JP3513816B2 - E-mail delivery system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention performs a charging process on a sender or / and a receiver of an electronic mail according to a predetermined predetermined standard, and performs a transfer delay process when the charging process is not performed. The present invention relates to an electronic mail distribution system.

BACKGROUND ART In electronic mail on the Internet, if there is no congestion or failure in the middle of relaying, information is transmitted to the other party in at most tens of seconds. It is usually neither merit nor thought to deliver this late. On the other hand, in the case of postal mail, although it takes more time to deliver it, in the case of a hurry, it can be delivered to the other party quickly by paying the express delivery fee in addition to the regular fee.

As a technique for delaying an electronic mail, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-223734 “Email Transmission Delay System” discloses an electronic mail transmission delay system capable of setting a transmission delay period for each electronic mail. There is.

This system assumes that the e-mail creator (sender) will create in advance information that the e-mail recipient wants to pass to the recipient of the e-mail as e-mail, and will send and pass it when desired in the future. In such cases, the benefits are recognized.

On the other hand, since such a case is assumed, the electronic mail transmission delay system of the present invention is configured to delay the transmission by setting a transmission delay period for each electronic mail.

Similarly, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-143163 “E-mail delivery device” has a configuration in which a transmission delay period is set for each electronic mail and the transmission is delayed. This is because, in any conventional system, there is no merit in purposely delaying all e-mails.

Further, in JP-A-9-62594 "Distribution holding method of mail delivery system", when the delivery is rejected due to a temporary reason of the receiving system, the delivery processing is completed without affecting the originating system. Is assumed.

In the case of a specific user who temporarily suspends pre-registered delivery, or when the receiving system cannot deliver the email due to resource saturation, the delivery of the email is temporarily suspended, and the delivery process is performed again after a predetermined time has elapsed. . Therefore, a configuration is adopted in which a user who delays delivery is set in advance, or by detecting that the resource is saturated, the delivery delay is performed only when the user falls under that condition. This is because, in any conventional system, there is no merit in purposely delaying all e-mails.

However, it becomes possible in the present invention to construct a new system by using the reverse idea of intentionally delaying at a relay point such as a mail server, and to bring about an effect of delaying an electronic mail. . It is a new effect due to the combination of billing systems.

Delay at a relay point such as a mail server,
If the sender or receiver pays the price, it will be delivered without delay. In other words, the idea is the opposite of the express delivery fee for postal services.

Users don't use the invention if they just pay the price, but other attractive features (eg privacy, money, free use)
The present invention is utilized when there is.

Further, regarding payment of the usage fee, part or all of the payment may be donated, or various other forms may be combined.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in claim 1, access from a user terminal such as a computer or a portable information terminal including an input unit, a control unit, a display unit, an output unit, and a storage unit is provided. A system for performing and processing information, comprising a mail server and a server system including at least a database and a program linked thereto, a mail server for transmitting and receiving and storing electronic mail, and a sender of the electronic mail or / And user information storage means for storing and managing information about the recipient, and charging method setting means for storing and managing charging method data for charging the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail, and reference data such as the amount of money. , Users who store billing information for senders and / or recipients of emails The money information storage means, the user information determination means for determining the sender or / and the recipient of the email before delivering the email received by the mail server, based on the determined user information, The user usage history storage means for updating and storing and managing the email usage history of the sender or / and the recipient of the email and the user usage history storage means and the charging method setting means are referred to based on the determined user information. Accounting means for determining whether the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail needs to be charged, and if the charging is necessary, update the charging information for each user stored in the user charging information The charging information updating means and the charging information stored in the charging information storage means, and charges the corresponding user. When it is not possible, a transfer delay means for transmitting an electronic mail is provided according to a preset transfer delay period, and the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail is charged according to a predetermined standard. The electronic mail delivery system is characterized in that the transfer delay process is performed when the charging process is not performed.

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention according to claim 2, access is performed from a user terminal such as a computer or a personal digital assistant having an input unit, a control unit, a display unit, an output unit and a storage unit. A mail information processing system, a mail server, a database system linked with the mail server, and a server system that includes at least a program, and a mail server that sends and receives and stores e-mail, and an e-mail sender or / and A user information storage means for storing and managing information about the recipient; a charging method setting means for storing and managing charging method data for charging the sender or / and the recipient of the e-mail and reference data such as the amount of money. The sender or / and the recipient of the e-mail may not User billing information storage means for storing balance information of the amount paid, and user information for determining a sender or / and a recipient of the email before delivering the email received by the mail server. Based on the determination means and the user information determined, the user usage history storage means for updating and storing and managing the email usage history of the sender or / and the recipient of the email, based on the determined user information, A billing determination unit that refers to the user usage history storage unit and the billing method setting unit to determine whether the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail needs to be billed, and if the billing is necessary, the user A billing information updating means for updating the billing information for each user stored in the billing information, and the amount of money required for the balance information to be billed. If less than is,
A transfer delay means for transmitting an e-mail is provided according to a preset transfer delay period, and the sender or / and the receiver of the e-mail is charged according to a predetermined standard, and the charging is performed. The feature is that the electronic mail delivery system is characterized by performing transfer delay processing when there is not.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, instead of adding a transfer delay, a part of the data of the electronic mail in the mail server or The electronic mail delivery system is characterized in that all the data is scrambled before being transferred.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention described in claim 4, in the invention described in claims 1 to 3, the sender or / and the receiver of the electronic mail stored in the charging method setting means. The accounting method data and the reference data such as the amount of money for charging the person are the number of e-mails transferred by the sender of the e-mail within a predetermined period, the amount of transferred data, or the cumulative total of these that does not specify the period. Based on the above, the electronic mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is characterized in that it includes data indicating a setting for charging the amount of money.

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in claim 5, in the invention described in claims 1 to 4, the sender or / and the reception of the electronic mail stored in the charging method setting means. The charging method data for charging a person and the reference data such as the amount of money store setting data in which the charged usage fee varies according to the number of transferred emails or the amount of transferred data. The electronic mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is characterized.

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in claim 6, in the invention described in claims 1 to 5, the sender or / and the reception of the electronic mail stored in the charging method setting means. The charging method data for charging users and the standard data such as the amount of money store setting data in which the delay period of transfer delay varies depending on the number of transferred e-mails or the amount of transferred data. The electronic mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is characterized in that.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention described in claim 7, in the invention described in claims 1 to 6, the sender or / and the receiver of the charged electronic mail pays The electronic mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is possible to select delivery of the electronic mail after transfer delay processing by not performing the electronic mail delivery. It has a feature.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention described in claim 8, in the invention described in claims 1 to 7, the charging amount to be charged to the sender stored in the charging information storage means is set. Any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the recipient can select to add the email to his or her balance information, and the e-mail is delivered after the transfer delay processing is performed. It is characterized in that it is the electronic mail delivery system described in Crab.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention described in claim 9, in the invention described in claims 1 to 8, the charge deducted from the balance information of the sender stored in the charge information storage means. By selecting the amount that the recipient donates and adds to the balance information for donation of another person, the other person who received the donation can redeem the balance and the e-mail is sent after the transfer delay process is performed. The electronic mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that delivery can be selected.

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in claim 10, in the invention described in claims 7 to 9, information such as advertisement included in the delivered electronic mail or included in the electronic mail is included. 10. The information can be received without being subjected to the transfer delay process on the condition that a predetermined action of the recipient such as browsing the information of the hyperlink destination or replying is performed. It is characterized in that it is the electronic mail delivery system described in any one of 1.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention described in claim 11, in the invention described in claims 1 to 10, when an email to be subjected to a delivery delay process is stored in a mail server. To the recipient of the email
Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that notification is given
It is characterized in that it is the electronic mail delivery system described in any one of 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system conceptual diagram showing an example of processing of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system conceptual diagram showing an example of processing of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the basic processing flow of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the basic processing flow of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the basic processing flow of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION   Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are system configuration diagrams showing an example of the basic configuration of the present invention.

A system of the present invention is a system for performing information processing by being accessed from a user terminal such as a computer or a portable information terminal having an input unit, a control unit, a display unit, an output unit, a storage unit, etc. It is composed of a server system including at least a database and a program that cooperate with this. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 indicates a user terminal and 2 indicates a server system.

The user terminal is a device that can create an e-mail and can use various ordinary e-mail software. A user terminal equipped with e-mail software includes an e-mail creating unit and an e-mail sending unit.In the e-mail creating unit, e-mail information (e.g., e-mail content (e.g., text data of text of a mail, voice data, image data, etc. (Written data or attached data), recipient's or recipient's email address and name, email creation date and time, email sending date and time, sender or email creator email address and name, title, etc. ) Is created. The mail sending unit sends the electronic mail to the destination user via the server system mail server.

The server system includes a mail server that sends and receives electronic mail and stores the electronic mail. As the mail server, various commonly used mail servers can be used. As the mail server, a server independently installed by the system administrator of the present invention, a mail server provided by an Internet service provider (ISP), or the like can be used. It becomes possible for an e-mail handling company such as an Internet service provider (ISP) or a mail forwarding service company to install a program and a database that cooperates with an existing mail server to operate it.

Although FIG. 2 shows an example in which the mail server on the receiving side and the mail server on the sending side exist in different processing devices connected by a network, the receiving side and the sending side are the same as in FIG. The system according to the invention can also be used when it is in the processing unit.

Yet another mode of the present invention is a mode in which a system for transmitting and receiving electronic mail is provided on a homepage on the Internet. In other words, the mail creator (sender) creates a mail on the Internet home page of a mail handling company, sets a transmission delay period according to the fee, and saves or sends the delayed transmission email. The handling company is a form in which a delayed transmission e-mail is delivered according to a set transmission delay period. In this case, the transmission delay e-mail is usually stored in the mail server of the mail handling company, and the mail is sent from the mail server of the mail handling company after the elapse of the set period.

Next, the server system is provided with a user information storage means for storing and managing information regarding the sender or / and the receiver of the electronic mail.

The user information storage means stores information for each user for use in billing processing and the like. If the email sender is charged, the name or address of the user who is the sender, the address, the email address,
Store other information. When the e-mail recipient is charged, the user's name or name, address, e-mail address, and other information are stored.

Further, the server system is provided with a charging method setting means for storing and managing charging method data for charging a sender or / and a receiver of an electronic mail and reference data such as an amount of money.

The following is an example of charging method data for charging and reference data such as the amount of money. The data may be stored in the database and referred to by the program for performing the charging process, or may be described in the program for performing the charging process.

The e-mail information and the transfer delay period information may be registered or stored in the database of the mail server (especially the mail server of the mail handling company). The database system is not particularly limited as long as the electronic mail information of the electronic mail and the transfer delay period information can be registered or saved and the electronic mail can be sent to the mail transmitting unit according to the transmission delay period.

For example, it is data indicating that the amount of money is charged based on the number of transferred electronic mails or the amount of transferred data of the electronic mails sent by the sender of the electronic mails within a predetermined period.

Further, when the recipient is charged, the data including the setting indicating that the amount is charged based on the number of transferred emails or the amount of transfer data of the emails sent by the recipient of the email is included. Alternatively, the data may include data indicating a setting for charging an amount of money based on the number of transferred electronic mails or the amount of transferred data of an electronic mail to be transmitted while the period is not set.

It is also possible to set the usage fee to be charged to vary depending on the number of emails transferred or the amount of transferred data.

For example, in the case where the recipient pays the fee shown in FIG. 3, as an example, the first electronic mail is charged according to the number of transfers or the amount of transferred data for each first mail. Can be taken.

As another example, the following settings are made.

Recipient yamada can receive 9 copies / day or less immediately for free.

10 to 99 mails / day will be delayed by 24 hours if you do not pay 10 yen / mail.

100 yen / day or more will be delayed by 24 hours unless paying 20 yen / mail.

Further, for example, in the case where the sender pays the fee shown in FIG. 4, as an example, the following settings are made.

The sender, suzuki, can send instantly free of charge for 9 copies / day or less.

10 to 99 mails / day will be delayed by 24 hours if you do not pay 10 yen / mail.

100 yen / day or more will be delayed by 24 hours unless paying 20 yen / mail.

It is also possible to store a setting in which the delay period of transfer delay varies depending on the number of transferred electronic mails or the amount of transferred data.

For example, in the case where the receiver pays the fee shown in FIG. 3, as an example, the following settings are made.

Recipient yamada can receive 9 copies / day or less immediately for free.

10 to 99 mails / day will be delayed by 24 hours if you do not pay 10 yen / mail.

100 yen / day or more will be delayed for 48 hours if you do not pay 10 yen / day.

Further, for example, in the case where the sender pays the fee shown in FIG. 4, as an example, the following settings are made.

The sender, suzuki, can send instantly free of charge for 9 copies / day or less.

10 to 99 mails / day will be delayed by 24 hours if you do not pay 10 yen / mail.

100 yen / day or more will be delayed for 48 hours if you do not pay 10 yen / day.

The billed email senders and / or recipients may be able to choose not to make payments and to have the emails delivered after delay processing.

You can use the system without paying. However, transfer delay may be applied. You can receive it as soon as you pay the express delivery fee after the transfer delay is applied.

The server system is also provided with a user billing information storage means for storing billing information for the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail.

As a preferable example of the payment method of the fee, the user notifies the email address in advance and transfers the fee. As a result, it is possible to save the trouble of credit management, fee billing, reminder of deposit, and the like. The balance information regarding the transferred charges is added to the user billing information storage means, and the fluctuating balance information is stored and managed for each user in association with the user information.

When the prepaid charge is exhausted, the mail to be forwarded will be delayed. When the prepaid rate becomes low, users will be notified by email.

In this way, when the prepaid method is adopted, the charge is deducted from the balance in advance, so there is a merit on the system management side that the user does not have to be reminded of the charge.

Further, as a preferable example of the payment method of the fee, the user can notify the email address, purchase the balance of the fee (purchase reservation), and adopt a payment method such as credit card, cash or the like.

When using a post-payment method such as a credit card, a prepaid usage fee of, for example, 1000 yen is settled in advance using a credit card, and the charge amount is deducted from the balance, or the charge amount actually used is It is possible to take a method such as managing and processing the payment later with a credit card or the like. In the user billing information storage means, in the case of the former, balance information of the amount of money that has been settled by a credit card, or in the case of the latter, the amount of money that has not yet been settled by a credit card. The billing information can be managed by storing the balance information and the like.

In addition, debit cards, electronic money, and various other known methods can be used as the charging method. This is because the information to be charged may be stored and managed in the user charging information storage means.

Further, the server system is provided with a user information judging means for judging the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail before delivering the electronic mail received by the mail server.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when the sender is charged by the electronic mail analysis means, information for identifying the user such as the sender's electronic mail address, and when the receiver is charged, the receiver The information for identifying the user such as the e-mail address is extracted from the e-mail, and the user is determined for the billing process and the transfer delay process.

Further, the server system is provided with a user usage history storage unit that updates and stores and manages the electronic mail usage history of the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail based on the determined user information.

The user usage history can be charged according to the usage history, for example, in the case of calculating a charge based on the number of email transfers per day or the amount of transferred data in the above example. The usage history of chargeable users who are senders or recipients is stored for each user in association with user information.

Further, the server system refers to the user usage history storage means and the charging method setting means based on the determined user information, and determines whether the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail needs to be charged. A judging means is provided.

When it is determined that the charge is required, the charge information updating means is notified of the charge amount and the user to be charged in order to charge the usage charge by using the charge information for each user.

If it is determined that charging is not required, the usage history of the user is only updated.

Further, the server system is provided with a billing information updating means for updating billing information such as a balance for each user stored in the user billing information when billing is required.

Based on the notified charge amount and the information of the charge target user, the user charge information of the corresponding user is updated and stored. For example, in the case of the prepaid method,
When deducting from the balance information, the charge amount is subtracted and the balance information is updated and stored.

Further, the server system is provided with a transfer delay means for delaying and transmitting an e-mail when the billing process cannot be performed, for example, when the balance information is less than the amount required for billing.

In the case of the prepaid method as described in claim 2, when the balance information of the user stored in the balance information storage means is less than the charge amount, the charge amount and the charge target notified from the charge determining means Since the charge amount cannot be subtracted from the balance information of the corresponding user based on the information of the user, the transmission delay means delays the transfer of the electronic mail according to a predetermined delay method and transfer delay period.

Next, in the invention described in claim 3, instead of adding a transfer delay, the mail server performs a process of scrambling a part or all of the electronic mail data before transferring.

For example, the email is encrypted, or part or all of the text is hidden, and information such as the sender and title is inserted into the notification email to be delivered. As a result, the recipients who received the notification email have insufficient balance. You will know that. Note that when the sender is charged, the sender is notified and the recipient is sent an email in which some or all of the email is unreadable. Can be taken.

In addition, as a notification method when charging processing is not possible,
If you send a notification email that the billing process is not possible, or if the sender is billed and the billing process is not performed due to insufficient balance, the sent email is returned. Then, the sender may notify that the balance is insufficient. The sender will not be satisfied with this, and will quickly fill the balance.

By adopting the above configuration, an electronic mail delivery system is realized in which transfer delay processing is performed for a sender or / and a recipient of an electronic mail that performs a predetermined predetermined use when the charging processing is not performed. It

The basic processing flow of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are flowcharts showing an example of the basic processing flow of the present invention. Note that the processing flow shown here is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, in the flowchart and the description thereof, the form in which the charge amount is deducted from the balance information by the prepaid method is mainly described, but the charge method is as described above.
It goes without saying that various methods such as a post-payment method can be adopted.

First, the mail server receives an electronic mail (S100). The received e-mail is stored in the mail server (S101).

Next, the electronic mail analysis means extracts the user information included in the header of the electronic mail (S102). In particular, in order to perform the charging process, the sender information is extracted when the sender is charged, and the recipient information is extracted when the receiver is charged.

The user information storage means is referred to (S103), and the user information determination means determines the user (S104). As a result, the user to be charged is determined.

Based on the determined user information, the charging determination means,
The history of the corresponding user stored in the user usage history storage means is referred to (S105).

For example, when the recipient pays the fee shown in FIG. 3, as an example, the history of the email received by the recipient yamada is 9 or less / one day, 10 to 99 / one day, It is possible to determine if 100 copies / day. Also, for example, the fourth
In the case where the sender pays the fee shown in the figure, as an example, the history of the sender suzuki sending the email is
9 copies / day or less, 10-99 copies / day, 100 copies /
It can be judged whether it is more than a day.

Based on the determined user information, the charging determination means,
By referring to the charging method setting means, it is determined whether or not charging is necessary (S106).

Then, if it is determined that the charging is not necessary, (S
107), only the process of updating the user usage history storage means is performed (S111), and the delivery process of the electronic mail stored in the mail server is performed.

If it is determined that the billing is necessary (S1
07), referring to the billing information storage means (S108), it is determined whether the balance of the corresponding user is sufficient for the billing amount (S109). If the balance is insufficient, transfer delay processing is performed.

Further, when notifying that the electronic mail to be subjected to the transfer delay processing is stored in the mail server, the electronic mail for notifying the recipient of the electronic mail is generated and transmitted.

If the balance is sufficient, the billing information update means updates the billing information of the user (S110), updates the user usage history storage means (S111), and then performs the e-mail transfer process.

Further, here, it is possible to notify when the balance has decreased to a predetermined amount, and in that case, an e-mail of a balance notification to the recipient of the e-mail is generated and transmitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the transfer delay process.

When the e-mail is stored in the mail server and the transfer delay process is performed (S200), the delay method of the charging method setting means is referred (S201), and "10 to 99 mails /
Any one of the settings such as "If you do not pay the fee of 10 yen / day, delay for 24 hours if you do not pay the fee of 10 days / day, and if you do not pay the fee of 10 yen / day for 100 days / day or more, delay for 48 hours" It is determined whether to delay, and the period to delay is determined.

Next, it is determined whether a predetermined period has elapsed (S202),
When the delay period has elapsed, the electronic mail is delivered (S203).

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a process of performing immediate delivery on condition that the billing process is performed in the form of notifying when there is an electronic mail whose delivery is delayed, particularly when the user desires immediate delivery.

For example, it is assumed that the sender is originally charged, and the receiver pays instead when the sender does not pay.

Further, as described in claim 7, the sender or / and the recipient of the charged electronic mail is required to perform the transmission delay process without paying, and the electronic mail will be delivered. It is assumed that you have selected.

When the e-mail is stored in the mail server and the transfer delay process is performed (S300), the user terminal (recipient) is notified that there is a delayed mail (S30).
1).

When the user who is the recipient replies to the notified e-mail or the like, and the notification indicating the immediate delivery request is returned (S302), the e-mail analysis means includes the user (recipient) included in the e-mail. Information is extracted (S30
2).

Next, referring to the user information storage means (S303),
The user information judging means judges the user (S30
4). Based on the determined user information, the charging determination means refers to the user charging information storage means (S305),
It is determined whether or not the charge amount is sufficient (S309).

If the balance is insufficient, transfer delay processing is performed (S20).
0).

When the balance is sufficient, the billing information update means updates the billing information of the user (S310), updates the user usage history storage means (S311), and performs the delivery processing of the stored e-mail.

The basic processing flow of the present invention has been described above. Although the sender pays the express delivery fee by mail, various payment methods are possible in the present invention.

(Sender) Pay the express delivery fee so that the other party may intercept the express delivery fee.

  Pay the express delivery fee. We do not allow the interception of express delivery charges.

  I do not pay the express delivery fee.

(Receiver)   Cancel the express delivery fee paid by the other party and pay by yourself.

  If the other party has not paid the express delivery fee, you will pay it.

  I do not pay the express delivery fee.

In the invention according to claim 8, the charge amount to be charged to the sender stored in the charge information storage means is
When the recipient selects to add to his / her balance information, the e-mail is transferred after the transfer delay process is performed.

That is, the express delivery fee paid by the other party is cancelled, the payment is made in his / her own account, and the delayed mail is received. In this case, there is a risk that, for example, a scammer sends a fake alumni association information and is used for fraud in which the express fee is deceived from the reply, but the customer acquisition effect is great.

In the invention according to claim 9, the receiver adds the charging amount deducted from the balance information of the sender stored in the user charging information storage means to the balance information for donation of another person and adds it. By making the selection, the other person who received the donation can redeem the balance, and the e-mail is delivered after the transfer delay process is performed.

For example, it is configured to store balance information for donation such as UNICEF, cancel the express delivery fee paid by the other party, and donate to UNICEF or the like. I receive a delayed email. The user may select where to donate by preparing a plurality of recipients of donations and storing the respective balance information.

Further, in the invention according to claim 10, a recipient who has viewed information such as an advertisement included in the delivered electronic mail or information of a hyperlink destination included in the electronic mail or has made a reply On the condition of the predetermined action of (1), it is possible to receive without the delivery delay process.

In addition, if the advertiser's prescribed action such as browsing or replying to information such as advertisement included in the delivered email or information of the hyperlink destination included in the email, The balance may be moved from the balance information to the balance information of the recipient user. In other words, the amount of one's own balance increases when an advertisement is browsed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the case where the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail is charged according to a predetermined standard, and the charging is not performed It is possible to provide an electronic mail delivery system characterized by performing transfer delay processing.

As a result, it is possible to construct a new system by combining billing systems and to effectively delay an e-mail.

In addition, if the recipient can obtain the usage fee, the number of registered users can be expected to continue to be used or to increase, and it is very effective for companies to enhance their customer lists and to keep customers in a locked place.

Further, regarding payment of the usage fee, part or all of the payment may be donated, or various other forms may be combined.

Further, when the prepaid method is adopted, the charge is deducted from the balance in advance, so there is a merit on the system management side that the user is not required to be reminded of the charge.

Furthermore, the system can be used without payment. However, transfer delay may be applied.
There is the flexibility that you can receive it immediately if you pay the express delivery fee after the transfer delay is applied.

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Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] 1. A system for performing information processing by being accessed from a user terminal such as a computer or a portable information terminal having an input means, a control means, a display means, an output means, and a storage means, and a mail server and the same. A mail server configured to include at least a database and a program that cooperates with the computer, a mail server that sends and receives and stores electronic mail, a user information storage unit that stores and manages information about a sender or / and a recipient of the electronic mail, Charging method data for charging the sender or / and receiver of the mail, charging method setting means for storing and managing reference data such as amount of money, and charging information for the sender or / and receiver of the electronic mail User billing information storage means and a mail received by the mail server. User information determination means for determining the sender or / and recipient of the email before delivering the email, and use of the email by the sender or / and recipient of the email based on the determined user information User usage history storage means for updating and storing history, and referring to the user usage history storage means and charging method setting means, based on the determined user information, to charge the sender or / and the recipient of the email. And a billing information updating unit for updating billing information for each user stored in the user billing information storage unit when billing is required, and the billing information storage unit. Refer to the billing information stored in the method, and if the corresponding user cannot be billed, the preset transfer delay period is set. According to the above, a transfer delay means for transmitting an electronic mail is provided, and the sender or / and the receiver of the electronic mail is charged according to a predetermined standard, and if the charging is not performed, the transfer delay processing is performed. An electronic mail delivery system characterized by performing. 2. A mail server and a system for performing information processing by being accessed from a user terminal such as a computer or a portable information terminal equipped with an input means, a control means, a display means, an output means, a storage means and the like. A mail server configured to include at least a database and a program that cooperates with the computer, a mail server that sends and receives and stores electronic mail, a user information storage unit that stores and manages information about a sender or / and a recipient of the electronic mail, A charging method setting means for storing and managing the charging method data for charging the sender or / and the recipient of the mail and the reference data such as the amount of money, and the advance payment for the charging processing by the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail. The user billing information that stores the balance information of the amount paid in advance Information storage means, user information determination means for determining the sender or / and recipient of the email before delivering the email received by the mail server, and the electronic information based on the determined user information. The user usage history storage means for updating and storing and managing the email usage history of the sender or / and the recipient of the mail, and referring to the user usage history storage means and the charging method setting means based on the determined user information, A billing determination means for determining whether or not the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail needs to be billed, and if billing is required, the billing information for each user stored in the user billing information storage means is displayed. If the charge information update method to be updated and the balance information are less than the amount required to be charged,
A transfer delay means for transmitting an e-mail is provided according to a preset transfer delay period, and the sender or / and the recipient of the e-mail is charged according to a predetermined standard, and the charging is performed. An e-mail delivery system characterized by performing a transfer delay process when there is no e-mail. 3. The invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein instead of delaying the transfer, the mail server performs a process of scrambling a part or all of the electronic mail data before transferring. And an email delivery system. 4. The invention according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the charging method data, the amount of money, etc. stored in the charging method setting means for charging the sender or / and the recipient of the electronic mail. The reference data must include data indicating the setting for charging the amount of money, based on the number of emails transferred by the sender of emails within a predetermined period of time, the amount of transferred data, or the cumulative total of these that does not define a period The electronic mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: 5. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the charging method data, the amount of money, etc. stored in the charging method setting means for charging the sender or / and the receiver of the electronic mail. 5. The reference data stores setting data in which a charged usage fee varies according to the number of transferred electronic mails or the amount of transferred data, according to any one of claims 1 to 4. E-mail delivery system. 6. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein charging method data, amount of money, etc. stored in the charging method setting means for charging a sender or / and a recipient of an electronic mail. 6. The reference data stores setting data in which a delay period of transfer delay varies in accordance with the number of transferred electronic mails or the amount of transferred data, in any one of claims 1 to 5. E-mail delivery system described. 7. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sender or / and the recipient of the charged electronic mail does not make a payment, and the transfer delay processing is performed before the electronic mail. The electronic mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the delivery is selectable. 8. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the receiver makes a selection to add the charge amount to be charged to the sender, which is stored in the user charge information storage means, to his / her own balance information. Accordingly, the electronic mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electronic mail delivery can be selected after the transfer delay processing is performed. 9. The invention according to claims 1 to 8, wherein the charge amount deducted from the balance information of the sender stored in the user charge information storage means is used by the receiver as balance information for donation of another person. By choosing to donate and add, other people who received the donation can redeem the balance,
9. The electronic mail delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is possible to select delivery of the electronic mail after transfer delay processing. 10. The invention according to claims 7 to 9, wherein information such as advertisement included in the delivered electronic mail or information of hyperlink destination included in the electronic mail is browsed or replied. The e-mail delivery system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the e-mail delivery system can be received without being subjected to a transfer delay process on the condition of a predetermined action of the recipient such as the above. 11. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein when the electronic mail to be subjected to the delivery delay processing is stored in the mail server, the recipient of the electronic mail is
Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that notification is given
The e-mail delivery system described in any of.