JP2009017415A - Method for confirming mail transmission source and mail receiving without site access - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems wherein users cannot access a site address described in a mail text for confirmation of a mail transmitting person and mail receiving owing to access congestion when a disaster occurs, or restrictions of a cellular phone contract. <P>SOLUTION: A specified code is attached to a mail text or its title, and then the mail is transmitted. The receiver transmits a mail included with the code to the transmitting person, so that mail receiving is confirmed. If the code cannot be attached to the mail text or the title, a specified code is attached to a reply address and the receiver replies to the address. Transmitting persons are confirmed thereby, or it is confirmed whether mail is received. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mail sender confirmation method and a mail reception confirmation method, and more particularly, to a mail sender confirmation method and a mail reception confirmation method that do not require site access, and in particular, a sender of a mail sent to a server. Or a method for confirming that a mail transmitted from a server has been received.

Since Internet mail can easily be spoofed from the mail sender, it is necessary to confirm the sender when registering the mail address in the mail distribution list in order to avoid unauthorized use. In addition, when sending an e-mail, it may be necessary to confirm the receipt of an emergency e-mail. In either case, to send an email or to confirm the recipient, send an email with the site address including the confirmation information in the text, and click the address listed in the recipient to access the site. The sender or the reception has been confirmed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 describe a transmission source confirmation method including returning a mail describing a URL to a mail sender and allowing the URL to access a site. Patent Document 3 describes a reception confirmation method including displaying a text content by transmitting a mail describing a URL and allowing a site access to the URL.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-167995 (paragraphs 0007 to 0014) JP 2004-192193 A (0007 paragraph) JP 2002-77224 A (0009 paragraph)

  However, the method described in the above document is a conventional communication device having a mail transmission / reception function that does not have the function of accessing the Internet site, or when access to the Internet site is restricted by a contract. There was a problem that it was not possible to use the confirmation method based on the technology.

  In addition, when the number of characters received by the receiver is limited in a mobile phone or the like, the site address added for confirmation of reception may not be written, and in this case, there is a problem that reception confirmation cannot be performed. there were.

  Furthermore, in order to avoid the situation where the address is not written in the body of the email due to the above-mentioned reasons, when only the site address is written and the content can be confirmed for the first time by accessing the site, the receiver confirms the content. In addition to receiving mail, site access is required, and depending on the contract of the communication device, double charging is required. In order to confirm the contents again, it is necessary to save the confirmed contents or to access the site again, and the contents confirmation is not easy.

  As for site access, the number of users that can be accessed at the same time per server is limited to a few hundred. Access is extremely difficult during disasters, when access is concentrated, or when the communication environment is not stable. It becomes. In particular, in the case of emergency mail delivery in an emergency, more than tens of thousands of mails may be sent at once, and in this case, it is extremely difficult to access the site all at once with reception confirmation. It was.

  On the other hand, mail transmission / reception can dramatically process a large amount of transmission / reception at a time compared to the number of users who can access at one time by site access.

  Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide a mail sender confirmation method capable of confirming a mail sender mail address using only a mail transmission / reception function. In addition, the second object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a mail reception confirmation method capable of confirming that a transmitted mail is received at each user's mail address using only the mail transmission / reception function. There is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a server having a database in which a mail address and an identifier are stored and having a mail transmission means and a mail reception means is a mail address of a transmission source of the received mail. The method of confirming,
The server generates a unique identifier for the received mail, stores the identifier and the source mail address of the received mail in association with each other in the database, and creates a confirmation mail including the identifier An identifier sending step of returning the confirmation email to the sender email address of the received email;
The server searches the mail received after the identifier sending step to determine whether the same identifier as the identifier stored in the database is included, and the mail address stored in association with the identifier included in the received mail is: And a re-received mail analyzing step for determining whether the received mail matches the sender mail address of the received mail.

  In the present invention, “unique” includes the meanings of unique and unique. The “unique identifier” includes, for example, different identifiers for each received mail or for each mail content to be transmitted. The “identifier” includes a combination of symbols and alphanumeric characters. In the confirmation mail, the part including the identifier may be the subject or the body of the mail, but it is preferable to include it in both. It is possible to check the mail transmission source even for a communication device that is set not to return the body of the mail or the subject. The character length of the identifier is not particularly limited, but is preferably within 9 characters. Even for communication devices where the subject and body of the received mail have a character limit, the identifier of the identifier is sufficiently short so that the sender of the mail can be confirmed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the validity of the e-mail address, that is, the sender e-mail address of the e-mail re-received by the server by the determination of the re-received e-mail, Since it can be confirmed whether it is the same as the mail address, it is possible to check the mail addresses of a large number of mails using only the mail transmission / reception function without allowing the user to access the site only by the mail transmission / reception operation.

  It is preferable that the server is a server group including one or a plurality of servers including a mail transmission unit and a mail reception unit and one or a plurality of servers including a database. By combining servers specialized for functions, it is possible to realize a server group with high processing capacity as a whole, and even if there are a large number of emails to check the sender, the sender can be checked efficiently . In addition, even when a failure such as a server goes down, the possibility that the system as a whole can provide functions increases.

The second aspect of the present invention provides a database having a database in which transmission mail content data, an identifier, and a mail address are stored in association with each other. A method for confirming that an e-mail address was received,
The server generates a unique identifier for the transmitted mail content data stored in the database, generates a mail address including the identifier as a reply mail address, and sends the identifier and the transmitted mail content data. A reply address setting step for storing them in the database in association with each other;
The server sets the mail address generated in the reply address setting step as a reply destination, sets the mail address stored in the database in association with the transmitted mail content data as the recipient mail address, and sends the mail content An email sending process for sending data;
The server receives a mail, searches whether the destination mail address of the received mail includes the identifier stored in the database, and sends the mail to the mail address stored in association with the identifier. There is provided a mail reception confirmation method including a mail reception confirmation step of determining whether a mail address is included.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm that the mail transmitted by the server has been received at a specific mail address by determining the received mail, so that it is possible to concentrate on a disaster without allowing the user to access the site. Even in emergency situations where access is expected, users can check that their emails have been received by their email addresses using only the email sending / receiving function.

  It is preferable that the server is a server group including one or a plurality of servers having a mail transmission unit and a mail reception unit and one or a plurality of servers having an identifier storage unit. By combining servers specialized for functions, it is possible to realize a server group having a high processing capacity as a whole, and it is possible to efficiently check reception of mail even if the number of mails to be checked is large. In addition, even when a failure such as a server goes down, the possibility that the system as a whole can provide functions increases.

  According to the present invention, the mail source mail address can be confirmed using only the mail transmission / reception function. In addition, it is possible to confirm that the sent mail has been received by each user's mail address using only the mail transmission / reception function.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the server receives a mail (first mail) transmitted to the server, and the server receives the transmission source address of the mail (first mail) transmitted to the server. A unique identifier is generated, a confirmation mail (second mail) including the identifier and a reply destination set is sent back to the sender address by the server, and the server confirms the confirmation from the communication device of the returned user. A reply mail (third mail) sent to the server as a reply mail to the mail (second mail) is received, and the server sends the reply mail (third mail) among the identifiers stored in the server. Search for an identifier that matches the identifier included in the email, and further store the email address of the email (first email) sent to the server stored in the server in association with the identifier, By determining whether and email address of the reply mail (third mail) match, to check the email sender. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to confirm the source mail address of the mail received by the server by determining the re-received mail. For example, it is effective for preventing impersonation of another person and performing registration.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, the server generates a unique identifier, generates a mail address including the identifier as a reply destination mail address, stores the identifier in association with transmission mail content data, A reply mail address is set as a reply address to create a mail (first mail) including the transmission mail content data, and the mail is transmitted to the reception mail address stored in association with the transmission mail content data. The server receives the confirmation mail (second mail) for the mail (first mail) from the user's communication device to which the mail (first mail) has been sent, and the server is stored in the database. It is searched whether the stored identifier is included in the reply destination email address, and the above-mentioned destination email address stored in association with the matched identifier is By determining whether the sender email address of the authorization email (second email) is included, the email (first email) sent from the server is received at the recipient email address stored in association with the identifier. Confirm that it was done. In mass mail delivery, the recipient mail address includes a large number of addresses. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to confirm that the mail transmitted by the server is received at the specific mail address by determining the received mail. For example, it is effective for confirmation of safety at the time of disaster and confirmation of completion of transmission of school communication items, etc. for a user whose registrant email address is stored in advance in the server.

  The third embodiment of the present invention is a simultaneous delivery method for registering / delivering / confirming simultaneous delivery by combining the mail sender confirmation method and the mail reception confirmation method, and includes the following three processes.

(Delivery destination registration process)
The delivery destination registration process is as follows.

  First, for distribution registration, the server receives a registration request mail (first mail) transmitted from a communication device of a user who desires distribution to the first mail address of the server. Next, the server generates a unique identifier (first identifier) for the transmission source mail address (registration request transmission source mail address) of the registration request mail (first mail) transmitted to the server. Next, the server sends the confirmation mail (second mail) including the identifier (first identifier) and the reply destination set to the second mail address of the server, from the transmission source mail address (registration request transmission source mail address). Reply to

  Then, the server receives a reply mail (third mail) transmitted to the second mail address of the server as a reply mail with respect to the confirmation mail (second mail) from the communication device of the returned user. Next, the server searches for an identifier that matches the identifier included in the reply mail (third mail) among the identifiers stored in the server. Furthermore, the mail address of the sender of the registration request mail (first mail) transmitted to the server and stored in the server in association with the identifier matches the mail address of the reply mail (third mail). Determine whether.

  As described above, the mail sender is confirmed. When the confirmation is made, the server stores the transmission source email address (registration request transmission source email address) stored in the database in the database as the reception destination email address (distribution destination email address).

(Delivery source confirmation process)
The database stores a distribution source mail address for distribution. The distribution source confirmation process is as follows.

  First, the server receives a distribution request mail (fourth mail) transmitted from the communication device of the administrator user who performs distribution to the third mail address of the server for distribution registration. Next, the server determines whether the transmission source mail address (delivery request mail address) of the distribution request mail (fourth mail) transmitted to the server matches the distribution source mail address stored in the database. If they match, a unique identifier (second identifier) is generated for the sender email address (delivery request email address) of the delivery request email (fourth email). Then, the contents data of the delivery request mail (fourth mail) is stored in association with the identifier (second identifier) as transmission mail content data. In addition, the sender mail address (delivery request mail address) of the delivery request mail (fourth mail) is also stored in association with the identifier (second identifier) and the sent mail content data. Further, the server returns a confirmation mail (fifth mail) including the identifier (second identifier) and setting the reply destination to the fourth mail address of the server to the sender mail address (delivery request mail address). .

  Then, the server receives a mail delivery confirmation mail (sixth mail) returned to the fourth mail address of the server as a reply mail to the confirmation mail (fifth mail) from the user's communication device that has returned the reply. To do. Next, the server searches for an identifier that matches the identifier included in the mail delivery confirmation mail (sixth mail) among the identifiers stored in the server. Further, the transmission source mail address (delivery request mail address) of the delivery request mail (fourth mail) transmitted to the server, stored in the server in association with the identifier, and the mail delivery confirmation mail (sixth mail) ) Is matched with the e-mail address.

  As described above, the mail sender is confirmed. The server determines whether the transmission source email address of the email delivery confirmation email (sixth email) matches the delivery source email address stored in the database. If it is determined that the mail address of the transmission request mail (fourth mail) transmitted to the server matches the mail address of the mail distribution confirmation mail (sixth mail), the process proceeds to the distribution confirmation process.

(Delivery confirmation process)
In the database, the sender address (delivery request mail address), the identifier (second identifier), and the sent mail content data whose sender is confirmed in the delivery source confirmation process are stored in association with each other. The server stores the transmission mail content data in association with one or a plurality of recipient mail addresses stored in one group in the distribution destination registration process. Therefore, the transmission mail content data, the transmission source address (delivery request mail address), the identifier (second identifier), and the reception destination mail address are stored in association with each other. The delivery confirmation process is as follows.

  First, a unique identifier (third identifier) is created and stored. In addition, a mail address including the identifier (third identifier) is generated as a reply destination mail address. The identifier (third identifier) is stored in association with the transmission mail content data, the transmission source address (delivery request mail address), the identifier (second identifier), and the reception destination mail address.

  Next, a delivery mail (seventh mail) including the transmission mail content data is created by setting the reply mail address as a reply address. The data is transmitted to the recipient mail address stored in association with the transmitted mail content data.

  Then, the server sends a reception confirmation mail (seventh mail) to the delivery mail (seventh mail) from the user's communication device to which the delivery mail (seventh mail) is sent, which is sent to the fifth mail address of the server. Eighth mail) is received. The server searches whether the destination mail address of the received reception confirmation mail (eighth mail) includes the identifier stored in the database. It is determined whether or not the reception mail address stored in association with the corresponding identifier includes the transmission mail address of the reception confirmation mail (eighth mail).

  As described above, it is confirmed that the distribution mail (seventh mail) transmitted from the server has been received at the reception mail address stored in association with the transmission mail address of the mail distribution confirmation mail (sixth mail). . In mass mail delivery, the recipient mail address includes a large number of addresses.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to confirm the mail address that has transmitted the mail received by the server, and to confirm that the mail transmitted by the server has been received at the specific mail address, by determining the received mail. In addition, for simultaneous delivery of mail, from registration of a delivery destination to delivery and confirmation of receipt of delivery can be performed only by sending and receiving mail with the communication device of the administrator user and the communication device of the user who wants to deliver. For example, when registering an e-mail address and distributing a mass e-mail, check whether the registered e-mail address matches the e-mail address of the user you are trying to register by sending and receiving e-mail without accessing the site. This is effective both for checking whether the mail delivered to the registered mail address has been received by the registered user's mail address by sending / receiving the mail without accessing the site.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to the accompanying drawings for the mail sender confirmation method and the mail reception confirmation method of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Is not to be done.

[Example 1]
This embodiment is a simultaneous delivery method that combines the mail sender confirmation method of the present invention and the mail reception confirmation method of the present invention. A mail is transmitted to a server by a communication device of a user who wishes to be transmitted simultaneously. The mail transmission source confirmation method of the present invention is registered as the recipient of the simultaneous mail, and the mail for requesting the simultaneous mail delivery is transmitted to the server by the administrator's communication device that transmits the simultaneous mail, and the mail transmission source confirmation method of the present invention It is possible to confirm whether or not a mail that has been delivered simultaneously by the mail reception confirmation method of the present invention has been received by the registered recipients.

{Constitution}
In this embodiment, the communication means is in the user's terminal, and the communication means, the identifier creation means, the reply destination mail address creation means, the identifier / address collation determination means, the mail creation means, and the database as the storage storage means Is in a server group composed of a plurality of servers. In the present embodiment, a database server that stores and accumulates mail address data, identifier data, transmission mail content data, reception confirmation information data, and transmission source confirmation information data, a broadcast mail dedicated transmission server that transmits broadcast mail, A mail transmission / reception server that creates identifiers and transmits and receives mail is connected to each other via a LAN or the like to form one server group. The database, the simultaneous mail dedicated transmission function, and the transmission / reception function described above are provided. One server may be included. There may be a plurality of mail transmission / reception servers and simultaneous mail dedicated transmission servers. Further, the mail transmission / reception server may be divided into a mail transmission server and a mail reception server. In addition, when the number of transmissions is not large or when a countermeasure against spam attacks is not required, the mail transmission / reception server may perform instead of the simultaneous mail dedicated transmission server. The communication means includes mail sending means and mail receiving means. Further, the mail transmission / reception server or the broadcast mail dedicated transmission server may hold a copy of all or part of the database.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration used in Embodiment 1 of the mail sender confirmation method of the present invention. In this embodiment, the server group including the server A: 30, the server B: 40, and the server C: 50 connected to each other via a LAN or the like, and the communication device 10 include a communication network 20 such as the Internet, a LAN, and a WAN. Can communicate with each other.

  The communication device 10 is a terminal having communication means by sending and receiving mail, such as a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, and a PDA. The server A: 30 is a server having communication means by mail transmission and mail reception, and has an identifier creation means, a reply mail address creation means, an identifier / address collation determination means, a mail creation means, and a mail transmission command means. Server B: 40 is a server having communication means by sending a mass mail. Both the server A: 30 and the server B: 40 automatically receive e-mails sent to their e-mail addresses. Different processing is performed depending on the received mail address.

  Server C: 50 is a server having a database, in which the sender mail address data (registration request sender mail address data) and identifier (registration requester confirmation identifier) data are associated with each other; Source mail address data (delivery request mail address data), identifier (delivery request source confirmation identifier), transmission mail content data, identifier (reception confirmation identifier), source mail address data (delivery request mail address data), or one or more Are stored in a table in which the destination mail address data (delivery destination mail address data) are associated with each other. Further, sender confirmation information data is stored in association with each of sender email address data (registration request sender email address data) and sender email address data (distribution request email address data). Reception address information data is stored in association with address data (delivery destination mail address data). The database also stores a delivery source mail address. In the present embodiment, the sender mail address data stored in association with the sender confirmation information data is stored as the receiver mail address data. The database stores a plurality of recipient email address data (delivery recipient email address data) in a single email address list table if the recipient email addresses of the delivery registration request emails are the same. By changing the receiving mail address of the distribution registration request mail for each mail to be distributed, the user can be registered for a plurality of distributions with one mail address.

  Server A: 30 is equipped with a mail sender confirmation program and a mail reception confirmation program.

  The mail sender confirmation program has a function of creating an identifier in a computer, a function of storing an email address in association with an identifier, a function of creating a reply email addressed to a sender email address of a received email, and a subject of the reply email Or a function for adding the identifier to the body, a function for transmitting the reply mail, a function for receiving the mail, a function for determining whether the identifier of the received mail is included in the subject or body of the received mail, It is a program for realizing a function of searching for the same identifier as the identifier included in the received mail among the identifiers received and searching for the mail address stored in association therewith. In this embodiment, the mail sender confirmation program further includes a function for determining whether or not the received mail is a mail from a distribution mail address, a function for starting simultaneous mail distribution based on the determination result, a mail address It is a program for realizing the function of creating a list. Further, it may be a program for realizing a function of displaying a search result or a determined result.

  The mail reception confirmation program has a function of creating an identifier in a computer, a function of storing an email address in association with the identifier, a function of creating a reply mail address including the identifier, and sending a reply destination as the reply mail address. Function for creating mail, function for sending outgoing mail, function for receiving mail, and searching for the same identifier as the one included in the destination mail address of the received mail among stored identifiers and storing it in association with this This is a program for realizing a function of determining whether the received mail address is the same as the sender mail address of the received mail. Further, in this embodiment, the mail reception confirmation program is a program for realizing a function of creating a mail as a mail address in which a transmission destination mail address is stored in a computer and a function of transmitting the reply mail. . Further, it may be a program for realizing a function of displaying a search result or a determined result.

  Server A: 30, Server B: 40, Server C: 50 are each a hardware control device including a CPU, memory, operating system, device driver, etc., secondary storage such as a magnetic disk, LAN board, etc. Etc. are provided. Server A: 30, server B: 40, and server C: 50 are connected to each other via a LAN, the Internet, or the like, and based on an operation command from server A: 30, the mail sender confirmation process and the mail reception confirmation process of the present invention I do.

  The magnetic disk of server A: 30 stores a mail sender confirmation program and a mail reception confirmation program. A database is stored in the magnetic disk of server C: 50. The database stores and accumulates e-mail addresses, identifiers, and transmitted e-mail contents. Furthermore, reception confirmation information data and transmission source confirmation information data are also stored and accumulated. Server A: 30, server B: 40, and server C: 50 function as a mail transmission / reception server, a simultaneous mail transmission dedicated server, and a database server, respectively. Each server has a clock function or the like that a normal server has.

  Server A: 30, Server B: 40, Server C: 50, the server A: 30 CPU loads the server A: 30 mail sender confirmation program and the mail reception confirmation program into the memory of the server A: 30. By executing the function, a computer function capable of the mail sender confirmation process and the mail reception confirmation process of the present invention is realized. The CPU of each server is an arithmetic processing device mounted on a normal computer, and can execute various programs and perform various controls.

  The identifier creating means creates an identifier based on the system time using the clock function of the server A: 30. For example, it is created by a combination of symbols and alphanumeric characters such as “{LAwg6nT}” and “0627su1i2xqu”. By combining date data and a unique key generated based on the system time of the server A: 30, the date data is automatically created so as not to overlap with other identifiers stored in the database of the server C: 50. In the present embodiment, the identifier to be included in the subject name and text is created within nine characters. In the communication device 10, there is a possibility that the subject name and text of the received mail have a character limit, but if it is within nine characters, the identifier is received without being cut off.

  The identifier / address collation judging means accesses the server C: 50, and receives the character data included in the subject, body and destination mail address of the received mail as all the identifiers stored in the database of the server C: 50. Check to see if they match.

  The reply destination mail address creating means creates a mail address by combining the identifier created by the identifier creating means with predetermined character data. For example, for a certain type of mass mail, the domain is “aaa.aa.jp”, a reply mail address is created at the beginning of the mail account with “news-”, and it is created for one mass mail. If the identifier is "0627su1i2xqu", combine these to automatically create an email address of "news-0627su1i2xqu@aaa.aa.jp", and if the identifier created for another mass email is "0629k6smtduud" By combining these, an email address "news-0629k6smtduud@aaa.aa.jp" is automatically created.

  Each of the server A: 30 and the server B: 40 can have a plurality of mail accounts. The server A: 30 and the server B: 40 can have different domains.

  In the present embodiment, the server A: 30 has (1) first communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the communication device 10, (2) second communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the server B: 40, and (3 ) Third communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from server C: 50; (4) identifier creation means for creating a unique identifier; and (5) server C: 50. An identifier / address collation determining means for searching whether the identifier matches the identifier stored in 50 and determining whether or not the mail is from a specific mail address, and (6) a reply destination for creating a reply destination mail address. Mail address creating means, (7) mail creating means for automatically creating mail, and (8) mail transmission command means for issuing a simultaneous mail sending command to the server B: 40 are provided. The server A: 30 functions as means (1), (3) to (5), (7) by the hardware configuration and the mail sender confirmation program described above. The server A: 30 functions as the means (1) to (8) by the hardware configuration and the mail reception confirmation program described above.

  The server B: 40 includes a first communication unit that transmits / receives data to / from the communication device 10, a second communication unit that transmits / receives data to / from the server A: 30, and a third unit that transmits / receives data to / from the server C: 50. Communication means. The server B: 40 functions as a mail transmission means in accordance with the command from the server A: 30 with the above-described hardware configuration. The server C: 50 is provided with a first communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the server A: 30, a second communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the server B: 40, and a database. The server C: 50 functions as a data storage / accumulation unit according to a command from the server A: 30 with the above-described hardware configuration.

{procedure}
The mail transmission source confirmation method of the present embodiment is received by a server consisting of a server group including a server having a mail transmission unit and a mail reception unit, and a server having a database storing a mail address and an identifier. (1) The server generates a unique identifier for a received email, and the identifier and the sender email address of the received email are mutually connected. An identifier transmission step of creating a confirmation mail including the identifier, storing the associated information, and returning the confirmation mail to the transmission source mail address of the received mail; and (2) the server transmitting the identifier The mail received after the process is searched for whether or not the same identifier as the identifier stored in the database is included. Mail address stored in association with the identifier included in the Le is intended to include re-receiving mail analyzing step of determining whether to match the sender mail address of the mail thus received.

  The mail reception confirmation method of the present embodiment includes a mail transmission function and a mail having a database in which the content of the transmitted mail, the identifier, and one or a plurality of recipient mail addresses are stored in association with each other, a mail transmission function, and a mail reception function. A server consisting of a server group including a server having a reception function, a server having a database function, and one or a plurality of servers having a mail transmission function and not having a mail reception function has received the transmitted mail at a specific mail address. (1) The server generates a unique identifier for the transmitted mail content data stored in the database, and generates a mail address including the identifier as a reply destination mail address. The identifier and the transmitted mail content data are associated with each other and stored in the database. And (2) the server sets the mail address generated in the reply address setting process as a reply destination, and the mail address stored in the database in association with the transmitted mail content data is the recipient. A mail transmission step of setting the mail address and transmitting the transmitted mail content data; and (3) the server receives the mail, and the destination mail address of the received mail includes the identifier stored in the database. And a mail reception confirmation step of determining whether or not the mail address stored in association with the identifier includes the mail address of the mail.

  FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the first embodiment of the mail source confirmation method and mail reception confirmation method of the present invention. The identifiers are shown separately for each role, such as a registration request confirmation identifier, a distribution request confirmation identifier, and a reception confirmation identifier.

  A communication device of a general user transmits a registration mail (registration request mail) to the server. The server receives the registration request mail. An identifier for confirmation of the registration requester (registration request confirmation identifier) is generated, and a confirmation mail to which the identifier is added is returned to the communication device of the general user.

  The communication device of the general user receives the confirmation mail. The communication device of the general user transmits a reply mail to the confirmation mail to the server. The server receives the reply mail. The server determines whether or not the above-mentioned registration request confirmation identifier is included in the reply mail. If not included, the server discards the mail and ends the process. When the server authenticates that the registration request confirmation identifier described above is included, the server registers the sender and transmits a sender authentication completion notification mail to the communication device of the general user. The communication device of the general user receives a completion notification mail. This completes the delivery destination registration process.

  The administrator's communication device transmits a simultaneous delivery mail (delivery request mail) to the server. The server receives the distribution request mail. The server generates an identifier for confirming the distribution requester (distribution request confirmation identifier), and returns a confirmation mail with the identifier to the administrator's communication device.

  The administrator's communication device receives the confirmation mail. The administrator's communication device transmits a reply mail to the confirmation mail to the server. The server receives the reply mail. The server determines whether the reply mail includes the above-described distribution request confirmation identifier. If not included, the server discards the mail and ends the process. If the server authenticates that the above distribution request confirmation identifier is included, the server proceeds to the distribution confirmation process. This completes the delivery destination registration process.

  If the server authenticates that the above-mentioned delivery request confirmation identifier is included, it generates a unique identifier (reception confirmation identifier) for each mail to be delivered, and automatically generates a reply mail address including the reception confirmation identifier. Then, this is set as a reply destination, and the distribution mail is distributed to each registered communication device of the general user. The communication device of the general user receives the distribution mail. A transmission completion notification is transmitted to the administrator's communication device. The administrator's communication device receives the transmission completion notification. The communication device of the general user transmits a reception confirmation mail as a reply to the delivery mail to the server. The server receives the receipt confirmation email and determines whether the sender of the receipt confirmation email is the sender registered for the return address of the receipt confirmation email (destination email address). Is discarded and the process is terminated. If the server is registered, the mail reception confirmation is completed. This completes the delivery confirmation process.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing in the server in the first embodiment of the mail source confirmation method and mail reception confirmation method of the present invention. The mail transmission source confirmation program and the mail reception confirmation program cause the computer to execute the following steps. The delivery source mail address is stored in a database in the server C: 50.

  (Step 101) When the server A: 30 receives the mail from the communication device 10, the address type determination means determines whether the received address of the received mail is the mail address for accepting the mail registration request or the confirmation mail reply for accepting the mail. It is determined whether it is an email address, an email address for accepting an email delivery request, an email address for accepting an email delivery confirmation reply, or an email address for accepting a simultaneous delivery email reply. For example, the email address for accepting email registration requests contains “entry”, the email address for accepting confirmation emails contains “confirm”, and the email address for accepting email delivery requests contains “send”. The e-mail address for accepting mail delivery confirmation reply includes “adm_conf”, and the e-mail address for simultaneous delivery e-mail reply acceptance includes “xxrtn”.

  If the e-mail address is for accepting a registration request, a program for executing steps 201 to 205 is started from the e-mail sender confirmation program. If it is an e-mail address for accepting a confirmation e-mail reply, a program for executing steps 301 to 305 is started from the e-mail sender confirmation program. If it is an e-mail address for accepting an e-mail delivery request, a program for executing steps 401 to 406 is started from the e-mail sender confirmation program, and the process proceeds to step 401 first. If it is the mail address for accepting the mail delivery confirmation reply, the program for executing Steps 501 to 503 is started from the mail sender confirmation program, and the process proceeds to Step 501 first. Of the mail address mail reception confirmation program for accepting reply to the simultaneous delivery mail, a program for executing Steps 601 to 605 is started, and the process proceeds to Step 601 first.

  A combination of steps 202 to 205, which is an identifier transmission process, and steps 302 to 303, which is a re-received mail analysis process, is one sender confirmation process. Also, steps 403 to 406, which are identifier transmission processes, and steps 502 to 503, which are re-received mail analysis processes, are combined into one transmission source confirmation process. Steps 504 to 505 as a reply address setting process, step 506 as a mail transmission process, and steps 602 to 603 as a mail reception confirmation process are combined into one reception confirmation process.

  (Step 201) The server A: 30 determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the received mail. If there is an abnormality, the server A: 30 discards the mail and terminates the process. Mail with “abnormal” includes mail that is suspected of being virus mail or spam mail, for example, mail having a larger file size than necessary or mail including an attached file.

  (Step 202) The server A: 30 creates an identifier for registration request confirmation by the identifier creating means.

  (Step 203) The server A: 30 sends the data of the sender mail address (registration request sender mail address) of the received mail and the data of the created registration request confirmation identifier to the server C: 50. Are stored in a database in the server C: 50 in association with each other.

  (Step 204) The server A: 30 creates a confirmation mail by using the mail creation means, putting the registration request confirmation identifier in the subject and body of the mail, and using the received mail address as the destination. In this embodiment, identifiers are entered in both the subject and text, but identifiers may be entered in either the subject or text. In this embodiment, the mail address in the server including “confirm” is set as the reply mail address of the confirmation mail.

  (Step 205) The server A: 30 transmits a confirmation mail to the communication device 10 and ends the process.

  (Step 301) The server A: 30 determines whether or not there is any abnormality in the received mail. If there is an abnormality, the server discards the mail and terminates the process. If there is no abnormality, the process proceeds to Step 302.

  (Step 302) The server A: 30 determines whether the identifier registered in the text or subject of the received mail is included by the identifier / address verification determination means. Specifically, the server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50 and confirms whether the subject or part of the text of the received mail matches the identifier stored in the database. If it matches the stored identifier, the process proceeds to step 303. If they do not match, the mail is discarded and the process is terminated.

  (Step 303) Server A: 30 determines whether the received mail is from a registered mail address by means of the identifier / address collation determination means. Specifically, the server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50, and stores the mail address (registration request sender mail address) stored in association with the identifier (registration request confirmation identifier) matched in step 302. Check if the source email address of the received email matches. If the mail addresses match, the process proceeds to step 304. If they do not match, the mail is discarded and the process is terminated.

  (Step 304) The server A: 30 creates data of the sender confirmation information, and the server C: 50 sends the confirmation information of the sender that has been created to the data of the registration request sender mail address that has been confirmed to match in the step 303. The data is associated with each other and stored in the database in the server C: 50, and the registration request transmission source mail address associated with the transmission source confirmation information data is stored in the database in the server C: 50 as the distribution destination mail address. Further, the delivery destination email addresses having the same email address that received the delivery registration request email are stored together in one email address list table.

  (Step 305) The server A: 30 transmits a sender authentication completion notification mail to the communication device 10 and ends the processing.

  (Step 401) The server A: 30 determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the received mail. If there is an abnormality, the server A: 30 discards the mail and terminates the process.

  (Step 402) Server A: 30 determines whether or not the transmission source mail address of the received mail is a registered distribution source mail address by the identifier / address collation determination means. More specifically, the server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50, and confirms whether or not the distribution source mail address stored in the database matches the transmission source mail address of the received mail. If the mail addresses match, the process proceeds to step 403. If they do not match, the mail is discarded and the process is terminated.

  (Step 403) The server A: 30 creates an identifier for confirming the distribution request by the identifier creating means.

  (Step 404) Server A: 30 sends to server C: 50 the data of the source mail address of the received mail (distribution request transmission source mail address), the data of the created distribution request confirmation identifier and the mail of the received mail. The content data is transmitted and associated with each other and stored in the database in the server C: 50.

  (Step 405) The server A: 30 creates a mail delivery confirmation mail by using the mail creation means, putting a delivery request confirmation identifier in the subject and body of the mail, and using the sender mail address of the received mail as the destination. In this embodiment, identifiers are entered in both the subject and text, but identifiers may be entered in either the subject or text. In this embodiment, the mail address in the server including “adm_conf” is set as the reply destination mail address of the mail delivery confirmation mail.

  (Step 406) The server A: 30 transmits a mail delivery confirmation mail to the communication device 10 and ends the process.

  (Step 501) The server A: 30 determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the received mail. If there is an abnormality, the server discards the mail and terminates the process.

  (Step 502) The server A: 30 determines whether the identifier registered in the text or subject of the received mail is included by the identifier / address verification determination means. Specifically, the server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50 and confirms whether the subject or part of the text of the received mail matches the identifier stored in the database. If the identifier matches the stored identifier, the process proceeds to step 503. If they do not match, the mail is discarded and the process is terminated.

  (Step 503) The server A: 30 determines whether the received mail is from a registered mail address by means of the identifier / address collation determination means. Specifically, the server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50, and stores the mail address (distribution request sender mail address) stored in association with the identifier (distribution request confirmation identifier) matched in step 502. Check if the source email address of the received email matches. When the mail addresses match, a program for executing Steps 504 to 507 is started from the mail reception confirmation program, and the process proceeds to Step 504. If they do not match, the mail is discarded and the process is terminated.

  (Step 504) The server A: 30 creates a reception confirmation identifier by the identifier creation means. The server A: 30 generates a reply destination email address including a reception confirmation identifier by the reply destination email address creation means. In the present embodiment, a mail address including “xxrtn” in addition to the identifier is set.

  (Step 505) The server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50 and associates the created reception confirmation identifier data with the data of the mail contents stored in step 404 and the distribution request sender mail address in the database. In addition to storing, the destination mail addresses collectively stored in one mail address list table are also stored in association with each other.

  (Step 506) The server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50 and calls the data of the mail contents stored in association with the data of the reception confirmation identifier and the data of the delivery destination mail address. Server A: 30 creates a delivery mail by mail creation means with the data of the mail content as the text, the reply destination as the reply destination email address created in step 504, and the destination as the delivery destination email address. The server A: 30 transmits a delivery mail to the communication device 10. In the present embodiment, in order to prevent misunderstanding as spam mail, the mails are distributed not at the same time but at a time difference to different mail accounts in the same domain.

  (Step 507) The server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50 and calls the data of the distribution request transmission source mail address stored in association with the data of the reception confirmation identifier. The server A: 30 creates a completion notification email by using the email creation means with the destination as the delivery request sender email address. The server A: 30 transmits a completion notification mail to the communication device 10 and ends the process.

  (Step 601) The server A: 30 determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the received mail. If there is an abnormality, the server A: 30 discards the mail and terminates the process, and if there is no abnormality, proceeds to Step 602.

  (Step 602) The server A: 30 determines whether the identifier registered in the mail address of the received mail is included by the identifier / address collation determination means. Specifically, the server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50 and confirms whether a part of the mail address of the received mail matches the identifier stored in the database. If it matches the stored identifier, the process proceeds to step 603. If they do not match, the mail is discarded and the process is terminated.

  (Step 603) The server A: 30 determines whether or not the received mail is from a registered mail address by means of the identifier / address collation determination means. Specifically, the server A: 30 accesses the server C: 50, and stores the delivery destination mail address stored in association with the identifier (reception confirmation identifier) matched in step 602, and the sender of the received mail Check if the email addresses match. If the mail addresses match, the process proceeds to step 604. If they do not match, the mail is discarded and the process is terminated.

  (Step 604) The server A: 30 creates the data of the reception confirmation information, accesses the server C: 50, stores the data of the reception confirmation information in association with the stored delivery destination mail address, and stores the data. finish.

  After step 604, the following steps may be performed in order to notify the reception completion status after confirming the transmission source in response to a request from the communication device 10 of the administrator.

  Server A: 30 is provided with a mail address for receiving a mail reception confirmation and a mail address for receiving a simultaneous mail reception confirmation. In step 101, a mail address for receiving a mail reception confirmation or a mail reception confirmation reply is received. Also determine if it is addressed to an email address

  When addressing to a mail address for acceptance confirmation of simultaneous mail reception, in the same manner as steps 401 to 406, another identifier is created, and a reply destination is set as a mail address for reply receipt of mail reception confirmation. send mail.

  When it is addressed to a mail address for accepting a mail reception confirmation reply, it is confirmed that the source mail address matches in the same manner as steps 501 to 503. However, when the mail addresses match, the server A: 30 performs the simultaneous distribution by the mail creation means, including the transmission destination mail address associated with the data of the reception confirmation information in the body, with the transmission source mail address as the destination. Create a completion notification email. The server A: 30 transmits a simultaneous delivery completion notification mail to the communication device 10 and ends the process.

  It should be noted that when the registration request sender email address is stored in the step 203, the name or attribute is included in the registration request sender email address. When it is stored in association and stored as a delivery destination e-mail address in step 304, name data and various attribute data are also stored in association with each other, and the delivery notification e-mail created in step 605 is sent to the delivery destination e-mail. Instead of the address, name data and various attribute data may be included in the text. Attributes include, for example, class names and numbers. A nickname or the like may be used instead of the name.

  Also, on the site where the administrator can browse by ID and password authentication instead of sending the notification email of the completion of simultaneous delivery to the delivery request sender email address, the delivery destination email address list table together with the data of the reception confirmation information May be displayed. Name data and data of various attributes may be displayed instead of the distribution destination mail address.

{effect}
By checking the re-received mail, you can check the mail address that sent the mail received by the server, so you can change the mail address of many mails without letting the user access the site only by sending and receiving mail. You can check using only the send / receive function. Therefore, it is possible to prevent registration by impersonating another person. Servers specialized for functions are combined, so a server group with high processing capacity can be realized as a whole, and even if there are a large number of emails to check the sender, the sender can be checked efficiently In addition, even if the number of emails to be confirmed is large, it is possible to efficiently confirm the receipt of emails. Further, since the server B: 40 that transmits the simultaneous mail does not receive the mail, it is possible to prevent the mail transmission from being hindered by the spam mail attack or the like, or the server that transmits the mail from going down.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to confirm that the mail sent by the server has been received at a specific mail address by judging the received mail, so centralized access such as during a disaster is expected without allowing the user to access the site. Even in an emergency, it is possible to confirm that the sent email has been received by each user's email address using only the email send / receive function. It is also possible to confirm the safety at the time of disaster and the completion of transmission of school communication items, etc. for the user of the registrant mail address stored in the server in advance.

  According to the present embodiment, the simultaneous delivery processing of mail is performed from the registration of the delivery destination to the delivery and delivery reception confirmation only by sending and receiving mail with the communication device of the administrator user and the communication device of the user who wants to deliver. Can do. When registering an e-mail address and distributing a mass e-mail, check that the registered e-mail address matches the e-mail address of the user you are trying to register by sending and receiving e-mail without accessing the site. It is possible to confirm whether or not the mail delivered to the received mail address has been received by the registered user's mail address by sending and receiving mail without accessing the site.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, confirmation of the mail transmission source and confirmation of mail reception can be performed only by mail transmission / reception operations. As a result, the necessity and restriction of site access that have been conventionally required are eliminated. Further, according to the present embodiment, it can be expected that the number of reception confirmations that can be processed at a time is dramatically increased as compared with the conventional method that requires site access. Therefore, it can be expected that the reception confirmation process will continue to function even during centralized access such as during a disaster.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, the constituent elements of the above embodiments can be arbitrarily combined without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions used in Example 1 of the mail transmission origin confirmation method of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of Example 1 of the mail transmission source confirmation method and mail reception confirmation method of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the server in Example 1 of the mail transmission origin confirmation method and mail reception confirmation method of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Communication device 20 Communication network 30 Server A
40 Server B
50 Server C

Claims (4)

A server having a database storing mail addresses and identifiers, and having a mail transmission means and a mail reception means, is a method for confirming the mail address of the source of the received mail,
The server generates a unique identifier for the received mail, stores the identifier and the source mail address of the received mail in association with each other in the database, and creates a confirmation mail including the identifier An identifier sending step of returning the confirmation email to the sender email address of the received email;
The server searches the mail received after the identifier sending step to determine whether the same identifier as the identifier stored in the database is included, and the mail address stored in association with the identifier included in the received mail is: And a re-received mail analyzing step for determining whether the received mail matches the sender mail address of the received mail. 2. The mail sender confirmation according to claim 1, wherein the server is a server group including one or more servers having mail sending means and mail receiving means and one or more servers having a database. Method. Method of confirming that transmitted mail is received at a specific mail address by a server having a database in which transmitted mail content data, an identifier, and a mail address are stored in association with each other and having mail transmitting means and mail receiving means Because
The server generates a unique identifier for the transmitted mail content data stored in the database, generates a mail address including the identifier as a reply mail address, and sends the identifier and the transmitted mail content data. A reply address setting step for storing them in the database in association with each other;
The server sets the mail address generated in the reply address setting step as a reply destination, sets the mail address stored in the database in association with the transmitted mail content data as the recipient mail address, and sends the mail content An email sending process for sending data;
The server receives a mail, searches whether the destination mail address of the received mail includes the identifier stored in the database, and sends the mail to the mail address stored in association with the identifier. A mail reception confirmation method comprising: a mail reception confirmation step of determining whether or not an email address is included. 4. The mail according to claim 3, wherein the server is a server group including one or more servers having mail sending means and mail receiving means and one or more servers having identifier storage means. Receipt confirmation method.

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