JP3247668B2 - E-mail management device and e-mail management method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, an electronic mail server for transmitting and receiving electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a general electronic mail server / client system. In FIG.
Denotes an e-mail server device (hereinafter, the e-mail server device is also referred to as a server), 102 denotes a network connecting the e-mail server device and the client, or a network connecting to an external network.
3-1, 103-2, 103-3, and 103-4 denote client devices (hereinafter, client devices are also referred to as clients) used by users to access e-mail stored on the e-mail server device; 1
03 denotes a client device group.

FIG. 10 is a module configuration diagram of the electronic mail server device 101 in FIG. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 201 denotes a hard disk device for storing an e-mail on a server, and 202 denotes an e-mail to be transmitted to an external network or an e-mail coming from an external network distributed to each user. A mail sending / receiving device stored in the hard disk device 201.

[0004] 203 is a computer that the user calls on the server or client, often a POP3
("POP" stands for post office protocol
ol, which is a protocol for a mail client to access a mail server to obtain an e-mail) by accessing a hard disk device storing the e-mail, and A mail copy device for users that copies emails from the server to the client and deletes or leaves the emails on the server's hard disk device depending on the user's specification. Read email.

[0005] Reference numeral 204 denotes a user mail management device that manages the hard disk device 201 on the server so that the capacity of the disk device does not overflow, and erases the user's electronic mail in some cases.

In a system configuration as shown in FIG. 9 and a module configuration as shown in FIG. 10, even if many users' clients are connected to the server, the electronic mail is copied to the client and deleted from the server. The operation is repeated. As long as you do this,
The e-mail on the server is only temporary, and the consumption of the disk device capacity increases temporarily but not gradually.

However, if the user does not access the e-mail or sets to leave the e-mail on the server, the capacity of the disk device is gradually consumed, and over time, the e-mail on the server is lost. The disk device capacity will overflow.

[0008] As a solution, the Internet provider or the like, in the user mail management device 204,
Methods such as limiting the number of emails that can be stored on the server for each user, limiting the disk device used to store emails, and limiting the length of time emails can be stored Take.

[0009] Alternatively, as described in JP-A-8-335951 and JP-A-10-262078, when a problem occurs that data cannot be actually received, a method of deleting an e-mail according to a certain algorithm may be used. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 6-164636, means has been proposed in which an area for each individual is determined, and expandability of the area size is provided there.

However, when an e-mail server is operated in a small office or the like, the number of e-mails to be stored is generally limited, and the number of e-mails to be stored is generally limited because of the small number of e-mails. In the case of quotas or erasing emails after a certain period of time, the amount of disk space required to store emails is equal to the disk space required for each user x the number of users. Required. Therefore, there is a problem that the disk device cannot be used efficiently.

[0011]

As described above, in the conventional apparatus for managing e-mail, if the user does not access the e-mail or sets the e-mail to be left on the server, There is a problem that the capacity of the disk device is gradually consumed, and after a lapse of time, the capacity of the disk device on the server overflows. In addition, when operating an e-mail server at a small office or the like, the number of e-mails to be stored is generally limited due to the small number of e-mails, and the capacity of disk devices used to store e-mails is limited. However, in the method of erasing mail after a certain period of time, the disk space prepared for storing mail is the disk space required for each user × the disk space of the number of users, which requires a huge amount of space. There is a problem that the disk device cannot be used efficiently.

[0012] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to use the disk device efficiently with the required disk device capacity on average, to store e-mail as long as possible, It is an object of the present invention to realize an e-mail management device and an e-mail management method that can be operated without any trouble for a server.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, at least
Also connects one client, and the connected client
An email management device that sends and receives emails to and from
A mail storage unit for storing an e-mail, and the mail storage
And use status acquisition unit usage obtaining parts, the use form
Based on the usage status acquired by the status acquisition unit.
Alert email that sends alert emails to connected clients
The warning sent by the transmitter and the warning mail transmitter
Warning mail holding unit that holds mail and the above warning mail
Retrieves and decodes warning emails stored in the storage
At the time when the warning mail was sent.
The usage status is determined, and the usage status determined above and the above
Compare the usage status acquired by the usage status acquisition unit.
Check whether the usage status of the mail storage unit has been improved.
And the use situation confirmation part for sure, sure by the usage checking unit
A warning that updates the above warning mail storage unit based on the recognition result
Confirmation results by the notification mail update section and the above usage status confirmation section
The electronic mail stored in the mail storage unit based on the
Search and delete emails with specified conditions from the email
And a warning mail storage unit.
The above warning e-mail has at least a warning e-mail sent
And information stored in the mail storage unit.
Have e-mail sent at least
Information about the date of the sent email and the date of the email received
It has a Zureka, the mail deletion unit, the warning e-mail retention
Of the above warning mail from the warning mail held in
Obtain the sending date information and send the sending date information of the above e-mail
Compare with one of the above e-mail reception date information
And the above e-mail
Either the sending date information of the above or the receiving date information of the above e-mail
One of the past e-mails is sent to the e-mail
It is special to delete from the above mail storage as mail.
Sign.

[0014]

[0015]

At least one client according to the invention
Connect the client and connect the client and the email
The sending and receiving e-mail management device stores the e-mail
And the usage status of the mail storage unit.
And use status acquisition unit which Tokusuru, based on the usage acquired by the usage status acquisition unit, and the warning mail transmitting unit for transmitting a warning mail to the client that the connection, the warning
Holds warning mail sent by notification mail sending unit
The warning mail holder and the warning mail holder
Take out the warning mail that is
Determine the status of use of the above mail storage unit at the time of receipt
The usage status determined above and the usage status
Compare with the usage status obtained from
Use status check to confirm whether the use status of the department has been improved
And parts, based on the check result by the usage confirmation unit,
A warning mail updating unit for updating the warning mail holding unit;
For e-mail stored in the mail storage unit
When access is made from the above clients,
At least the client showing the client who accessed the above
Date information and access date information indicating the date of access
And access history information to keep access history information
Unit and client information from the access history holding unit.
Get access date information and send the above warning email
Information and the access date information obtained above, and
Access date information is later than the
From the access history holding unit, and
Indicated by the client information in the access history information
The mail to the client
And a mail deletion unit for searching and deleting
And

At least one client of the invention
To send and receive e-mail with the connected client
The e-mail management method of the e-mail management device that performs communication
E-mail storage step of storing an e-mail in an e-mail storage unit
And the usage status information to obtain the usage status of the mail storage
Use process obtained in the obtaining process and the above use status obtaining process
Alert mail to the connected client based on the situation
And a warning mail transmission step of transmitting the, the warning e-mail transmission
Warning mail sent by the process to the warning mail holding unit
Warning mail holding process to be held and the above warning mail holding unit
Retrieve and decrypt the warning email held in
Usage status of the above mail storage unit when the mail was sent
And the usage status determined above and the usage status described above
Compare the usage status acquired in the acquisition process with the
That the usage status of the rule storage has been improved
Confirmed by the usage status confirmation process and the above usage status confirmation process
Updates the warning mail storage unit based on the
Warning email update process and the above usage status confirmation process
Based on the confirmed result, it is stored in the mail storage unit.
Search emails of specified condition from emails
And an e-mail deletion step of deleting the e- mail
The above warning mail held in the holding unit is at least
It has the sending date information when the warning mail was sent, and the above mail
The e-mail stored in the storage unit is at least electronic
The date the mail was sent and the e-mail are received
E-mail deletion process that has any of the received date information
Is the warning mail stored in the warning mail storage unit
Obtain the sending date information of the above warning mail from the
E-mail sending date information and e-mail receiving date information
Compare the warning date to the date of the warning email.
The sending date information of the above e-mail and the receiving of the above e-mail
E-mail with past date of one of
As an e-mail of the serial predetermined condition, the mail storage unit
And deletes them.

[0018]

At least one client according to the invention
Connect the client and connect the client and the email
E-mail management method of e-mail management device for sending and receiving
Is a mail storage system that stores e-mails in the mail storage unit.
And the usage status of the mail storage unit that stores the e-mail
Use status acquisition process to be acquired
Based on the usage status obtained
And a warning e-mail transmission process for transmitting a warning e-mail to the cement, above
Warning mail sent by the warning mail sending process
A warning mail holding step of holding the tell mail holding unit, the
Retrieve the warning mail held in the warning mail holding unit
The above e-mail at the time when the above e-mail was sent after decryption
The usage status of the storage unit is determined, and the usage status determined above is determined.
And the usage status obtained in the above usage status obtaining step
In comparison, the use status of the mail storage unit has been improved.
And the use status confirmation process to verify that, the use-like況確
Warning message based on the results confirmed by the
Warning mail update process to update the file holding unit and the above mail
The above client responds to the e-mail stored in the storage
If access is made by an ant, at least
Client information indicating the accessed client;
Access date information indicating the date of access
Access history stored in the access history
From the access history holding unit and the access history holding unit.
Client information and access date information, and
Of the sending date information of the
In comparison, the access date information is
The later access history information is stored in the access history
Client information of the acquired access history information.
Email to the client indicated by the
Mail deletion process for searching and deleting from the mail storage unit.
It is characterized by doing.

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 1 shows an embodiment of an electronic mail management apparatus according to the present invention and an electronic mail server and a client system in which the electronic mail management apparatus is incorporated as a component. The system environment in which the e-mail management device according to the first embodiment operates is the same as that in FIG. 9 described in the conventional example.

It is assumed that the e-mail management device according to the first embodiment is provided in the e-mail server device 101 shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of an e-mail management device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, an e-mail management device 1 includes a hard disk device 2 and a module 8 of the e-mail management device. The hard disk device 2 includes a mail storage unit 3 for storing electronic mail,
A warning mail holding unit 4 for holding a warning mail, and an access history holding unit 5 for holding access information on access to the mail storage unit 3 from a client. The module 8 of the electronic mail management device includes a usage status acquisition unit 10 for acquiring the usage status of the email storage unit 3.
A warning mail transmitting unit 12 for transmitting a warning mail to the client; a mail storage unit at the time when the use status acquired by the use status acquisition unit 10 and the warning mail held in the warning mail holding unit 4 are transmitted. The usage status confirmation unit 14 that compares the usage status of the email storage unit to determine whether the usage status of the email storage unit has been improved, the warning email update unit 16 that updates the alert email storage unit 4, and the email storage unit 3. A mail deletion unit 18 for deleting e-mails of predetermined conditions from e-mails stored in the e-mail, a mail deletion condition changing unit 20 for changing e-mail conditions to be deleted by the e-mail deletion unit 18, and a warning e-mail holding unit A warning mail discarding unit 2 for discarding the warning mail held in 4 under a predetermined condition
4 Further, the e-mail management device 1 connects the client 1 90, the client 2 91, and the client 3 92 via the communication line 100. The client 190, the client 2 91, and the client 3 92 correspond to the client device group 103 in FIG. 9, and the communication line 100 corresponds to the network 102 in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electronic mail management device shown in FIG.

The algorithm of the operation shown in FIG. 2 is arranged on an e-mail server device or a computer accessible to the e-mail server device.
It is automatically operated periodically using a function of crontab supported as standard on the X (registered trademark) OS, that is, a function of starting a designated program at a designated time.

Alternatively, the operation may be manually started at irregular intervals without being operated periodically.

In the flowchart of FIG. 2, in the use status acquisition step of step S301, the usage status acquisition unit 10 uses the capacity of all the disk devices used by the e-mail server device to store the email (the capacity of the email storage unit 3). ) Is calculated, and step S3 of the usage status acquisition process is performed.
In step 02, the usage status acquisition unit 10 calculates the usage of the disk device actually storing the e-mail (the actually used capacity of the email storage unit 3).

In step S301, for example, the UNIX system O
In step S, the approximate calculation is performed using a standard supported df command or du command ("df" is a command for checking and displaying free disk space, and "du" is a command for checking and displaying disk device usage). In step S302, the calculation is performed by summing the file sizes of the mail spool of each user. Step S30
In step 1 and step S302, the used amount is calculated in the form of a number of bytes. Alternatively, the usage rate may be calculated in any form.

Step S303 is a use status confirmation step, in which the warning mail held in the warning mail holding unit 4 is accessed, and the warning mail transmitted last time is taken out.

The warning mail is composed of, for example, information indicating that when the disk capacity of the mail storage unit 3 exceeds what percentage of the usage rate, the warning mail was transmitted.

Also, the warning mail contains not the usage rate but
It may include information on the usage amount of the mail storage unit 3 and information on the number of times a warning mail has been sent.

In step S304 of the use status confirmation process, an example will be described in which information on the number of transmissions is included in a warning mail. Here, it is assumed that a warning mail is transmitted in multiple stages according to the disk usage. If the number of transmissions is included in the warning mail, the usage status confirmation unit 14
Knowing the number of warning emails that have already been sent, determine the number of times and the corresponding disk space, and check whether the actual disk usage exceeds the disk space at the next stage of the calculated disk space. To check.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, it is assumed that the first warning mail is transmitted when it exceeds 50% of the total disk capacity, and the second warning mail is transmitted when it exceeds 70% of the total disk capacity. I want to make a call when I was there. In step S304, the usage status confirmation unit 14 confirms the contents of the warning mail held in the warning mail holding unit 4.
For example, if one warning mail is held in the warning mail holding unit 4, since the first warning mail has been issued, the usage status checking unit 14 determines the time when the first warning mail was transmitted. It can be determined that the usage status of the mail storage unit 3 exceeds 50%. For this reason, the usage status confirmation unit 14 confirms whether or not the usage of the mail storage unit 3 exceeds 70% in order to confirm whether or not to transmit the second warning mail. If no warning mail is stored in the warning mail holding unit 4, it means that no warning mail has been transmitted. For this reason, the usage status confirmation unit 14 determines that the usage amount of the mail storage unit 3 acquired by the usage status acquisition unit 10 is 50
Then, it is determined whether or not the first warning mail should be sent by comparing whether or not the number exceeds%.

In the comparison in step S304, the usage rate of the mail storage unit is compared, but the usage amount of the mail storage unit 3 may be compared. In this case, it is desirable that the usage status of the mail storage unit 3 obtained by the usage status obtaining unit 10 is the usage amount. Also, 50% in the warning email
Not the message that it is over 70%,
It is preferable that the warning mail includes the used amount of the number of bytes exceeding in the warning mail as shown in FIG. FIG.
In the warning mail of (b), since the used amount has exceeded 500 Kbytes, the message is set to 500 Kbytes. For example, in the case of 1 Mbyte, the message is larger than 1 Mbyte. The message contains a number of bytes based on actual usage. Also, what percentage of usage rate is used instead of whether to send the first and second warning emails
If a warning mail indicating that the number exceeds the limit is sent, the result is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3C, the value is 50%, but a value of what percentage based on the actual usage rate is transmitted as a message.

As a result of the comparison in step S304, if it is determined that the value does not exceed the value, that is, it is not necessary to transmit the warning mail, the process proceeds to FIG. If it is determined, proceed to FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a case where it is determined by comparison of step S304 in FIG. 2 that the disk capacity has not been used enough to proceed to the next stage. Thus, it is determined whether the use status of the mail storage unit 3 has been improved.

For example, the first warning mail is transmitted because the usage rate exceeds 50%. Therefore, in step S401, if the usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 is smaller than 50%, it can be determined that the mail storage unit 3 has been improved. Here, if the usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 is lower than, for example, 40%, it is determined that the mail storage unit 3 has been improved.
Branch toward

If the usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 obtained by the usage status obtaining unit 10 is more than 40% and less than 50%, the usage of the mail storage unit will be longer than when the first warning mail was sent. It can be determined that the rate has improved. However, in order to provide a margin for the usage rate of the mail storage unit 3, it is determined that the improvement has not been made in the example of the first embodiment, and in step S 401, the process branches to “more” and the warning mail storage unit 4 The warning mail transmitted for the first time is kept as it is, and the process is terminated.

For example, when the usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 obtained by the usage status obtaining unit 10 is less than 40%, it is determined that the usage status checking unit 14 has been improved, and the “low” one is determined in step S401. Branch to step S40
The warning mail update unit 16 is executed by the warning mail update process of 2.
Deletes the first warning mail so that no warning mail was sent to the warning mail holding unit 4,
The warning mail holding unit 4 is updated. Then, the process ends as there is no warning.

Warning mail update unit 16 in step S401
When the update of the warning mail holding unit 4 is a second warning or a third warning, the warning mail updating unit 16 is held in the warning mail holding unit 4 if it has been improved. The user may delete at least one warning mail and return to the state where the previous warning mail was transmitted, or delete all warning mails if the warning mail has been significantly improved.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart in the case where the amount of the used disk device increases as the next step proceeds in the comparison of step S304 in FIG.

In step S501, it is determined whether a warning mail should be further transmitted to the client, or an electronic mail satisfying a predetermined condition should be selected from the electronic mails stored in the mail storage unit 3 and deleted from the disk. to decide.

For example, if there is no warning mail obtained from the warning mail holding unit 4 in step S303, it means that no warning mail has been issued in the past. Therefore, in the first embodiment, in step S501,
This time, it is determined that only a warning email will be sent. If you have already sent a warning email in the past, step S
In 501, it is determined that the capacity of the mail storage unit 3 is not enough, and a process of deleting an electronic mail satisfying a predetermined condition is performed in order to sort the mails stored in the mail storage unit 3.

For example, the disc may be rearranged at the next stage only by issuing a warning once, or the disc may be rearranged at the next stage by issuing a warning twice.

When discs are to be sorted out at the next stage only by giving a warning once, since it has already been determined in step S304 in FIG. 2 that the disc usage has exceeded the number of times of transmission, that is, It can be determined that the warning mail has been sent once, and in step S501, it is determined that the next stage has been reached, and the process proceeds to the flowchart illustrated in FIG.

If it is determined in step S501 that a warning mail is to be sent, a warning mail is sent to all the clients 90 to 92 connected to the electronic mail management apparatus 1 in FIG. ,
It is transmitted by the warning mail transmission unit 12. The warning mail to be transmitted includes a message corresponding to the usage status or usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 or the number of times the warning mail is used, and creates a warning mail.

The client to which the warning mail is sent in step S502 may be all the connected clients, or may be a client of the user who has left the electronic mail in the mail storage unit 3. You may send a warning e-mail.

Further, by utilizing the function described in step S802 in FIG. 8 described below, the date indicated by the access history information of the electronic mail access history information of each user stored in the access history storage unit 5 is set. ,
The warning mail may be transmitted only to the client of the user holding the mail whose mail reception date stored in the mail storage unit 3 is old.

Step S50 as a warning mail holding process
In step 3, the history of the transmission of the warning mail, that is, the information on the date and time of transmission and the number of times the warning mail was transmitted is added to the warning message as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart when it is determined in step S501 in FIG. 5 that it is necessary to arrange the disks.

Step S601 which is a mail deletion process
Then, the mail deletion unit 18 accesses the warning mail holding unit 4 and acquires the date when the first warning mail was transmitted from the first warning mail.

In step S602, the mail deletion unit 18
Extracts the mail that satisfies the following conditions from the date when the first warning mail was transmitted by accessing the mail storage unit 3 and selectively deletes it.

For example, in the information field of the electronic mail, attention is paid to the field "Data:", and the information whose field is older than the date when the first warning mail is transmitted is deleted.

In the case of a UNIX mail server, for example, the mails of each user are stored in one file in the order of arrival, so the search is performed in order from the top of the file, and the date when the first warning mail is transmitted Instead of searching for new mail as it arrives, you can delete the searched mail.

Also, for example, focusing on the field of "Received:", a method may be employed in which the mail with the reception date and time older than the first warning mail is deleted based on the date and time received by the mail server.

Further, for example, instead of applying to all users, the first warning mail may be transmitted, and then only the user accessing the mail storage unit 3 may be applied. Whether or not the mail storage unit 3 is being accessed can be determined by acquiring the access history information from the access history information of the user stored in the access history storage unit 5 shown in step S802 in FIG. it can.

In step S603, the use status obtaining unit 10 checks whether or not the mail stored in the mail storage unit 3 has been selectively deleted, and as a result, whether or not the mail has reached the level at which it is determined to be effective. The total disk capacity of the storage unit 3 is obtained, the disk usage amount of the mail storage unit 3 is obtained in step S604, and the process proceeds to the flowchart illustrated in FIG.

In step S701, it is checked whether the disk capacity of the mail storage unit 3 has been sufficiently deleted.

For example, the usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 is 30%
If you want to delete the mail until you cut off, step S70
The check of whether the disk deletion in 1 is sufficient is to determine whether the usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 has become smaller than 30%. If it is sufficient, the disk usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 is smaller than 30%, and if it is insufficient, it indicates that the disk usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 is 30% or more. ing.

Further, it may be determined whether the usage amount or the usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 has decreased or has not decreased below the standard for sending the first warning e-mail. However, in this case, a warning may be immediately issued again.

In the processing of step S304 of FIG. 2, the disk usage rate of the mail storage
When the number is less than%, it is determined that the usage rate of the mail storage unit 3 has been improved, and one warning mail has been deleted.
In this manner, it may be determined whether the deletion of the disk is sufficient based on the same criterion as that for deleting one warning mail. In addition, although the determination is made based on the usage rate of%, the determination may be made based on the usage amount.

If the deletion is sufficient, step S70
In 2, the warning mail discarding unit 24 deletes all the warning mails held in the warning mail holding unit 4 and ends the processing.

If the criterion for sending the warning mail is set many times, the warning mail is deleted based on the disk usage status and the warning level is returned in step S702. May be deleted and the process terminated.

If the e-mail stored in the mail storage unit 3 has not been sufficiently deleted, the e-mail deletion condition changing unit 20 changes, for example, a reference date for deleting the e-mail in step S703. The above-mentioned reference date is the date when the first warning mail acquired in step S601 in FIG. 6 was transmitted.

The method by which the mail deletion condition changing unit 20 changes the reference date may be, for example, the reference date may be advanced by one day, or if there is a second warning, the reference date may be changed by two.
It does not matter on the day when the second warning is issued. When changing the date on which the second warning was sent to the reference date, the mail deletion condition changing unit 20 obtains the second warning mail from the warning mail holding unit 4 and obtains the date on which the warning mail was sent. .

If the mail deletion condition changing unit 20 changes the reference date, the process proceeds to step S602 in FIG. 6. However, this time, only the reference date has changed, and the processing after step S602 will be described above. The same algorithm works as described.

Further, the mail deletion condition changing unit 20 may change the algorithm, for example, on the basis of the date when the second warning is issued. For example, the reference date may be advanced only for the user who occupies the largest capacity of the mail storage unit 3 and the processing after step S602 may be applied.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for the server to hold the access history information of the user.

In step S801, the user issues a request from the client or the server to access the mail storage unit 3 and read an e-mail.

For example, Windows (registered trademark),
From a UNIX OS client, a commercially available POP
An access request may be made using e-mail software compatible with the third party.

Next, in step S802, when the server receives the access request from the client, the access request is not directly sent to the mail storage unit 3, but, for example, the user name and the date and time are obtained from the access request. It is taken out and stored in the access history holding unit 5 as access history information.

In step S803, step S802
Then, an access request from the client whose access history information is stored in the access history holding unit 5 is sent to the mail storage unit 3 as if it came directly from the client, and the electronic mail is copied to the client. For example, POP3 which is a mail protocol is used. If it is a mail client that supports, it can be used as it is.

The algorithm shown in the flowchart in the first embodiment can be executed efficiently in a time proportional to the number of mails in calculation order.

The access history information stored in the access history holding unit 5 is stored irrespective of the deletion of the electronic mail. The access history information stored in the access history holding unit 5 corresponds to the above-described step S50.
2. It can be used for selecting a client or a user in step S602.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the mail server device capable of transmitting and receiving e-mails has a mail transmission / reception device function of distributing mail to a correct user in response to a request from a client, Mail copy device function to send a copy of the mail to the user by hand, a function to search for the e-mail stored on the server, a function to selectively delete a part of the e-mail of each user, and a total disk capacity A function to check how much of them are being used as a whole, a function to send a warning mail to each user, a function to keep a history of warning mail, and a function to check the access history of a user's e-mail An e-mail management device having the above features has been described.

The function of sending a warning mail to the user uses a function of checking how much of the total disk capacity is used, and sends a warning to all users when a certain capacity is exceeded. An e-mail management device has been described.

The function of sending a warning mail to the user uses a function of checking how much of the total disk capacity is used, and sends a warning when a certain percentage of all disks is exceeded. An e-mail management device has been described.

The function of checking how much of the total disk capacity is used has a function of checking how much is used for each individual. explained.

Further, the e-mail management apparatus has been described in which the function of retrieving e-mails stored on the server is performed based on the e-mail transmission date.

Further, the electronic mail management apparatus has been described in which the function of searching for the electronic mail stored on the server is performed based on the reception date of the electronic mail.

The function of partially deleting the e-mail of each user is characterized in that the e-mail of a user who has not warned but deleted the e-mail is deleted by using the history of the warning mail. Has been described.

Further, the function of retaining the history of the warning mail is characterized in that discarding is performed when a freely available disk capacity after the warning mail is issued becomes a fixed ratio or when the disk capacity becomes larger than the certain capacity. An email management device has been described.

Further, the function of checking the access history of the user to the electronic mail is characterized in that the access history to the electronic mail after sending the warning mail is stored regardless of whether the electronic mail is deleted or not. An e-mail management device has been described.

Further, a warning mail is transmitted using a check function of the access history to the electronic mail.
In addition, an e-mail management device has been described in which an e-mail of a user who does not delete the e-mail despite the warning mail is deleted.

[0086]

As described above, the e-mail tube of the present invention
Management device and an e-mail management method use a mail storage unit
The email storage is not being used efficiently based on the situation
If it is determined that the warning mail sending section, warning mail
Warning mail is sent to the client by the sending process
Be trusted. Therefore, the client who received the warning email
Indicates that the email storage is not being used efficiently.
From the mail stored in the mail storage unit.
Will be deleted.
And efficient mail storage by deleting mail
There is an effect that can be used well. In particular, email
The conditions of the email to be deleted from the storage unit are as follows:
The e-mail is sent before the date of the alert e-mail.
Is received or an email is sent
Before sending the warning e-mail.
Is being sent or an email is received
Emails from the email storage section.
Delete child mail. For this reason, it is stored on the mail storage
Select emails that you don't mind
Emails that are deemed necessary will be deleted
Delete only unnecessary emails left in the storage unit
There is an effect that the storage unit can be used efficiently.

[0087]

[0090]

[0091]

[0092]

The electronic mail management apparatus and electronic mail of the present invention
The rule management method acquires the access history information of the access to the e-mail and the transmission information of the warning mail as a condition for deleting the predetermined mail from the mail storage unit, and the access history information is compared with the transmission date information of the warning mail. Later, in other words, for emails that were accessed after the warning email was issued, the accessing user is aware that the email storage is not being used efficiently, Since the access has been made, the mail is not deleted even though the mail should have been deleted from the mail storage unit after the mail was originally accessed.
Therefore, by automatically deleting the e-mail by the e-mail management device, the use efficiency of the e-mail storage unit can be automatically improved without bothering the user.

[0094]

[0095]

[0096]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration diagram of an electronic mail management device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the mail management device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning mail according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the mail management device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the mail management device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the mail management device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the mail management device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the mail management device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic mail server client system in a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a module configuration diagram of an electronic mail server device in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 email management device, 2 hard disk device, 3
Mail storage unit, 4 warning mail storage unit, 5 access history storage unit, 8 module of electronic mail management device, 10
Usage status acquisition unit, 12 warning mail transmission unit, 14 usage status confirmation unit, 16 warning mail update unit, 18 mail deletion unit, 20 mail deletion condition change unit, 24 warning mail discard unit, 90, 91, 92 client, 100
Communication line.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-169943 (JP, A) JP-A-8-335951 (JP, A) JP-A-6-311253 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 123202 (JP, A) JP-A-11-328059 (JP, A) Jiro Aso, "To avoid failure by e-mail: Learn from an example, a mail system that does not stop" Avoid trouble: system down Create a Preventive and Restorative System ”, Nikkei Open System, No. 71, February 1999, pp. 132-145 (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 12/58 G06F 13 / 00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] At least one client is connected.
To send and receive e-mail with connected clients
In the electronic mail management device, a mail storage unit that stores an electronic mail, and a usage status acquisition unit that obtains a usage status of the mail storage unit
And the usage status acquired by the usage status acquisition unit
To send a warning email to the connected client
The warning mail sending unit and the warning mail sent by the above warning mail sending unit are stored.
Preparative a warning mail holding portion for lifting, a warning mail, which is held in the warning mail holder
And decrypted the message, and
The usage status of the storage unit
Status and usage status acquired by the usage status acquisition unit above
Compared with the above, the usage status of the above mail storage unit has been improved
Based on the result of the confirmation by the usage status confirmation unit for confirming whether the
The warning mail update unit that updates the notification mail holding unit and the above-mentioned mail
From the email stored in the email storage
A mail deletion unit that searches for and deletes e-mails
For example, the warning e-mail, which is held in the warning mail holding unit
Has at least the date on which the warning email was sent.
And, e-mail stored in the mail storage unit is small
At least the date and e-mail from which the e-mail was sent
Has any of the reception date information received, the mail deletion unit is held in the warning mail holding unit
From the warning mail
Obtain and send the e-mail sending date information and the e-mail
Compared with either of the received date information of
Of the above e-mail than that of the e-mail
One of the received date information of the e-mail is in the past
The e-mail as the e-mail under the above specified conditions
Electronic mail, which is deleted from the mail storage unit.
Management device. 2. A method for connecting at least one client.
To send and receive e-mail with connected clients
In the electronic mail management device, a mail storage unit that stores an electronic mail, and a usage status acquisition unit that obtains a usage status of the mail storage unit
And the usage status acquired by the usage status acquisition unit
To send a warning email to the connected client
The warning mail sending unit and the warning mail sent by the above warning mail sending unit are stored.
Preparative a warning mail holding portion for lifting, a warning mail, which is held in the warning mail holder
And decrypted the message, and
The usage status of the storage unit
Status and usage status acquired by the usage status acquisition unit above
Compared with the above, the usage status of the above mail storage unit has been improved
Based on the result of the confirmation by the usage status confirmation unit for confirming whether the
A warning mail updating unit that updates the notification mail holding unit, and an e-mail stored in the mail storage unit.
When access is made from the above clients,
At least the client showing the client who accessed the above
Date information and access date information indicating the date of access
And access history information to keep access history information
Unit and client information and access information from the access history holding unit.
Get the date information and send the above
Compares the acquired access date information and issues a warning email.
Access history with access date information later than Shin-day information
Information from the access history holding unit, and
Access history client information
Search the mail for the client from the above mail storage unit
And a mail deleting unit for deleting
Email management device. 3. At least one client is connected.
To send and receive e-mail with connected clients
In the electronic mail management method of the electronic mail management device, a mail storing step of storing an electronic mail in a mail storage unit
And a usage status acquisition process for obtaining the usage status of the mail storage unit.
And the usage status obtained in the above usage status obtaining process.
To send a warning email to the connected client
The warning mail transmission process and the warning mail transmitted in the above warning mail transmission process
The process of holding the warning mail held in the warning mail holding unit and extracting the warning mail held in the warning mail holding unit
To decrypt the message, and
The usage status of the storage unit
Status and usage status obtained in the above usage status acquisition process
Compared with the above, the usage status of the above mail storage unit has been improved
A usage confirmation step of confirming that is, based on the result confirmed by the usage confirmation step
And update the warning mail storage unit
And the results confirmed by the above usage status confirmation process
From the email stored in the email storage
E-mail deletion that searches for and deletes e-mails with specified conditions
And a warning mail held in the warning mail holding unit.
Has at least the date on which the warning email was sent.
And, e-mail stored in the mail storage unit is small
At least the date and e-mail from which the e-mail was sent
Has any of the received date information received, and the e-mail deletion step is performed in the warning e-mail storage unit.
From the warning mail that is sent
Obtain the sending date information of the e-mail and the e-mail
The warning message above is compared with either
Date information of the above e-mail rather than
If one of the above e-mail reception date information is in the past
E-mail as the e-mail under the above specified conditions,
An electronic mail characterized by being deleted from the mail storage unit.
Rule management method. 4. Connecting at least one client
Te, performs transmission and reception of clients and e-mail connected
In the electronic mail management method of the electronic mail management device, a mail storing step of storing an electronic mail in a mail storage unit
And the usage status of the mail storage unit that stores the email
Usage status acquisition process, acquired by the above usage status acquisition process
Based on the usage status
The warning mail transmission process of transmitting the warning mail and the warning mail transmitted in the above warning mail transmission process
A warning mail holding process for holding the warning mail in the warning mail holding unit, and extracting the warning mail held in the warning mail holding unit.
To decrypt the message, and
The usage status of the storage unit
Status and usage status obtained in the above usage status acquisition process
Compared with the above, the usage status of the above mail storage unit has been improved
A usage confirmation step of confirming that is, based on the result confirmed by the usage confirmation step
And update the warning mail storage unit
And the e-mail stored in the e-mail storage unit
When access is made from the above clients,
At least the client showing the client who accessed the above
Date information and access date information indicating the date of access
Are stored in the access history storage unit as access history information
Access history holding step, and client information and access
Access date information, and send the warning email
Compare the obtained access date information with the
An access request whose access date information is later than the call date information
History information from the access history holding unit
The client information indicated by the client information in the access history information
Search mail for client from mail storage section
And a mail deleting step of deleting
E-mail management method.