JP2004221995A - Electronic mail control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic mail control method capable of surely having the read completion confirmation and deletion confirmation of transmitted electronic mail even through a relay mail server. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic mail control method is for the case of transmitting the electronic mail from a transmission origin mail server to a final transmission destination mail server through at least one or more mail servers. The electronic mail is transmitted from the transmission origin mail server to the final transmission destination mail server and a confirmation request signal for confirming whether or not the electronic mail is turned to an already read state or a deletion request signal for deleting it is transmitted from the transmission origin mail server. In the final transmission destination mail server or the relay mail server, in the case that the confirmation request signal is received, the result of confirming whether or not the electronic mail is already read or the fact that the confirmation itself is a failure is returned to the transmission origin mail server. Also, in the case that the deletion request signal is received, whether or not the electronic mail is deleted is returned to the transmission origin mail server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic mail control method when an electronic mail is transmitted to a destination via a plurality of mail servers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
First, a general electronic mail control method will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a flow of e-mail transmission when an e-mail is transmitted.
[0003]
In FIG. 7, an e-mail transmitted from a source client PC 71 to a user managed on a final destination mail server 74 is first sent to a source mail server 72 whose source is managed as a user. Can be The transmission source mail server 72 inquires of one or more DNS (Domain Name System) servers A1 to An (n is a natural number) for a transmission destination mail address, and acquires the address of the mail server 73 as the next transmission destination.
[0004]
If the next destination mail server 73 is not the final destination mail server 74, the next destination mail server 73 also sets the destination mail address to one or more DNS servers A1 to An (n is a natural number). Inquires to get the address of the mail server that is the next destination. By repeating such steps, the finally transmitted electronic mail reaches the final destination mail server 74.
[0005]
At this time, if the processing load of the relay mail server 73 is high or the communication failure occurs in the network environment before the mail reaches the final destination mail server 74, the transmitted e-mail is lost. In order to prevent such a situation, the e-mail transmitted on the mail spool for a certain period of time on the relay mail server 73 may be queued.
[0006]
The e-mail arriving at the final destination server 74 is stored in a mail spool 75 on the disk of the final destination mail server 74. Then, the stored e-mail 76 is transmitted from the client PC 77 used by the transmission destination user to the final transmission destination mail server 74 using the MUA (Mail User Agent) program. It is taken out of the mail spool 75 and stored in the mailbox of the client PC 77.
[0007]
In addition, a method of extracting an electronic mail addressed to the user by directly logging in to the final destination mail server 74 by the destination user is often used. In this case, the e-mail is extracted from the mail spool 75 into the user's mailbox on the final destination mail server 74.
[0008]
In the above-described e-mail transmission / reception method, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is widely used as a mail transfer protocol. However, according to the SMTP, it is necessary to confirm whether the user of the transmission destination has taken out the e-mail from the mail spool 75, that is, to have read the transmitted e-mail, or to delete the transmitted e-mail. There was a problem that it was not possible.
[0009]
Therefore, conventionally, the final transmission destination mail server 74 is requested by sending a deletion request mail or a replacement request mail requesting that the desired e-mail be deleted to the final transmission destination mail server 74. A method of deleting and updating an e-mail for deleting or replacing an e-mail has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A No. 14-55932 (pages 2 to 3, FIG. 4)
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the method of deleting and updating the e-mail has the following problems.
[0012]
First, since there is no means for confirming whether or not the transmitted user has read the transmitted e-mail, it is necessary to immediately detect a situation in which the transmitted user has not read the transmitted e-mail due to a long absence or the like. Appropriate measures could not be taken for such cases.
[0013]
Also, although it is possible to try to delete or update the sent e-mail, if the destination user has already read the e-mail, etc., the e-mail cannot be deleted and updated, In addition, since information about whether deletion or update has been made is not sent back, there is also a problem that it is not possible to confirm whether the electronic mail has been surely deleted or updated.
[0014]
Furthermore, since a request to delete or update an e-mail is transferred as another e-mail, if a communication failure occurs in the network environment, or depending on the processing load of the relay mail server, the request may be sent to the relay mail server. There is a case where spooling is performed, and therefore, there is a risk that the deletion request mail or the update request request mail is delayed and the timing for deleting or updating the electronic mail is lost.
[0015]
Also, in recent years, texts written in e-mails are often handled as trails with the date and time of origin and the sender as in ordinary documents. Permitting without restriction results in the problem of record falsification, which is not preferable.
[0016]
The present invention provides an e-mail control method capable of reliably performing read confirmation and deletion confirmation of a transmitted e-mail even through a relay mail server in order to solve the above problem. The purpose is to:
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an e-mail control method according to the present invention provides an e-mail control method for transmitting e-mail from at least one mail server from a source mail server to a final destination mail server. A control method, comprising: a step of transmitting an e-mail from a source mail server to a final destination mail server; and a confirmation request signal or an e-mail from the source mail server for confirming whether the e-mail has been read. Sending a deletion request signal to delete the message, and in the final destination mail server, if a confirmation request signal is received, the result of the confirmation as to whether the e-mail has been read or the confirmation itself has failed. And a step of returning to the source mail server whether or not the e-mail has been deleted when the deletion request signal is received. And wherein the door.
[0018]
With this configuration, it is possible to reliably confirm whether or not the transmitted e-mail has been read by the destination user or whether or not the e-mail has arrived at the final destination. Even in the case where the other party is in an unread state in spite of the fact, it is possible to quickly make a decision to take alternative means such as immediately transmitting the contents by means other than e-mail.
[0019]
Next, in order to achieve the above object, an electronic mail control method according to the present invention provides a method for transmitting an electronic mail from at least one mail server to at least one mail server from a source mail server to a final destination mail server. An e-mail control method, comprising: transmitting an e-mail from a source mail server to a final destination mail server; and a confirmation request signal for confirming whether the e-mail has been read from the source mail server or Sending a deletion request signal for deleting the e-mail; and, when the presence of the e-mail on the relay mail server is detected, the e-mail is transmitted to the relay mail server when the confirmation request signal is received. If the e-mail is deleted, if the e-mail has been deleted, the e-mail is sent to the source mail server. Characterized in that it comprises a signal to process.
[0020]
With this configuration, it is possible to reliably check whether or not the transmitted e-mail is read by the destination user or whether the e-mail has not reached the final destination due to a communication failure or the like even at the relay mail server stage. If the other party is unread despite the fact that the email contains important content, the decision to immediately take alternative measures, such as transmitting the content by means other than email, should be taken. It becomes possible to do it quickly.
[0021]
In the electronic mail control method according to the present invention, the confirmation request signal or the deletion request signal is transmitted / received from the mail server to the final destination mail server by transmitting / receiving a command / response between the mail servers. Alternatively, it is preferable that the result of the deletion request signal is transmitted by transmitting / receiving a command / response from the final destination mail server to the source mail server. This is because the number of times of transmission / reception data and the amount of data are much smaller than the exchange by e-mail for prompting the response confirmation, and since the request signal is not spooled during the communication, a high-speed response in the communication can be secured.
[0022]
Further, the electronic mail control method according to the present invention, when detecting the presence of an electronic mail that is being transmitted to the final destination mail server in the transmission waiting mail queue of each relaying mail server, a confirmation request signal or The transmission of the deletion request signal is stopped, and when the confirmation request signal is received, the e-mail is in an unread state. When the deletion request signal is received, the e-mail present in the mail queue waiting for transmission is deleted. Preferably, the success or failure is communicated to the requesting server.
[0023]
In this way, if the destination user has not read the sent e-mail, the e-mail can be deleted, and if the e-mail is sent to the wrong destination, the wrong text or attachment is sent, When an infected email is transmitted, the transmission of damage to the source or destination individual or company can be minimized. Furthermore, since it is possible to confirm whether or not the e-mail has been securely deleted, it is possible to specify a destination that has already been read, and to perform post-processing reliably and efficiently. It becomes possible.
[0024]
In the electronic mail control method according to the present invention, the transmission / reception of the command / response between the relaying mail servers is completed between the two directly communicating mail servers, and at the same time, the communication connection between the mail servers is disconnected. Preferably, the communication session is terminated. This is because there is no assurance that the transmission route is the same at the time of transmission and at the time of reply, so that unnecessary session establishment is eliminated.
[0025]
Further, in the electronic mail control method according to the present invention, when the confirmation request signal is received at the final destination mail server, the final destination mail server stores the specified e-mail in the internal mail spool. It is preferable to confirm whether or not. Alternatively, it is preferable to confirm whether the specified e-mail exists in the internal mail spool and whether information indicating the read state is recorded. By doing so, it is possible to reliably confirm whether or not the e-mail has arrived at the final destination.
[0026]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an email control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the process of the electronic mail control method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a flow of processing from transmission of a read out / confirmation request for read / deletion of a transmission mail to reception of the result. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a flow of e-mail transmission which embodies the e-mail control method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0027]
First, the transmission source user transmits either a request for confirming that the user is in the read state or a request for deleting the e-mail. At this time, the confirmation request signal or the deletion request signal includes at least the mail address of the source user, the final destination mail address, and the mail (message) ID of the target e-mail as a pair of data.
[0028]
Then, a confirmation request signal or a deletion request signal is transmitted to the transmission source mail server 21 by transmitting / receiving a command / response between program modules. Thereafter, transmission of all the request contents and the result contents is performed by transmitting / receiving commands / responses between program modules on each mail server.
[0029]
Upon receiving the confirmation request signal or the deletion request signal, the transmission source mail server 21 refers to the DNS servers A1 to An (n is a natural number) based on the final transmission destination mail address, and specifies the address of the mail server 22 to be transmitted next. Search (step S101). When the address of the relay mail server 22 to be transmitted next normally is received from the DNS servers A1 to An, a confirmation request signal or a deletion request signal is transmitted to the relay mail server 22 to be transmitted next (step S102). Until the mail reaches the final destination mail server 23, the reference of the DNS server and the transmission of the confirmation request signal or the deletion request signal are repeated between the relay mail servers 22 (steps S103, S104, S105).
[0030]
If the e-mail targeted for the confirmation request or the deletion request is detected on the outgoing mail (message) queue of the relay mail server 22 before reaching the final destination mail server 23 (step S104: Yes), the The transmission of the subsequent confirmation request signal or deletion request signal is stopped. The processing up to this point is called request transmission phase 11.
[0031]
In this case (Step S104: Yes), if the signal received by the relay mail server 22 is a deletion request signal, the target electronic mail in the mail queue is deleted (Step S106), and the process proceeds to the result transmission phase 12 described later. I do. In addition, when a communication failure occurs in the middle of the request transmission phase 11 and the request signal cannot be transmitted normally, the process shifts to the result transmission phase 12.
[0032]
If the confirmation request signal or the deletion request signal has reached the final destination mail server 23 (step S103: Yes), the final destination mail server 23 sends the requested electronic mail to the mail spool 25 on its own server. Search whether it is within. If it is detected that the electronic mail 26 to be requested exists in the mail spool 25, if it is a deletion request signal, the electronic mail 26 is deleted from the mail spool 25 and if it is a confirmation request signal It is determined that the e-mail 26 has not been read (step S107). However, if the electronic mail 26 detected in the mail spool 25 contains information indicating the read state, for example, a read mark or a read flag, the read state is determined. . If it is a confirmation request signal and the target electronic mail does not exist in the mail spool 25, it is determined that the electronic mail has already been taken into the mailbox by the transmission destination user, and it is in the read state. Is determined. Then, the process proceeds to the result transmission phase 12.
[0033]
In the result transmission phase 12, first, the final destination mail server 23 returns the determination result regarding whether or not it is in the read state or the result of deletion to the transmission source user. Is searched with reference to the DNS servers D1 to Dn (n is a natural number) based on the source mail address (step S108), and the address of the relay mail server 24 to be normally transmitted next from the DNS servers D1 to Dn is determined. Upon receipt, the result is transmitted to the relay mail server 24 to be transmitted next (step S109). At the time of transmitting the request signal, the same processing is performed when the target e-mail is detected on the relay mail server or when the request signal cannot be transmitted due to a communication failure (steps S110 and S111). ). Then, the process of transmitting the result contents with reference to the DNS server between the relay mail servers 24 is repeated until the mail reaches the transmission source mail server 27 (step S112: Yes) (step S113).
[0034]
Next, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of one communication process between relay mail servers at the time of transmitting a request signal in the electronic mail control method according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an electronic mail according to the embodiment of the present invention. The flow charts of one communication process between the relay mail servers when transmitting the result contents in the mail control method are shown respectively.
[0035]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a communication connection is established for each communication, that is, each time a request or a result is transmitted between relay mail servers once (steps S301 and S401). The connection is cut off each time the processing is completed (steps S303 and S403). In this way, one communication between relay mail servers is defined as one session because each relay mail server keeps establishing a communication connection until the result content is returned. There is a possibility that the communication connection will not be disconnected if the communication route for transmitting the request signal and the communication route for transmitting the result content are different to reduce wasteful consumption and due to the security policy of each relay mail server installation base etc. Is to be eliminated beforehand.
[0036]
Here, for one communication between the relay mail servers at the time of transmitting the request signal and one communication between the relay mail servers at the time of transmitting the result content, the address of the relay mail server as the next destination is referred to the DNS server. After the search, a communication connection is established. After the communication connection is established, a request signal or a result content is transmitted.
[0037]
FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the request signal and the result content in the electronic mail control method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0038]
As the contents of the request signal, the same signal frame is used irrespective of whether it is a confirmation request as to whether or not it is in the read state or a deletion request as shown in FIG. Is determined based on the request code shown in (1). As specific contents, as shown in FIG. 5C, at least a destination mail address, a request mail (message) ID, and a source mail address are included.
[0039]
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5B, the same signal frame is used regardless of whether the result is a confirmation result or a deletion result as to whether the state is the read state, and FIG. The content to be returned is determined based on the indicated result code. The specific contents are, as shown in FIG. 5D, at least a reply destination mail address (source mail address), a request mail (message) ID, a destination mail address, and a final transmission destination mail server. Will be included.
[0040]
In this way, by including the address of the final transmission destination mail server in the result content, it is possible to determine whether the target e-mail has arrived at the final transmission destination mail server.
[0041]
Then, after transmitting the request signal or the result content, the communication connection is disconnected. When the request signal or the result content is transmitted normally, the communication connection is disconnected without waiting for the processing result of the relay mail server which is the next destination for the transmitted content. The relay mail server, which is the next transmission destination, shifts to the transmission process of the result content if the target e-mail exists in the mail queue of its own server, but in this case, a new communication connection is established Will do.
[0042]
Next, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing in each server that embodies the electronic mail control method according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the request signal shown in FIG. 3 is received (step S601), it is first confirmed whether or not the server itself is the final destination mail server based on the destination mail address (step S602).
[0043]
If the own server is not the final destination mail server (step S602: No), it is checked whether or not the target e-mail exists in the mail queue of the own server (relay mail server) (step S603). If the target e-mail exists in the mail queue (step S603: Yes) and the request signal is a deletion request (step S604: Yes), the target e-mail is deleted from the mail queue of its own server (relay mail server). After deleting the e-mail (step S605), the address of the relay mail server to which the contents of the result are transmitted next is searched with reference to the DNS server (step S606).
[0044]
If the request signal is a read request signal of a read state (step S604: No), it is determined that the read e-mail is in the unread state because the target e-mail has not yet reached the final destination mail server. As in the case of the deletion request, the process proceeds to the address search of the relay mail server that transmits the result contents (step S606).
[0045]
If the target e-mail does not exist in the mail queue of the own server (relay mail server) (step S603: No), the address of the relay mail server that transmits the request signal next by referring to the DNS server is set. Search (step S607). If the search is successful, a request signal is transmitted to the next relay mail server (step S608). If the search is unsuccessful, the relay mail server that transmits the result is returned in order to return the failure. The process proceeds to address search (step S606).
[0046]
If the server itself is the final destination mail server (step S602: Yes), it is checked whether or not the target e-mail exists in the mail spool (step S609). If there is a target e-mail in the mail spool (step S609: Yes) and the request signal is a deletion request (step S610: Yes), the target e-mail is deleted from the mail spool. Then, the process shifts to a process of searching for a relay mail server that transmits the result content (step S606).
[0047]
When the request signal is a confirmation request signal of the read state (step S610: No), it is determined that the user as the transmission destination is in the unread state because the target e-mail has not been taken into the mailbox yet. Then, the processing shifts to the search processing of the relay mail server that transmits the result content (step S606).
[0048]
However, even when a target electronic mail exists on the mail spool, if information indicating that the electronic mail is in the read state is recorded, it is determined that the electronic mail is in the read state.
[0049]
If the target e-mail does not exist in the mail spool (step S609: No), it is determined that the e-mail has already been read because the e-mail has already been taken into the mailbox by the user who is the transmission destination, and the result content is determined. The process proceeds to a process of searching for a relay mail server to be transmitted (step S606).
[0050]
If the search processing of the relay mail server that transmits the result content fails, all processing is stopped (step S612). If the search process is successful, the process shifts to the process of transmitting the result content shown in FIG. 4 (step S613).
[0051]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably confirm whether or not the transmitted destination has read the electronic mail, or whether or not the electronic mail has arrived at the final destination. Therefore, even in the case where the other party is in an unread state despite the fact that the email contains important content, the decision to quickly take alternative means such as transmitting the content by means other than the email is promptly made. It becomes possible. In particular, when a broadcast e-mail is sent to a large number of people, it is possible to check whether or not the e-mail has been read or whether or not the e-mail has arrived for all the recipients at the same time. Work burden is greatly reduced.
[0052]
In addition, if the recipient has not read the sent e-mail, the e-mail can be deleted.If the e-mail is sent to the wrong address, the wrong message or attachment is sent, It is possible to minimize the spread of damage to the source or destination individual or company, for example, when an infected email is transmitted. Further, since it is possible to confirm whether or not the e-mail has been surely deleted, it is possible to specify a destination that has already been read, and to perform post-processing reliably and efficiently. It becomes possible.
[0053]
Note that the number of transmitted / received data and the amount of data in one command / response transmission / reception between relay mail servers is very small as compared with a request by e-mail, and the request signal is not spooled during the communication. It is easy to secure a high-speed response, and there is less possibility of losing the timing of confirming or deleting the read / unread e-mail as compared with a response request by e-mail.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the e-mail control method according to the present invention, forgetting to confirm the recipient of the transmitted e-mail, or loss of opportunity due to delay in distribution of the e-mail, leakage of personal information or corporate confidential information due to erroneous transmission, or virus This makes it possible to minimize the spread of damage due to infected emails, and to establish an email communication environment with high functionality, security, and confidentiality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a process in an electronic mail control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electronic mail transmission flow that embodies an electronic mail control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of one communication process between relay mail servers when transmitting a request signal in the electronic mail control method according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of one communication process between relay mail servers when transmitting the result content in the electronic mail control method according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of a request signal and a result content in the electronic mail control method according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing in each server that implements the electronic mail control method according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a flow of e-mail transmission when a conventional e-mail is transmitted.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Request transmission phase
12 Result transmission phase
21, 72 Source mail server
22, 24, 73 Relay mail server
23, 74 Final destination mail server
25, 75 mail spool
26,76 Email
27 Source mail server
71, 77 Client PC

Claims (7)

An email control method in a case where an email is transmitted from a source mail server to a final destination mail server via at least one or more mail servers,
Transmitting the email from the source mail server to the final destination mail server;
A step of transmitting a confirmation request signal for confirming whether or not the electronic mail has been read from the transmission source mail server or a deletion request signal for deleting the electronic mail,
In the final destination mail server, when the confirmation request signal is received, the deletion request signal is received as a result of the confirmation as to whether the e-mail has been read or the fact that the confirmation itself failed. And sending a reply to the source mail server as to whether or not the electronic mail has been deleted. An email control method in a case where an email is transmitted from a source mail server to a final destination mail server via at least one or more mail servers,
Transmitting the email from the source mail server to the final destination mail server;
A step of transmitting a confirmation request signal for confirming whether or not the electronic mail has been read from the transmission source mail server or a deletion request signal for deleting the electronic mail,
If it is detected that the electronic mail is present on the relaying mail server, the relaying mail server indicates that the electronic mail is in an unread state when the confirmation request signal is received. An e-mail control method, comprising a step of returning to the source mail server whether or not the e-mail has been deleted when the request signal is received. The confirmation request signal or the deletion request signal is transmitted / received from the source mail server to the final transmission destination mail server by transmitting / receiving a command / response between the mail servers, and a result of the confirmation request signal or the deletion request signal is transmitted. 3. The electronic mail control method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission is performed by transmitting / receiving a command / response from the final destination mail server to the source mail server. In the transmission waiting mail queue of each mail server to be relayed, if the presence of the e-mail which is being transmitted to the final destination mail server is detected, the transmission of the confirmation request signal or the deletion request signal is stopped. If the confirmation request signal is received, it indicates that the e-mail is in the unread state, and if the deletion request signal is received, whether the deletion of the e-mail present in the transmission waiting mail queue is successful. 3. The electronic mail control method according to claim 2, wherein whether or not the request is transmitted to the request source server. 2. The communication session between the mail server to be relayed and the communication session between the mail server and the communication connection between the mail servers being cut off at the same time as the transmission / reception of the command / response between the mail servers to be relayed is completed between the two mail servers directly communicating. 3. The electronic mail control method according to item 2. 2. The final destination mail server, when the confirmation request signal is received by the final destination mail server, checks whether or not the electronic mail specified in the internal mail spool is stored. Or the e-mail control method according to 2. In the final destination mail server, when the confirmation request signal is received, the final destination mail server records information indicating that the specified e-mail exists in the internal mail spool and the read state is read. The electronic mail control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein whether or not the electronic mail is sent is confirmed.

Images