records it on the recording device of the client PC 40, and allows the user to register the user registration screen data file via the link set on the homepage established by the client. Can be accessible. This enables user registration from the user PC 50 as described with respect to steps 500 and 600 (FIG. 2).
[0049]
In step 205, it is determined whether or not a request for setting regarding mail distribution has been received from the client PC 40 via the communication network 60. When it is determined that the setting request has been received, the process proceeds to step 206, and when it is determined that the setting request has not been received, the process proceeds to step 214.
[0050]
In step 206, it is determined whether a request for creating a delivery mail has been received. If it is determined that the creation request has been received, the process proceeds to step 207. If it is determined that the creation request has not been received, the process proceeds to step 208.
[0051]
In step 207, the mail creation screen data is transmitted to the client PC 40. As described in connection with step 202, for example, when the browser of the Internet homepage is installed in the client PC 40, the e-mail distribution device 10 transmits an HTML mail creation screen data file to the client PC 40. As a result, a mail creation screen is displayed on the client PC 40, and the client can input text data such as a mail subject and a mail body of the e-mail from the keyboard. FIG. 6 shows an example of the mail creation screen. The input mail data, that is, the scenario name, the mail subject, the mail text, and the mail format are transmitted from the client PC 40 to the electronic mail distribution device 10 according to a transmission instruction from the client. The received mail data is recorded in the recording unit 3 as a set of a scenario name, a mail subject, a mail text, and a mail format.
[0052]
When creating one mail, the user inputs the scenario name, the mail subject, and the mail text, and sets the mail format (text format or HTML format). The scenario name and e-mail subject are information used for setting the schedule, and it is necessary to set the {scenario name and e-mail subject} sets so that they are not the same. How these pieces of information are used will be described later. Here, when the client desires to use the replacement delivery function described later, the replacement target parameters are described with predetermined symbols. For example, if you use the% as the predetermined symbol, in the mail body, referred to as "% name% like, hello.% Registdate% to purchased% goods% is Why.". Accordingly, when distributing an e-mail as described later, the e-mail distribution device 10 stores the user name “name”, the corresponding purchased goods “goods”, and “registerdate” as the purchase date from the user registration database recorded in the recording unit 3. Create an e-mail with the acquired data replaced with the corresponding part in the e-mail.
[0053]
FIG. 7 shows an example of the user registration database. In FIG. 7, name, sex, post, address, tel, hptel, e-mail, registerdate, and goods are the user's name, gender, postal code, address, telephone number, mobile phone number, FAX number, mail address, and user registration, respectively. The date represents the purchased product. If you want to deliver the mail to the user who is shown in the second row, described in the above mail text "Suzuki-like, hello. Computers that have purchased on October 1, 2002 Why." Is generated, and the corresponding mail address suzuki @ abcd. ne. jp.
[0054]
In step 208, it is determined whether or not there is a request for setting a scenario. If it is determined that there is a request for setting a scenario, the process proceeds to step 209. If it is determined that there is no request for setting a scenario, the process proceeds to step 210.
[0055]
In step 209, the scenario setting screen data is transmitted to the client PC 40. In the same manner as described in steps 202 and 207, an HTML schedule setting screen data file is transmitted from the electronic mail distribution apparatus 10 to the client PC 40. As a result, the scenario setting screen is displayed on the client PC 40, and the client can set the distribution schedule of the e-mail using the keyboard and the mouse.
[0056]
FIG. 8 shows an example of a scenario setting screen, in which a scenario name, a mail subject, a distribution timing, and a distribution destination are displayed as settable items. Here, a set of {mail subject, distribution timing, distribution destination} is a schedule.
[0057]
The scenario name and the mail subject are those set by the client for each mail in the e-mail creation processing in step 207. When a new schedule is created, when a “create new scenario” button is pressed, a list of e-mails input by the client and transmitted to the e-mail distribution device 10 and recorded in the recording unit 3 is displayed. The client can easily set the mail to be delivered by selecting from the list. Next, the distribution timing is specified for each mail subject. In FIG. 8, the e-mail magazines # 1 to # 3 are set to be "delivered at the time of registration", "delivered at 8:00 one day after the previous mail", and "delivered two days after the previous mail". I understand. Here, “delivery at the time of registration” means that the e-mail distribution device 10 receives the user registration data and distributes it to the mail address of the user immediately after the information is recorded in the recording unit 3. The created distribution scenario data is recorded in the recording unit 3.
[0058]
In step 210, it is determined whether or not there is a request to set search distribution. If it is determined that there is a request for setting of search distribution, the process proceeds to step 211, and if it is determined that there is no request for setting, the process proceeds to step 212. For example, by designating “search delivery” as a delivery destination, a request for search delivery can be made. In FIG. 8, “search delivery” is designated as the delivery destination of the schedule number = 2 whose scenario name is “sample request”.
[0059]
In step 211, search key setting screen data for setting a search key for searching the user registration database is transmitted to the client PC 40. As will be described later, in the mail distribution task, when the distribution time comes, the CPU 1 searches the latest user registration database at that time by using the search key determined here, and stores it in the obtained mail address. Deliver mail. As the search key, for example, name, gender, date of birth, address, telephone number, registration date, and the like can be used.
[0060]
If it is determined in step 210 that the search delivery has not been designated, in step 212, the delivery destination designation screen data for directly designating the delivery destination user, that is, the delivery destination mail address is transmitted. Also, by transmitting the user data recorded in the user registration database to the client PC 40, the client can be prompted to make a selection from among them. In addition, it obtains a delivery destination mail address directly input from the keyboard of the client PC 40, receives an input of a search key, and searches the user registration database using the specified search key to obtain a result obtained as a delivery destination. It is also possible.
[0061]
In step 213, the search key specified in step 211 or the mail address specified in step 212 is recorded in the recording unit 3 in association with the schedule.
[0062]
In step 214, it is determined whether a logout request has been received. Steps 201 to 213 described above are repeated until it is determined that the logout request has been received. If it is determined that the logout request has been received, the setting task I ends. At this time, the number I specified to identify the client PC 40 and recorded in the memory 2 is deleted.
[0063]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing of the mail distribution task in step 400 (FIG. 2).
[0064]
In step 401, a schedule corresponding to the time obtained from the clock unit 8 in step 300 is obtained from all the scenarios recorded in the recording unit 3. The schedule whose distribution timing corresponds to the acquisition time is determined as a target of the distribution processing in the following steps.
[0065]
Next, in step 402, the schedule of the distribution target determined in step 401 is inspected, and it is determined whether or not the automatic search is set. If it is determined that the automatic search is set, the process proceeds to step 403. If it is determined that the automatic search is not set, the process proceeds to step 404.
[0066]
In step 403, a user registration database is searched using a preset search key, and user information corresponding to the search key is obtained. Thereby, the mail address in the obtained user information is determined as the distribution destination mail address.
[0067]
In step 404, mail data to be delivered is acquired from the recording unit 3 based on the mail subject in the schedule determined in step 401. The e-mail body or e-mail subject of the obtained e-mail data is inspected to determine whether an embedded tag exists. If it is determined that the embedded tag exists, the process proceeds to step 405; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 406.
[0068]
In step 405, using the user information acquired in step 401 or 403, the replacement target parameter sandwiched by the embedded tags is replaced with the corresponding user data, and a mail text or a mail subject is newly generated. When there are a plurality of distribution destination users, the mail replaced with the user data corresponding to each of them is generated by the number of distribution destination users.
[0069]
In step 406, the determined mail is delivered to the finally determined mail address, and the delivery task ends. Here, when there is no embedded tag, one mail acquired from the recording unit 3 in step 401 is directly delivered to a plurality of users. If there is an embedded tag, the corresponding mail is selected from the mails newly generated in step 405 and delivered for each delivery destination email address.
[0070]
In the above, the case where the electronic mail distribution apparatus 10 handles a plurality of delivery schedules collectively as one scenario has been described. However, it is also possible to handle individual delivery schedules without combining them as scenarios. In that case, the scenario setting screen in step 209 may be a setting screen of each distribution schedule.
[0071]
Further, the processing of the distribution task has been described on the premise that one distribution task is performed. However, when a plurality of schedules are designated at the same timing, a plurality of distribution tasks are started and each of the above-described steps 401 to 401 is executed. 406 may be performed.
[0072]
Also, a case has been described in which a mail in which predetermined contents are replaced according to the information of a distribution destination user is generated by the number of distribution destination users before distribution. However, the replacement for one user is performed using one mail file. It is also possible to send the mail after replacement every time it is completed, and to repeat this by the number of distribution destination users.
[0073]
Further, the order of processing for realizing the function according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described flowchart, and various changes can be made.
[0074]
【The invention's effect】
According to the electronic mail distribution device of the present invention, it is possible to distribute to an e-mail address of a user selected from the latest user registration database at the time of distribution according to an electronic mail distribution scenario set from a client PC. Become.
[0075]
Also, automatically generate and send an e-mail with user-specific information such as the name of each registered user and the registration date in the e-mail subject and e-mail text according to the client's specification. Is easier, and the power of e-mail appealing to the user is improved.
[0076]
In addition, it is possible to easily provide user registration screen data corresponding to a desired distribution scenario to a client having poor program knowledge. This allows the client to easily provide an e-mail to the registered user in a different scenario for each user registration screen by providing a plurality of user registration screens in the homepage group of the client.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic mail distribution device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a process performed by the electronic mail distribution device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of a setting task according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an item designation screen for designating items displayed on a user registration screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a user registration screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail creation screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a user registration database according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a scenario setting screen according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing of a mail distribution task according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Data processing unit (CPU)
2 Temporary storage (memory)
3 Recording section
4 Internal bus
5 Input interface
6 Video section
7 Communication interface
8 Timing section
10 E-mail distribution device
20 Operation section
30 Display
40 client computer
50 User computer
60 Communication Network

Claims (10)

An email delivery device that delivers email according to a delivery schedule,
A communication unit that transmits, to the client computer, distribution schedule setting screen data that receives the setting of the distribution schedule in response to a request from the client computer;
A recording unit that records the distribution schedule received from the client computer,
A timer for outputting time information;
When search delivery information is included in the delivery schedule, a predetermined delivery destination search key is used when the time obtained from the clock unit reaches a time corresponding to the delivery time included in the delivery schedule. A data processing unit that searches a user registration database that records user information and mail addresses in correspondence with each other, determines a delivery destination email address, and delivers the email to the determined delivery destination email address. An e-mail distribution device. An email delivery device that delivers email according to a delivery schedule,
In response to a request from the client computer, a communication unit that transmits to the client computer e-mail creation screen data that accepts input of a mail subject and a mail body constituting an e-mail,
A recording unit that records the mail subject and the mail text received from the client computer,
A timer for outputting time information;
In the case where an embedded tag designating a parameter to be replaced exists in the mail text or the mail subject, when the time acquired from the clock unit becomes the time corresponding to the delivery time included in the delivery schedule, Obtaining, from the user information corresponding to the delivery address of the electronic mail recorded in the recording unit, information corresponding to the replacement target parameter sandwiched between embedded tags in the mail body or the mail subject. An e-mail distribution device comprising: a data processing unit that replaces the replacement target parameter in the e-mail text or the e-mail subject with the acquired information. The recording unit records a set of the plurality of distribution schedules as a scenario,
The communication unit transmits, to the client computer, an item designation screen data for accepting designation of an item to be displayed on the user registration screen and designation of an association between the item and the scenario,
The data processing unit receives, from the client computer, first information designating the item and second information designating an association between the item and the scenario, and user registration screen data according to the first and second information. Produces
The user registration screen data,
When read by the user computer, an item corresponding to the first information and a send button are displayed on a display device of the user computer,
The information according to the displayed item and the second information are configured to be transmitted from the user computer when the transmission button is pressed, according to claim 1 or 2, Electronic data distribution apparatus according to the above. An email delivery method for delivering email according to a delivery schedule,
In response to a request from a client computer via a communication network, a distribution schedule setting screen data transmission step of transmitting distribution schedule setting screen data for receiving the setting of the distribution schedule of the e-mail to the client computer,
A distribution schedule recording step of receiving the distribution schedule from the client computer and recording the distribution schedule in a recording unit;
A time monitoring step of monitoring whether the current time is a time corresponding to the delivery time included in the delivery schedule,
A search delivery determining step of determining whether or not search delivery information is included in the delivery schedule when determining that the time corresponds to the delivery time;
When it is determined that the search distribution information is included, a user registration database that records user information and an e-mail address in correspondence with each other is searched using a predetermined distribution destination search key, and a distribution destination e-mail address is determined. Destination determining step to be performed;
An e-mail distribution step of distributing the e-mail to the distribution destination e-mail address searched in the distribution destination determining step. An email delivery method for delivering email according to a delivery schedule,
In response to a request from a client computer via a communication network, an e-mail creation screen data transmission step of transmitting e-mail creation screen data for accepting an input of an e-mail subject and an e-mail body constituting an e-mail to the client computer,
An email recording step of receiving the email subject and the email text from the client computer and recording the email in a recording unit;
A time monitoring step of monitoring whether the current time is a time corresponding to the delivery time included in the delivery schedule,
When determining that the time corresponds to the distribution time, a tag inspection step of inspecting whether or not an embedded tag designating a parameter to be replaced exists in the email body or the email subject,
If it is determined that the embedded tag exists, the user information corresponding to the mail address to which the electronic mail is delivered corresponds to the parameter to be replaced, which is sandwiched between embedded tags in the mail body or the mail subject. A replacement information acquisition step of acquiring information;
A replacing step of replacing the replacement target parameter in the mail text or the mail subject with the acquired information. A scenario recording step of recording a set of a plurality of the distribution schedules as a scenario in the recording unit,
An item designation screen data transmission step of transmitting, to the client computer, designation of an item to be displayed on a user registration screen and item designation screen data for accepting designation of an association between the item and the scenario;
An item information receiving step of receiving, from the client computer, first information specifying the item, and second information specifying an association between the item and the scenario;
A registration screen data generating step of generating user registration screen data according to the first and second information,
The user registration screen data,
When read by the user computer, an item corresponding to the first information and a send button are displayed on a display device of the user computer,
The information according to the displayed item and the second information are configured to be transmitted from the user computer when the transmission button is pressed, according to claim 4 or 5, wherein Electronic data distribution method as described. A data processing unit, a recording unit, a communication unit and a timekeeping unit, wherein the data processing unit to deliver an email according to a delivery schedule to a computer,
A function of transmitting distribution schedule setting screen data for receiving the distribution schedule setting to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the communication unit;
A function of receiving the distribution schedule from the client computer and recording the distribution schedule in the recording unit;
When the delivery schedule includes search delivery information, when a time obtained from the clock unit is a time corresponding to a delivery time included in the delivery schedule, a predetermined delivery destination search key is used. A function of searching a user registration database in which user information and an email address are recorded in correspondence with each other and determining a delivery destination email address, and a function of delivering the email to the determined delivery destination email address. An e-mail distribution program, characterized in that: A data processing unit, a recording unit, a communication unit and a timekeeping unit, wherein the data processing unit to deliver an email according to a delivery schedule to a computer,
A function of transmitting, to the client computer, e-mail creation screen data for accepting an input of a mail subject and a mail text constituting an e-mail in response to a request from the client computer via the communication unit;
A function of receiving the email subject and the email text from the client computer and recording the email in the recording unit;
In the mail body or the mail subject, if there is an embedded tag that specifies the parameter to be replaced, when the time obtained from the clock unit is the time corresponding to the delivery time included in the delivery schedule, From the user information corresponding to the distribution address of the electronic mail recorded in the recording unit, information corresponding to the parameter to be replaced sandwiched between embedded tags in the mail body or the mail subject is obtained. An electronic mail distribution program for realizing a function and a function of replacing the replacement target parameter in the mail text or the mail subject with the acquired information. A function of recording a set of a plurality of the distribution schedules as a scenario in the recording unit,
A function of transmitting, to the client computer via the communication unit, designation of an item to be displayed on a user registration screen and item designation screen data for accepting designation of an association between the item and the scenario;
A function of receiving, from the client computer, first information designating the item and second information designating an association between the item and the scenario, and a function of generating user registration screen data according to the first and second information To further realize
The user registration screen data,
When read by the user computer, an item corresponding to the first information and a send button are displayed on a display device of the user computer,
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information corresponding to the displayed item and the second information are transmitted from the user computer when the transmission button is pressed. Electronic data distribution program as described. A computer-readable recording medium on which the electronic mail distribution program according to any one of claims 7 to 9 is recorded.

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