JP4084210B2 - E-mail system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic mail that suppresses unauthorized transfer by attaching an electronic certificate to the electronic mail. system Is to provide.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the spread of e-mail, the number of users who use e-mail both public and private has increased. As the use of e-mails increases, e-mails are transferred from a transmission destination to a third party without permission, and the transmission source or transfer destination may feel inconvenience due to the transfer of the e-mail.
[0003]
In order to solve such problems, in the conventional e-mail software, when sending an e-mail, by setting the necessity of approval and the approver, the e-mail is sent to the destination without approval. Now that you can't do that. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-205043
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional electronic mail software, there is a possibility that an electronic mail transmitted after being approved may be transferred at the transmission destination, and it is impossible to control unauthorized transfer of the electronic mail after transmission.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an e-mail that suppresses unauthorized transfer by attaching an electronic certificate to the e-mail. system Is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides: Between multiple devices Send and receive e-mail An email system that performs , The first terminal operates the first terminal for the e-mail received by the first receiving means and the first receiving means for receiving the e-mail from the second terminal operated by the provider. A means for accepting a transfer instruction from the user, and when an electronic certificate is attached to the e-mail subject to the transfer instruction, the e-mail control of the e-mail is set to the e-mail address of the transfer destination set by the user The mail address of the information is set as the mail address of the user, the mail address of the user is set as the mail address of the mail control information, and the e-mail including the mail control information is included in the electronic certificate. Means for sending the email address of the provider as a destination, and the second terminal receives the email containing the email control information. Second e-mail receiving means configured to set the e-mail, a source e-mail address included in the e-mail control information as a source e-mail address of the e-mail, and an address of a transfer destination e-mail included in the e-mail control information A transmission means for transmitting as a destination; The Preparation Configured to be
[0008]
like this E-mail system Then, when transferring an e-mail with an electronic certificate, first, the transmission destination is changed so that it is transmitted to the address of the e-mail provider so that it is not transferred to the transfer destination address set by the user. Therefore, the e-mail is not transferred to a third party without permission.
[0010]
like this E-mail system Then, the user can receive the e-mail as an e-mail that requires permission before the e-mail to be transferred is transferred. In addition, since the address of the user originally set as the transmission source is replaced with the transmission source that has requested transfer permission, and the transmission source is transmitted to the transfer destination to which the transmission is attempted, the receiver is as if An e-mail directly transferred from the transmission source to be transferred can be received.
[0011]
As means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides Computer-executable to realize an e-mail system program And its program Can also be used as a storage medium.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
The mail transfer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention has a network configuration as shown in FIG. In the description of this embodiment, “mail” means “electronic mail”. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a mail transfer control system. In FIG. 1, a user A terminal 31, a user B terminal 32, a user C terminal 33, and a user D terminal 34 are mail control units that implement a mail transfer control system 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 100 and connected via a network 30. Here, the user A is the user who first created the mail document, and is hereinafter referred to as the provider.
[0014]
In the mail transfer control system 1000, the user A performs an electronic signature on the created mail document 121, and the mail 41 in which the electronic certificate 122 is added to the mail document 121 is transmitted from the user A terminal 31 to the user B. (Step S1). When the mail 41 is received by the terminal 32 of the user B and the user B sets the user C as a transfer destination and tries to transfer the mail 41, the mail control unit 100 does not transfer the mail 41 to the user C. And the mail 42 including the mail document 121 to which the mail control information 123 in which the user C is set as the transfer destination address is added is automatically transmitted to the terminal 31 of the user A (“transfer permission request”). Step S2).
[0015]
When the mail 42 is received by the terminal 31 of the user A, the mail control unit 100 adds the electronic certificate 122 and the mail control information 123 to the mail document 121 with the transmission source as the user B only when the user A permits the transfer. The sent mail 43 is transmitted to the user C (step S3).
[0016]
When the mail 43 with the electronic certificate 122 is received by the terminal 33 of the user C and the user C tries to transfer it further to the user D, the mail control unit 100 does not transfer the mail 43 to the user D. A mail 44 whose title is “transfer permission request” including the mail document 121 to which the mail control information 123 in which the user C is set as the transfer destination address is added is automatically transmitted to the terminal 31 of the user A (step) S4).
[0017]
When the mail 44 is received at the terminal 31 of the user A, the mail control unit 100 sets the sender as the user C to the mail document 121 and the electronic certificate 122 and the mail control only when the user A permits the transfer as in the previous case. The mail 45 with the information 123 added is transmitted to the user D (step S5).
[0018]
As described above, in such a mail transfer control system 1000, every time mail is transferred at the destination, the mail is always returned to the provider, and is transmitted to the destination only when transfer is permitted by the provider. Can be controlled.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration for realizing the mail transfer control system. In FIG. 2, the terminal 31 of the user A, the terminal 32 of the user B, the terminal 33 of the user C, and the terminal 34 of the user D have the same functions. Each of the terminals 31 to 34 is a computer terminal controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and includes a mail control unit 100 that controls mail transfer, a display processing unit 111, an input / output processing unit 112, and a communication control unit. 113 and an installer 114 for installing the program from the recording medium 20 on which the program according to the present invention is recorded.
[0020]
The display processing unit 111 controls display of data on the display unit. The input / output processing unit 112 controls input / output of data to / from the input unit and the output unit. The communication control unit 113 controls data communication performed via the network 30. The installer 114 installs the program from the recording medium 20 on which the program according to the present invention is recorded. The recording medium 20 may be any medium that can be read by a computer.
[0021]
The mail control unit 100 includes a mail editing unit 101, an electronic certificate attachment unit 102, a mail transmission unit 103, a mail reception unit 104, a mail transfer unit 105, and a mail permission transfer unit 108.
[0022]
The mail editing unit 101 creates and edits the mail document 121. The electronic certificate attachment unit 102 creates an electronic certificate 122 and attaches it to the mail document 121 to be transmitted. The mail transmission unit 103 transmits mail to the transmission destination. The mail receiving unit 104 receives mail. The mail transfer unit 105 transfers the received mail to a designated transmission destination. The mail permission transfer unit 108 transfers the mail approved by the provider.
[0023]
Further, the mail transfer unit 105 includes an electronic certificate detection unit 106 and an agreement message display unit 107. The electronic certificate detection unit 106 detects whether or not the provider's electronic certificate 122 is attached to the mail document 121 to be transferred. The consent message display unit 107 causes the display unit to display an consent message that prompts the user (mail transfer person) to obtain the consent of the provider. Upon detecting that the electronic certificate 122 is attached to the mail document 121 to be transferred by the electronic certificate detection unit 106, the mail transfer unit 105 causes the consent message display unit 107 to display an agreement message on the display unit. If the consent of the provider is required, the mail is transferred when the user agrees.
[0024]
Further, the e-mail permission transfer unit 108 includes a permission list display unit 109 that causes the display unit to display a list of transfer destinations that can be transferred to the provider by permission. The mail permission transfer unit 108 displays a list of transfer destinations on the display unit, and when the provider permits the transfer of mail to them, the sender is replaced with the transfer source and the mail is transmitted to the transfer destination.
[0025]
In the mail transfer control system 1000 in which such a mail control unit 100 is provided in each of the terminals 31 to 34, even if the mail is transferred at the destination of transmission, permission is always required by the provider, so without permission There is no transfer.
[0026]
In step S1 of FIG. 1, the mail transfer unit 105 when the user B terminal 32 receives the mail 41 with the electronic certificate 122 added to the mail document 121 from the user A terminal 31 and transfers the mail 41 to the user C. The mail transfer process to be executed will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts for explaining the transfer process.
[0027]
3 and 4, it is determined whether or not the user (users B and C in FIG. 1) has instructed transfer of the received mail document 121 (step S11). If transfer is not instructed, the mail transfer process is terminated. On the other hand, when transfer is instructed, the mail transfer unit 105 detects whether or not the electronic certificate 122 is attached to the mail designated by the user by detecting the electronic certificate 122 by the electronic certificate detection unit 106. Is determined (step S12). When the electronic certificate 122 is not attached (that is, when the electronic certificate 122 is not detected by the electronic certificate detection unit 106), a conventional normal transfer process is executed (step S13), and the transfer process is performed. finish.
[0028]
On the other hand, when the electronic certificate 122 is attached (that is, when the electronic certificate is detected by the electronic certificate detection unit 106), the mail transfer unit 105 attempts to transfer the mail using the consent message display unit 107. A message is displayed on the display unit asking the user to agree that transfer is necessary for the provider (step S14). Then, it is determined whether or not the user has agreed (step S15). If the user does not agree, the transfer process ends.
[0029]
On the other hand, if the user agrees, it is determined whether there is mail control information 123 (step S15-2). If the mail control information 123 exists, the process proceeds to step S19. If the mail control information 123 is not present (that is, in the case of the first transfer), it is determined whether or not the electronic certificate 122 has the provider's mail address (step S16). If the electronic certificate 122 does not have the provider's mail address, the sender address is stored in the mail control information 123 as the provider's mail address (step S17), and the process proceeds to step S19. On the other hand, if the electronic certificate 122 has the mail address of the provider, the mail address is extracted and stored in the mail control information 123 (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S19.
[0030]
As described above, the mail address of the provider can be acquired even when the mail control information 123, the electronic certificate 122, and the mail address of the transmission source are repeatedly transferred.
[0031]
The destination mail address set by the user (users B and C in FIG. 1) is set as the transfer destination address in the mail control information 123 (step S19). When there are a plurality of destinations, a plurality of transfer destination addresses are set in the mail control information 123. The provider address is set as the mail destination (step S20). The title of the mail is set to “transfer permission request” (step S21). The mail document 121 and the mail control information 123 are transmitted (step S22), and the transfer process ends.
[0032]
In this way, only when the electronic certificate 122 is attached to the received mail, a mail indicating a transfer permission request for allowing the provider to transfer the mail can be transmitted to the provider. . Users who want to transfer mail (users B and C in FIG. 1) need only perform an operation to transfer mail.
[0033]
The permission transfer process performed by the mail permission transfer unit 108 after the user A terminal 31 receives the “transfer permission request” mail in step S2 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the permission transfer process. In FIG. 5, when the “transfer permission request” mail received by the provider (user A in FIG. 1) is opened, the permission transfer processing by the mail permission transfer unit 108 is executed, and the permission list display unit 109 displays “transfer permission request”. Based on the mail control information 123 attached to the mail, the transfer destination list transferred by permission displays the permission list on the display unit (step S31).
[0034]
The mail permission transfer unit 108 determines whether or not the provider has pressed a button for permission (step S32). If the provider presses a button to permit, the process proceeds to step S35. On the other hand, if the provider does not press the permitted button, it is determined whether or not the unlicensed button is pressed (step S33). If a button that is not permitted has not been pressed, the process returns to step S31. On the other hand, when a button that does not permit is pressed, a notification mail indicating that the transfer is not permitted is transmitted to the users (users B and C in FIG. 1) who intend to transfer (step S34), and the license transfer process ends. To do.
[0035]
On the other hand, if the provider presses the permission button in step S32, the mail control information 123 is acquired from the received mail (step S35). The mail permission transfer unit 108 sets the forwarding mail address set in the mail control information 123 as the destination of the mail to be sent (step S36), and forwards the forwarding address (that is, this mail to the sender address). (Addresses of users B and C in FIG. 1) are set (step S37). Then, the mail permission transfer unit 108 transmits the mail document 121 with the electronic certificate 122 and the mail control information 123 added (step S38).
[0036]
The mail permission transfer unit 108 determines whether the mail control information 123 still has a destination (step S39). If there is still an address, the process returns to step S36, the same processing as described above is performed, and when the mail document 121 is transmitted to all the addresses, the permission transfer process ends.
[0037]
As described above, when the provider permits the forwarding of the mail to the forwarding destination, the sender address is changed to the forwarding address to which the mail is to be forwarded instead of the provider's address, and the mail control information 123 is set. By setting one or more transfer destination addresses as the transmission destination address, the users (users C and D in FIG. 1) that received the forwarded mail are transferred from the users (users B and C in FIG. 1). Can be received as a forwarded mail.
[0038]
The data structure of the mail control information 123 created by the mail transfer unit 105 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data structure of the mail control information. In FIG. 6, the mail control information 123 includes provider information and transfer destination information. As the provider information, the name and email address of the provider are set. Also, one or more names and mail addresses of the transfer destination are set as the transfer destination information.
[0039]
Next, the data structure of the electronic certificate 122 added when the data document 121 is first transmitted will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the electronic certificate. In FIG. 7, the electronic certificate 122 is composed of a provider's name, public key, mail address, and the like. Since the e-mail address may not be set, if the e-mail address of the provider is necessary in the transfer process, the sender address is set as the e-mail address of the provider as processed in step S17 in FIG.
[0040]
Next, the display of the consent message displayed on the display unit in step S14 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the consent message. In FIG. 8, the screen 200 for displaying the consent message has a display area 201 for displaying the message, an OK button 202 for requesting the consent of the provider, and a cancel button 203 for canceling the transfer. In the display area 201, for example, a message such as “For this mail transfer, Mr. XX's consent is required.” Is displayed.
[0041]
When the user (users B and C in FIG. 1) requests consent from the provider (user A in FIG. 1) to transfer the received mail, the user clicks the OK button 202 with a mouse or the like. In response to the user's operation, a “transfer permission request” mail is transmitted to the user A. On the other hand, when the user cancels mail transfer, the user clicks a cancel button 203. The mail is not transferred by this user operation.
[0042]
By displaying the consent message in this way, the user can be notified that the consent of the provider is necessary to forward the mail, and if the consent is not requested, the mail It can be controlled not to be transferred.
[0043]
The display of the permission list displayed on the display unit in step S31 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the permission list. In FIG. 9, a screen 210 for displaying a permission list includes a display area 211 for displaying a list of mail addresses set as transfer destinations by the transfer source (users B and C in FIG. 1), and mails displayed in the display area 211. A permission button 212 for permitting transfer to the address and a non-permission button 213 for not transferring to an e-mail address displayed in the display area 211 without permission.
[0044]
When the user (user A in FIG. 1) permits transfer to the transfer destination displayed on the screen 210, the user clicks the permission button 212 with a mouse or the like. In accordance with this user operation, the mail is transferred to the transfer destination. On the other hand, if the transfer is not permitted, the user can prevent the mail from being transferred by clicking the non-permission button 213.
[0045]
In this screen 210, the transfer destination may be selected and the permission button 212 may be clicked.
[0046]
As described above, according to the present invention, when the provider who created the mail document transmits the mail document for the first time, the unauthorized mail at the destination transmitted after the transmission is only required by adding the electronic certificate. Transfer can be suppressed.
[0047]
In addition, the user who wants to transfer the mail can know that the consent of the provider is necessary when the mail is transferred.
[0048]
Furthermore, the provider can know where the created mail document is transferred when permitting mail transfer.
[0049]
In addition, even if it is further forwarded at the destination, the electronic certificate added when sending the mail document for the first time is always added, and the permission of the provider is always given. Can be seen how it is transferred.
[0050]
Currently, in electronic mail systems, mail with an electronic signature is used, and a mailer or the like automatically recognizes the fact that the electronic signature is attached. The present invention makes use of this, and it is possible to ensure that the provider is permitted to transfer the mail only by attaching an electronic signature to mail that the information provider does not want to transfer without permission. . In addition, when an e-mail with an electronic certificate is forwarded, the e-mail address of the e-certificate owner is replaced and sent when the e-mail is forwarded. Can be sent to an email address.
[0051]
Finally, the means according to the present invention will be additionally described.
(Supplementary note 1) In a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in an apparatus that controls transmission and reception of electronic mail,
An electronic certificate detection procedure for detecting an electronic certificate from the received email;
A transfer destination address changing procedure for changing the transfer destination address to the address of the provider of the e-mail that created the electronic certificate when transferring the e-mail in which the electronic certificate is detected; Program to do.
(Supplementary Note 2) Transfer information creation procedure for creating transfer information indicating at least one transfer destination address;
A transfer procedure for transferring the e-mail by adding the transfer information created by the transfer information creation procedure to the e-mail whose forwarding address has been changed to the provider's address by the forwarding address change procedure. The program according to appendix 1, characterized by comprising:
(Supplementary note 3) The forwarding address changing procedure is characterized in that the forwarding address is changed to the address of the provider, and the title of the email is changed to a predetermined title related to permission for forwarding the email. Supplementary note 1 or 2 program. (Supplementary Note 4) In response to an operation of transferring an e-mail in which the electronic certificate is detected by the user, notification that the transfer agreement by the provider is necessary is made, and the provider An agreement screen display procedure for causing the display unit to display an agreement screen that allows the user to select whether or not to accept the agreement,
The program according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, further comprising: a transfer prohibition procedure for prohibiting the transfer of the e-mail based on a selection result by a user operated according to the consent screen.
(Supplementary Note 5) In a computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform processing in an apparatus that controls transmission and reception of electronic mail,
Upon receiving an e-mail indicating a predetermined subject relating to the e-mail transfer permission, a sender setting for setting the e-mail transmission source as a transmission source when the e-mail is transferred according to the permission of the user Procedure and
A transfer destination setting procedure for setting a transfer destination to which the e-mail is transferred based on transfer information indicating a transfer destination address added to the e-mail;
A transfer procedure for transferring from a transmission source set by the transmission source setting procedure to a transfer destination set by the transfer destination setting procedure.
(Supplementary Note 6) Upon receiving an e-mail indicating the predetermined title, a permission screen display procedure for causing the display unit to display a permission screen that allows the user to select whether or not to permit the transfer of the e-mail.
The program according to claim 5, further comprising: a transfer canceling procedure for canceling the transfer of the e-mail based on a selection result by a user operated according to the permission screen.
(Additional remark 7) In the recording medium which recorded the computer-readable program for making a computer perform the process in the apparatus which controls transmission / reception of an email,
An electronic certificate detection procedure for detecting an electronic certificate from the received email;
A transfer destination address changing procedure for changing the transfer destination address to the address of the provider of the e-mail that created the electronic certificate when transferring the e-mail in which the electronic certificate is detected; Recording medium on which a program to be recorded is recorded.
(Additional remark 8) In the recording medium which recorded the computer-readable program for making a computer perform the process in the apparatus which controls transmission / reception of an email,
A transmission source setting procedure for setting a transmission source of the electronic mail as a transmission source when the electronic mail is transferred when receiving an electronic mail indicating a predetermined subject relating to permission to transfer the electronic mail;
A transfer destination setting procedure for setting a transfer destination to which the e-mail is transferred based on transfer information indicating a transfer destination address added to the e-mail;
A recording medium storing a program, comprising: a transfer procedure for transferring from a transmission source set by the transmission source setting procedure to a transfer destination set by the transfer destination setting procedure.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, for an email that the information provider does not want to transfer without permission, the provider can be surely permitted to transfer it by simply attaching an electronic signature. Can be. In addition, when an e-mail with an electronic certificate is forwarded, the e-mail address of the e-certificate owner is replaced and sent when the e-mail is forwarded. Can be sent to an email address.
[0053]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a mail transfer control system.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration for realizing a mail transfer control system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating transfer processing.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating transfer processing.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining permission transfer processing;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data structure of mail control information.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of an electronic certificate.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a consent message.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a permission list.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Mail control part
101 Mail editing department
102 Electronic certificate attachment
103 Mail sending part
104 Mail receiver
105 Mail forwarding part
106 Electronic certificate detector
107 Consent message display
108 E-mail permission transfer section
109 Permission list display area
121 Mail document
122 Electronic certificate
123 Mail control information

Claims (2)

An e-mail system for sending and receiving e-mail between a plurality of terminals,
The first terminal
First receiving means for receiving an email from a second terminal operated by the provider;
Means for accepting a transfer instruction from a user operating the first terminal for the electronic mail received by the first receiving means;
When an electronic certificate is attached to the e-mail subject to the transfer instruction, the e-mail address of the transfer destination set by the user is set as the transfer e-mail address of the e-mail control information, and Means for setting the mail address of the user as a sender mail address of the mail control information, and sending an email including the mail control information to the email address of the provider of the email included in the electronic certificate When,
With
The second terminal is
Second receiving means for receiving the e-mail including the mail control information;
A transmission means for transmitting the e-mail, setting a transmission source mail address included in the mail control information as a transmission source mail address of the e-mail, and transmitting a destination mail address included in the mail control information as a destination;
E-mail system according to claim Rukoto equipped with. The second terminal is
Receiving means for displaying a forwarding mail address set in the mail control information included in the electronic mail received by the second receiving means, and accepting a transfer permission instruction from the provider;
2. The electronic mail system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing in the transmission unit is executed only when the accepting unit permits the provider .

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