JP4126756B2 - Mail receiving apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a receiving method in an electronic mail system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, what is called Post Office Protocol Version 3 (abbreviated as POP 3) is disclosed as an electronic mail system used for a portable terminal (RFC 1939).
[0003]
POP3 is a system for receiving mail from a mail server, and specifies the mail number stored in the server and downloads the contents of the mail to the terminal side.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In general, the contents of an email cannot be determined unless the email is downloaded once to the terminal side. For this reason, communication time and communication charges are spent to download emails that do not need to be downloaded or large emails.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to reduce communication time by filtering mails that need not be read in order to solve the above problems on the server side in advance.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the mail receiving system of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a mail receiving system comprising a mail server for managing mail delivery and a mail receiving device for receiving mail managed by the mail server, wherein the mail receiving device comprises a delivery condition and a delivery operation. A first delivery rule registration unit for sending a delivery rule registration request command including a rule, a mail address, and a terminal ID to the mail server; and a delivery rule conforming mail request command including a mail address and a terminal ID. A mail receiving unit that receives the mail delivered from the mail server, the mail server receives the delivery rule registration request command, and associates a mail address, a terminal ID, and a delivery rule for delivery. The second delivery rule registration unit stored in the rule storage unit, and the received mail when the mail is received from the outside A delivery condition associated with a destination email address is retrieved from the delivery rule storage unit, and if the received email satisfies the delivery condition, email management information including a terminal ID and an email address satisfying the delivery condition, and The corresponding delivery operation is stored in the delivery mail storage unit, and the received mail is stored in the delivery mail storage unit as it is. When the received mail does not satisfy the delivery condition, the received mail is stored in the delivery mail storage unit. A delivery mail inspection unit stored in the mail receiving unit, the delivery rule conforming mail request command received from the mail receiving device, and a mail address and a terminal ID included in the command, a mail address and a terminal ID included in the mail management information If the message matches, the mail stored in the delivery mail storage unit is processed based on the delivery operation. And a compatible mail delivery unit which delivers to the mail receiving device Te.
[0007]
Further, the mail receiving system of the present invention further comprises the following configuration. That is, the delivery rule registration request command further includes an attachment file type as a delivery operation, and the second delivery rule registration unit further associates the attachment file type as a delivery operation and stores it in the delivery rule storage unit. When the attachment file type is designated as the delivery operation, the compatible mail delivery unit attaches only the attachment file of the designated type and delivers it to the mail receiving apparatus.
[0008]
The mail server of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a mail server that manages the mail delivery, and delivery rules consisting of the delivery conditions and shipping operations and to receive and email address, delivery rules registration request command including the terminal ID from the mail receiving device, and delivery rules registration unit for storing the delivery rule storage unit in association with the mail address and the terminal ID and delivery rules, when receiving mail from the outside, the delivery of the delivery conditions associated with the destination mail address of the received mail searches the rule storage unit, wherein when the received mail is the delivery condition is satisfied, the delivery and satisfy the terminal ID and the mail address and the mail management information including, a delivery operation that corresponds to the delivery mail storage unit stores, the received mail and stores it in the delivery mail storage unit, when the received mail does not satisfy the delivery condition, Stores the serial incoming mail to the delivery mail storage part and the delivery mail checking unit receives the mail receiving device or et distribution transmission rules adapted mail request command, an email address and a terminal ID included in the command, the mail A matching mail delivery unit that processes the mail stored in the delivery mail storage unit based on a delivery operation and delivers the mail to the mail receiving device when the email address and the terminal ID included in the management information match.
[0009]
The mail server of the present invention further has the following configuration. That is, the delivery rule registration request command further includes an attachment file type as a delivery operation, and the delivery rule registration unit further associates the attachment file type as a delivery operation and stores it in the delivery rule storage unit, and When the type of the attached file is designated for the delivery operation, the delivery unit attaches only the attached file of the designated type and delivers it to the mail receiving apparatus.
[0010]
The mail control method of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a mail control method in a mail server for controlling mail delivery, which receives a delivery rule registration request command including a delivery rule including a delivery condition and a delivery operation, a mail address, and a terminal ID from a mail receiving device. A first step of associating a mail address, a terminal ID and a delivery rule and storing them in a delivery rule storage unit; and when receiving a mail from outside, a delivery condition associated with a destination mail address of the received mail When searching from the rule storage unit and the received mail satisfies the delivery condition, mail management information including the terminal ID and the mail address satisfying the delivery condition and the corresponding delivery operation are stored in the delivery mail storage unit. as well as, the received mail and stores it in the delivery mail storage unit, the received mail is the delivery condition If not Tasa includes a second step of storing the received mail in the delivery mail storage unit, it receives the distribution send mail receiving device or al rules adapted mail request command, and a mail address included in the command terminal If the ID matches the mail address and the terminal ID included in the mail management information, the third step of processing the mail stored in the delivery mail storage unit based on the delivery operation and delivering it to the mail receiving device With.
[0011]
With the above configuration, the mail receiving apparatus and method according to the present invention can register delivery rules for mail delivered from the mail server, and only necessary mail is delivered. This has the effect of reducing the amount of mail data and reducing the communication time and communication charge.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a mail system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0014]
In the mail receiving apparatus 101 of FIG. 1, the delivery rule creation unit 102 creates delivery rule data and notifies the delivery rule transmission unit 103. The delivery rule transmission unit 103 transmits a delivery rule registration request command. The communication I / F 105 transmits a delivery rule registration command to the mail server device 201.
[0015]
When the mail server device 201 receives a delivery rule registration request command from the communication I / F 206, the mail server device 201 notifies the delivery rule registration unit 202. The delivery rule registration unit 202 stores the delivery rule condition and the delivery operation in the delivery rule storage unit 203. When the mail is delivered to the mail server device 201, the delivery mail inspection unit 207 is notified. The delivery mail inspection unit 207 retrieves the delivery destination email address and searches the delivery rule storage unit 203. If a delivery rule is registered for the email address, it is checked whether the email content meets the delivery condition 205. If it matches, the delivery operation 204 is executed and the processed mail is stored in the delivery mail storage unit 208.
[0016]
The mail receiving unit 106 transmits a delivery rule conforming mail request command to the mail server apparatus 201 via the communication I / F 105. When the mail server device 201 receives the delivery rule conforming mail request command from the communication I / F 206, the mail server device 201 notifies the conforming mail delivery unit 209.
[0017]
The compatible mail delivery unit 209 extracts the mail from the delivery mail storage unit 208 and transmits the mail to the mail receiving apparatus 101 through the communication I / F 206. The mail receiving unit 106 receives mail from the communication I / F 105.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the delivery rule registration process of the mail receiving apparatus 101. This processing is executed by the mail delivery rule creation unit 102 and the delivery rule transmission unit 103 in FIG. In step S201, the type of delivery condition is set. In step S202, it is checked whether a delivery condition type is set. If the type of delivery condition is not set, step S201 is repeated. If delivery conditions are set, the delivery condition type is stored in step S203.
[0019]
In step S204, the delivery operation type is set. In step S205, it is checked whether the type of delivery operation is set. If the delivery operation type is not set, step S204 is repeated. If the delivery operation type is set, a delivery rule is created in step S206. As the delivery rule, a delivery rule composed of the delivery condition type value and the delivery action type value set in step S204 and step S206 is created. In step S207, a delivery rule registration request command is created. In step S208, a delivery rule registration request command is transmitted using the communication I / F 105. The delivery rule is registered in the mail server device by the above procedure.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the delivery condition type setting process of the mail receiving apparatus 101, and is a detailed flowchart of step S201 in FIG. In step S301, an inquiry is made as to whether to use a header pattern as a value used as a delivery condition. When using a header pattern, an inquiry is made as to whether or not a subject is to be used in step S302. When a subject is designated, a subject character string is input in step S303. Next, the matching condition is input to the character string designated in step S304. Select from matching or mismatching as the matching condition. If the subject is not used in step S302, an inquiry is made as to whether to use FROM in step S305. When using FROM, step S303 and step S304 are executed as in the case of the subject. If the FROM is not used in step S305, an inquiry is made as to whether to use TO in step S306. When using TO, step S303 and step S304 are executed as in the case of the subject. If neither TO is used in step S306 or no header pattern is used in step S301, an inquiry is made as to whether to specify the size in step S307. When the size is designated in step S307, the size is input in step S308. Next, in step S309, a matching condition is input. The conforming condition is selected from the case where it is larger than the specified size, the case where it is equal, or the case where it is smaller. In step S310, an inquiry is made as to whether to specify a composite condition. When specifying a compound condition, a compound condition is set in step S311. For each condition specified in the previous step, a condition is specified by combining the conditions of the logical sum, logical product, and exclusive logical sum. Next, in step S312, an inquiry is made as to whether a default designation is to be made. The default indicates a case where the conditions specified in the previous step are not met. The fact that the default has been selected in step S313 is stored. In addition to the conditions listed in the flowchart as delivery conditions, a character string included in the mail text may be used as a condition.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a detailed operation flowchart of step S204 of FIG. 2, which is a delivery operation type setting process of the mail receiving apparatus 201.
[0022]
In step S401, an inquiry is made as to whether to process at the time of delivery. If not processed, the setting is terminated as no delivery operation. In step S402, an inquiry is made as to whether to limit the mail size. When the mail size is limited, the mail size is input in step S403. Next, in step S404, an inquiry is made as to whether a MIME part is designated as a part of the mail.
[0023]
When the MIME MIME part is specified, the MIME part type is set in step S405. For example, a text part, an image part, or data of a specific application is designated as a type such as plain text, x-mS-bmp, and gif.
[0024]
FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the delivery mail inspection process of the mail server device 201. This process is executed by the delivery mail inspection unit 207. In step S501, the destination mail address is extracted from the mail received by the mail server device. In step S502, the delivery rule storage unit 203 is searched using the mail address as a search key. If there is no delivery rule registered for the mail address in step S503, the received mail is stored in the delivery mail storage unit 208 as it is in step S510. If there is a delivery rule registered for the mail address in step S503, the delivery condition 205 is extracted in step S504. In step S505, the extracted delivery condition is compared with the contents of the mail. For example, in the case of a delivery condition in which a character “important” is included in the subject, it is checked whether the character string included in the subject field of the mail header includes the character “important”.
[0025]
If the delivery condition is not matched in step S506, nothing is stored in the delivery mail storage unit. If the delivery condition is matched in step S506, the delivery operation 204 is extracted from the delivery rule storage unit 203. In step S508, a delivery operation is executed. For example, when it is registered that the transmission operation is performed up to a size of 1 KB, the first 1 KB is taken out. In step S509, the processing result is stored in the delivery mail storage unit 208.
[0026]
As described above, the mail delivery amount can be reduced by processing only a part of the received mail as a mail to be delivered.
[0027]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a mail system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0028]
In the mail receiving device 601 of FIG. 6, the delivery rule registration unit 602 creates delivery rule data and sends a delivery rule registration request command to the mail server device 610 via the communication I / F 605.
[0029]
When the mail server device 610 receives a delivery rule registration request command from the communication I / F 611, the mail server device 610 notifies the delivery rule registration unit 612. The delivery rule registration unit 612 stores the delivery rule condition and the delivery operation in the delivery rule storage unit 613.
[0030]
When a mail is delivered to the mail server device 610, the delivery mail inspection unit 619 is notified. The delivery mail inspection unit 619 retrieves the delivery destination email address 614 and searches the delivery rule storage unit 613. When a delivery rule is registered for the mail address 614, it is investigated whether the mail content meets the delivery condition 616. If it matches, a delivery operation 617 is executed, and the delivery mail is stored in the delivery mail storage unit 620.
[0031]
The mail receiving unit 604 transmits a delivery rule conforming mail request command to the mail server device 610 through the communication I / F 605. When the mail server device 610 receives a delivery rule conforming mail request command from the communication I / F 611, the mail server apparatus 610 notifies the conforming mail delivery unit 624.
[0032]
The compatible mail delivery unit 624 extracts the mail from the delivery mail storage unit 620 and transmits the mail to the mail reception device 601 through the communication I / F 611.
[0033]
The mail receiving unit 604 receives mail from the communication I / F 605. When confirming the mail delivery rule, the delivery rule confirmation unit 603 of the mail receiving device 601 transmits a mail delivery rule confirmation command to the mail server device 610 through the communication I / F 605. A mail delivery rule confirmation command is notified to the delivery rule confirmation response unit 618 from the communication I / F 611 of the mail server device 610. The delivery rule confirmation response unit 618 extracts the delivery rule from the delivery rule storage unit 613, creates a delivery rule confirmation response, and transmits it to the mail reception device 601 through the communication I / F 611. The delivery rule confirmation unit 603 is notified of a delivery rule confirmation response response from the communication I / F 605.
[0034]
FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the delivery rule registration process of the mail server device 610. This process is executed by the delivery rule registration unit 612 in FIG. 6 using the delivery rule storage unit 613. In step S701, the mail address is extracted from the delivery rule registration command. In step S702, the terminal ID is extracted from the delivery rule registration command. In step S703, the delivery condition is extracted from the delivery rule registration command. In step S704, the delivery operation is extracted from the delivery rule registration command. In step S705, the delivery rule storage unit is searched by mail address. If there is data of the corresponding mail address in step S706, the presence or absence of an entry with the same terminal ID as the terminal ID of the delivery rule registration command is checked in step S707. If there is a corresponding terminal ID in step S708, the delivery condition 616 of the terminal ID 615 and the data of the delivery operation 617 for the corresponding mail address 614 are updated in step S709. If there is no corresponding mail address in step S706, a new mail address entry is created in step S710. In step S711, an entry for a new terminal ID is created. In step S712, a delivery condition 616 and a delivery operation 617 are set. If there is no corresponding terminal ID in step S708, a new terminal ID entry is created in step S711. In step S712, a delivery condition 616 and a delivery operation 617 are set.
[0035]
With the above procedure, delivery conditions in a plurality of mail receiving apparatuses can be specified for one mail address.
[0036]
FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the delivery mail inspection process of the mail server device 610. This processing is executed by using the delivery rule storage unit 613 and the delivery mail storage unit 620 in the delivery mail inspection unit 619 of FIG. In step S801, the destination mail address is extracted from the mail received by the mail server device 610. In step S802, the delivery rule storage unit 613 is searched using the mail address as a search key. If there is a delivery rule having the same address as the mail address in step S803, the delivery condition 616 of the first terminal ID 615 is taken out in step S804. In step S805, the extracted delivery condition 616 is compared with the contents of the mail. For example, in the case of a delivery condition in which the mail size is 10 KB or more, the mail size is checked. If the delivery condition is matched in step S806, the mail management information 621 is created in the delivery mail storage unit 620 in step S807. In step S808, the received mail ID and the terminal ID are stored in the mail management information 621. In step S809, the received mail is stored in the original mail 622 without being processed. In step S810, the delivery operation is extracted from the delivery operation 617 of the delivery rule storage unit 613 and stored in the delivery operation 623 of the delivery mail storage unit 620. The delivery operation stored at this time is associated with the mail management information and the original mail.
[0037]
If there is no corresponding data in step S803, the received mail is stored in the original mail 622 in step S811. Even if the delivery condition is not satisfied in step S806, the received mail is stored in the original mail 622 in step S811.
[0038]
With the above procedure, when using from multiple mail receiving terminals for one mail address, the received mail body is stored as it is without processing and what kind of delivery operation is performed at the time of delivery. Can be determined. In this case, it is only necessary to store one mail, so the storage area can be saved.
[0039]
In addition, since the delivery condition is checked in advance when mail is received, it can be read at high speed when reading from the mail receiving terminal.
[0040]
FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart of the compatible mail delivery process of the mail server device 610. This process is executed using the delivery mail storage unit 620 in the compatible mail delivery unit 624 of FIG. In step S901, the terminal ID is extracted from the delivery rule conforming mail request command. In step S902, the mail management information in the delivery mail storage unit 620 is searched by mail address. If there is an entry of the corresponding mail address in step S903, it is searched in step S904 whether the terminal ID exists in the entry. If the terminal ID exists in step S905, the delivery operation 623 and the original mail 622 to be delivered are extracted in step S906. In step S907, a delivery operation is performed on the original mail 622. For example, when the delivery operation transmits a part of mail, that is, when only the text part of the MIME part is extracted, only the text of the original mail is extracted. In step S908, the processed mail is delivered to the mail receiving device 601 using the communication interface 611. In step S909, the mail management information 621 is checked for remaining mail. If there is no corresponding mail in S910, the process is terminated. If there is no corresponding mail address in step S903, the process is terminated. If there is no terminal ID in step S905, a search is made for another mail.
[0041]
According to the above procedure, the corresponding mail is searched by the compatible mail delivery request command from the mail receiving terminal, the delivery operation with the matching terminal ID is executed, the mail is processed and delivered. Since a delivery operation can be set for each terminal ID, for example, a terminal with a small screen or memory can be set to receive only 1 KB of text, or to receive only mail from a specific important person. Mail receiving terminals with large screens and abundant memory can be set to deliver not only text but also specific application data.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the mail receiving apparatus and method according to the present invention can register a delivery rule for mail delivered from a mail server. As a result, the amount of mail data to be delivered can be reduced, and the communication time and communication charge can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a mail system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a delivery rule registration processing procedure in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a delivery condition type setting process in Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a delivery operation type setting process procedure according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a delivery inspection process procedure according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart according to the second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a delivery rule registration processing procedure in the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a delivery mail inspection processing procedure in the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a conformity in the second embodiment. Flow chart of mail delivery processing procedure [Explanation of symbols]
101, 601 Mail receiving device 102 Delivery rule creation unit 103 Delivery rule transmission unit 105, 605 Communication I / F
106, 604 Mail receiving unit 201, 610 Mail server device 202, 612 Delivery rule registration unit 203, 613 Delivery rule storage unit 204, 617 Delivery operation 205, 616 Delivery condition 206, 611 Communication I / F
207, 619 Delivery mail inspection unit 208, 620 Delivery email storage unit 209, 624 Applicable email delivery unit 602 Delivery rule registration unit 603 Delivery rule confirmation unit 614 Email address 615 Terminal ID
618 Delivery rule confirmation response unit 621 Mail management information 622 Original mail 623 Delivery operation

Claims (5)

A mail receiving system comprising a mail server for managing mail delivery and a mail receiving device for receiving mail managed by the mail server,
The mail receiving device is:
A first delivery rule registration unit for sending a delivery rule registration request command including a delivery rule including a delivery condition and a delivery operation, a mail address, and a terminal ID to the mail server;
A mail receiving unit that sends a mail that conforms to a delivery rule that includes a mail address and a terminal ID to the mail server, and that receives mail delivered from the mail server;
The mail server is
Receiving the delivery rules registration request command, and a second delivery rule registration unit for storing the delivery rule storage unit in association with the mail address and the terminal ID and delivery rules,
When a mail is received from outside, a delivery condition associated with a destination mail address of the received mail is searched from the delivery rule storage unit, and if the received mail satisfies the delivery condition, a terminal satisfying the delivery condition The mail management information including the ID and the mail address and the corresponding delivery operation are stored in the delivery mail storage unit, and the received mail is stored as it is in the delivery mail storage unit, and the received mail does not satisfy the delivery condition. A delivery mail inspection unit that stores the received mail in the delivery mail storage unit ;
When the delivery rule conforming mail request command is received from the mail receiving device, and the mail address and terminal ID included in the command match the mail address and terminal ID included in the mail management information, the delivery mail storage unit A mail receiving system comprising: an adapted mail delivery unit that processes the mail stored in the mail based on a delivery operation and delivers the mail to the mail receiving device. The delivery rule registration request command further includes an attachment file type as a delivery operation, and the second delivery rule registration unit further associates the attachment file type as a delivery operation and stores it in the delivery rule storage unit ,
2. The mail receiving system according to claim 1 , wherein when the type of attached file is designated as a delivery operation , the compatible mail delivering unit attaches only the attached file of the designated type and delivers the attached file to the mail receiving device. A mail server that manages mail delivery,
A delivery rule storage unit that receives a delivery rule registration request command including a delivery rule including a delivery condition and a delivery operation, a mail address, and a terminal ID from the mail receiving device, and associates the mail address with the terminal ID and the delivery rule. and the delivery rule registration unit for storing in,
When a mail is received from outside, a delivery condition associated with a destination mail address of the received mail is searched from the delivery rule storage unit, and if the received mail satisfies the delivery condition, a terminal satisfying the delivery condition The mail management information including the ID and the mail address and the corresponding delivery operation are stored in the delivery mail storage unit, and the received mail is stored as it is in the delivery mail storage unit, and the received mail satisfies the delivery condition. If not, a delivery mail inspection unit that stores the received mail in the delivery mail storage unit ;
Receiving a distribution send mail receiving device or al rules adapted mail request command, if the email address and the terminal ID contained in the command, coincides with the mail address and the terminal ID included in the mail management information, the delivery mail storage unit A mail server comprising: a compatible mail delivery unit that processes the mail stored in the mail based on a delivery operation and delivers the mail to the mail receiving device. The delivery rule registration request command further includes an attachment file type as a delivery operation, and the delivery rule registration unit further associates an attachment file type as a delivery operation and stores it in the delivery rule storage unit,
4. The mail server according to claim 3 , wherein when the type of attached file is designated for delivery operation , the compatible mail delivery unit attaches only the attached file of the designated type and delivers the attached file to the mail receiving device. A mail control method in a mail server for controlling mail delivery,
A delivery rule storage unit that receives a delivery rule registration request command including a delivery rule including a delivery condition and a delivery operation, a mail address, and a terminal ID from the mail receiving device, and associates the mail address with the terminal ID and the delivery rule. A first step of storing in
When a mail is received from outside, a delivery condition associated with a destination mail address of the received mail is searched from the delivery rule storage unit, and if the received mail satisfies the delivery condition, a terminal satisfying the delivery condition The mail management information including the ID and the mail address and the corresponding delivery operation are stored in the delivery mail storage unit, and the received mail is stored as it is in the delivery mail storage unit, and the received mail satisfies the delivery condition. If not, a second step of storing the received mail in the delivery mail storage unit ;
Receiving a distribution send mail receiving device or al rules adapted mail request command, if the email address and the terminal ID contained in the command, coincides with the mail address and the terminal ID included in the mail management information, the delivery mail storage unit And a third step of processing the mail stored in the mail based on a delivery operation and delivering the processed mail to the mail receiving device.

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