JP2005033733A - Address book modification method and network system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce user's burden for updating an address book, to keep receivers' addresses in the address book up-to-date, and to prevent inadvertent leakage of the new addresses. <P>SOLUTION: User terminals 1, 2 are provided with remote updating units 1-4 and 2-4, and mail servers 3, 4 are provided with notification units 3-2, and 4-2. If a user A instructs to modify the user's own mail address via the user terminal 1, and the address is thus modified in the mail server 3; the mail address of the user A registered in the address book 2-2 in the user terminal 2 is automatically modified. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an address book changing method and network system in communication services such as electronic mail, telephone (particularly IP telephone), and instant messenger.

  Conventionally, there is an electronic mail service as one of communication services using a network. In this electronic mail service, electronic mail can be transmitted and received between user terminals connected to a network by using mail software installed in user terminals such as personal computers and mobile phones. When creating an e-mail, an address book is used to specify a destination to send.

[Conventional example 1]
An outline of a conventional electronic mail service for manually updating an address book will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 1 is a user terminal used by user A, 2 is a user terminal used by user B, 3 is a mail server subscribed to by user A, and 4 is subscribed by user B. A mail server 5 is a computer network (Internet) for connecting the user terminals 1 and 2 and the mail servers 3 and 4.

  The user terminal 1 includes mail software (hereinafter referred to as mail AP) 1-1, an address book 1-2, and browsing software such as a browser (hereinafter referred to as browsing AP) 1-3. Similarly to the user terminal 1, the user terminal 2 includes a mail AP 2-1, an address book 2-2, and a browsing AP 2-3. The mail server 3 includes a distribution unit 3-1 that provides a mail service. Similarly to the mail server 3, the mail server 4 includes a distribution unit 4-1 that provides a mail service. In the address book 1-2, the mail address of the other party to whom the user A often contacts is registered. In the address book 2-2, the mail address of the other party to whom the user B often contacts is registered.

[Send email]
When user A sends an e-mail to user B, user A activates mail AP1-1 of user terminal 1 and creates an e-mail addressed to user B. In creating the electronic mail, the user A selects the mail address of the user B from the address book 1-2 and sets it as the mail address of the other party to be transmitted. The created electronic mail is sent from the user terminal 1 to the Internet 5 and delivered to the user terminal 2 of the user B through the mail servers 3 and 4. The transmission of an electronic mail from user B to user A is performed in the same manner.

〔E-mail address change〕
User A is assigned a mail address (own mail address) from mail server 3. This mail address can be changed as needed by accessing the mail server 3 from the browsing AP 1-3. User B is also assigned a mail address from mail server 4, and can be changed as necessary by accessing mail server 4 from viewing AP 2-3.

  For example, it is assumed that the user A accesses the mail server 3 through the browsing AP 1-3 and changes his / her mail address (arrows (1) and (2) shown in FIG. 15). In this case, the user A creates an electronic mail (contact mail) notifying the change of the mail address, sets the mail address of the other party selected from the address book 1-2 in the contact mail, and transmits it (see FIG. 15). (3), (4), (5)).

  This contact mail is sent from the user terminal 1 to the Internet 5 and delivered to the user terminal 2 of the user B through the mail servers 3 and 4 (arrows (6), (7), (8)). User B receives the contact mail from user A, adds the new mail address of user A described in the contact mail to address book 2-2, and deletes the old mail address so far. (Arrows (9) and (10) shown in FIG. 15).

[Conventional example 2]
A conventional electronic mail service for automatically updating an address book will be described with reference to FIG. In this system, a mail service server 6 that provides an address book service is provided on the Internet 5. The mail service server 6 includes an address book 6-1 of the user A, an address book 6-2 of the user B, a mail server 6-3 to which both the user A and the user B are subscribed, an address And an address updating unit 6-4 that realizes automatic updating of the books 6-1 and 6-2 (see Non-Patent Document 1).

  In this system, only the mail address of the other party who subscribes to the mail server 6-3 is registered in the address book 6-1 of the user A and the address book 6-2 of the user B. That is, the address book service by the mail service server 6 is provided only to the same subscriber who subscribes to the mail server 6-3. Although only the address book 6-1 for user A and the address book 6-2 for user B are shown in the figure, the mail service server 6 has its own address book for the same subscriber.

〔E-mail address change〕
User A is assigned a mail address (own mail address) from mail server 6-3. This mail address can be changed as needed by accessing the mail server 6-3 from the browsing AP 1-3. User B is also assigned a mail address from mail server 6-3, and can be changed as necessary by accessing mail server 6-3 from browsing AP 2-3.

  For example, it is assumed that the user A accesses the mail server 6-3 and gives an instruction to change his / her mail address (arrows (1) and (2) shown in FIG. 17). In this case, the address update unit 6-4 of the mail service server 6 changes the mail address of the user A in the mail server 6-3 (arrow (3) shown in FIG. 17) and the address book 6 of the user B. -2 updates the user A's mail address (arrow (4) shown in FIG. 17).

"Automatic tracking function for e-mail addresses", [Search July 7, 2003] Internet <http://mail-i.com/pc#index.html, http://mail-i.com/navi05.html >

  In the above-described electronic mail service, the user copes with the problem by appropriately changing the mail address in order to prevent illegal leakage of the mail address, privacy protection, spam mail and the like. In addition, the user uses a plurality of mail addresses in accordance with the other party. That is, the user has a plurality of mail addresses, and frequently changes the mail addresses.

In the conventional example 1 described above, for example, when the user A changes the mail address, the user A has to perform a work of creating a contact mail notifying the change of the mail address and transmitting it to the user B. User B must manually change the mail address of user A in his / her address book. Thus, in Conventional Example 1, both users A and B are forced to perform troublesome work. For this reason, the change work is naturally neglected, and the other party's mail address in the address book cannot be kept up to date.
In addition, when a user has multiple email addresses, when one of the email addresses is changed, the changed email address may be notified to an unnecessary party. New email addresses were leaked.

  In the above-described conventional example 2, the address book 6-1 of the user A and the address book 6-2 of the user B in the mail service server 6 are automatically updated, but the address of the user A in the user terminal 1 is updated. The address book 2-2 of the user B in the book 1-2 and the user terminal 2 is not automatically updated. In other words, Conventional Example 2 is a service between the same subscribers who subscribe to the mail server 6-3. For those who subscribe only to the mail server 3 and those who subscribe only to the mail server 4, Could not receive service. Further, since the address book 1-2 of the user A in the user terminal 1 and the address book 2-2 of the user B in the user terminal 2 are not automatically updated, it is necessary to manually update the same as in the first conventional example. was there.

In order to solve such a problem, an address book changing method (network system) according to the present invention includes a first and second terminals, a server, and a network connecting the first and second terminals and the server. In a network system comprising: a step (means) for instructing a change in the address of a user of the terminal from the first terminal; and a step of changing in the server the address of the user instructed from the first terminal ( Means) and a step (means) for automatically changing the address in the address book of the second terminal corresponding to the user address changed in the server.
According to this invention, when the user of the terminal instructs the change of his / her address from the first terminal, the instructed address is changed in the server. At the same time, the corresponding user address in the address book of the second terminal is automatically changed.

In the present invention, “address change” also includes “address abolition”. That is, in the present invention, if the first terminal instructs the abolition of its own address, the address of the user of the first terminal registered in the address book of the second terminal is automatically deleted.
In addition to the mail address, the address may be a telephone number, particularly an IP telephone number that can be freely assigned in the future, an address used in an instant messenger, and the like.
In the present invention, the user may own a plurality of addresses. In this case, the user selects a desired address from a plurality of own addresses, and instructs the change. Then, the address of the user who instructed the change is automatically changed in the address book in another terminal.

  According to the present invention, when the user of the terminal instructs the change of his / her address from the first terminal and the designated address is changed in the server, it is registered in the address book in the second terminal. Since the corresponding user address is automatically changed, that is, a series of procedures that have been performed manually at the time of changing the user address are automatically performed, the user of the first terminal Both users of the second terminal are not forced to perform troublesome work, and the burden on the user can be greatly reduced, and at the same time, the address of the other party in the address book can always be kept up-to-date. become able to. Further, since the changed address is automatically transmitted only to the necessary partner and the contents of the partner's address book are changed, it is possible to prevent inadvertent leakage of a new address.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a network system used for implementing the address book changing method according to the present invention. In FIG. 14, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 14 denote the same or equivalent components as those described with reference to FIG.

  In this embodiment, the user terminal 1 has a remote update unit 1-4, the user terminal 2 has a remote update unit 2-4, the mail server 3 has a notification unit 3-2, and the mail server 4 has a notification unit 4. -2 is provided. The functions of the remote update units 1-4 and 2-4 and the notification units 3-2 and 4-2 will be described later.

  Further, in this embodiment, in addition to the mail address of the other party to whom the user A often contacts, the mail address of the user A notified to the other party is set in the address book 1-2 of the user terminal 1. ing. In addition, in the address book 2-2 of the user terminal 2, in addition to the mail address of the other party to whom the user B often contacts, the mail address of the user B notified to the other party is set.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of data set in the address book 1-2 of the user terminal 1. In this example, user B's email address “riyoub@mail.com”, user C ’s email address “riyouc@mail.com”, and user D’ s email address “riyoud @ mail. com ", and corresponding to the mail addresses of the users B, C and D, the user A's own mail address" riyoua1@address.com " , “Riyoua2@address.com” and “riyoua3@address.com” are set. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the user and the mail address in this case.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of data set in the address book 2-2 of the user terminal 2. In this example, user A's email address “riyoua1@address.com”, user C ’s email address “riyouc@mail.com”, and user D’ s email address “riyoud @ mail. com ", and corresponding to the mail addresses of the users A, C, and D, the user B's own mail address" riyoub@mail.com "informed to the users A, C, and D Is set. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the user and the mail address in this case.

  In this embodiment, the distribution unit 3-1 of the mail server 3 has the mail address of the user who subscribes to the mail server 3 and the address of the user terminal used by the user holding the mail address ( A setting table TB1 indicating the correspondence with the terminal number) is provided. Correspondence between the mail address of the user who subscribes to the mail server 4 and the address (terminal number) of the user terminal used by the user who holds the mail address in the distribution unit 4-1 of the mail server 4 A setting table TB2 is provided.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of data set in the setting table TB1 of the distribution unit 3-1 of the mail server 3. In this example, the user terminal 1 used by the user A corresponding to the email addresses “riyoua1@address.com”, “riyoua2@address.com”, “riyoua3@address.com” held by the user A The terminal number “000102” is set. In the setting table TB1, an account and a password are set in addition to the correspondence between the user's mail address and the terminal number.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of data set in the setting table TB2 of the distribution unit 4-1 of the mail server 4. In this example, user B uses the mail addresses “riyoub@mail.com”, “riyouc@mail.com”, and “riyoud@mail.com” held by users B, C, and D. The terminal number “000103” of the user terminal 1, the terminal number “00010x” of the user terminal (not shown) possessed by the user C, and the terminal number “00010x” of the user terminal (not shown) possessed by the user D “00010y” is set. In the setting table TB2, an account and a password are set in addition to the correspondence between the user's mail address and the terminal number.

[Automatic update of address book]
Next, automatic update of the address book in this network system will be described with the functions of the remote update units 1-4 and 2-4 and the notification units 3-2 and 4-2.

For example, it is assumed that the user's own email address “riyoua1@address.com” that user A now informs user B is changed to “henko@address.com”.
In this case, the user A uses the browsing AP 1-3 of the user terminal 1 to access the notification unit 3-2 of the mail server 3, and “henko@address.com” of the mail address “riyoua1@address.com”. Notification of the change to (arrows (1) and (2) shown in FIG. 8).

  The notification unit 3-2 of the mail server 3 receives the notification from the user A of the change of the mail address “riyoua1@address.com” to “henko@address.com”, and the setting table of the distribution unit 3-1. The setting of the mail address in TB1 is changed (arrow (3) shown in FIG. 8). That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the mail address “riyoua1@address.com” of the user A in the setting table TB1 is changed to “henko@address.com”.

  Next, the notification unit 3-2 acquires “000102” as the terminal number corresponding to the changed mail address “henko@address.com” from the setting table TB1 of the distribution unit 3-1 (arrow (4) shown in FIG. ), (5)), the user terminal 1 is specified as the notification destination from the acquired terminal number “000102”. Then, a command to change the mail address “riyoua1@address.com” of user A to “henko@address.com” is sent to the remote update unit 1-4 of the specified user terminal 1 (FIG. 8). (6)).

  Upon receiving a command from the mail server 3, the remote update unit 1-4 of the user terminal 1 changes the mail address “riyoua1@address.com” of the user A in the address book 1-2 to “henko@address.com”. (See arrow (7) and FIG. 10 shown in FIG. 8).

  Then, the remote updating unit 1-4 addresses the mail address “riyoub@mail.com” (user B's mail address) corresponding to the changed user A mail address “henko@address.com”. The mail server 4 is acquired from the book 1-2, and the mail server 4 is specified from the mail address “riyoub@mail.com” of the acquired user B (arrow (9) shown in FIG. 8).

  Then, the remote updating unit 1-4 sends the address “riyoua1@address.com” of the other party in the address book 2-2 of the user terminal 2 used by the user B to the communication unit 4-2 of the specified mail server 4. Is sent to “henko@address.com” (arrow (10) shown in FIG. 8).

  The communication unit 4-2 of the mail server 4 receives the change notification from the remote update unit 1-4 of the user terminal 1 and receives the mail address “riyoub @ mail of the user B in the setting table TB2 of the distribution unit 4-1. The terminal number “000103” corresponding to “.com” is acquired (see (11), (12) and FIG. 11 shown in FIG. 8), and the user terminal 2 is specified as the notification destination from the acquired terminal number “000103”. To do.

  Then, the notification unit 4-2 sends the email address “riyoua1@address.com” of the user A in the address book 2-2 of the user terminal 2 to the remote update unit 2-4 of the specified user terminal 2. A change notification for changing to “henko@address.com” is sent (arrow (13) shown in FIG. 8).

  Upon receiving the change notification from the notification unit 4-2 of the mail server 4, the remote update unit 2-4 of the user terminal 2 receives the mail address “riyoua1@address.com” of the user A in the address book 2-2. Change to “henko@address.com” (see arrow (14) in FIG. 8, FIG. 12).

  As can be seen from the above description, in this embodiment, a series of procedures that have been performed manually in the past when the user's mail address is changed are automatically performed, so both user A and user B are troublesome. Work is not forced, the burden on users A and B can be greatly reduced, and at the same time, the other party's mail addresses in the address books 1-2 and 1-3 can always be kept up-to-date. become able to. In addition, the changed mail address is automatically transmitted only to the necessary partner, and the contents of the partner's address book are changed, so that inadvertent leakage of a new address can be prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the user A subscribes to the mail server 3 and the user B subscribes to the mail server 4 has been described as an example. However, as shown in FIG. A common mail server 7 that manages the mail addresses of the user A and the user B is provided, the distribution unit 7-1 and the notification unit 7-2 are provided in the common server 7, and the user's A setting table TB indicating the correspondence between the mail address and the address (terminal number) of the user terminal may be provided, and the same processing as that performed in the mail servers 3 and 4 may be performed in the common mail server 7.

  In the above-described embodiment, only the user terminal 1 of the user A and the user terminal 2 of the user B are shown for simplicity of explanation, but a plurality of user terminals are provided on the computer network 5. Needless to say, there exists. The address book is automatically updated among the plurality of user terminals in the same manner.

It is a system configuration figure showing an example of a network system used for implementation of an address book change method concerning the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of data set to the address book of the user A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the user set to the address book of the user A, and a mail address. It is a figure which shows the example of data set to the address book of the user B. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the user set to the address book of the user B, and an e-mail address. It is a figure which shows the example of data of the setting table TB1 set to the delivery part of the mail server to which the user A has joined. It is a figure which shows the example of data of the setting table TB2 set to the delivery part of the mail server to which the user B has subscribed. It is a sequence diagram explaining the automatic update of the address book in this system. It is a figure explaining the setting change of the mail address in the setting table TB1. It is a figure explaining the change of an own mail address in the address book of the user A, and acquisition of the mail address of the other party who has notified the mail address. It is a figure explaining acquisition of the terminal number of the user terminal which user B uses from setting table TB2. It is a figure explaining the change of the mail address of the other party in the address book of the user B. It is a system block diagram at the time of providing a common mail server. It is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of a conventional electronic mail service for manually updating an address book. It is a sequence diagram explaining the manual update of the address book in this system. It is a system configuration diagram showing an outline of a conventional electronic mail service for automatically updating an address book. It is a sequence diagram explaining the automatic update of the address book in this system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... User terminal (user A of user A) 1-1 ... Mail software (mail AP) 1-2 ... Address book 1-3 ... Viewing software (viewing AP) 2 ... User terminal ( User B of user B), 2-1 ... mail software (mail AP), 2-2 ... address book, 2-3 ... browsing software (viewing AP), 3, 4 ... mail server, 3-1, 4 -1 ... distribution unit, 3-2, 4-2 ... notification unit, TB1, TB2 ... setting table, 5 ... computer network (Internet), 7 ... common mail server, 7-1 ... distribution unit, 7-2 ... Notification section.

Claims (6)

In a network system including first and second terminals, a server, and a network connecting the first and second terminals and the server,
Instructing to change the address of the user of the terminal from the first terminal;
Changing the address of the user instructed from the first terminal in the server;
A method of automatically changing an address in the address book of the second terminal corresponding to the user's address changed in the server. A first and second terminal; a first and second server; a network connecting the first and second terminals and the first and second servers;
The first terminal has a first address book indicating correspondence between the address of the other party and the address of the user of the first terminal notifying the other party;
The second terminal has a second address book indicating correspondence between the address of the partner and the address of the user of the second terminal notifying the partner;
The first server has a first setting table indicating a correspondence between at least a user address of the first terminal and an address of the first terminal;
In the network system having the second setting table indicating the correspondence between the address of the user of the second terminal and the address of the second terminal, at least the second server,
Instructing to change the address of the user of the terminal from the first terminal;
Changing the address of the user instructed from the first terminal in the first setting table of the first server;
Obtaining a terminal address corresponding to the changed user address from the first setting table of the first server;
The first terminal is identified from the address of the terminal acquired from the first setting table, and the user changed in the first setting table in the first address book of the identified first terminal is identified. Changing the address;
Obtaining the address of the other party corresponding to the changed user address from the first address book;
Obtaining the address of the terminal corresponding to the address of the other party obtained from the first address book from the second setting table of the second server;
The second terminal is identified from the address of the terminal acquired from the second setting table, and the user changed in the first setting table in the second address book of the identified second terminal An address book changing method comprising: a step of changing an address. A first and second terminal, a server provided in common for the first and second terminals, a network connecting the first and second terminals and the server,
The first terminal has a first address book indicating correspondence between the address of the other party and the address of the user of the first terminal notifying the other party;
The second terminal has a second address book indicating correspondence between the address of the partner and the address of the user of the second terminal notifying the partner;
In the network system, the server includes a setting table indicating correspondence between at least the addresses of the users of the first terminal and the second terminal and the addresses of the first terminal and the second terminal.
Instructing to change the address of the user of the terminal from the first terminal;
Changing the address of the user instructed from the first terminal in the setting table of the server;
Obtaining a terminal address corresponding to the changed user address from the setting table of the server;
Identifying the first terminal from the address of the terminal acquired from the setting table, and changing the user address changed in the setting table in the first address book of the identified first terminal; ,
Obtaining the address of the other party corresponding to the changed user address from the first address book;
Obtaining the address of the terminal corresponding to the address of the other party obtained from the first address book from the setting table of the server;
Identifying the second terminal from the address of the terminal acquired from the setting table, and changing the address of the user changed in the setting table in the second address book of the identified second terminal; An address book changing method characterized by comprising: In a network system including first and second terminals, a server, and a network connecting the first and second terminals and the server,
Means for instructing to change the address of the user of the terminal from the first terminal;
Means for changing the address of the user instructed from the first terminal in the server;
A network system comprising: means for automatically changing an address in the address book of the second terminal corresponding to the user's address changed in the server. A first and second terminal; a first and second server; a network connecting the first and second terminals and the first and second servers;
The first terminal has a first address book indicating correspondence between the address of the other party and the address of the user of the first terminal notifying the other party;
The second terminal has a second address book indicating correspondence between the address of the partner and the address of the user of the second terminal notifying the partner;
The first server has a first setting table indicating a correspondence between at least a user address of the first terminal and an address of the first terminal;
In the network system having the second setting table indicating the correspondence between the address of the user of the second terminal and the address of the second terminal, at least the second server,
Means for instructing to change the address of the user of the terminal from the first terminal;
Means for changing an address of a user instructed from the first terminal in the first setting table of the first server;
Means for obtaining the address of the terminal corresponding to the changed user address from the first setting table of the first server;
The first terminal is identified from the address of the terminal acquired from the first setting table, and the user changed in the first setting table in the first address book of the identified first terminal is identified. A means of changing the address;
Means for acquiring from the first address book the address of the other party corresponding to the changed user address;
Means for obtaining the address of the terminal corresponding to the address of the other party obtained from the first address book from the second setting table of the second server;
The second terminal is identified from the address of the terminal acquired from the second setting table, and the user changed in the first setting table in the second address book of the identified second terminal A network system comprising means for changing an address. A first and second terminal, a server provided in common for the first and second terminals, a network connecting the first and second terminals and the server,
The first terminal has a first address book indicating correspondence between the address of the other party and the address of the user of the first terminal notifying the other party;
The second terminal has a second address book indicating correspondence between the address of the partner and the address of the user of the second terminal notifying the partner;
In the network system, the server includes a setting table indicating correspondence between at least the addresses of the users of the first terminal and the second terminal and the addresses of the first terminal and the second terminal.
Means for instructing to change the address of the user of the terminal from the first terminal;
Means for changing the address of the user instructed from the first terminal in the setting table of the server;
Means for acquiring the address of the terminal corresponding to the changed user address from the setting table of the server;
Means for identifying the first terminal from the address of the terminal acquired from the setting table, and changing the address of the user changed in the setting table in the first address book of the identified first terminal; ,
Means for acquiring from the first address book the address of the other party corresponding to the changed user address;
Means for obtaining the address of the terminal corresponding to the address of the other party obtained from the first address book from the setting table of the server;
Means for specifying the second terminal from the address of the terminal acquired from the setting table, and changing the address of the user changed in the setting table in the second address book of the specified second terminal; A network system characterized by comprising:

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