JP2006101474A - Mail reception method, mail-receiving device and mail server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for receiving mails to users in an own network, a mail-receiving device and a mail server, by which the reception of spam mails can be prevented, even though both receivers and senders need not perform complicated operations. <P>SOLUTION: When a mail is received, a mail address database which stores lists of authorized mail addresses for each of users 5a, 5b, etc. is searched, and the presence of the mail address of the sender of the received mail in the list of the authorized mail addresses with respect to the user 5a, who uses the destination mail address of the received mail, is decided. If the mail address of the sender of the received mail is not contained in the list of the authorized mail addresses, the sender 9a of the received mail is prompted to input keys relative to the user 5a, who uses the destination mail address. If the keys are input correctly, the mail address of the sender of the received mail is added to the list of the authorized mail addresses of the user 5a of the keys. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mail receiving method and mail receiving apparatus for receiving mail addressed to a user in its own network, and a mail server for executing transmission / reception of mail to / from a user in its own network.

  With the spread of electronic mail (hereinafter abbreviated as “mail”) using a personal computer (PC) or a mobile phone, so-called junk mail has become a social problem. Spam mail, also called spam mail, is mainly for promotional purposes, and vendors send emails unilaterally to a large number of mail addresses.

There is a method for filtering mail received by a mail server in order to repel these spam mails. (See Patent Document 1). However, when filtering is used, it may be determined that the junk mail is not junk mail, or conversely, it may be determined as junk mail even though it is not junk mail. Therefore, in the end, it is common for the user to check whether mails other than spam mails are mixed in the mail group sorted as spam mails. In this way, it is difficult to leave all judgments to the filter that filters the received mail at present, and it is the user who receives the mail that ultimately selects the mail, so the recipient must do complicated work. I must.
JP 2003-173314 A

In addition, there is a method in which a user who wants to refuse spam mail decides in advance that a person who permits reception in advance enters a key in the “subject” of the mail (see Patent Document 2). In this case, since the mail server rejects the mail from the sender who has not negotiated, the receiver does not have to perform complicated work. However, each time a mail sender sends a mail, he / she has to input a key, which is inconvenient for the mail sender and requires the sender to perform complicated operations.
JP 2003-224605 A

  The present invention provides a mail receiving method, a mail receiving apparatus, and a mail server capable of preventing the reception of junk mail even though both the receiver and the sender need not perform complicated work. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a mail receiving method according to the present invention is a method for receiving mail addressed to a user in its own network, and when receiving a mail, a list of reception-permitted mail addresses that permit reception of the mail. Search the mail address database for each user, and determine whether the sender mail address of the received mail is included in the list of mail addresses that can be received for the user who uses the destination mail address of the received mail. If the sender mail address of the received mail is not included in the reception-permitted mail address list, the sender of the received mail is urged to perform a predetermined operation, and when the predetermined operation is correctly executed, The received mail is listed in the list of received mail addresses of users who use the destination mail address. To add a Xinyuan e-mail address.

  According to the present invention, when the sender mail address of the received mail is not included in the reception permitted mail address list, the mail sender is urged to perform a predetermined operation, so that the reception of the spam mail automatically sent is rejected. it can. On the other hand, since the predetermined operation becomes unnecessary after that, the sender of the mail does not need to perform a complicated operation.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined operation is key input for a user who uses the destination mail address. In addition, the mail receiving device according to the present invention is a device that receives mail addressed to a user in its own network. When receiving a mail, the mail receiving device stores a list of reception-permitted mail addresses that are permitted to receive mail for each user. Search the mail address database to determine whether the received mail address list is included in the received mail address list for users who use the destination mail address of the received mail. If the e-mail address is not included in the reception-permitted e-mail address list, the user is prompted to enter a key for the sender of the received e-mail and the user who uses the destination e-mail address. The sender's sender mem Add the address.

According to this configuration, when the source email address of the received email is not included in the reception permitted email address list, the email sender is prompted to enter the key for the user who uses the destination email address. You can refuse to receive mail from someone who does not know your key. In other words, since mail is permitted only to those who know both the recipient's email address and key, such as mail that requires an address and name, junk email can be effectively prevented. In addition, since it is necessary to enter the key for the recipient, not the key for the sender, for example, if the information is about the sender, the sender of the spam mail may be false. Since it is difficult for the sender of the spam mail to know the information related to the person, it is difficult for the trader to send the spam mail. In addition, since the sender can send the mail by the sender's operation that the sender correctly inputs the key, the receiver does not need to set in advance a mail address for refusing reception. It is not necessary to perform an unnecessary work. On the other hand, once the sender's e-mail address is added and registered in the reception-permitted e-mail address database, the key entry is not prompted thereafter, so that the e-mail sender does not have to perform complicated operations.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when a source mail address of a received mail is not included in the reception permitted mail address list, a tag is issued, and the source mail address and destination mail address of the received mail are set. A URL that contains the issued tag (uniform resource locator) in the sender email address of the received email and an email that states that access to this URL is required for sending email When a reply is received and access to the URL is accepted, the user is prompted to enter a key for the user who uses the destination mail address of the received mail stored in association with the tag included in the URL.

  According to this configuration, since an e-mail describing a URL including an issued tag is returned only to the source e-mail address of the received e-mail, only the e-mail sender can know the URL including the issued tag. . Therefore, in this case, since it is not replied to a person who transmits a mail with a false self, registration is not permitted to a reception permitted mail address and transmission is not permitted, so that it is possible to prevent spam mail reception more reliably.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the key for the user is the name of the user. According to this configuration, since the key is the name of the user, the sender can send an email as long as he / she knows the name of the recipient, for example, “Ichiro Tanaka”, so it does not excessively limit who can send the email. . On the other hand, in the case of spam emails that are sent in large quantities for promotion purposes, even if the sender's name is known by the sender, it is difficult to enter the name of the user who is the key. , Can prevent the reception of spam mail.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the key for the user is the user's nickname. According to this configuration, the user can receive only e-mails from some close persons who know the nickname of the receiver.

  A mail server according to a first configuration of the present invention is a mail server that performs transmission / reception of mail to / from users in its own network, and includes a recipient key database that stores a key for each user, Receiving permission e-mail address database that stores a list of e-mail addresses that are permitted to be received for each user, and a user who uses the destination e-mail address of the received e-mail when searching for the e-mail address database when receiving e-mail A registration check means for determining whether or not the received email address list includes the sender email address of the received email, and the received email address list does not include the sender email address of the received email Sends the received mail to the sender of the received mail. Recipient key accepting means for prompting the user to input a key for the address, and when the key is correctly entered, the sender mail address of the received mail is added to the reception permitted mail address list of the user of this key. Source mail address registration means to be added, and mail delivery means for delivering the received mail to the destination mail address of the received mail when the source mail address of the received mail is included in the reception permitted mail address list .

  According to this configuration, when the source email address of the received email is not included in the reception permitted email address list, the email sender is prompted to enter the key for the user who uses the destination email address. You can refuse to receive mail from someone who does not know your key.

  The mail server according to the second configuration of the present invention is a mail server that performs transmission / reception of mail to / from users in its own network, and stores a user URL and a user key for each user. A database, a reception-permitted mail address database that stores a list of reception-permitted mail addresses that permit reception of mail for each user, and upon receiving access to a URL for a user, a key for the user corresponding to this URL and Recipient key accepting means for prompting the user to enter the mail address of the person who wants to send mail to the user, and when the key is correctly entered, the mail entered in the reception permitted mail address list of the user of this key Add the email address of the person trying to send A sender e-mail address registration means for notifying a person who intends to send an e-mail address, and receiving a user who uses the destination e-mail address of the received e-mail by searching the reception e-mail address database when receiving e-mail Registration check means for determining whether or not the sender email address of the received email is included in the permitted email address list, and when the sender email address of the received email is included in the reception allowed email address list, Mail delivery means for delivering the received mail to the destination mail address of the received mail.

  According to this configuration, when access to a URL for a certain user is accepted, the user is prompted to enter a key for the user corresponding to the URL, and when the key is correctly entered, an email address is added to the reception-permitted email address list. Therefore, only mail from a person who knows both the user URL and the user key is permitted to be received. Therefore, spam mail can be effectively prevented. In addition, since it is necessary to input a key for the recipient, it is difficult for a vendor or the like to send spam mail. In addition, since the user's e-mail address is notified to the person trying to send the e-mail after the user's key is correctly entered, in principle, only the person who knows the user's key can know the e-mail address of this user. Absent. Therefore, since the e-mail address cannot be obtained by a trader or the like who intends to send spam mail, the mail cannot be sent, and the spam mail does not enter the mail server. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a large load on the mail server by receiving a large amount of spam mails.

  According to the mail receiving method of the present invention, when the sender mail address of the received mail is not included in the reception permitted mail address list, the mail sender is prompted to enter the key for the user who uses the destination mail address. , You can refuse to receive mail from someone who does not know the key about the recipient. In other words, since mail is permitted only to those who know both the recipient's email address and key, such as mail that requires an address and name, junk email can be effectively prevented. In addition, since it is necessary to enter the key for the recipient, not the key for the sender, for example, if the information is about the sender, the sender of the spam mail may be false. Since it is difficult for the sender of the spam mail to know the information related to the person, it is difficult for the trader to send the spam mail. In addition, since the sender can send the mail by the sender's operation that the sender correctly inputs the key, the receiver does not need to set in advance a mail address for refusing reception. It is not necessary to perform an unnecessary work. On the other hand, once the sender's e-mail address is added and registered in the reception-permitted e-mail address database, the key entry is not prompted thereafter, so that the e-mail sender does not have to perform complicated operations.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration including a mail receiving apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Connected to the Internet 1 are Internet-related facilities 2 such as service providers and companies, and Internet-related facilities 3 of mobile phone companies. Internet-related equipment 2 such as a service provider or a company provides a connection to the Internet 1 through a telephone line, an ADSL line, an optical communication line, etc., to a company or personal computer (terminal) 5A, 5B,. To do. Note that the Internet-related equipment 3 of the mobile phone company is connected to the mobile phone 7A, 7B,... In addition to communication between each other, communication via the Internet 1 is provided. These Internet-related facilities 2 and 3 include the mail receiving device 8 as described later. There are also terminals 9A, 9B,... Connected to the Internet 1 through Internet-related equipment (not shown). In addition, those who use the terminals 5A and 5B, the mobile phones 7A and 7B, and the terminals 9A and 9B are hereinafter referred to as users 5a, 5b, 7a, 7b, 9a, and 9b, respectively.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the Internet-related equipment 2 such as a service provider or a company. The Internet-related facility 2 includes a mail receiving device 8, a mail server 11, a web server 12, and other servers (not shown) whose description is omitted according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mail receiving device 8 receives mail addressed to the users 5A, 5B,... Of the own network 4 (FIG. 1). The mail server 11 performs mail transmission / reception. The web server 12 provides an HTML document or the like in response to a request from the client web browser. Here, the mail receiving device 8, the mail server 11, the web server 12, and other servers (not shown) are both composed of a single computer, but may be composed of separate computers.

  The mail receiver 8 includes a recipient key database 20, a reception permission email address database 30, a registration temporary database 40, a registration check unit 50, a recipient key reception unit 60, a sender email address registration unit 70, a mail function unit 80, And web function means 90.

  The recipient key database 20 stores a corresponding key for each of the users 5A, 5B,... Of the own network 4 (FIG. 1). Specifically, each key is stored for each mail address of the users 5A, 5B,. In the present embodiment, the key is the name of the user. For example, the key of user A is “Ichiro Tanaka”, and the key of user B is “Jiro Suzuki”. In this way, when the key is a name, the sender only needs to know “Ichiro Tanaka”, so the receiver does not need to inform the other party who is likely to send mail to him in advance. Therefore, the person who can send the e-mail is not limited to those who have been informed of the key in advance, and the person who can send the e-mail is not excessively restricted. In addition to the name, a nickname may be used. Further, the user's key may be any key, for example, one that can be freely determined by the user, and may be composed of a series of letters or numbers having no secret or meaning. However, the key is derived from the user himself or determined by the user. Therefore, even if a merchant who sends a large amount of spam mails can misrepresent themselves, it is difficult to obtain information about the recipient, so such a merchant rarely knows the key and will be described later. Can prevent the reception of junk mail.

  The reception permission mail address database 30 stores a list of reception permission mail addresses for each of the users 5a, 5b,. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the reception-permitted mail address database 30 stores the mails of the users 5a, 5b,... Having mail accounts in the own network 4 (FIG. 1), that is, the mails of the users 5a, 5b,. For each address, a list 31 of reception-permitted mail addresses 31a, 31b,... Indicating mail addresses that the user is permitted to receive mail is stored.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the temporary registration database 40 stores the tag, the mail source mail address and the destination mail address in association with each other. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a tag 41, a mail transmission source mail address 42, and a mail destination mail address 43 are associated with each other and stored as respective sets 40A, 40B,. The tag 41 is a key for accessing the temporary registration database 40. Therefore, when a plurality of sets 41A, 40B,... Of the associated tag 41 and mail source mail address 42 and destination mail address 43 are stored, the same tag does not exist, and mail is based on the tag 41. Source mail address 42 and destination mail address 43 can be specified. Here, the tag is composed of, for example, a combination of a random number of several digits and the time when the tag is generated. In the example of FIG. 4, the upper 7 digits of the tag are random numbers, and the lower 4 digits of the tag are time. .

  Returning to FIG. 2, each of the databases 20, 30, and 40 includes a hard disk built in the computer of the mail receiving device 8, an external hard disk, or a hard disk connected via a network. It may be a device or a storage medium.

  When receiving the mail, the registration checking means 50 searches the reception permission mail address database 30 to determine whether or not the reception mail address list of the destination mail address of the reception mail includes the transmission source mail address of the reception mail. to decide.

  The recipient key receiving means 60 includes a tag issuing unit 61, a URL written mail transmitting unit 62, and a recipient key input receiving unit 63. If the sender mail address of the received mail is not included in the reception permitted mail address list 31 (FIG. 3), the tag issuing unit 61 issues a tag, and this tag, the sender mail address of the received mail, and the destination mail The address is stored in the temporary registration database 40. The URL written mail transmitting unit 62 returns a mail including the URL including the issued tag to the sender mail address of the received mail and the fact that access to this URL is necessary for mail transmission. . When receiving the access to the URL described in the mail, the receiver key input receiving unit 63 prompts the user to input a key for the user who uses the destination mail address, that is, the receiver.

  When the key for the recipient is correctly input, the sender email address registration means 70 stores the sender email stored in the temporary registration database 40 in the reception permission email address list 31 (FIG. 3) of the user of this key. Add an address. The sender email address registration means 70 also notifies the sender of the email that email transmission to this recipient is possible in the future.

  The mail server function means 80 has an SMTP (simple mail protocol) function unit 81, and transmits and receives mail via the Internet 1 (FIG. 1). As described above, since the mail server function unit 80 includes a part of the functions of the mail server 11, the mail function unit 80 exists in the mail server 11 and it is practical to use the function of the mail server 11. It is. However, the mail function means 80 may exist separately from the mail server 11. In this configuration diagram, the mail function means 80 is shown separately from the mail server 11 in order to clearly show the mail receiving device 8 of the present invention.

  The web server function unit 90 has an HTTP (hyper text transfer protocol) function unit 91 and receives a request from the web browser and sends an HTML document or the like to the web browser. Thus, since the web server function unit 90 is also composed of a part of the functions of the web server 12, the web server function unit 90 exists in the web server 12 and actually uses the function of the web server 12. It is. However, like the mail function means 80, in the present configuration diagram, the web function means 90 is shown separately from the web server 12 in order to clearly show the mail receiving device 8 of the present invention.

Next, the operation of this mail receiving apparatus will be described.
First, when the user 9a of the terminal 9A connected to the Internet 1 through a server (not shown) transmits a mail to the user 5a using the terminal 5A connected to the Internet 1 through the Internet-related equipment 2 in FIG. That is, a case where a mail is received via the Internet-related facility 2 including the mail receiving apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As a premise, it is the first time that a mail is sent from the user 9a to the user 5a, and the mail address of the user 9a is registered in the user 5a's reception-permitted mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) as a mail address permitted to receive. Suppose not.

  First, in FIG. 5, when the user 9a sends a mail addressed to the user 5a, the mail function means 80 (FIG. 2) of the mail receiving device 8 receives this mail via the Internet 1 (FIG. 1) ( Event I1).

  When the mail is received in this way, the registration check means 50 (FIG. 2) searches the reception permission mail address database 30 (FIG. 2), and whether or not the user 5a permits the reception of the mail from the user 9a. That is, it is determined whether or not the user 9a is a permitted transmission source (step S1). Specifically, first, the header of the received mail is extracted, for example, the destination address is acquired from the header description “To”, and the mail source mail address is acquired from the header description “From”. Next, the reception permission mail address database 30 of FIG. 3 searches the reception permission mail address list 31 of the user of the acquired destination mail address, and checks whether or not the acquired transmission source mail address is included.

  Next, in FIG. 5, if the mail address of the user 9a is not included in the reception-permitted mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) for the user 5a, the user 9a is not currently a transmission source permitted by the user 5a. As a result of the determination, a transmission source registration process shown in steps S2 to S7 below is executed. Prior to the sender registration process, the received mail is stored in a storage means (not shown) of the mail receiving device 8 (FIG. 2) (step S10).

  First, a random number generator (not shown) of the tag issuing unit 61 (FIG. 2) issues a tag consisting of a random number of several digits and the current time. Next, the tag issuing unit 61 (FIG. 2) sets the source mail address and the destination mail address acquired from the tag and the header of the received mail as one set 40A (FIG. 4), and the temporary registration database 40 (FIG. 4). 4) (step S2).

  The tag issuing unit 61 (FIG. 2) also assigns a URL including a tag issued by preparing a web page that can be provided by the web server function unit 90 (FIG. 2). Since a random number is generated in this way and a URL that includes the random number as a part is assigned, it is possible to prevent the same URL from being presented to different mail senders and to analyze it because it is a random number. Therefore, it is possible to prevent other people from accessing the URL without permission even though the mail describing the URL is not received.

  Next, the URL-described mail transmission unit 62 (FIG. 2) returns, for example, a mail having the text 67 shown in FIG. 6 to the transmission mail address of the received mail (step S3). This text 67 indicates that the mail transmission has failed, that the mail is currently stored, that is, stored, and that the user 9a accesses a predetermined URL to send a mail to the user 5a, and the recipient's name That is, it has a message part 68 describing that it is necessary to input a key, and a URL part 69 describing a URL. Here, when this mail is replied to a trader who unilaterally sends a spam mail, it is unlikely that the trader who has seen this text 67 bothered to access the URL, and it is presumed that the mail transmission is abandoned.

  When the user 9a receiving the mail having the message part 68 and the URL part 69 accesses the URL described in the URL part 69, that is, in FIG. 5, the recipient key input accepting unit 63 (FIG. 2) performs the URL. When an access to is received (event I2), the user 5a is prompted to input the name "Ichiro Tanaka" (step S4). Specifically, the web server function unit 90 (FIG. 2) transmits, for example, a web page 77 as shown in FIG. 7 to the web browser of the user 9a that is the transmission source of the mail to the user 5a, and the screen of the terminal 9A To display. The web page 77 has a message part 78 describing a message for prompting the user 5a to input his / her name, and an input box and send button pair 79. Here, since a person who obtained an e-mail address illegally does not know the name of the recipient in many cases, it is possible to prevent the e-mail from being received from such a person.

  In FIG. 5, when a key is input by the user 9a (event I3), the recipient key input receiving unit 63 (FIG. 2) searches each set 40A, 40B of the registration temporary database 40 of FIG. A set of destination email addresses 43 having a tag 41 that matches a tag that is part of the accessed URL is extracted. Next, in FIG. 5, the key of the user 5a stored in the recipient key database 20 (FIG. 2) is extracted from the extracted destination e-mail address, and this key is compared with the input key for input. If the entered key matches the key stored in the recipient key database, that is, if “Ichiro Tanaka” is entered in the input box on the web page 77 in FIG. 7 (step S5), the sender mail The address registration means 70 (FIG. 2) adds the mail address of the user 9a to the reception permission mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) of the user 5a (step S6). Note that the mail address of the user 9a to be added, that is, the transmission source mail address is extracted from the temporary registration database 40 (FIG. 4).

  At this time, the sender mail address registration means 70 (FIG. 2) deletes the set 40A composed of the extracted tag, the sender mail address, and the destination mail address from the registration temporary database 40 of FIG. That is, the tag stored in the temporary registration database 40 is only used temporarily, and it is not accepted that the same URL is accessed again. Incidentally, when there is no input of a correct key, the set including the tag 41 and the transmission source mail address 42 and the destination mail address 43 is deleted after a predetermined time has elapsed after being stored in the temporary registration database 40.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the sender mail address registration means 70 (FIG. 2) uses the web server function unit 90 (FIG. 2) to change the registration completion web page 97 shown in FIG. 8 to the web browser of the terminal 9 </ b> A of the user 9 a. To notify the sender of e-mail that e-mail transmission to the recipient is possible in the future and that the e-mail being stored has been transmitted as shown in the explanation of step S8 below (step S7). . In this way, the mail sender is notified, and the mail stored in the mail receiving device 8 is sent to the mail server 11 (FIG. 2) (step S8).

  As described above, once a mail address permitted to be received is registered in the reception-permitted mail address list, the mail receiving apparatus 8 in FIG. Send it out. Specifically, in FIG. 5, the registration check means 50 (FIG. 2) receives, for example, the reception permission mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) for the user 5a of the mail address database 30 (FIG. 3) of FIG. If the sender email address acquired by the description “From” in the header of the email is included (step S1), the user 9a judges that the sender is an authorized sender, and the mail receiver 8 in FIG. The received mail is sent to the mail server 11 (step S8 in FIG. 5). Thereafter, the mail from the user 9a is delivered to the user 5a by the mail server 11.

  The processes of event I1, step S3, events I2, I3, and step S7 in FIG. 5 are indicated by arrows with the same reference numbers in FIG.

  When the users 5a, 5b,... In the own network 4 in FIG. 1 transmit mail via the Internet-related equipment 2, the mail transmission device (not shown) of the Internet-related equipment 2 receives the reception permission mail address database 30 (FIG. 3). ), It is checked whether or not the recipient mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) of the mail sender, for example, the user 5a, includes the destination mail address of the mail to be transmitted. . This is particularly effective because the replyer does not need to perform the procedure for registering the sender when a mail is returned.

  Even when the users 5a and 5b in the own network 4 perform transmission / reception of mails, the mail receiving apparatus 8 performs the registration check process (step S1) in FIG. To S7).

  Even when the mobile phones 7A, 7B,... Receive mails like the terminals 5A, 5B,... Of FIG. 1, the Internet related equipment 3 of the mobile phone company includes the mail receiving device 8 according to the present invention. Registration check processing (step S1) and transmission source registration processing (steps S2 to S7). Therefore, the mail receiving device 8 is the same device as that of the PC and performs the same processing.

  Note that the recipient user can directly access the recipient-permitted email address database 30 of FIG. Therefore, for example, if the user 5a preliminarily sets a mail address 31a as a mail permitted to be received in the reception-permitted mail address list 31, the user of the mail address 31a does not input a key for the receiver. Email transmission to the user 5a becomes possible. For example, this is particularly effective when it is difficult for a mail sender to input a key for the recipient, such as a mail magazine or a mailing list. In addition, as a method of setting the mail address 31a in advance, there is a method in which a person who allows reception of mail accesses and sets a web page. In addition, similar to the transmission source registration process (steps S2 to S7 in FIG. 5), when a person who permits the reception of mail transmits the mail to the mail reception device 8 (FIG. 2), the mail reception device 8 (FIG. 2) returns a mail describing the URL, and a person who is permitted to receive the mail can access the URL and set the mail address 31a for the first time. However, any setting method may be used.

  It is also possible to register a person who refuses to receive mail. This registration is performed when the user directly accesses a recipient rejection mail address database (not shown). When the mail receiving device 8 (FIG. 2) receives a mail from an address registered in the reception refusal mail address list of the recipient refusal mail address database, this mail is discarded or returned as an error.

  Furthermore, in the mail transmission / reception apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in step S10 of FIG. 5, the received mail is temporarily saved, but is discarded without being saved, and a re-transmission is prompted. Also good. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, when it is determined that the mail transmission source is not a permitted transmission source (step S1), the mail received prior to the transmission source registration process is discarded in step S10A. Is done. Therefore, in the mail that is replied in step S3, as shown in FIG. 10, the text 67 indicates that the mail is to be retransmitted. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the registration completion notification screen in step S7 does not have a description that the stored mail has been transmitted. If the sender email address has been registered as a reception-permitted email address, when the user sends the email again, the email receiver 8 (FIG. 2) receives the email and the sender email address is permitted. Therefore, the mail receiver 8 (FIG. 2) sends the received mail to the mail server 11 (FIG. 2) (step S8A).

  Next, a mail transmitting / receiving apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it is not necessary to input a key such as the name of a mail recipient, and instead a click on a registration button is required. Details will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the mail that is sent back to the sender mail address in step S3A has its text 67A indicating that the mail transmission has failed, that the mail is currently stored or saved, and that the registration operation is It has a message part 68A stating that it is necessary.

  Returning to FIG. 12, when the user who received this mail accesses the URL described, the user is prompted to click the registration button (step S4A). Specifically, a web page 77A as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the screen of the user's terminal. This web page has a message part 78A describing a message prompting the user to click the registration button, and a registration button 79A. When registration button 79A is clicked (event I3A), the mail source mail address is registered as the permitted mail address.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the operation to prompt the mail sender is only a click on the registration button. Therefore, unlike the first embodiment in which the key input such as the name of the mail recipient is requested, Even those who do not know the key are allowed to send mail. Therefore, for example, a mail significant from the mail recipient is not rejected even though the mail is from a person who does not know the name of the mail recipient that is a key. On the other hand, since a manual operation of clicking the registration button is required, it is possible to eliminate mail from a supplier that automatically sends junk mail.

  Next, a mail transmission / reception apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that it does not require key input or registration button click. Details will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  When the user who received the mail describing the URL in step S3b accesses the URL (event I2), the mail source mail address is registered as the permitted mail address (step S6). In other words, in this embodiment, an operation such as a key input in the first embodiment or a click on a registration button in the second embodiment is not required, and only the access to the URL described in the e-mail is performed. Are additionally registered in the permission list (step S6).

  Accordingly, since there are few operations that burden the sender, the sender address is easily registered in the permission list, and mail that is significant for the mail recipient is further prevented from being rejected. On the other hand, since access to the URL described in the e-mail, that is, access to the web page, is requested by a human hand, e-mails from vendors that automatically send junk e-mail can be eliminated.

  Next, the configuration of a mail server according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The same components as those in the embodiment of the mail receiving apparatus of the present invention described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the mail server 11A included in the Internet-related facility 2 includes a mail reception function unit 8A corresponding to the mail reception device according to the present invention described in the previous embodiment. The mail server 11A also includes a mail transmission / reception function unit 80A and web function means 90.

  The mail reception function unit 8A is similar to the mail reception apparatus of the previous embodiment in that it includes a recipient key database 20, a reception permission mail address database 30, a temporary registration database 40, a registration check unit 50, and a recipient key reception unit 60. And a sender mail address registration means 70.

  The transmission / reception function unit 80A includes an SMTP function unit 81, a POP (post office protocol) 3 function unit 82 which is a mail distribution means, and a distribution mail database 83. The POP3 function unit 81 receives the mail and stores it in the distribution mail database 83. This delivery mail database 83 has a mail box for each of the users 5a, 5b,..., And the POP3 function unit 82 sorts the received mail for each user based on the destination mail address. The mail stored in this mailbox is taken out by the electronic mail software of the terminals 5A, 5B,... And finally delivered to the users 5a, 5b,. The protocol for the users 5a, 5b,... To obtain mail from the mail server 11A is not limited to POP3, but may be IMAP or the like.

  Next, the operation of the mail server of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 17 when the user 5a in FIG. 1 receives mail from the user 9a as in the case of the mail receiving apparatus of the present invention.

  The registration check process (step S1) and the transmission source registration process (steps S2 to S7) are performed by each means 50, 60, 70 (FIG. 16) of the mail reception function unit 8A using each database 20, 30, 40. . However, mail transmission / reception is performed by the transmission / reception function unit 80A.

  The difference between the mail server 11A of the present invention and the mail receiving apparatus 8 (FIG. 2) of the present invention is the processing in step S8B. Specifically, when the registration checking means 50 (FIG. 16) determines that the source mail address is included in the reception permitted mail address list 31 for the user 5a of the mail address database 30 in FIG. S1) The mail reception function unit 8A (FIG. 16) sends the received mail to the transmission / reception function unit 80A (FIG. 2), and the POP3 function unit 82 (FIG. 16) of the transmission / reception function unit 80A receives the received mail according to the destination mail address. Are stored in each mailbox of the distribution mail database 83 (step S8B). Thereafter, the e-mail software of the terminal 5A of the user 5a takes out the mail from the user's mail box 83.

  In the above description of the mail receiving device and mail server of the present invention, as shown in steps S2 to S5 of FIG. 5 and FIG. 17, an example of receiving key input for the recipient by combining the mail function and the web function, That is, for the sender, an example is shown in which the recipient's key is input by mail reception and web page browsing. However, any method may be used as long as the sender can enter a key for the recipient. For example, it may be only by browsing a web page without using the mail function. However, in the case of the processing in steps S2 to S5 in FIGS. 5 and 17, since the sender is guided to access to the URL by receiving the mail describing the URL, the user only follows the mail or the message of the web browser. And easy to operate.

  Next, a mail server according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The same components as those of the mail server according to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the mail server 11B includes a mail reception function unit 8B, which includes a recipient key database 20B, a reception permission email address database 30, a registration check unit 50, a recipient key. It has a receiving means 60B and a sender mail address registration means 70B.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the recipient key database 20B stores a user URL 26 and a key 27 for the users 5a, 5b,... For each user 5a, 5b,. The user URL 26 is uniquely assigned to each user 5a, 5b,... And is known only to the assigned user.

  When the recipient key accepting means 60B in FIG. 18 accepts access to a URL for a certain user, for example, the user 5a, the recipient key accepting means 60B will send a key to the user 5a corresponding to this URL and mail to this user 5a. For example, the user 9a is prompted to input a mail address.

  When the key for the user 5a is correctly input, the transmission source mail address registration means 70B tries to transmit the mail input together with the key to the reception permission mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) of the user of this key. The mail address of the user (user 9a) is added. The sender mail address registration means 70B also notifies the person (user 9a) who wants to send a mail the mail address used by the user 5a.

Next, the operation of the mail server according to another embodiment will be described.
In this embodiment, as a premise, each user 5a, 5b,... Of the mail server 11B in FIG. 18 recognizes his / her own URL shown in FIG. 19, and the user 5a holds a card 110 as shown in FIG. It is handed over in advance to the user 9a who permits mail reception. The card 110 has an explanation column 111, a URL column 112, and the like. The explanation column 111 describes that an email can be transmitted by accessing the described URL, and the URL column 112 indicates the access destination. A certain URL is described.

  Based on this, the sender mail address registration process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 21, and the mail address distribution process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the sender e-mail address registration process of FIG. 21, first, when the user 9a accesses the URL of the card 110 (FIG. 20) delivered from the user 5a (event I11), the recipient key receiving means 60B (FIG. 18) The web function means 90 (FIG. 18) displays the input web page 120 shown in FIG. 23 on the web browser of the terminal 9A of the user 9a. The input web page 120 prompts for input of a key for the user 5a, for example, a message part 121 relating to a name describing a message for prompting the input of the name and an input box 122 for inputting the name, and an e-mail address of the input person, that is, the user 9a. It has a message part 123 relating to the mail address describing the message, a mail address input box 124, and a send button 125.

  In FIG. 21, when a key and a mail address are input by the user 9a (event I12), the recipient key receiving means 60B (FIG. 18) searches the recipient key database 20B of FIG. The key corresponding to the existing URL is taken out, and this key is collated with the input key. If the input key matches the extracted key, that is, if “Ichiro Tanaka” is input in the input box in the web page 120 of FIG. 23 (step S12), the source address registration means 70B (FIG. 18) adds the mail address of the user 9a to the reception permitted mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) of the user 5a (step S13). The added mail address of the user 9a who intends to send mail to the user 5a is input from the web page 120 (FIG. 23).

  In FIG. 21, the sender mail address registration means 70B (FIG. 18) also notifies the user 9a who intends to send mail of the mail address used by the user 5a (step S14). Specifically, the sender mail address registration unit 70B (FIG. 18) causes the web function unit 90 (FIG. 18) to display the registration completion web page 130 shown in FIG. 24 on the web browser of the terminal 9A of the user 9a. The registration completion web page 130 includes a message portion 131 indicating that the registration has been completed. The sender mail address registration means 70B (FIG. 18) displays the registration completion web page in this way, and transmits a mail describing the mail address of the user 5a permitted to receive to the mail address of the user 9a. Thus, since the user 9a is notified of the mail address of the user 5a, the user 9a can subsequently send mail to the user 5a.

Next, mail delivery processing will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 22, when the user 9a transmits a mail addressed to the user 5a, the mail transmission / reception function unit 80A of the mail server 11B receives this mail (event I21). When the mail is received in this way, the registration check means 50 (FIG. 18) searches the reception permission mail address database 30 (FIG. 2), and whether or not the user 5a permits the reception of the mail from the user 9a. That is, it is determined whether or not the user 9a is a permitted transmission source (step S21).

  If the mail address of the user 9a is not included in the reception-permitted mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) for the user 5a, it is determined that the user 9b is not a transmission source permitted by the user 5a at the present time. The means 50 (FIG. 18) discards the received mail (step S22). Note that an error may be returned instead of discarding. On the other hand, if the mail address of the user 9a is included in the reception-permitted mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) for the user 5a, the registration check means 50 (FIG. 1) determines that the user 9a is a permitted transmission source. Then, the mail reception function unit 8B (FIG. 18) sends the received mail to the transmission / reception function unit 80A (FIG. 18), and the POP3 function unit 82 (FIG. 18) of the transmission / reception function unit 80A receives the received mail according to the destination mail address. Are stored in each mailbox of the distribution mail database 83 (step S23). Thereafter, the e-mail software of the terminal 5A of the user 5a takes out the mail from the user's mail box 83.

  Here, as shown in step S22, reception of mail from mail addresses not included in the reception-permitted mail address list 31 (FIG. 3) is rejected. However, as shown in the sender e-mail address registration process of FIG. 21, the e-mail address notification in step S14 is executed only after the registration is completed. Is difficult to know. Therefore, in the mail reception indicated by the event I21 in FIG. 22, the reception of the junk mail is extremely reduced, and it is assumed that the mail reply indicating the reception refusal in step S22 is also extremely reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the source mail address check and registration function is shown as existing in the Internet-related facility 2 (FIG. 1), that is, as existing in the server. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the sender mail address may be checked at the terminal of the user who receives the mail. For example, a function for checking the sender mail address may be incorporated in the mail software in the terminal, and the reception-permitted mail address database may be provided on the terminal side. However, a web server that provides a web page (FIGS. 7 and 14) that prompts the mail sender to enter a key or click a registration button exists as an intermediary server. In this web server, a reception permitted email address is registered, Notify the registered e-mail address that has been registered to the terminal side. Further, instead of being incorporated in the mail software, the mail software can be made existing by realizing the function of checking the sender mail address by using plug-in software. Note that POP3 and IMAP are available as protocols for the terminal to obtain mail from the mail server. Any method may be used, and only the mail received from the registered reception-permitted mail address is sent to the user. The mail receiving method of the present invention is applied to the provision point.

  As described above, according to the mail receiving device of the present invention and the mail server according to the first configuration, when the transmission source mail address of the received mail is not included in the reception permission mail address list, the mail sender is notified of the destination mail address. Since the user is prompted to enter the key for the user, the reception of the mail from the person who does not know the key for the recipient can be rejected. In other words, since mail is permitted only to those who know both the recipient's email address and key, such as mail that requires an address and name, junk email can be effectively prevented. In addition, since it is necessary to enter the key for the recipient, not the key for the sender, for example, if the information is about the sender, the sender of the spam mail may be false. Since it is difficult for the sender of the spam mail to know the information related to the person, it is difficult for the trader to send the spam mail. In addition, since the sender can send the mail by the sender's operation that the sender correctly inputs the key, the receiver does not need to set in advance a mail address for refusing reception. It is not necessary to perform an unnecessary work. On the other hand, once the sender's e-mail address is added and registered in the reception-permitted e-mail address database, the key entry is not prompted thereafter, so that the e-mail sender does not have to perform complicated operations.

  Further, according to the mail server according to the second configuration of the present invention, when access to a URL for a user is accepted, the user is prompted to enter a key for the user corresponding to the URL, and the key is correctly input. Since a mail address is added to the reception permission mail address list, only mail from a person who knows both the user URL and the key for the user is permitted to be received. Therefore, spam mail can be effectively prevented. In addition, since it is necessary to input a key for the recipient, it is difficult for a vendor or the like to send spam mail. In addition, since the user's e-mail address is notified to the person trying to send the e-mail after the user's key is correctly entered, in principle, only the person who knows the user's key can know the e-mail address of this user. Absent. Therefore, since the e-mail address cannot be obtained by a trader or the like who intends to send spam mail, the mail cannot be sent, and the spam mail does not enter the mail server. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a large load on the mail server by receiving a large amount of spam mails.

  In addition, although mail transmission / reception of a PC and a mobile phone has been described, the present invention can also be applied to any device capable of exchanging electronic mail such as a PDA (personal digital assistant).

  In addition, the mail reception via the Internet has been described, but the Internet is not necessarily required as shown in the example of mail reception between users in the network.

It is a network block diagram of the network containing the mail receiver which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a system including a mail receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic of the reception permission e-mail address database in the mail receiver of FIG. It is the schematic of the temporary database for registration in the mail receiver of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the mail receiver which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example sentence of a reply mail. It is a figure of the example of the web page which prompts the input of the information regarding a receiver. It is a figure of the example of the web page which shows completion of registration of a transmission origin mail address. It is a flowchart which shows another operation | movement of the mail receiver which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a text of the reply mail which urges | resends resending of mail. It is a figure of the example of the web page which shows completion of registration of a transmission origin mail address. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the mail receiver which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example sentence of a reply mail. It is a figure of the example of the web page which prompts the click of the registration button. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the mail receiver which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a system including a mail server according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the mail server which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a system configuration | structure figure of the system containing the mail server which concerns on another embodiment of this invention. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a reception permission email address database in the mail server of FIG. 18. It is a figure which shows the example of the card | curd which described URL. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the mail server which concerns on another embodiment of this invention, Comprising: A transmission source registration process is shown. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the mail server which concerns on another embodiment of this invention, Comprising: A delivery process is shown. It is a figure of the example of the web page which prompts input of the information regarding a receiver, and an e-mail address of an input person. It is a figure of the example of the web page which shows completion of registration of a transmission origin mail address, and a recipient's mail address.

4 Local network 5a, 5B User 7a, 7b User 8 Mail receiving device 9a, 9b User 11, 11A, 11B Mail server 20, 20B Recipient key database 30 Receivable mail address database 31 Receivable mail address list 50 Registration check means 60 , 60B Recipient key accepting means 70, 70B Source mail address registration means 82 Mail delivery means

Claims (9)

A method for receiving e-mail addressed to users in the local network,
When receiving an email, search the email address database that stores a list of email addresses that are allowed to receive emails for each user, and in the email address list for users who use the destination email address of the received email, Determine whether the source email address of the received email is included,
If the sender mail address of the received mail is not included in the reception-permitted mail address list, the sender of the received mail is urged to perform a predetermined operation, and when the predetermined operation is correctly executed, the destination of the received mail A mail receiving method for adding a sender mail address of the received mail to the reception permitted mail address list of a user who uses the mail address. In claim 1,
A mail receiving method in which the predetermined operation is a key input for a user who uses the destination mail address. In claim 2,
If the sender email address of the received email is not included in the list of email addresses permitted to receive, issue a tag, and store the tag and the sender email address and destination email address of the received email in association with each other,
Reply with an email containing the URL containing the issued tag to the sender email address of the received email and the fact that access to this URL is required to allow email transmission,
Upon accepting access to this URL, the user is prompted to enter a key for the user who uses the destination mail address of the received mail stored in association with the tag included in this URL,
A mail receiving method for adding a sender mail address of a received mail stored in association with a tag included in the URL to the reception permitted mail address list of the user of the key when the key is correctly input. In claim 2 or 3,
The mail receiving method, wherein the key for the user is the name of the user. In claim 2 or 3,
The mail receiving method, wherein the key for the user is the user's nickname. A mail receiving device that receives mail addressed to users in the local network,
A recipient key database that stores a key for each user, and
A reception-permitted email address database that stores a list of reception-permitted email addresses that are permitted to receive emails for each user;
When an email is received, the reception-permitted email address database is searched, and whether or not the source email address of the received email is included in the reception-permitted email address list for the user who uses the destination email address of the received email. Registration check means to judge;
Recipient key accepting means for urging the sender of the received mail to enter a key for the user who uses the destination mail address if the sender mail address of the received mail is not included in the reception permitted mail address list When,
A mail receiving apparatus comprising: a sender mail address registration unit that adds a sender mail address of the received mail to the reception permitted mail address list of the user of the key when the key is correctly input. In claim 6,
Furthermore, a provisional temporary database for storing the tag and the received mail address and the destination mail address in association with each other is provided.
The receiver key receiving means
If the source email address of the received email is not included in the reception permitted email address list, a tag is issued and the source email address and destination email address of the received email are associated with the temporary registration database. A tag issuing unit for storing;
A URL-descripted mail sending unit that sends back a mail that includes the URL including the issued tag in the sender mail address of the received mail and that it is necessary to access this URL in order to allow mail transmission; ,
A receiver key input receiving unit that prompts the user to enter a key for a user who uses the destination mail address of the received mail stored in association with the tag included in the URL when receiving access to the URL;
When the key is correctly input, the sender email address registering means stores the sender email address of the received email stored in association with the tag included in the URL in the reception permitted email address list of the user of this key. Mail receiving device to add. A mail server that sends and receives emails to users in your network,
A recipient key database that stores a key for each user, and
A reception-permitted email address database that stores a list of reception-permitted email addresses that are permitted to receive emails for each user;
When an email is received, the reception-permitted email address database is searched, and whether or not the source email address of the received email is included in the reception-permitted email address list for the user who uses the destination email address of the received email. Registration check means to judge;
Recipient key accepting means for urging the sender of the received mail to enter a key for the user who uses the destination mail address if the sender mail address of the received mail is not included in the reception permitted mail address list When,
When the key is correctly input, a sender email address registering means for adding the sender email address of the received email to the reception permitted email address list of the user of this key;
A mail server comprising: mail distribution means for distributing the received mail to the destination mail address of the received mail when the received mail address of the received mail is included in the reception permitted mail address list. A mail server that sends and receives emails to users in your network,
A recipient key database that stores a URL for the user and a key for the user for each user;
A reception-permitted email address database that stores a list of reception-permitted email addresses that are permitted to receive emails for each user;
A recipient key accepting means for prompting input of a key for a user corresponding to the URL and a mail address of a person who intends to send mail to the user upon accepting access to a URL for a user;
When the key is correctly entered, the email address of the person who is going to send the entered email is added to the list of email addresses permitted to receive the user of this key, and the email address used by this user is sent. A sender e-mail address registration means for notifying the person who intends to
When an email is received, the reception-permitted email address database is searched, and whether or not the source email address of the received email is included in the reception-permitted email address list for the user who uses the destination email address of the received email. Registration check means to judge;
A mail receiving device comprising: mail distribution means for distributing a received mail to a destination mail address of a received mail when a received mail address of the received mail is included in the reception permitted mail address list.

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