JP5293415B2 - Evaluation apparatus, evaluation method, and evaluation program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an evaluation device, an evaluation method and an evaluation program, capable of evaluating easily an efficiency of processing. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of pieces of electronic mail history information is stored in a managing table of a mail history BD 2. An extraction means 3 retrieves other electronic mail history information having identification information matched to transmitter information of optional electronic mail history information, referring to the table, extracts further repeatingly an electronic mail having identification information matched to transmitter information of the extracted electronic mail history information, sequentially until the electronic mail history information is not extracted, when the corresponding electronic mail history information is extracted as a retrieval result, and extracts a transmission route of the electronic mail, by specifying a set of the related electronic mail history information. A detecting means 4 detects the transmission route with the same receiver information appearing at least twice, out of the transmission routes extracted by the extraction means 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an evaluation apparatus, an evaluation method, and an evaluation program.

In recent years, there are a wide variety of operations, and the range of operations that can be processed by one person is limited. Therefore, it is required to improve the efficiency of the processing of operations by cooperating with others.
Various methods are considered as an index for improving the efficiency of business processing.

For example, a technique is known in which the frequency of dialogue actions in business organization activities is aggregated and the dialogue actions in business organization activities are evaluated according to the amount of information brought about by the dialogue actions.
Also, for example, to make it easier to collaborate with other people, separate the shared data part from the non-shared data part, and provide authority such as data disclosure, non-disclosure, update authority, etc. There is a known method for minimizing necessary information.

JP 2006-260102 A JP 2004-334621 A

In an organization with low business processing efficiency, there is a case where a so-called business process is generated in which the business is sent one after another without being processed responsibly.
For example, even if the frequency of dialogue actions increases and communication is activated, if work is being disrupted, it does not necessarily lead to an improvement in the efficiency of work processing.

Accordingly, there is a problem that it is difficult to stably evaluate whether or not the business is being performed efficiently even if the frequency of dialogue actions is simply counted.
The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide an evaluation apparatus, an evaluation method, and an evaluation program that can easily evaluate the efficiency of processing.

In order to achieve the above object, a disclosed evaluation apparatus is provided. This evaluation apparatus has an electronic mail history table, an extraction unit, a detection unit, and an evaluation unit.
In the email history table, for each email, the sender information, recipient information, and the fact that these emails have been replied to or forwarded to other emails. A plurality of pieces of e-mail history information associated with the identification information shown are stored.

  The extraction means refers to the email history table, searches for other email history information having identification information that matches the sender information of any email history information, and as a result of the search, the corresponding email history information is found. If the e-mail history information can be extracted, the e-mail having the identification information that matches the sender information of the extracted e-mail history information is further extracted sequentially until the e-mail history information is no longer extracted. E-mail transmission paths are extracted by specifying a set of mail history information.

The detection unit detects a transmission route in which the same recipient information appears at least twice from the transmission routes extracted by the extraction unit.
The evaluation means evaluates the transmission / reception status of a plurality of e-mails based on the appearance frequency of the e-mail history related to the transmission path detected by the detection section or the appearance interval of the same recipient information on this transmission path.

  According to the disclosed evaluation apparatus, it is possible to easily evaluate the state of electronic mail exchange in the organization.

It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the evaluation apparatus of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the system of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of an evaluation apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function of an evaluation apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of an email. It is a figure explaining a loop ratio. It is a figure explaining the length of a loop path | route. It is a figure which shows mail log information. It is a figure which shows message response information. It is a figure which shows route loop information. It is a figure which shows advice information. It is a flowchart which shows the process of an evaluation apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a message response information creation process. It is a flowchart which shows a loop detection process. It is a flowchart which shows a calculation process. It is a flowchart which shows report preparation processing. It is a figure which shows the output report. It is a figure which shows the case where the message response information creation process of 2nd Embodiment is applied. It is a figure which shows the mail log information management table of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the message response information creation process of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the message response information creation process of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the mail log information of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the message response information creation process of 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the evaluation apparatus according to the embodiment will be described, and then the embodiment will be described more specifically.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an evaluation apparatus according to an embodiment.
The evaluation device 1 according to the embodiment includes a mail history DB 2, an extraction unit 3, a detection unit 4, and an evaluation unit 5.

  The e-mail history DB 2 associates, for each e-mail, sender information, recipient information of the e-mail, and identification information indicating that the e-mail has been replied to or transferred to another e-mail. A plurality of pieces of the received electronic mail history information are stored as a table, for example. In addition, for e-mail exchanged with the organization to be evaluated, for example, the e-mail address of a member constituting an arbitrary organization is defined, the corresponding e-mail address is identified for the organization designated as the target, and Only the e-mail history including the e-mail address to be sent or received as e-mail is stored as e-mail history information.

The mail history DB 2 is provided inside the evaluation device 1, but may be provided outside the evaluation device 1.
Hereinafter, the mail history information stored in the mail history DB 2 will be described.

In FIG. 1, clients 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d are provided in the organization 6.
These clients 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d send and receive mail to and from each other via a mail server (not shown). The clients 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d transmit and receive mail to and from the client 7 provided outside the organization 6 via a mail server (not shown).

  In FIG. 1, when a path (route) through which an e-mail including the same message passes is shown, the client 7 transmits an e-mail including the message A to the client 6a as a first path. A state in which the client 6a transfers the electronic mail including the message A to the client 6b is shown. A state in which the client 6b transfers the electronic mail including the message A to the client 6c is shown.

  Thereafter, the client 6c returns (re-transfers) the electronic mail to the client 6b, and the client 6b returns (re-transfers) the electronic mail to the client 6a.

  In addition, as a second path, the client 7 transmits an electronic mail including the message B to the client 6a, and the client 6a transfers the electronic mail to the client 6d.

The mail history DB 2 stores information that can identify this route.
Whether the received e-mail is transferred to another client as in the client 6b or whether a newly created e-mail is transmitted as in the client 7 can be determined by the following method. it can.

The e-mail transmitted from each client to other clients includes information (message ID) for identifying the e-mail.
Further, the e-mail (other e-mail) transmitted from each client to another client includes information (reference ID) for identifying whether or not the e-mail has been transferred (transfer mail).

  Therefore, for example, the determination can be made by confirming that the message ID included in the electronic mail transmitted from the client 7 to the client 6a matches the reference ID included in the electronic mail transmitted from the client 6a to the client 6b. . If they match, it can be determined that the received e-mail is being transferred, and if they do not match, it can be determined that a newly created e-mail is being transmitted.

The extraction unit 3 extracts a transmission path for each electronic mail exchanged in the organization 6 from the mail history information.
Specifically, the extracting unit 3 refers to the above-described table and searches for other electronic mail history information having identification information that matches the sender information of arbitrary electronic mail history information.

  If the corresponding e-mail history information can be extracted as a result of the search, the e-mail history information further includes extracting an e-mail having identification information that matches the sender information of the extracted e-mail history information. The process repeatedly repeats until no longer is extracted, and identifies a set of related electronic mail history information to extract an electronic mail transmission path.

In FIG. 1, a first route for an electronic mail including message A and a second route for an electronic mail including message B are extracted.
Here, the e-mail exchanged in the organization 6 is not limited to the e-mail exchanged between the insides of the organization 6, but includes e-mails exchanged with the clients 7 existing outside the organization 6.

Note that the function of the extraction means 3 corresponds to the function of a message response information creation unit and a part of the function of the loop detection unit described later.
The detection means 4 detects a transmission path (transmission path in which a loop of the path has occurred) in which the same recipient information appears at least twice among the transmission paths extracted by the extraction means 3.

In FIG. 1, in the first route described above, the client 6a appears again on the route. Therefore, the detection means 4 detects this first route.
The evaluation unit 5 evaluates the transmission / reception status of a plurality of e-mails based on the appearance frequency of the e-mail history related to the transmission path detected by the detection unit 4 or the appearance interval of the same recipient information on the transmission path. .

  Here, for example, the evaluation unit 5 preferably evaluates the state of the exchange of e-mails of the organization 6 according to the ratio of the transmission routes in which the same client appears again among the transmission routes extracted by the extraction unit 3. .

  In FIG. 1, the first route for message A and the second route for message B are extracted, and in the first route, client 6a appears again in the route, so the ratio is 1/2. = 0.5.

  When this ratio is large, it indicates that the number of returned e-mails is large. Therefore, for example, when the obtained ratio is relatively large (for example, large with respect to a prepared index), the evaluation unit 5 evaluates the state of exchange of e-mails relatively low. On the other hand, when the obtained ratio is relatively small, the state of exchange of electronic mail is evaluated relatively high.

  For example, when the e-mail transmitted by the client 7 is an e-mail requesting business processing to the organization 6, the evaluation of the state of exchange of the e-mail can be applied to the evaluation of this process.

  For example, when the ratio is relatively large, the evaluation unit 5 determines that the business processing efficiency is low, and evaluates that the organization 6 is a relatively bad organization. On the other hand, when the ratio is relatively small, it is evaluated that the efficiency of business processing is high, and the organization 6 is evaluated as a relatively good organization.

In this way, by determining the ratio, it is possible to easily evaluate the efficiency of business processing.
As another example, it is preferable to evaluate the state of electronic mail exchange of the organization 6 according to the number of clients that have passed through the transmission path where the same client appears again until the same client appears again.

  In FIG. 1, the message A returns from the client 6c via the client 6b. Therefore, the number of clients that have passed through until the same client appears again is “2” with the client 6c and the client 6b once passing through the client 6b being counted.

  If this number is large, useless costs are incurred until the data is transferred to the correct transfer destination. Therefore, for example, when the obtained number is relatively large, the evaluation unit 5 evaluates the state of exchange of e-mails relatively low. On the other hand, when the obtained number is relatively small, the state of exchange of e-mails is highly evaluated.

  As described above, when the e-mail transmitted by the client 7 is an e-mail requesting the organization 6 to process the business, the evaluation means 5 can improve the efficiency of the business processing when the obtained value is relatively large. It is judged that the organization is low and the organization 6 is evaluated as a relatively bad organization. On the other hand, when the obtained value is relatively small, it is evaluated that the efficiency of business processing is high, and the organization 6 is evaluated as a relatively good organization.

In this way, by determining the number of clients that have passed before the same client appears again, it is possible to easily evaluate the efficiency of business processing.
According to the evaluation device 1, it is possible to reliably detect the occurrence of an email loop by detecting a transmission path in which the same client appears again. For this reason, it is possible to easily evaluate the state of e-mail exchange.

  Further, when the e-mail transmitted by the client 7 is an e-mail requesting the processing of the business to the organization 6, the evaluation of the state of the exchange of the e-mail is applied to the evaluation of the processing. It is possible to easily evaluate the efficiency of processing of the business.

Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described more specifically.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a system according to the first embodiment.

The system 100 includes an evaluation device 10, clients 21a, 21b,..., A mail server 40, and a management server 50.
The evaluation device 10, the clients 21a, 21b,..., The mail server 40, and the management server 50 are each connected to the network 30.

  The organization 21 means a set of clients 21a, 21b,. The size of the organization 21 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a company, a department within the company, and a plurality of departments specified within the company. In the present embodiment, as an example, it means one company.

  Each of the clients 21a, 21b,... Is a device belonging to a department in charge of a separate task in the organization 21. In the present embodiment, when an electronic mail is transmitted from the client 21a to the client 21b, it means that the electronic mail is transmitted to a different department.

The mail server 40 manages the history information (mail history information) of the emails sent and received by the clients 21a, 21b, ... belonging to the organization 21.
For example, the mail server 40 manages e-mail exchange information between the clients 21a and 21b and e-mail exchange information of e-mail exchanges between the client 60 and the clients 21a, 21b,.

  Specifically, the mail server 40 stores, for each e-mail, the sender (sender) information of the e-mail, information (message ID) for identifying a message included in the e-mail, and recipient information in association with each other.

Further, when the e-mail is a transfer mail, the mail server 40 associates and stores information (reference ID) for identifying the transfer source included in the e-mail.
The evaluation device 10 evaluates the efficiency of business processing in the organization 21 based on the history of electronic mail stored in the mail server 40. Specifically, an e-mail transmission path is specified based on the e-mail history. Then, pay attention to whether a loop has occurred in the transmission path and what kind of loop is occurring, and store the loop ratio and loop path length in numerical form. .

The management server 50 receives the evaluation result of the evaluation device 10 via the network 30.
According to such a system 100, the mail server 40 manages the history of e-mails transmitted and received by the clients 21a, 21b,. The evaluation device 10 evaluates the efficiency of business processing in the organization 21 based on the history of electronic mail stored in the mail server 40. The evaluation result of the evaluation device 10 is received by the management server 50.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the evaluation apparatus.
The entire evaluation apparatus 10 is controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101. A random access memory (RAM) 102, a hard disk drive (HDD) 103, a graphic processing device 104, an input interface 105, an external auxiliary storage device 106, and a communication interface 107 are connected to the CPU 101 via a bus 108. Yes.

  The RAM 102 temporarily stores at least part of an OS (Operating System) program and application programs to be executed by the CPU 101. The RAM 102 stores various data necessary for processing by the CPU 101. The HDD 103 stores an OS and application programs. A program file is stored in the HDD 103.

  A monitor 104 a is connected to the graphic processing device 104. The graphic processing device 104 displays an image on the screen of the monitor 104a in accordance with a command from the CPU 101. A keyboard 105 a and a mouse 105 b are connected to the input interface 105. The input interface 105 transmits a signal transmitted from the keyboard 105 a and the mouse 105 b to the CPU 101 via the bus 108.

  The external auxiliary storage device 106 reads information written on the recording medium and writes information on the recording medium. Examples of the recording medium that can be read and written by the external auxiliary storage device 106 include a magnetic recording device, an optical disc, a magneto-optical recording medium, and a semiconductor memory. Examples of the magnetic recording device include an HDD, a flexible disk (FD), and a magnetic tape. Examples of the optical disc include a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a DVD-RAM (Random Access Memory), a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), and a CD-R (Recordable) / RW (ReWritable). Examples of the magneto-optical recording medium include MO (Magneto-Optical disk).

  The communication interface 107 is connected to the network 30. The communication interface 107 transmits and receives data to and from other computers via the network 30.

  With the hardware configuration as described above, the processing functions of the present embodiment can be realized. The following functions are provided in the evaluation apparatus 10 having such a hardware configuration.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the evaluation apparatus.
The evaluation device 10 includes a mail history information acquisition unit 11, a mail history DB 12, a message response information creation unit 13, a message response DB 14, a loop detection unit 15, a route loop DB 16, an index calculation unit 17, and a report creation. A unit 18, a report storage unit 19, a report output unit 20, and an advice storage unit 70 are included.

The mail history information acquisition unit 11 acquires mail history information created by the mail server 40 and stores it in the mail history DB 12.
The mail history DB 12 stores mail history information created by the mail server 40.

As described above, the mail history information is information in which sender information, message ID, receiver information, and reference ID are associated with each e-mail.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic mail.

  In the email 200, information indicating the subject of the email is set in the subject field. Information indicating the sender is set in the From column. Information indicating the destination is set in the To column. Information indicating the date of transmission is set in the Date column. Information for identifying the transfer source is set in the References column. Information for identifying the e-mail 200 from other e-mails is set in the Message-ID column.

  Among these pieces of information, the mail history information includes information set in the From column of the email 200 (“Mr. A” in FIG. 5) and information set in the To column (“Mr. B” in FIG. 5). ”), Information set in the References column (“ 49B4B0AE.4090907@jp.fuji2.com ”in FIG. 5), and information set in the Message-ID column (“ 9301.1236580592@geragera. ling.flab.fuji2.co.jp ").

Here, the information set in the References column is information set only in the forwarded mail, and is not set in the newly created e-mail.
In the case of a forwarded mail, the Message-ID of the received electronic mail (before forwarding) is set in the References column. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5, “49B4B0AE.4090907@jp.fuji2.com” indicates the Message-ID of the received electronic mail.

Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued.
The message response information creation unit 13 refers to the presence or absence of a reference ID included in the mail history information, and identifies whether the email is a newly created email or a responding email. A response means a reply or transfer.

Then, in the case of a responding electronic mail, message response information is created by extracting information necessary for tracing the transmission path of the electronic mail from the mail history DB 12.
The message response DB 14 stores the message response information created by the message response information creation unit 13.

The loop detection unit 15 detects the occurrence of a transmission path loop based on the message response information.
Specifically, the occurrence of the loop is detected by determining whether or not the same message as the message included in the e-mail sent by the caller has returned to the caller based on the message response information.

  More specifically, in a continuous forwarded mail, when a receiver that matches the sender included in the e-mail appears, the same message as the message included in the e-mail sent by the sender returns to the sender. Is detected, the occurrence of a loop is detected.

  In addition, the loop detection unit 15 calculates a value (the value of the length of the loop path) indicating the number of clients that have passed through the transmission path where the loop has been detected until the same client appears again.

Then, the loop detection unit 15 creates route loop information having a value of the transmission path in which the occurrence of the loop is detected, the return destination of the loop, and the length of the loop path.
The route loop DB 16 stores route loop information created by the loop detection unit 15.

The exponent calculation unit 17 calculates a ratio (loop ratio) of transmission paths detected by the loop detection unit 15 among the transmission paths specified by the message response information.
Further, when a plurality of route loop information exists, the exponent calculation unit 17 calculates an average value of the length values of the loop routes included in each of the route loop information.

The average value of the loop ratio and the length of the loop path is an index for evaluating the efficiency of business processing.
Hereinafter, the loop ratio and the length of the loop path will be described using specific examples.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the loop ratio.
<Case 1>
FIG. 6A shows that two e-mails are transferred from the client 21a that has received an e-mail from the client 60 outside the organization 21 (outside the company) to the client 21b. In addition, two e-mails are transferred from the client 21a to the client 21c. In FIG. 6, the network 30 and the mail server 40 are not shown.

Of the four e-mails transferred by the client 21a in this way, one e-mail is returned from the client 21c.
<Case 2>
FIG. 6B shows that two e-mails are transferred from the client 21a that has received the e-mail from the client 60 to the client 21b. In addition, two e-mails are transferred from the client 21a to the client 21c.

Of the four e-mails transferred by the client 21a as described above, one e-mail is returned from each of the clients 21b and 21c.
Here, when comparing Case 1 and Case 2, Case 2 has more reply mails. For example, there are many cases where there are many reply mails.

(1) The client 21a receives an e-mail from the client 60 regarding a request for processing a certain job.
(2) The operator of the client 21a determines that the business described in the electronic mail is a business to be processed by the department to which the client 21b belongs, and transfers the received electronic mail to the client 21b. However, in practice, the job is a job to be processed by the department to which the client 21a belongs.

  (3) Since the operator of the client 21b knew about this, the contents informing the operator of the client 21a were added to the received e-mail, and the e-mail was transferred to the client 21a.

(4) Eventually, the operator of the client 21a processes the business, and the business processing requested by the client 60 is completed.
Thus, the number of reply mails affects the efficiency of business processing. Therefore, by calculating the loop ratio, it is possible to determine whether the business process is efficient or not. That is, when the loop ratio is large, the number of e-mails that are returned is large, so that it can be determined that the efficiency of business processing is poor.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the length of the loop path.
<Case 3>
FIG. 7A shows that one e-mail is transmitted from the client 21a that has received the e-mail from the client 60 to the client 21b. It shows that the received e-mail is transferred from the client 21b to the client 21c. This shows that the received e-mail is transferred from the client 21c to the client 21d. It shows that the received e-mail is transferred from the client 21d to the client 21a. In FIG. 7, the network 30 and the mail server 40 are not shown.

Thus, the e-mail transmitted by the client 21a indicates that the e-mail has been replied after passing through the three clients 21b, 21c, and 21d.
<Case 4>
FIG. 7B shows that one e-mail is transmitted from the client 21a that has received the e-mail from the client 60 to the client 21b. In addition, it shows that the electronic mail received from the client 21b is returned to the client 21a.

Thus, the e-mail transmitted by the client 21a is directly transmitted to the client 21b and indicates that there has been a reply.
Here, when comparing Case 3 and Case 4, Case 3 has a larger number of clients through which it passes. For example, the following cases can be considered that the number of clients passing through is large.

(1) The client 21a receives an e-mail from the client 60 regarding a request for processing a certain job.
(2) The operator of the client 21a determines that the business described in the electronic mail is a business to be processed by the department to which the client 21b belongs, and transfers the received electronic mail to the client 21b. However, in practice, the job is a job to be processed by the department to which the client 21a belongs.

(3) The operator of the client 21b received the e-mail, but did not know the department in charge of processing the business, and transferred the received e-mail to the client 21c by mistake.
(4) The operator of the client 21c has received the e-mail, but, like the operator of the client 21b, does not know the department in charge of processing the business, and erroneously transfers the received e-mail to the client 21d. did.

  (5) The operator of the client 21d received the e-mail, but knew that the department to which the client 21a belongs was a business to be processed, and therefore received the contents to inform the operator of the client 21a. Append to the e-mail and forward the e-mail to the client 21a.

(6) Eventually, the operator of the client 21a processes the business, and the business processing requested by the client 60 is completed.
Thus, the length of the loop path also affects the efficiency of business processing. That is, when the value of the length of the loop path is large, useless costs are incurred until the data is transferred to the correct transfer destination.

  Therefore, by calculating the value of the length of the loop path, it is possible to determine whether the business process is efficient or not. That is, when the value of the length of the loop route is large, it is possible to determine that the individual does not accurately grasp the business range and the business processing efficiency is poor.

Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued.
The report creation unit 18 creates a report indicating the improvement points for the entire organization 21 according to the average values of the loop ratio and the length of the loop path calculated by the index calculation unit 17.

  Specifically, when creating the report, the report creating unit 18 refers to the advice for evaluating the state of electronic mail exchange of the organization 21 stored in the advice storing unit 70. A report is then prepared with a combination of tips that match each of the average loop ratio and loop path length. The created report is stored in the report storage unit 19.

The report storage unit 19 stores the report created by the report creation unit 18.
The report output unit 20 outputs the report stored in the report storage unit 19 to the management server 50 in response to a request from the management server 50.

The advice storage unit 70 stores advice for evaluating the state of exchange of electronic mail of the organization 21.
This advice varies depending on the loop ratio. Moreover, it differs according to the average value of the length of the loop path.

  Next, the mail history information stored in the mail history DB 12, the message response information stored in the message response DB 14, and the route loop information stored in the route loop DB 16 will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing mail history information.
In the present embodiment, the mail history information is tabulated along a time series.
The mail history information management table 12a is provided with a sender, message ID, reference ID, and recipient fields. Information arranged in the horizontal direction is associated with each other.

The information described in the From field of the e-mail is stored in the sender column.
In the message ID column, information for identifying information described in the Message-ID column of the e-mail is stored.

  In the reference ID column, information for identifying the information described in the References column of the e-mail is stored. As described above, for the e-mail including the transferred message, the information described in the Message-ID column of the e-mail before transfer is set in the reference ID column.

Further, as described above, the newly created electronic mail has no reference ID field because there is no information in the References field of the electronic mail.
In the receiver column, information described in the To column of e-mail is stored.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing message response information.
In the present embodiment, the message response information is tabulated.
The message response information management table 14a has columns for a sender, outgoing message ID, original message ID, recipient, and confirmed flag. Information arranged in the horizontal direction is associated with each other.

The information described in the sender field of the mail history information management table 12a is stored in the sender field.
The outgoing message ID column stores the information described in the message ID column of the mail history information management table 12a.

In the original message ID column, information described in the reference ID column of the mail history information management table 12a is stored.
In the receiver column, information described in the receiver column of the mail history information management table 12a is stored.

The flag for confirming whether or not the process has already been completed for the record when the loop detection unit 15 performs the process is stored in the column for the confirmed flag.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing route loop information.

In the present embodiment, route loop information is tabulated.
The route loop information management table 16a has columns for message ID, route, loop route length, and return destination. Information arranged in the horizontal direction is associated with each other.

The message ID column stores the message ID of the transfer source message that caused the occurrence of the loop.
By referring to this column, it is possible to easily determine which electronic mail has triggered the loop.

  Information for identifying the route of the loop is stored in the route column. For example, the record shown in FIG. 10 indicates that the e-mail sent by the caller A has returned to the caller B via the caller B and the caller C.

The loop path length column stores information (value) for identifying the length of the loop path.
In the return field, the sender who triggered the occurrence of the loop is stored. By referring to this column, it is possible to easily determine which sender has caused the loop.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing advice information.
In the present embodiment, the advice information is tabulated.
The advice information management table 70a has columns of type, range, and advice. Information arranged in the horizontal direction is associated with each other.

In the type column, information for identifying whether the advice is about the loop ratio or about the length of the loop path is set.
In the range column, a value for specifying a record to be selected by the ratio calculated by the exponent calculation unit 17 is set.

  In the advice column, advice corresponding to the value of the loop ratio and the average value of the length of the loop path is stored. As the value of the loop ratio increases, advice is stored that strongly encourages business improvement. Further, advice that strongly encourages improvement of work is stored as the average length of the loop path increases.

Needless to say, the range of values set in the range column and the advice set in the advice column are examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto.
<Overall processing>
Next, the process of the evaluation apparatus 10 will be briefly described.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing of the evaluation apparatus.
First, the message response information creation unit 13 refers to the mail history information stored in the mail history information management table 12a, performs message response information creation processing, and creates message response information (step S1).

The created message response information is stored in the message response information management table 14a.
Next, the loop detection unit 15 refers to the message response information stored in the message response information management table 14a, performs loop detection processing, and creates route loop information (step S2).

The created route loop information is stored in the route loop information management table 16a.
Next, the exponent calculation unit 17 refers to the route loop information stored in the route loop information management table 16a, performs a calculation process, and calculates the values of the loop ratio and the length of the loop route (step S3). .

  Next, the report creation unit 18 creates a report by performing a report creation process using the loop ratio, the loop path length value, and the advice information management table 70a (step S4).

The created report is stored in the report storage unit 19. Thereafter, the process ends.
This is the end of the description of the entire process.
Thereafter, the report output unit 20 outputs a report stored in the report storage unit 19 in response to a request from the management server 50.

Next, the message response information creation process shown in step S1 of FIG. 12 will be described in detail.
<Message response information creation processing>
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing message response information creation processing.

First, one record is extracted from the mail history information management table 12a (step S11).
Next, the sender information of the retrieved record is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the information on the recipient of the extracted record is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a. Also, the message ID information of the extracted record is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the reference ID information of the retrieved record is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a (step S12).

Next, it is determined whether all records have been extracted (step S13).
If all the records have not been extracted (No in step S13), the process proceeds to step S11, the next record is extracted, and the processing from step S12 onward is continued.

On the other hand, when all the records have been extracted, that is, when there is no unprocessed record (Yes in step S13), the process is terminated.
This is the end of the description of the message response information creation process.

Next, the loop detection process shown in step S2 of FIG. 12 will be described in detail.
<Loop detection processing>
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the loop detection process.

The route (K) and the record (Q) shown below are parameters used during the loop detection process.
First, the route (K) is initialized and emptied (step S21).

Next, with reference to the message response information management table 14a, it is determined whether or not there is a record for which “Y” is not set in the confirmed flag column (step S22).
When there is no record in which “Y” is not set in the confirmed flag column (No in step S22), that is, “Y” is set in the confirmed flag column of all the records in the message response information management table 14a. If so, the loop detection process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when there is a record for which “Y” is not set in the column of the confirmed flag (Yes in step S22), that is, when there is an unprocessed record, the record is stored in the message response information management table 14a as 1 Take out. Then, the “confirmed flag” field of the record is set to “Y” (step S23).

  Next, the outgoing message ID (I1), the original message ID (H), the sender (S), and the receiver (J) of the extracted record are taken out. Then, the extracted sender (S) and receiver (J) are arranged in this order and added to the route (K) (step S24).

  Next, with reference to the message response information management table 14a, it is determined whether or not there is a record (Q) in which the original message ID (H) matching the outgoing message ID is stored (step S25).

  Here, when the process proceeds from step S24 to step S25, it is determined whether or not there is a record (Q) in which the original message ID (H) matching the outgoing message ID (I1) is stored. When the process proceeds from step S29 described later to step S25, it is determined whether or not there is a record (Q) in which the original message ID (H) matching the outgoing message ID (I) is stored.

  When there is no record (Q) in which the original message ID (H) matching the outgoing message ID (I) is stored (No in step S25), the process proceeds to step S21, and the processes after step S21 are continued.

  On the other hand, if there is a record (Q) that stores the original message ID (H) that matches the outgoing message ID (I) (Yes in step S25), the record (Q) is stored in the message response information management table 14a. Take one out. Then, the field of the confirmed flag of the record (Q) is set to “Y” (step S26).

Next, the outgoing message ID (I), the original message ID (H), the sender (S), and the receiver (J) of the record (Q) are extracted (step S27).
Next, it is determined whether or not the recipient (J) is included in the route (K) (step S28).

When the recipient (J) is not included in the route (K) (No in step S28), the recipient (J) is added to the last column of the route (K) (step S29).
On the other hand, when the recipient (J) is included in the route (K) (Yes in step S28), the message ID, route, and return destination of the route loop information are determined (step S30). Specifically, the recipient (J) is added to the last column of the route (K). Then, the outgoing message ID (I1) is stored in the message ID column of the route loop information management table 16a, the route (K) is stored in the route column, and the recipient (J) is stored in the return destination column.

  Next, the length value of the loop path is determined (step S31). Specifically, the number from the rear of the permutation of the receiver (J) included in the route (K) until the appearance of a receiver that matches the receiver (J) again is calculated. Here, the number of recipients that match the recipient (J) again is not included in the number.

The calculated number is stored in the loop path length column of the path loop information management table 16a.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S21, and the processing after step S21 is continued.

This is the end of the description of the loop detection process.
Next, the calculation process shown in step S3 of FIG. 12 will be described in detail.
<Calculation processing>
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the calculation process.

First, the record number (C) is extracted from the message response information management table 14a (step S41).
Next, the record number (B) is extracted from the route loop information management table 16a (step S42).

Next, the average (R) of the loop path length of the path loop information is calculated (step S43).
Next, the loop ratio (L) is calculated (step S44). Specifically, L = B / C is calculated. Thereafter, the calculation process is terminated.

This is the end of the description of the calculation process.
Next, the report creation process shown in step S4 of FIG. 12 will be described in detail.
<Report creation process>
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the report creation process.

  First, the input of the average value (R) of the length of the loop path taken out by the exponent calculation unit 17 in step S43 and the loop ratio (L) calculated by the exponent calculation unit 17 in step S44 are received (step S51).

Next, referring to the advice information management table 70a, a record (G1) that matches the average value (R) of the length of the loop path is extracted (step S52).
Next, the advice information management table 70a is referred to, and a record (G2) that matches the loop ratio (L) is extracted (step S53).

Next, the record (G1) and the record (G2) are shaped into a format prepared in advance for report output and stored in the report storage unit 19 (step S54).
This is the end of the description of the report creation process.

<Specific example>
Next, the evaluation apparatus uses the mail history information management table 12a shown in FIG. 8, the message response information management table 14a shown in FIG. 9, the route loop information management table 16a shown in FIG. 10, and the advice information management table 70a shown in FIG. The ten processes will be specifically described. Although the mail history information management table 12a, the message response information management table 14a, and the route loop information management table 16a are illustrated in such a way that there are records in addition to the records in which the data contents are specifically described, In the following explanation, it is assumed that the table is composed of only specifically described records.

First, the message response information creation unit 13 performs message response information creation processing.
Specifically, the record in the first line of the mail history information management table 12a is taken out.
Then, the sender “A” of this record is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the recipient “B” is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID “M1” is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a.

Next, since all the records have not been extracted, the record in the second row of the mail history information management table 12a is extracted.
The sender “B” of this record is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the recipient “C” is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID “M2” is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. The reference ID “M1” is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a.

Next, since all records have not been extracted, the record in the third row of the mail history information management table 12a is extracted.
Then, the sender “C” of this record is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the recipient “B” is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID “M3” is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. The reference ID “M2” is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a.

Since the extraction of all the records has been completed, the message response information creation process is terminated.
Thereby, the message response information management table 14a shown in FIG. 9 is completed.
Next, the loop detection unit 15 performs loop detection processing.

First, the route (K) is initialized and emptied.
Next, with reference to the message response information management table 14a, a record in the first row that does not contain “Y” in the confirmed flag column is extracted, and “Y” is entered in the confirmed flag column.

Next, the outgoing message ID (I1) is set to M1, and the sender A and the receiver B are added to the route (K) (K = “A, B”).
When it is determined whether or not there is a record (Q) in which the original message ID that matches the outgoing message (I1) (= M1) is present, the record in the second row exists.

Therefore, the record on the second line is taken out and “Y” is put in the column of the confirmed flag.
Next, the outgoing message ID (I) (= M2), the original message ID (H) (= M1), the sender (S) (= B), and the receiver (J) (= C) are taken out.

Next, when it is determined whether or not the recipient (J) (= C) is included in the route (K), the recipient C is added to the route (K) because it is not included (K = “A , B, C ”).
Next, when it is determined whether there is a record (Q) in which the original message ID that matches the outgoing message ID = M2 exists, the record in the third row exists.

Therefore, the record on the third line is taken out and “Y” is put in the column of the confirmed flag.
Next, the outgoing message ID (I) (= M3), the original message ID (H) (= M2), the sender (S) (= C), and the receiver (J) (= B) are extracted.

  If it is determined whether or not the recipient (J) (= B) is included in the route (K), the outgoing message (I1) (= M1) is included in the message ID of the route loop information management table 16a. Store in the column.

  Further, the number from the back of the route (K) until the recipient (J) (= B) appears again, that is, the number “2” of B and C among B, C, B, and A is set as the route loop. Stored in the length column of the information management table 16a. Also, the recipient (J) (= B) is stored in the return destination column.

Next, the route (K) is initialized.
Since there are no more unprocessed records in the message response information management table 14a, the process is terminated.

Thereby, the route loop information management table 16a shown in FIG. 10 is completed.
Next, the exponent calculation unit 17 performs a calculation process.
First, the number of records (3) is extracted from the message response information management table 14a.

Next, the record number (1) is extracted from the route loop information management table 16a.
Next, the length of the route is extracted from the route loop information management table 16a, and an average value (2/1 = 2) is calculated.

Further, the loop ratio (1/3) = 0.33 is calculated.
Next, the report creation unit 18 performs a report creation process.
First, a record that matches the average length (2) is extracted.

Next, a record that matches the loop ratio (0.33) is extracted.
Then, the extracted record is shaped and stored in the report storage unit 19.
Thereafter, the report output unit 20 outputs a report in response to a request from the management server 50.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the output report.
The report 19a is a report for the entire organization 21.
As described above, according to the evaluation device 10, the loop detection unit 15 performs the loop detection process to detect a transmission path in which the same client appears again.

As a result, the occurrence of an email loop can be reliably detected. Therefore, it is possible to provide a standard for easily evaluating the efficiency of business processing.
In other words, if the e-mail continues to be forwarded and no loop has occurred (it has not returned to the caller), the person who should have processed it was not found yet. It cannot be determined whether there was no.

By detecting the occurrence of a loop (returning to the caller), it is possible to objectively determine that the person who should have performed the process did not perform the process.
In addition, the loop detection unit 15 extracts the email transmission path by following the reference ID that matches the message ID included in the email history information management table 12a.

Thereby, the transmission path | route of an electronic mail can be specified easily.
Further, the exponent calculation unit 17 performs a calculation process to obtain an average value of the loop ratio and the length of the loop path.

Thereby, it is possible to easily evaluate the efficiency of business processing of the organization 21.
Further, the efficiency of business processing can be evaluated in more detail based on the relationship between the loop ratio and the average value of the length of the loop path.

For example, even if the loop ratio is small, if the average value of the length of the loop path is large, it can be easily understood that the entire organization cannot grasp the business scope.
Further, if the loop ratio is large even if the value of the loop path length is small, it is possible to easily grasp that the individual person belonging to the organization has not grasped the business range.

  In the present embodiment, the entire organization is evaluated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. By using the information in the return destination column of the route loop information management table 16a, the evaluation is not limited to the entire organization. It is also possible to evaluate each department or individual.

For example, when evaluating a specific department, information for managing the department to which the operator belongs is prepared separately.
In the calculation process, the index calculation unit 17 extracts only the record in which the operator is stored from the route loop information management table 16a by using the information for managing the department to which the prepared operator belongs. And the calculation process shown to step S41-S44 is performed with respect to the extracted record.

In this case, the report 19a is preferably attached with information identifying which department the report is.
When evaluating a specific individual, only the record in which the operator is stored is extracted from the route loop information management table 16a. And the calculation process shown to step S41-S44 is performed with respect to the extracted record.

In this case, it is preferable that information identifying which individual report is attached to the report 19a.
As described above, since the information about the sender of the client that caused the occurrence of the loop is stored in the return destination column, it is possible to easily identify who created the cause of the loop.

Therefore, for example, it is possible to make an evaluation that the sender does not know the business scope, or knows the business scope and refuses the business processing.
In the present embodiment, the report created by the evaluation apparatus 10 is used as a reference for evaluating the efficiency of business processing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is used as a reference for evaluating other elements in the organization. Also good.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a system according to the second embodiment will be described.
Hereinafter, the system according to the second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the system according to the first embodiment described above, and description of similar matters will be omitted.

The system 100 of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the information stored in the mail history information management table and the processing of the message response information creation unit 13.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a mail history information management table according to the second embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the mail history information is tabulated along a time series.
The meaning of the information stored in each column of the mail history information management table 12b is the same as that of the mail history information management table 12a, but the information of each record is returned from the destination client to the transmission source client. A case where mail is transferred to a client other than the destination client is shown.

Hereinafter, a case where such a table is created will be described using a specific example.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a case where the message response information creation process according to the second embodiment is applied.

<Case 5>
FIG. 18A shows that one e-mail is transmitted from the client 60 to the client 21a. In addition, one e-mail is transmitted from the client 60 to the client 21b.

In this way, of the two e-mails transmitted by the client 60, one e-mail is returned from the client 21a.
<Case 6>
FIG. 18B shows that two emails are transmitted from the client 60 to the client 21a. In addition, one e-mail is transmitted from the client 60 to the client 21b.

  In this way, among the three e-mails transmitted by the client 60, one e-mail reply is sent from the client 21a, and one e-mail reply is sent from the client 21b.

Here, when Case 5 and Case 6 are compared, Case 6 has a larger number of reply mails. For example, there are many cases where there are many reply mails.
(1) The client 21a receives an e-mail from the client 60 regarding a request for processing a certain job.

  (2) The operator of the client 21a determines that the business described in the e-mail is a business to be processed by the department to which the client 21b belongs, and describes in the received e-mail that the client 21b is to be transmitted. Replies to the client 60. However, in practice, the job is a job to be processed by the department to which the client 21a belongs.

(3) Thereafter, the operator of the client 60 transferred the reply mail received from the client 21a to the client 21b.
(4) Since the operator of the client 21b knew that the department to which the client 21a belongs is a business to be processed, the operator 21b adds the contents informing the client 21a to the received e-mail. An e-mail is returned to the client 60.

(5) Thereafter, the operator of the client 60 forwarded the reply mail received from the client 21b to the client 21a.
(6) Eventually, the operator of the client 21a processes the business, and the business processing requested by the client 60 is completed.

In such cases 5 and 6, the mail history information management table 12b is created.
Further, the number of reply mails affects the efficiency of business processing. It can be determined that the one with fewer reply e-mails is more efficient in business processing.

Next, message response information creation processing according to the second embodiment will be described.
<Message response information creation processing>
20 and 21 are flowcharts illustrating message response information creation processing according to the second embodiment.

First, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed record R1 whose reference ID is blank (step S61).
If there is no unprocessed record R1 (No in step S61), the process ends.

On the other hand, when there is an unprocessed record R1 (Yes in step S61), the record R1 is extracted (step S62).
Next, the sender of the extracted record R1 is stored (step S63).

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a record R2 having a reference ID that matches the message ID of the record R1 (step S64).
When it does not exist (No in Step S64), the process proceeds to Step S61, and the processes after Step S61 are continued.

  On the other hand, if it exists (Yes in step S64), the sender of the record R1 is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. The recipient is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a (step S65).

Next, the record R2 specified in step S64 is taken out (step S66).
Next, the contents of the current record R2 are temporarily stored as a first storage record (step S67 in FIG. 21).

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a record R3 having a reference ID that matches the message ID of the record R2 (step S68).
If it exists (Yes in Step S68), it is determined whether or not the recipient of the record R3 matches the sender stored in Step S63 (Step S69).

  If they match (Yes in step S69), the sender of the record stored in the first storage record is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. The reference ID of the record stored in the first storage record is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the receiver of the record R2 is stored in the receiver column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID of the record R2 is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a (step S70).

  Next, the contents of the record R3 are substituted into the record R2 (step S71). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S67, and the substituted record R2 is temporarily stored as a first storage record (step S67). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S68, and the processes after step S68 are continued.

  On the other hand, if the recipient of the record R3 does not match the sender stored in step S63 in step S69 (No in step S69), the contents of the current record R3 are temporarily stored as the second storage record (step S72). ).

  Next, the record located one line below the current record R2 is set as the record R2 (step S73). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S68, and the processes after step S68 are continued.

  If there is no record R3 having a reference ID that matches the message ID of the record R2 in step S68 (No in step S68), it is determined whether there is an unprocessed record below the record R2 ( Step S74).

  If it exists (Yes in step S74), the record located one line below the current record R2 is set in the record R2 (step S75). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S68, and the processes after step S68 are continued.

  On the other hand, if it does not exist (No in step S74), the sender of the record stored in the first storage record is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. The reference ID of the record stored in the first storage record is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the receiver of the record stored in the second storage record is stored in the receiver column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID of the record stored in the second storage record is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a (step S76). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S61, and the processing after step S61 is continued.

Above, description of the message response information creation process of 2nd Embodiment is complete | finished.
<Specific example>
Next, the message response information creation process of the second embodiment will be described in detail using the mail history information management table 12b shown in FIG. 19 and the message response information management table 14a shown in FIG.

  First, when it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed record R1 whose reference ID is blank, a record in the first row exists. Therefore, the record (record R1) on the first line is taken out and the sender “A” of the record R1 is stored.

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is a record R2 having a reference ID that matches the message ID (M1) of the record R1. Then, since the record (record R2) on the third line exists, the sender “A” of the record R1 is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID “M1” is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the recipient “B” is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a.

Next, the contents of the current record R2 are temporarily stored.
Next, when it is determined whether or not there is a record R3 having a reference ID that matches the message ID (M1.5) of the record R2, a record on the fifth line (record R3) exists. Further, the receiver (C) of the record R3 does not match the stored sender (A).

Therefore, the record R3 is temporarily stored as the second storage record, and the record located one row below the current record R2, that is, the record on the fourth row is set as the record R2.
Next, when it is determined whether or not there is a record having a reference ID that matches the message ID of the record R2, there is no record and there is an unprocessed record.

Therefore, the record located one row below the current record R2, that is, the record on the fifth row is set as the record R2.
Next, when it is determined whether or not there is a record R3 having a reference ID that matches the message ID (M2) of the record R2, a record on the sixth line (record R3) exists. Further, the receiver (A) of the record R3 matches the stored sender (A).

  Therefore, the sender (B) of the first storage record, that is, the record in the third row is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. The reference ID (M1) is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. The receiver (A) of the record R2 is stored in the receiver column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID (M2) is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a.

Next, the record R3, that is, the record on the sixth line is set to the record R2.
Then, the contents of the record R2, that is, the contents of the record on the sixth line are temporarily stored as a first storage record.

  Next, when it is determined whether or not there is a record R3 having a reference ID that matches the message ID (M2.5) of the record R2, a record on the eighth line (record R3) exists. Further, the recipient (B) of the record R3 does not match the stored sender (A).

Therefore, the record R3 is temporarily stored as the second storage record, and the record located one row below the current record R2, that is, the record on the seventh row is set as the record R2.
Next, when it is determined whether or not there is a record R3 having a reference ID that matches the message ID of the record R2, there is no record and there is an unprocessed record.

Therefore, the record located one row below the current record R2, that is, the record on the eighth row is set as the record R2.
Next, when it is determined whether or not there is a record R3 having a reference ID that matches the message ID (M3) of the record R2, there is no record and there is an unprocessed record.

Therefore, the record on the next line of the current record R2, that is, the record on the ninth line is set in the record R2.
Next, when it is determined whether there is a record R3 having a reference ID that matches the message ID of the record R2, it does not exist and there is no unprocessed record.

  Accordingly, the record stored in the first storage record, that is, the sender (C) of the record in the sixth row is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. The reference ID (M2) is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a.

  In addition, the receiver (A) of the record stored in the second storage record, that is, the record in the eighth row is stored in the receiver column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID (M3) of the record on the eighth line is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a.

Since there is no unprocessed record R1 whose reference ID is blank in the mail history information management table 12a, the processing ends.
According to the evaluation apparatus 10 of the second embodiment, the message response information creation unit 13 performs the following processing.

  If the e-mail sent back from the destination client to the source client is transferred to a client other than the destination client, the transmission path is assumed to have been transferred directly from the destination client to a client other than the destination client. I tried to do it.

Thereby, the message response information management table 14a similar to that of the first embodiment can be created.
As a result, the processing after the loop detection unit 15 is made common, so that the processing can be prevented from becoming complicated.

  Furthermore, after the message response information creation process of the first embodiment is performed, the case where the cases 1 to 6 are combined can be evaluated by performing the message response information creation process of the second embodiment. You can create a report.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a system according to a third embodiment will be described.
Hereinafter, the system of the third embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the system of the first embodiment described above, and the description of the same matters will be omitted.

In the system according to the third embodiment, the processing of the message response information creation unit 13 is different from that of the first embodiment.
In the first embodiment, the message response information creation unit 13 acquires all the mail history information stored in the mail history DB 12 and stores it in the message response DB 14. However, in the third embodiment, the mail history information is selectively extracted and stored in the message response DB 14.

  Specifically, the message response information creation unit 13 according to the present embodiment performs a process of extracting only the emails that are actually transferred even if there are a plurality of mail history information whose reference ID fields are blank. Then, the message response information management table 14a is created.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating mail history information according to the third embodiment.
In the present embodiment, the mail history information is tabulated along a time series.
The mail history information management table 12c has columns for sender, message ID, reference ID, and recipient. Information arranged in the horizontal direction is associated with each other.

  The information stored in the sender column, message ID column, reference ID column, and recipient column are the same as those in the mail history information management table 12a of the first embodiment. However, the mail history information management table 12c is different from the first embodiment in that there are a plurality of e-mails whose reference ID column is blank.

Next, message response information creation processing according to the third embodiment will be described.
<Message response information creation processing>
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating message response information creation processing according to the third embodiment.

First, one record is extracted (step S81).
Next, it is determined whether or not a reference ID exists in the extracted record (step S82).

When the reference ID does not exist (No in step S82), the process proceeds to step S85 described later.
On the other hand, if the reference ID exists (Yes in step S82), the retrieved record is held (step S83).

  Next, the sender information stored in the mail history information management table 12c is stored in the sender column of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the recipient information stored in the mail history information management table 12c is stored in the receiver column of the message response information management table 14a. Also, the message ID information stored in the mail history information management table 12c is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the reference ID information stored in the mail history information management table 12c is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a (step S84).

Next, it is determined whether all records have been extracted (step S85).
When all the records have not been extracted (No in step S85), the process proceeds to step S81, the next record is extracted, and the processing from step S82 is continued.

  On the other hand, when all the records have been extracted, that is, when there is no unprocessed record (Yes in step S85), the sender information of the stored record is displayed in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. To store. Further, the information on the recipient of the record held is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the information of the message ID of the held record is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the reference ID information of the record held is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a (step S86). Thereafter, the process ends.

This is the end of the description of the message response information creation processing according to the third embodiment.
<Specific example>
Next, the message response information creation process of the third embodiment will be specifically described using the mail history information management table 12c shown in FIG. 22 and the message response information management table 14a shown in FIG.

First, the message response information creation unit 13 performs message response information creation processing.
First, the record in the first line of the mail history information management table 12c is taken out.
Since the reference ID is not stored in the record on the first line, and all the records are not extracted, the record on the second line is extracted.

Since the record in the second row does not store the reference ID and all the records have not been taken out, the record in the third row is taken out.
The reference ID “M1” is stored in the record in the third row. Therefore, this record is held. Then, the sender “A” of the record in the first row having the message ID that matches the reference ID “M1” of this record is stored in the sender column of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the recipient “B” is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID “M1” is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. Next, since all the records have not been extracted, the record in the fourth row is extracted.

Since the record in the fourth line does not store the reference ID and all the records have not been extracted, the record in the fifth line is extracted.
A reference ID “M2” is stored in the record in the fifth row. Therefore, this record is held. Then, the sender “B” of the record in the third row having the message ID that matches the reference ID “M2” of this record is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the recipient “C” is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID “M2” is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. The reference ID “M1” is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. Next, since all the records are not extracted, the record on the sixth line is extracted.

The reference ID is not stored in the record on the sixth line.
Next, since all the records have been extracted, the sender “C” of the record in the fifth row held is stored in the sender field of the message response information management table 14a. Further, the recipient “B” is stored in the recipient column of the message response information management table 14a. The message ID “M3” is stored in the outgoing message ID column of the message response information management table 14a. The reference ID “M2” is stored in the original message ID column of the message response information management table 14a.

Thereby, the message response information management table 14a shown in FIG. 9 is completed.
According to the evaluation device 10 of the third embodiment, the same effect as the evaluation device 10 of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Then, according to the evaluation apparatus 10 of the third embodiment, only the record having the reference ID is selected, and the record having the message ID that matches the reference ID is stored in the message response information management table 14a. did.

  As a result, even if there are a plurality of e-mails whose reference ID column is blank, it is possible to reliably extract only the e-mails that have been transferred, so that the efficiency of the loop detection process can be improved.

  Note that the processing performed by the evaluation device 10 may be distributed by a plurality of devices. For example, one device may perform loop detection processing to generate route loop information, and another device may create a report using the route loop information.

  As mentioned above, although the evaluation apparatus, the evaluation method, and the evaluation program of the present invention have been described based on the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of each part is an arbitrary function having the same function. It can be replaced with the configuration of Moreover, other arbitrary structures and processes may be added to the present invention.

Further, the present invention may be a combination of any two or more configurations (features) of the above-described embodiments.
The above processing functions can be realized by a computer. In that case, a program describing the processing contents of the functions of the evaluation apparatus 10 is provided. By executing the program on a computer, the above processing functions are realized on the computer. The program describing the processing contents can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, and a semiconductor memory. Examples of the magnetic recording device include a hard disk device (HDD), a flexible disk (FD), and a magnetic tape. Examples of the optical disc include a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a DVD-RAM (Random Access Memory), a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), and a CD-R (Recordable) / RW (ReWritable). Examples of the magneto-optical recording medium include MO (Magneto-Optical disk).

  When distributing the program, for example, a portable recording medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM in which the program is recorded is sold. It is also possible to store the program in a storage device of a server computer and transfer the program from the server computer to another computer via a network.

  The computer that executes the evaluation program stores, for example, the program recorded on the portable recording medium or the program transferred from the server computer in its own storage device. Then, the computer reads the program from its own storage device and executes processing according to the program. The computer can also read the program directly from the portable recording medium and execute processing according to the program. In addition, each time the program is transferred from the server computer, the computer can sequentially execute processing according to the received program.

Regarding the above first to third embodiments, the following supplementary notes are further disclosed.
(Supplementary note 1) Each e-mail is associated with sender information, recipient information of the e-mail, and identification information indicating that the e-mail is replied to or forwarded to another e-mail. An email history table storing a plurality of email history information, and
With reference to the e-mail history table, other e-mail history information having identification information matching the sender information of any e-mail history information was searched, and as a result of the search, the corresponding e-mail history information could be extracted In this case, the process further repeats the extraction of the e-mail having the identification information that matches the sender information of the extracted e-mail history information until the e-mail history information is not extracted, and the related e-mail history information. Extracting means for extracting a transmission route of an email by specifying a set of
Detecting means for detecting a transmission path in which the same recipient information appears at least twice among the transmission paths extracted by the extraction means;
Evaluation means for evaluating the transmission / reception status of a plurality of e-mails based on the appearance frequency of the e-mail history related to the transmission path detected by the detection means or the appearance interval of the same recipient information on the transmission path; ,
The evaluation apparatus characterized by having.

  (Additional remark 2) The said extraction part corresponds to the information which identifies the electronic mail contained in the electronic mail of the said history, and whether the said electronic mail contained in the other electronic mail of the said history is the forwarded electronic mail The evaluation apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the transmission path is extracted by tracing identification information.

  (Supplementary Note 3) When the e-mail returned from the destination client to the transmission source client is transferred to a client other than the destination client, the extraction unit directly sends the e-mail other than the destination client from the destination client. The evaluation apparatus according to appendix 2, wherein the transmission path that has been transferred to the client is extracted.

  (Additional remark 4) The said extraction part makes only the said email with which the information which identifies whether the said email matching the information which identifies the said email is the transferred email exists, and the extraction object of the said transmission path | route The evaluation apparatus according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein:

  (Additional remark 5) The said evaluation means evaluates the transmission / reception condition of these several email according to the ratio of the said transmission path | route where the same client appeared again among the said transmission path | routes extracted by the said extraction means. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

  (Additional remark 6) The said evaluation part has the extraction part which takes out the advice match | combined with the said ratio from the advice collection with which the advice according to the said ratio was prepared, and the output part which outputs the taken-out advice, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The evaluation apparatus according to appendix 5.

  (Additional remark 7) The said evaluation means sets the appearance interval of the said same reception information in the said transmission path | route according to the number of the recipient information which passed through before the same recipient information reappears. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission / reception state is evaluated.

  (Additional remark 8) The said evaluation part outputs the taken out advice from the collection part which took the advice according to the said number from the advice collection with which the advice according to the number of the clients who went through until the same client appears again. The evaluation device according to appendix 7, further comprising:

(Supplementary note 9) Each e-mail is associated with sender information, recipient information of the e-mail, and identification information indicating that the e-mail is replied to or forwarded to another e-mail. With reference to the email history table in which a plurality of email history information is stored, the computer
With reference to the e-mail history table, other e-mail history information having identification information matching the sender information of any e-mail history information was searched, and as a result of the search, the corresponding e-mail history information could be extracted In this case, the process further repeats the extraction of the e-mail having the identification information that matches the sender information of the extracted e-mail history information until the e-mail history information is not extracted, and the related e-mail history information. E-mail transmission route is extracted by specifying a set of
Among the extracted transmission paths, detect transmission paths in which the same recipient information appears at least twice,
Evaluating the transmission / reception status of a plurality of e-mails based on the appearance frequency of the e-mail history related to the transmission path or the appearance interval of the same recipient information on the transmission path,
An evaluation method characterized by that.

(Appendix 10)
E-mail history information in which the e-mail sender information, recipient information, and identification information indicating that the e-mail is replied to or forwarded to another e-mail are associated with each e-mail. Is searched for other e-mail history information having identification information that matches the sender information of any e-mail history information, and as a result of the search, the corresponding e-mail history information is searched. If the e-mail history information can be extracted, further extraction of e-mails having identification information that matches the sender information of the extracted e-mail history information is sequentially repeated until no e-mail history information is extracted. An extraction function that extracts the email transmission path by specifying a set of email history information,
A detection function for detecting a transmission path in which the same recipient information appears at least twice among the transmission paths extracted by the extraction function;
An evaluation function for evaluating the transmission / reception status of a plurality of e-mails based on the appearance frequency of the e-mail history related to the transmission path detected by the detection function or the appearance interval of the same recipient information on the transmission path;
An evaluation program characterized by functioning as

1, 10 Evaluation device 2, 12 Mail history DB
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Extraction means 4 Detection means 5 Evaluation means 6, 21 Organization 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 7, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 60 Client 11 Mail history information acquisition part 12a, 12b, 12c Mail history information management table 13 Message response information creation unit 14 Message response DB
14a Message response information management table 15 Loop detector 16 Route loop DB
16a Route Loop Information Management Table 17 Index Calculation Unit 18 Report Creation Unit 19 Report Storage Unit 20 Report Output Unit 30 Network 40 Mail Server 50 Management Server 70 Advice Storage Unit 70a Advice Information Management Table 100 System 200 E-mail

Claims (6)

E-mail history information in which the e-mail sender information, recipient information, and identification information indicating that the e-mail is replied to or forwarded to another e-mail are associated with each e-mail. Email history table with multiple stored
With reference to the e-mail history table, other e-mail history information having identification information matching the sender information of any e-mail history information was searched, and as a result of the search, the corresponding e-mail history information could be extracted In this case, the process further repeats the extraction of the e-mail having the identification information that matches the sender information of the extracted e-mail history information until the e-mail history information is not extracted, and the related e-mail history information. Extracting means for extracting a transmission route of an email by specifying a set of
Detecting means for detecting a transmission path in which the same recipient information appears at least twice among the transmission paths extracted by the extraction means;
Evaluation means for evaluating the transmission / reception status of a plurality of e-mails based on the appearance frequency of the e-mail history related to the transmission path detected by the detection means or the appearance interval of the same recipient information on the transmission path; ,
The evaluation apparatus characterized by having.   The extraction means compares the first and second e-mail history information retrieved and extracted at the same time when extracting the transmission path, and if the sender information and the receiver information are interchanged, Further, the search for the third electronic mail history information is performed, and it is determined whether the newly extracted electronic mail history information has new recipient information different from the first and second electronic mail history information. 2. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if it is determined to be applicable, the transmission path is extracted such that the second electronic mail history information is not included in the transmission path.   The evaluation means evaluates transmission / reception states of the plurality of e-mails according to a ratio of the transmission paths in which the same client appears again among the transmission paths extracted by the extraction means. The evaluation apparatus according to 1 or 2.   The evaluation unit evaluates the transmission / reception status of the plurality of e-mails according to the number of recipient information that has passed before the same recipient information reappears with respect to the appearance interval of the same received information on the transmission path. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: E-mail history information in which the e-mail sender information, recipient information, and identification information indicating that the e-mail is replied to or forwarded to another e-mail are associated with each e-mail. Referring to the email history table in which multiple are stored, the computer
With reference to the e-mail history table, other e-mail history information having identification information matching the sender information of any e-mail history information was searched, and as a result of the search, the corresponding e-mail history information could be extracted In this case, the process further repeats the extraction of the e-mail having the identification information that matches the sender information of the extracted e-mail history information until the e-mail history information is not extracted, and the related e-mail history information. E-mail transmission route is extracted by specifying a set of
Among the extracted transmission paths, detect transmission paths in which the same recipient information appears at least twice,
Evaluating the transmission / reception status of a plurality of e-mails based on the appearance frequency of the e-mail history related to the transmission path or the appearance interval of the same recipient information on the transmission path,
An evaluation method characterized by that. Computer
E-mail history information in which the e-mail sender information, recipient information, and identification information indicating that the e-mail is replied to or forwarded to another e-mail are associated with each e-mail. Is searched for other e-mail history information having identification information that matches the sender information of any e-mail history information, and as a result of the search, the corresponding e-mail history information is searched. If the e-mail history information can be extracted, further extraction of e-mails having identification information that matches the sender information of the extracted e-mail history information is sequentially repeated until no e-mail history information is extracted. An extraction function that extracts the email transmission path by specifying a set of email history information,
A detection function for detecting a transmission path in which the same recipient information appears at least twice among the transmission paths extracted by the extraction function;
An evaluation function for evaluating the transmission / reception status of a plurality of e-mails based on the appearance frequency of the e-mail history related to the transmission path detected by the detection function or the appearance interval of the same recipient information on the transmission path;
An evaluation program characterized by functioning as

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