JP2004164172A - Mail server and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mail server conformable also to clients using different mail protocols, which enables a client to easily register a document in an electronic bulletin board and a user to easily know the registration of a new document in the electronic bulletin board; and its program. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic bulletin board client 6 transmits the document to be posted in the electronic bulletin board to the bulletin board registration mailbox 8 of a mail server 4 as an e-mail message. The mail server 4 registers the document arrived at the mail box 8 in the electronic bulletin board, and transmits a mail message for the registration of the document in the electronic bulletin board to another client. When the client transmits an optional mail message to a bulletin board receiving mailbox 12, the document in the electronic bulletin board is transmitted to the client of the transmitter of the mail. Accordingly, the document can be easily registered in the electronic bulletin board, and the client can easily receive the registered document. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
Field of application of the invention
The present invention relates to a mail server having an electronic bulletin board function and a program therefor, and more particularly to an improvement in a user interface for registering a document on the electronic bulletin board and receiving a registered document from the electronic bulletin board.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-158846
Patent Literature 1 discloses that an Internet facsimile server is provided with an electronic bulletin board function, and an Internet facsimile having a specific code is treated as a document registered in the electronic bulletin board.
[0005]
In Patent Literature 1, it is necessary to describe a specific code in the header or the body of the Internet facsimile for registration in the electronic bulletin board, and registration to the electronic bulletin board cannot be performed without knowing this code.
[0006]
[Problems of the Invention]
An object of the present invention is to enable a client to easily register a document on an electronic bulletin board (claims 1 to 6).
An additional object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily know that a new document has been registered in an electronic bulletin board.
An additional object of the third aspect of the present invention is to be able to cope with a client using a different mail protocol.
Another object of the present invention is to enable a client to easily receive a document registered in an electronic bulletin board.
[0007]
Configuration of the Invention
The mail server according to the present invention is provided with an e-mail transmission / reception function, and a registration address for receiving a document to be registered in the electronic bulletin board from a client is provided under its own control, and an electronic mail addressed to the registration address is provided. The mail is stored as a document registered in an electronic bulletin board (claim 1).
[0008]
Preferably, a storage unit for storing a list of clients for notifying the registration of the document to the electronic bulletin board is provided, and the client registered in the storage unit is notified of the registration of the document to the electronic bulletin board by e-mail. (Claim 2). Note that a list means a table or a table, and does not mean that the storage format of data is a list format.
It is particularly preferable that the storage unit stores a protocol for notifying a client. The notification protocol is a protocol for returning an electronic mail to the client, such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) or POP (Post Office Protocol).
[0009]
Also preferably, a receiving address for the client to receive the registered document from the electronic bulletin board is provided under the control of the mail server, and when an e-mail arrives from the client at the receiving address, the electronic mail message is transmitted to the originating client. Is configured to reply to the registered document by e-mail (claim 4).
[0010]
A mail server program according to the present invention is a program for realizing an electronic bulletin board function in a mail server performing an electronic mail transmission / reception function, wherein a self-registering address for receiving a document to be registered in the electronic bulletin board from a client is provided. And a command for registering and storing an electronic mail addressed to the registration address in an electronic bulletin board on an electronic bulletin board (claim 5).
[0011]
Preferably, a command for providing a receiving address for the client to receive the registered document from the electronic bulletin board under the control of the mail server, and when the electronic mail arrives at the receiving address, the registration of the electronic bulletin board at the source thereof is performed. And a command for returning the document by e-mail (claim 6).
[0012]
Function and Effect of the Invention
According to the present invention, a client can register a document on an electronic bulletin board by transmitting an electronic mail to a predetermined address managed by a mail server. The procedure required for document registration is to know the registration address and send an e-mail to that address, which is extremely simple (claims 1 to 6). In this specification, providing an address under the control of the mail server means providing an address accessible from the mail server inside or outside the mail server, for example, providing a mailbox managed by the mail server. .
[0013]
In addition, a list of clients notifying that a document has been registered on the electronic bulletin board is stored in the storage unit, and when a document is registered on the electronic bulletin board, the client is notified by e-mail that the document has been registered. Notification can be made easily (claim 2). Here, if a protocol for notification to the client (for example, POP3 (post office protocol version 3) or SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol)) is stored in the list, it is suitable for the client. The notification can be made by using the specified protocol.
[0014]
If a receiving address for the client to receive the registered document from the electronic bulletin board is provided under the control of the mail server, when the address is accessed, the document on the electronic bulletin board is returned. The document can be received simply by accessing the.
[0015]
【Example】
1 to 5 show an embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a mail server having an electronic bulletin board function, which is hereinafter simply referred to as a mail server, and is connected to a plurality of electronic bulletin board clients 6 via the LAN 2. The electronic bulletin board client 6 is a part of the mail client of the mail server 4, and the electronic bulletin board client 6 is hereinafter simply referred to as a client. In the figure, the electronic bulletin board is simply shown as a bulletin board for simplicity.
[0016]
A part related to the electronic bulletin board in the configuration of the mail server 4 will be described. Reference numeral 8 denotes a mailbox for registering a bulletin board. When an electronic mail is transmitted from the client 6 to the mailbox 8, the electronic mail is registered in the electronic bulletin board. Is done. Reference numeral 10 denotes a bulletin board erasing mailbox. When an e-mail specifying a document to be erased from the electronic bulletin board is transmitted from the client 6 to this mailbox 10, the specified registered document is deleted from the electronic bulletin board. When the bulletin board erasing mailbox 10 is shared with the registration mailbox 8, a message indicating that erasure is to be performed instead of registration of the electronic bulletin board and a registration document to be erased are specified, and an electronic mail is transmitted from the client 6. Alternatively, the document registered in the electronic bulletin board may be deleted.
[0017]
Reference numeral 12 denotes a bulletin board receiving mailbox. In this embodiment, a plurality of mailboxes 12 exist because a mailbox 12 is provided for each document registered in the electronic bulletin board. Then, the mailbox 12 is automatically created every time a new document is registered in the electronic bulletin board. When the client 6 desires to receive a document registered in the electronic bulletin board, the client 6 transmits an e-mail to the mailbox 12 corresponding to the document desired to be received. Instead of such a configuration, a common bulletin board receiving mailbox may be provided for all documents registered in the electronic bulletin board. In this case, a document name such as a document number is added to the registered document instead of identifying the document registered by the mailbox name. Then, a document name may be given to the e-mail to be transmitted to the receiving mailbox, and it may be specified which document is to be received and transmitted. Reference numeral 13 denotes a mailbox of each client, which is used for sending and receiving a normal electronic mail.
[0018]
Reference numeral 14 denotes an electronic bulletin board database, whose configuration is schematically shown in FIG. The database 14 stores the documents registered in the electronic bulletin board together with the outline and data for managing the registered documents. The registered document management data includes the document name of the document registered in the electronic bulletin board, for example, “Document 1”, and the ID and password of a contributor (user who registered the document in the electronic bulletin board). This password is a password for processing that cannot be performed by other clients, such as deleting a document registered in the electronic bulletin board. In addition, the date and time of posting, the password for reading the document from the bulletin board receiving mailbox, the presence or absence of an attached file to the registered document, the size and format of the attached file, and the like are stored. These data serve as references when the client receives a document registered in the electronic bulletin board. The electronic bulletin board database 14 also stores the mailbox name of the receiving mailbox assigned to the registered document, the expiration date, and the like. When the expiration date has passed, the registered document is deleted automatically or by the administrator of the mail server 4.
[0019]
The storage location of the document registered in the electronic bulletin board is the electronic bulletin board data box 14, but is not limited thereto. Further, the deletion of the registered document is performed when the expiration date has passed, and the contributor (the person who transmitted the registered document to the mail server 4) or the mail server administrator sends the electronic mail to the bulletin board deletion mailbox 10 using the password. Either of the cases where the mail was sent. Further, in this specification, sending an e-mail to the bulletin board registration mailbox 8 is called “posting”, and registering the posted e-mail on the electronic bulletin board is called “registration”. "Receiving from the electronic bulletin board" means distributing a document registered in the electronic bulletin board to the mailbox 13 of the client, or transmitting the document by SMTP to the client.
[0020]
Reference numeral 16 in FIG. 1 denotes a client information storage unit which stores a list of clients using the electronic bulletin board, and the contents are shown in FIG. For each user, a user ID, a password for deleting a registered document, a notification that a new document has been registered in the electronic bulletin board, a protocol for receiving a document registered in the electronic bulletin board, and a new document registered in the electronic bulletin board. It is stored whether or not a notification is necessary at the time of the notification and whether or not the automatic transmission of the newly registered document is necessary. Here, combining the necessity of notification of new registration and the necessity of automatic reception of newly registered document,
(1) Each time a new document (new document) is registered, it is automatically received, and a notification of the outline of the new document (format, size, etc.) of the new document is received.
(2) Notification is not required if new documents can be automatically received.
(3) Select whether to receive a new document by receiving the notification,
(4) No automatic reception or notification, virtually no client of electronic bulletin board,
Various states such as can be selected.
[0021]
Reference numeral 18 in FIG. 1 denotes an electronic bulletin board processing unit that executes the above-described processing relating to the electronic bulletin board. Reference numeral 20 denotes a WEB server provided in the mail server 4, for example, providing a WEB page relating to an electronic bulletin board to the client 6, and when the client 6 selects new registration, an electronic mail addressed to the mail address of the registration mailbox 8 is sent. Submit the format. When the user selects the erasure, an e-mail format having the e-mail address of the erasure mailbox 10 as an address is transmitted. Further, when a registered document to be received is selected by the mailbox number, the format of the receiving e-mail addressed to the mailbox of that number is transmitted. However, the e-mail to be received may be a simple e-mail as long as the sender of the client is identified, which mailbox is specified, and the password for the reception can be confirmed if necessary. The WEB server 20 is used for providing guidance regarding the electronic bulletin board, but need not be provided.
[0022]
FIG. 4 shows processing related to the electronic bulletin board in the mail server. When an electronic mail is received in step 1, the destination address is checked in step 2. When registering an electronic bulletin board, the destination address is a bulletin board registration mailbox, and when receiving a registered document from the electronic bulletin board, the destination is a bulletin board receiving mailbox. When a user who has registered a document in the electronic bulletin board deletes the document, the destination is a bulletin board deletion mailbox.
[0023]
For these reasons, it is determined what kind of processing the user wants for the electronic bulletin board at the destination of the electronic mail, and in the case of registration to the electronic bulletin board, the received original is registered in the electronic bulletin board, and the document is handled. A new bulletin board receiving mailbox is opened, and the received document and its outline and management information are registered in the electronic bulletin board database (steps 3 and 4). Then, the client registered in the electronic bulletin board is notified that “the transmitted document has been registered in the mailbox“ mbox001 ””. The other clients are notified as shown in FIG. 5 as described later (step 5).
[0024]
Documents registered in the bulletin board are assigned different mailboxes for each document, so if a client specifies a mailbox for receiving and sends an arbitrary email, it will be sent to the sender of the email. A registration document corresponding to the mailbox is returned. The reply is in accordance with a reply protocol for each client stored in the client information storage unit, for example, distribution to a mailbox by POP3 or the like, or direct reply to the client by SMTP (step 6). Note that these processes are executed by the electronic bulletin board processing unit.
[0025]
FIG. 5 shows an example of a notification to a client when a document is registered in an electronic bulletin board. This notification is transmitted by SMTP or distributed to the mailbox according to the protocol for each client stored in the client information storage unit 16. In the notification of FIG. 5, the sender indicates the mail server, the destination is the mail address of the client, and the subject is described as a new document registered on the electronic bulletin board. The body describes the user (sender) who registered the document in the electronic bulletin board, the account name of the mailbox in which the document is stored, and the password for receiving the document. Note that a password may not be required, or a password may be fixed for all registered documents instead of being determined for each document. In addition, a document can be directly received from the mailbox in which the document is stored by POP3.
[0026]
The attached file column describes that the attached file “document.pdf” exists in this document, and the format column describes the file format of the attached file and the size of all documents including the attached file. . Then, "getmbox001 @ sample" is described as a receiving address, and if a certain type of e-mail is sent with the above-mentioned password attached to the mailbox of this address, the registered document can be received.
[0027]
In the embodiment, it is possible to easily register and receive a document in the electronic bulletin board using a mailbox. Further, the client can be automatically notified of the registration of the document in the electronic bulletin board, and can notify the client and return the document according to the protocol used by the client. In the embodiment, the mail server has been described as a server that performs only e-mail processing. However, in practice, any server having a mail server function may be used. For example, a mail server function is added to an Internet facsimile machine. Then, it may be used as a mail server having an electronic bulletin board function.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mail server according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating storage contents of an electronic bulletin board database in the mail server according to the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of information. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing relating to an electronic bulletin board in the mail server of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an electronic bulletin board list mail from the mail server to the electronic bulletin board client in the embodiment. Figure [Explanation of symbols]
2 LAN
4 mail server 6 electronic bulletin board client 8 bulletin board registration mailbox 10 bulletin board erasing mailbox 12 bulletin board receiving mailbox 14 electronic bulletin board database 16 client information storage unit 18 electronic bulletin board processing unit 20 web server

Claims (6)

In addition to providing an e-mail sending and receiving function,
In order to receive a document to be registered in the electronic bulletin board from a client, a registration address is provided under its own control, and an electronic mail addressed to the registration address is stored as a registered document in the electronic bulletin board. Mail server. A storage unit for storing a list of clients for notifying document registration to the electronic bulletin board is provided, and the client is stored in the storage unit and notified of document registration to the electronic bulletin board by e-mail. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The mail server according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit stores a protocol including a notification protocol to the client. A receiving address for the client to receive the registered document from the electronic bulletin board is provided under the control of the mail server, and when the electronic mail arrives from the client at the receiving address, the registered document of the electronic bulletin board is transmitted to the originating client. 4. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein the mail server is configured to reply by e-mail. In a program for realizing an electronic bulletin board function in a mail server performing an electronic mail sending / receiving function,
An instruction for providing a registration address under its own control for receiving a document to be registered in the electronic bulletin board from a client,
A command for registering and storing an electronic mail addressed to the registration address in an electronic bulletin board. A command for providing a receiving address for the client to receive the registered document from the electronic bulletin board under the control of the mail server;
6. The program for a mail server according to claim 5, further comprising: an instruction for returning a registered document of an electronic bulletin board by electronic mail when the electronic mail arrives at the receiving address.

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