JP2006285857A - Mail server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mail server capable of retrieving e-mails by categories related to transmission contents transmitted by e-mails (actions). <P>SOLUTION: The mail server 20 having a mail DB 23 storing e-mails transmitted and received between terminals comprises a classification condition DB 24 storing categories related to transmitting contents transmitted by e-mails in conformation to classification conditions for classifying e-mails to the categories; and a mail retrieval part 27 retrieving e-mails matched to a classification condition conformed to a category in reference to the mail DB 23. The classification condition includes at least attributes of e-mails and information related to return e-mails returned according to the e-mails. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mail server having a database for storing electronic mails transmitted and received between terminals.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mail server having a database that stores e-mails transmitted and received between terminals in association with attributes of e-mails is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

Specifically, the mail server includes a database that stores an email in association with the email sender, the email destination, the creator of the attached file, and the like as attributes of the email. Further, the mail server searches the database using the e-mail attribute as a search key in response to a search request from the user, and provides a search result (ie, a list of e-mails corresponding to the search request) to the user.
JP 2002-163213 (Claim 2, paragraph, paragraph)

  By the way, e-mails transmitted and received between terminals are classified into various categories according to the transmission content (“action”) transmitted by the e-mail. For example, when the content of transmission is a request (for example, a request for creating a file), the electronic mail is classified into a category of request mail, and the content of communication is communication (for example, communication such as the date and time of a meeting, etc.). In this case, it is classified into a category called contact mail.

  As described above, since e-mails are classified into various categories according to the transmission contents, the user has a desire to search e-mails by category.

  However, since the above-described mail server simply searches the database using the attribute of the email (for example, the destination of the email) as a search key, the email server cannot be searched by category.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a mail server capable of searching for e-mails according to categories related to transmission contents (“acts”) transmitted by e-mails. With the goal.

  The first feature of the present invention is that a mail server having a database (mail DB 23) for storing e-mails transmitted and received between terminals, a category relating to transmission contents transmitted by e-mails, and a classification for classifying e-mails into categories. A classification condition storage unit (classification condition DB 24) that stores conditions in association with each other, an acquisition unit (mail search unit 27) that acquires a classification condition associated with a category with reference to the classification condition storage unit, and a database And a search unit (mail search unit 27) for searching for an email that matches the classification condition acquired by the acquisition unit. The classification condition is returned according to the attribute of the email and the email. This is a condition that includes at least information on the reply e-mail.

  According to such a feature, the classification condition storage unit stores a category related to the transmission content transmitted by the e-mail and a classification condition for classifying the e-mail into the category in association with each other, and the search unit refers to the database, By searching for e-mails that match the classification conditions (classification conditions associated with the categories) acquired by the acquisition unit, the mail server can send e-mails by category related to the transmission content (“action”) transmitted by the e-mail. Can be searched.

  In addition, since the classification condition is a condition including the attribute of the e-mail and information on the reply e-mail returned in response to the e-mail, the mail server 20 relates to the transmission contents of the e-mail (“user action”). Categories can be defined according to classification conditions.

  The second feature of the present invention is that, in the first feature of the present invention, the attributes of the e-mail include an e-mail transmission source, an e-mail transmission destination, presence / absence of an attached file attached to the e-mail, and an attached file The gist is to include at least one of the creators.

  According to a third feature of the present invention, in the first feature or the second feature of the present invention, the condition relating to the reply e-mail includes at least one of the presence / absence of the reply e-mail and the attribute of the reply e-mail. Is the gist.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the reply e-mail attribute includes a reply e-mail sender, a reply e-mail destination, and presence / absence of an attached file attached to the reply e-mail. And at least one of the creators of the attached file.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the mail server which can search an email according to the category regarding the transmission content ("action") which an email transmits can be provided.

(Configuration of communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention)
The configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a plurality of terminals 10 (terminals 10 a to 10 d), a mail server 20, and a network 30. Hereinafter, the user of the terminal 10a is referred to as user A, the user of the terminal 10b as user B, the user of the terminal 10c as user C, and the user of the terminal 10d as user D. Further, since the terminals 10a to 10d have the same configuration, they are collectively referred to as the terminal 10.

  The terminal 10 is configured by a personal computer or the like, and transmits an e-mail to another terminal 10 via the mail server 20. In addition, the terminal 10 transmits an e-mail search request stored in the mail server 20 to the mail server 20.

  Here, the e-mail search request is information requesting a search using an e-mail category or e-mail attribute as a search key. The category of the e-mail relates to the transmission content (“act”) transmitted by the e-mail, and includes, for example, a request e-mail requesting the creation of a file, a contact e-mail informing the date and place of the meeting, etc. . The attributes of the e-mail are e-mail transmission source, e-mail transmission destination, presence / absence of an attached file, creator of the attached file, and the like.

  The mail server 20 stores electronic mail received from each terminal 10. Further, the mail server 20 searches for an e-mail corresponding to the search request in response to an e-mail search request received from each terminal 10, and transmits a search result (that is, a list of e-mails) to each terminal 10. To do.

(Configuration of mail server according to an embodiment of the present invention)
Hereinafter, the configuration of a mail server according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the mail server 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mail server 20 includes a receiving unit 21, a mail storage unit 22, a mail DB 23, a classification condition DB 24, a linking DB 25, an attachment information DB 26, a mail search unit 27, and a transmission unit 28. And have.

  The receiving unit 21 receives e-mails transmitted and received between the terminals 10 from each terminal 10. The receiving unit 21 receives an e-mail search request stored in the mail DB 23 from each terminal 10.

  The mail storage unit 22 stores the electronic mail received by the receiving unit 21 in the mail DB 23. In addition, when an attached file is attached to the e-mail received by the receiving unit 21, the mail storage unit 22 stores the attached file in the attachment information DB 26 and associates the e-mail with the attached file. Is stored in the association DB 25.

  The mail DB 23 is a database that stores electronic mail stored by the mail storage unit 22. The mail DB 23 stores an electronic mail and a reply electronic mail for the electronic mail in a tree structure. The mail DB 23 also stores e-mail attributes in addition to e-mail.

  Hereinafter, an example of electronic mail (tree structure) stored in the mail DB 23 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of electronic mail (tree structure) stored in the mail DB 23 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the mail DB 23 includes the mail 1 transmitted from the terminal 10a (user A) to the terminal 10b (user B) and the reply mail to the mail 1 from the terminal 10b (user B) to the terminal 10a. The mail 2 transmitted to (user A) is stored in association with it. Similarly, the mail DB 23 associates the mail 2 transmitted from the terminal 10b to the terminal 10a with the mail 3 transmitted from the terminal 10a (user A) to the terminal 10b (user B) as a reply mail to the mail 2. Remember.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the mail DB 23 stores the emails (mail 1 to mail 4) transmitted and received between the terminal 10a (user A) and the terminal 10b (user B) in association with each other. To do. Thus, there is no limit to the number of emails that the mail DB 23 stores in association with each other.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the mail DB 23 includes the mail 10 transmitted from the terminal 10a (user A) to each terminal 10 (user B to user D) and the reply mail to the mail 1 as each terminal 10 Mail 2 (mail 2a to mail 2c) transmitted from (user B to user D) to terminal 10a (user A) is stored in association with each other.

  The classification condition DB 24 stores a classification condition table that stores a category related to transmission contents transmitted by an electronic mail and a classification condition for classifying the electronic mail into the category in association with each other.

  Hereinafter, an example of a classification condition table according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 4-6 is a figure which shows an example of the classification condition table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the classification condition table includes a table 1 that associates sub-classification conditions with e-mail attributes, and a table 2 that associates classification conditions, tree positions, and categories. .

  Specifically, in Table 1 (FIGS. 4A, 5A, and 6A), the sub-classification condition, tree position, presence / absence of an attached file, transmission source, transmission destination, Associated with the creator of the attached file.

  The tree position is a position in the tree structure, the tree position of the e-mail that is the starting point of the tree structure is “1”, and the tree position of the e-mail that is returned in response to the e-mail that is the starting point of the tree structure is “2”.

  The transmission source is the name of the user who sent the e-mail, and the transmission destination is the name of the user who is the e-mail transmission destination. The attached file creator is the name of the creator of the attached file attached to the e-mail.

  On the other hand, in Table 2 (FIGS. 4B, 5B, and 6B), classification conditions, tree positions, and e-mail categories corresponding to the tree positions (mail categories and group categories). Are associated with each other. Here, the mail category is a category indicating the transmission contents (“action”) of the e-mail for each e-mail, and the group category is the transmission contents of a series of e-mails included in the tree structure described above. It is a category.

  In this way, the classification condition table defines categories related to the transmission contents (“actions”) of electronic mails based on the classification conditions.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each attribute of an e-mail whose tree position is “1” has transmission source = user 1 and transmission destination = user 2 and the tree position is When each attribute of the e-mail with “2” is attached file = present, transmission source = user 2, transmission destination = user 1, and attachment file creator = user 2 (that is, sub classification condition 1 and sub classification condition) 2), the email category of the email whose tree position is “1” is “request”, and the email category of the email whose tree location is “2” is “request response”. Further, the group category of e-mails whose tree positions are “1” and “2” (the group category of the tree structure including e-mails whose tree positions are “1” and “2”) is “request group”.

  In this way, an electronic mail (tree position = “1”) is transmitted from the user 1 to the user 2, and an electronic mail (tree position = ““) attached with the attached file created by the user 2 as a reply to the electronic mail. 2 ”) is transmitted from the user 2 to the user 1, the condition classification table indicates that the transmission content of the e-mail (tree position =“ 1 ”) is a file creation request (mail category =“ request ”from the user 1 to the user 2). )) And the transmission content of the e-mail (tree position = “2”) is defined as an attached file (mail category = “request response”) created by the user 2 in response to a request from the user 1 is doing. Further, the condition classification table defines that e-mails (tree structure including these) whose tree positions are “1” and “2” are related to requests (group category = “request group”).

  When the sub classification condition 1 to the sub classification condition 3 are satisfied, the mail category of the e-mail whose tree position is “3” is “acknowledgement”. Also, the e-mail with the tree position “3” is included in the group category “request group” because it is included in the same tree structure as the e-mails with the tree positions “1” and “2”.

  In this way, an e-mail (tree position = “2”) with an attached file created by the user 2 is transmitted from the user 2 to the user 1, and an e-mail without an attached file is transmitted from the user 1 to the user 2. In this case, the condition classification table defines that the transmission content of the electronic mail (tree position = “3”) is the receipt confirmation of the attached file (mail category = “receipt confirmation”). The condition classification table defines that an e-mail (a tree structure including these) having a tree position “3” relates to a request (group category = “request group”).

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the classification condition table further details the mail category of the e-mail according to the number of times the attached file is revised (number of versions). May be classified into various mail categories (“request response (ver. 1)” and “request response (ver. 2)”).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the classification condition table includes an email sent from one user to a plurality of users and an email sent from a plurality of users to one user. The mail category (“contact” or “contact response”) and the group category (“contact group”) may be defined according to the classification condition.

  The association DB 25 is a database that stores association information for associating an electronic mail with an attached file. The attached information DB 26 is a database that stores attached files stored by the mail storage unit 22.

  The mail search unit 27 searches the electronic mail stored in the mail DB 23 in response to the search request received by the receiving unit 21. Specifically, the mail search unit 27 refers to the classification condition DB 24, acquires the mail category (or group condition corresponding to the group category) included in the search request, and acquires the mail condition by referring to the mail DB 23. An electronic mail (or a tree structure including the electronic mail) that matches the classification condition is searched.

  For example, when the mail category included in the search request is “request”, the mail search unit 27 refers to the classification condition DB 24 (FIG. 4 or FIG. 5) and classifies the classification condition corresponding to the mail category “request”. And the mail DB 23 is referenced to search for e-mails that match the acquired classification conditions. That is, the mail search unit 27 searches for the mail 1 shown in FIG. 3A and the mail 1 shown in FIG.

  Further, when the group category included in the search request is “request group”, the mail search unit 27 refers to the classification condition DB 24 (FIG. 4 or FIG. 5) and corresponds to the group category “request group”. In addition to acquiring the classification conditions, the e-mail that matches the acquired classification conditions is searched with reference to the mail DB 23. That is, the mail search unit 27 searches the tree structure shown in FIG. 3A or the tree structure shown in FIG.

  In addition, the mail search unit 27 refers to the association DB 25 to determine whether there is an attached file corresponding to the searched e-mail, and acquires the attached file corresponding to the searched e-mail from the attachment information DB 26. To do.

  The transmission unit 28 transmits a list of electronic mails (or a list of tree structures) searched by the mail search unit 27 to the terminal 10. If there is an attached file attached to the e-mail searched by the e-mail search unit 27, the transmitting unit 28 also transmits the attached file together with the e-mail.

(Operation of Communication System According to One Embodiment of the Present Invention)
Hereinafter, the operation of the communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in step 10, the terminal 10 transmits an e-mail addressed to another terminal 10 to the mail server 20.

  In step 11, the mail server 20 distributes the electronic mail received in step 10 to other terminals 10.

  In step 12, the mail server 20 stores the electronic mail received in step 10 in the mail DB 23. In addition, when an attached file is attached to the e-mail received in step 10, the mail server 20 stores the attached file in the attachment information DB 26 and also associates association information for associating the e-mail with the attached file with the association DB 25. To store.

  In step 13, the terminal 10 transmits an e-mail search request to the mail server 20. The e-mail search request includes a category (e-mail category or group category) related to transmission contents transmitted by the e-mail.

  In step 14, the mail server 20 refers to the classification condition DB 24, acquires the classification condition corresponding to the mail category (or group category) included in the search request, and refers to the mail DB 23 to acquire the classification. Search for an e-mail that meets the conditions (or a tree structure that includes the e-mail).

  In step 15, the mail server 20 transmits the list of e-mails searched in step 14 (or a list of tree structures) to the terminal 10. Note that if there is an attached file attached to the electronic mail searched in step 14, the mail server 20 also transmits the attached file together with the electronic mail.

  Further, the mail server 20 refers to the association DB 25 to determine whether there is an attached file corresponding to the searched e-mail, and acquires the attached file corresponding to the searched e-mail from the attached information DB 26. .

  In step 16, the terminal 10 displays a list of e-mails received in step 15 (or a tree structure list).

(Operation and Effect of Mail Server According to One Embodiment of the Present Invention)
According to the mail server 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the classification condition DB 24 corresponds to the category (mail category or group category) related to the transmission content transmitted by the e-mail and the classification condition for classifying the e-mail into the category. The mail search unit 27 refers to the mail DB 23 and searches for an email that matches the classification condition associated with the category, so that the mail server transmits the transmission content (“ E-mails can be searched by category for "action").

  In addition, the mail server 20 includes the classification condition including the attribute of the e-mail and the condition regarding the reply e-mail that is replied according to the e-mail (presence of reply e-mail, attribute of the reply e-mail). A category (e-mail category or group category) related to the transmission content ("user action") can be defined according to the classification condition.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mail server 20 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic mail (tree structure) which mail DB23 concerning one Embodiment of this invention memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows an example of the classification condition table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention (the 1). It is a figure which shows an example of the classification condition table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention (the 2). It is a figure which shows an example of the classification condition table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention (the 3). It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Terminal, 20 ... Mail server, 21 ... Receiving part, 22 ... Mail storage part, 23 ... Mail DB, 24 ... Classification condition DB, 25 ... Linking DB, 26 ... Attached information DB, 27 ... E-mail search unit, 28 ... Transmission unit, 30 ... Network

Claims (4)

A mail server having a database for storing e-mails sent and received between terminals,
A classification condition storage unit that stores a category related to transmission contents transmitted by the e-mail and a classification condition for classifying the e-mail into the category in association with each other;
An acquisition unit that acquires the classification condition associated with the category with reference to the classification condition storage unit;
A search unit for referring to the database and searching for the email that matches the classification condition acquired by the acquisition unit;
The mail server characterized in that the classification condition is a condition including at least an attribute of the electronic mail and information on a reply electronic mail returned in response to the electronic mail.   The attribute of the e-mail includes at least one of a sender of the e-mail, a destination of the e-mail, presence / absence of an attached file attached to the e-mail, and a creator of the attached file. The mail server according to claim 1.   3. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the reply electronic mail includes at least one of presence / absence of the reply electronic mail and an attribute of the reply electronic mail.   The attribute of the reply email is at least one of the sender of the reply email, the destination of the reply email, the presence / absence of an attached file attached to the reply email, and the creator of the attached file The mail server according to claim 3, wherein the mail server is included.

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