JPH0969854A - Electronic mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To designate a destination address by only a simple operation selecting a group name by preliminarily registering the individual address data for every group. SOLUTION: Address data is preliminarily set to a group retrieval file 13 for every individual destination of each group by a retrieval file preparation part 15 and a group retrieval file 14 defining the constitution of each item composing the address data for each group is prepared. For a group definition file 22, fixed data in the item composing the address for each group, an item to be inputted and a retrieval condition item are defined. When a user designates a group name to the definition file 22 displayed on a display part 3 by an input part 4, the group name is delivered to the address retrieval part 12 of a mail server 1, input item information is taken output from the retrieval file 13 by performing an address retrieval and the address data of the corresponded group is transferred to a client 2. The user performs a mail transmission by using an address.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electronic mail system. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a mail system that spans a plurality of nodes and an e-mail system that is connected to a network having different e-mail transfer protocols have become widespread. The e-mail system is connected to networks with different protocols by a mail gateway,
When sending e-mail to networks with different protocols, the user had to specify the mail gateway and then specify the actual destination address to send.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. Indicates the configuration of the mail system, and in the figure, 90
Is a host of affiliated company A of B Co., Ltd., and CCITT
MHS (Message Handling Syste) that performs message communication processing using the protocol (X.400) standardized by
m: a message server 90a for sending and receiving mails according to the protocol of the message communication processing system, 91 is a workstation (indicated by WS: also called a mail client) connected to the host A, and 92 is a communication processing by the MHS protocol. A network, 93 is a host of B corporation, 93a is a mail server similar to the above 90a, 93b is a mail gateway for mutually converting the MHS and SMTP protocols, and 94 is a workstation (WS) connected to the host 93 of B corporation. ), 95 is T
CP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet
Protocol (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) in networks that use the
col: Simple mail transfer protocol) is a network that performs communication processing using a transfer protocol. 96 is a host of an affiliated company C of B Co., which is connected to B Co., Ltd. by SMTP 95, 96a is a mail server for sending and receiving mails by the SMTP protocol, 97 is a workstation (WS) connected to the host 96. is there.

A mail system spanning a plurality of nodes as described above and a mail system connected to a network having a different electronic mail transfer protocol are in widespread use. Each host 90, 93, 96 in FIG. 12 has a mail server, respectively. 90a, 93a, 96a, and software for performing processing for sending and receiving mail between mail servers. The host 90 and the host 93 are connected to the same MHS network 92, and the mail servers 90a and 93a operate by the same protocol, but the host 96 is the MHS.
Network 9 which is a protocol different from
Since it corresponds to 5, the mail gateway 93
In b, it is necessary to perform mutual protocol conversion.
Further, when the destination is designated, since the format of the address differs between MHS and SMTP, it is necessary for the operator to set the corresponding address.

A specific example will be described. At workstation A belonging to host 93 of B Co., Ltd., "Aoki" of another affiliated company A (host 90)
Sending an e-mail to the employee and affiliated company C
When an e-mail is sent to an employee named "Ichimura" who belongs to (Host 96), B. It was necessary to enter the information to specify the other party as shown in.

That is, the destination information attached to the mail to the employee "Aoki" of the affiliated company A (host 90) is the host 9
Since 3 and the host 90 belong to the same MHS protocol, the number of input information is small, and the stored information is keyed in for each item of country code, organization name, department name, and personal name. On the other hand, the email to the employee “Ichimura” of affiliated company C (host 96) is an SM who is different from MHS.
Since it corresponds to the TP protocol, it is necessary to first specify the address to the mail gateway 93b and then input the network type and the network address as an IP (Internet Protocol) address conforming to SMTP as shown in the figure.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional electronic mail system, the designation of the destination address is complicated in order to identify a plurality of nodes, and the user must know these addresses accurately. There was a need. Also,
When calling to a network with a different protocol,
There was a problem that we had to know the address of the mail gateway that had nothing to do with the actual destination.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic mail system capable of designating a destination address by a simple operation without knowing the complicated destination address accurately.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a mail server provided in the host, 10 is a communication control unit that controls communication with the client side, 11 is a mail transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives mail to / from another host, and 12 is an address search from the client. The address search unit, which is started by the instruction of, searches each file, 13 starts with the group name (company name, etc.),
An address search file in which address data corresponding to individual destinations of each group (data in which all items necessary for address configuration are set) is registered, 14 is address data for each group stored in the address search file. A group search file in which the structure such as the name, position, length, etc. of each item to be configured is defined, 15 is each file 13, 14
Is a search file creation unit for creating (registering).

Reference numeral 2 is a client (or client workstation), 20 is a communication control section for communicating with a mail server of a host, 21 is a mail transmitting / receiving section which is created on the terminal side and sends / receives mail via the mail server 1, 2
Reference numeral 2 is a group definition file, which defines the name and length of the destination item (input item) that should be entered when the user sends an e-mail corresponding to each group name, and searches when searching the address data. Item data required to complete the actual address data by defining the name and length of the item (search item) to be used as a condition, and further fixedly adding to the item data acquired by the user input or search. Composed of. A group definition registration unit 23 registers data in the group definition file 22. Also, 3
Is a display unit, and 4 is an input unit.

The search file creation unit 15 sets (registers) the address data in advance in the address search file 13 for each individual destination (including individual) of each group, and in the group search file 14 sets the address data for each group. Create a group search file that defines the configuration of each item that makes up the. Also, the group definition registration unit 23
Is operated to define fixed data (data common to the group) among the items constituting the address for each group, items to be input, items to be a search condition, etc. in the group definition file 22.

When the user of the client 2 sends a mail, the group name registered in the group definition file 22 is displayed on the display unit 3, and when one is designated from the input unit 4, the group definition file 22 is searched. When a searchable item (for example, a person in charge representing a department or job) in the corresponding group name is selected and the input is performed from the input unit 4, the data is mail transmission / reception unit 21, communication control unit 20. , Is sent to the address search unit 12 of the mail server 1 via the communication control unit 10 to perform address search.

In this case, the position in the address search file 13 where the input item information of the specified group name is stored is retrieved by the group search file 14 and the address of the corresponding group in the address search file 13 is retrieved. It is sequentially checked whether or not it matches the data information, and if they match, the address data is transferred to the client 2 through the reverse route. Since the address data is completed by using the address data, the mail can be sent using the address.

In the above description, the user of the client 2 requests the mail server 1 to search by inputting the search item, but the user of the client 2 does not search for the item after designating the group name but the input item ( For example, when a department and an individual name are specified, fixed data defined in advance for the corresponding group name in the group definition file 22 is added to the input information to complete the address data, and the mail is transmitted. . Note that the address data may be determined by simply specifying the group name without inputting items. However, this is the case when the transmission partner is a fixed person in the group.

[0014]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a mail system according to an embodiment. In FIG. 2, 30 is a host of company A, 3
Reference numeral 1 is a mail server that sends and receives mails using the MHS protocol, 32 is a WS (workstation, the same applies hereinafter) that operates as a client, 33 is a network that performs communication processing using the MHS protocol, 34 is a host of company B, and 35
Is a mail server that sends and receives mail using the MHS protocol, 36 is a mail gateway that converts the MHS and SMTP mail protocols, 37 and 38 are WS, 39 is S
A network for communication processing by the MTP protocol, 40
Is a host of company C, 41 is a mail server for sending and receiving mail by the SMTP protocol, and 42 is WS.

Only the address search server (corresponding to the address search unit 12 in FIG. 1) 35a, the address search file 35b, and the group search file 35c are shown in the mail server 35, but the same configuration as the mail server 1 shown in FIG. The other mail servers 31 and 41 also have the same configuration although not shown. Also, W in FIG.
Group definition files 32a, 37a, 38a, and 42a are provided in S32, 37, 38, and 42, respectively.
Is equipped with a mail client corresponding to the client 2 of W32, 37 and 38
The HS protocol sends and receives mail, and the WS 42 mail client sends and receives mail using the SMTP protocol.

FIG. 3 shows a definition example of the mail client of each workstation. For example, an example of an individual whose surname is "Aoki" is shown as a WS32 mail client (simply referred to as WS), and when the organization name or department changes, it changes accordingly, and the same applies to other WS examples. Items with "-" in the figure are items for which definition is omitted, and it is possible to define all of them. You can make a call using an address like this,
From WS32, 37 and 38 mail clients to WS
When sending to the 42 mail client, specify the address on the MHS of the mail gateway 36, and then
It is necessary to specify the address of the WS 42 on the SMTP.

In the system configuration of FIG. 2 described above, an address search file (35b in FIG. 2) and a group search file (35b in FIG. 2) first provided in the address search server 35a of the mail server 35 in order to easily set the destination address. 35c) of 2 is created (registered). Similar files are created in the other mail servers 31 and 41, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a processing flow for creating an address search file and a group search file, and FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the address search file and the group search file. In FIG. 4, first, address data (internal format is free) added with the group name as a key at the beginning is registered in the address search file (S1 in FIG. 4).

Referring to FIG. The example of the structure of the address search file shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the structure shown in FIG. 2, and is A Co. for WS32 under the mail server 31 and B Co. for WS37, 38 under the mail server 35. , C to the WS 42 under the mail server 41
A group name of stock company is given. The group name determined here is added as key data to the head of the address data (variable length for all addresses of each destination) created by an arbitrary method. Since the internal format of the input address data in this is defined later in the group search file, the number of items and the arrangement of items are free. Further, although this item is not required when actually sending an email, it is possible to optionally include an item to be set as a search condition item when searching for a destination. Further, if the address data is not stored in each mail server, it may be acquired from the server that holds it by a method such as file transfer and registered in the address search file. In FIG. Specifically, the file having the contents of can be used as the address search file 35b of the mail server 35 of FIG.

When the registration of the address data to be searched is completed, the attribute information of the registered address data of each group is registered in the group search file (S2 in FIG. 4). The data to be registered is a group name, each item name that constitutes the address data of the group, the position of the item in the address data, and their length.

B. of FIG. An example of the structure of the group search file created in is shown below. This example is shown in FIG. Based on the address search file shown in, for example, as the address of A Co., Ltd., the item code is the country code, the area of the main government agency area, the name of the private area, the organization name, the department name 1, the family name, the person in charge,
Is used, "position in address data"
In the column of A. In the address data, the country code and the data of each item of the area of the main government agency ... are located in what word (word). The "Length in address data" column indicates Indicates the length of the item data. B. of FIG. The file having the contents of can be used as the group search file 35c in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a processing flow for registering a group in the group definition file, FIG. 7 is a screen example of the group registration processing, and FIG. 8 is a configuration example of the group definition file. First, a group name to be registered is defined (S1 in FIG. 5). Next, the name (including the length) of the destination item to be input when sending a mail to the destination belonging to the group is defined (S2 in FIG. 5). Next, the name of the item (including its length) used as a search condition when searching for address data belonging to that group is defined (S3 in FIG. 5). At this time, the item used as the search condition is arbitrarily selected from the items defined in the group search file (see B. in FIG. 6).

Finally, the item data input by the user or the item data obtained by searching the address search file (see A in FIG. 6) according to the destination is added as fixed data to complete the actual address data. The item data necessary for this is defined (S4 in FIG. 5).

FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen in this registration process. In FIG. Defines "A Co., Ltd." as a group name, and refers to the group search file (B. in FIG. 6) for input items and search items, and selects and registers from the list of items with the group name as shown in can do. In this way, you can cancel the registration of the input item. In this example, "Department name 1" and "Last name" are input items
Is specified together with the length (data length), and "department name 1" and "charge" are specified together with the length as search items. In addition, referring to the corresponding information in the address search file (see A in FIG. 6), the fixed destination information for this “A corporation” is shown in each area of “country code” to “organization name” in FIG. Is set to. Similarly, group name "C Corporation"
7, input items and search items are designated on the screen shown in FIG. 7, and fixed information is set as shown in. 7 can be switched back and forth by specifying a group.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a group definition file having contents corresponding to the address search file and the group search file of FIG. 6, and shows the result set using the screen shown in FIG. The content of this group definition file is an example of the group definition file provided in WS37 and WS38 which belong to the host 34 of FIG.

The columns of "input" and "search" in FIG.
It indicates that the items marked with "○" are designated as input items or search items. In this example, in the case of A Co., Ltd., "department name 1" and the personal name "surname" are specified as input items, and "department name 1" and "charge" are specified as search items. In the case of C Corporation, fixed data including a gateway is registered, only "network address" is designated as an input item, and "department" and "name" are designated as search items.

Either one of the input item and the search item in this is selected in the actual addressing, and in the case of an input item, the address data is obtained by the group definition file by inputting the item. In the case of a search item, the address data is obtained by inputting that item and performing a search using the address search file and the group definition file.

FIG. 9 is a processing flow of a destination search at the time of sending a mail, FIGS. 10 and 11 show screen configurations for address designation, FIG. 10 is an example of a screen configuration in the case of a destination search, and FIG. It is an example of a screen configuration in the case of destination input.

The actual transmission and destination search processing will be described below using a specific example of the screen configuration. Note that FIG.
0, the concrete example of FIG. 11 is a workstation (WS) 37
Is an example of a call from a workstation to another workstation (WS) 32, 42. Each screen is displayed on the display of the workstation 37, and the process proceeds by selecting or inputting characters on the screen. .

When making a call, the group name is first displayed (taken from the group definition file provided in the workstation), the destination group name is selected from this (S1 in FIG. 9), and then searched. It is determined whether or not to perform (S2). This determination is to determine whether the user has selected "input destination search" by inputting search items or "destination designation" inputting to the input items. Determine the content.

Referring to FIG. Is an example of designation of destination search to WS32 (FIG. 2), B. Is WS42 (Fig. 2)
An example of designation of a destination search to a user is shown. An example of a transmission / search screen in which "A Co., Ltd." has been selected is shown, and the user selects "address search". In the figure, the selected state is represented by a solid line that surrounds the entire selected item, and can also be displayed by reverse display, underlined display, or color-changed display. Also, as shown in FIG. No. is an example of a screen in which "C Corporation" is selected.

When the destination search is selected, the group definition file (see FIG. 8) is searched, the attributes of the searchable items are acquired, and the search item input field is displayed (S in FIG. 9).
3). A. of FIG. In the case of, it is understood that two items of "department name 1" and "charge" can be specified as search items, and the input length (10 bytes) specified in this group definition file is displayed on the screen. In this example, the character “Attendance” is input by the user in the item “Person in charge”, and “Search” is instructed. B. of FIG. In the case of, “Department” and “Name” are displayed as the search items shown in, whereas “System” is entered in the item of “Department” and “Search” is instructed.

In FIG. 9, when a search item is entered, the input data is sent together with the group name and the search item name to the address search server (35a in FIG. 2) in the mail server provided in the host above the workstation. (S4 of FIG. 9). The mail server acquires the position and attribute in the address search file of each item belonging to the relevant group name (at step S5). Next, a record including search data in the item is extracted from the address search file (see A in FIG. 6), and the address data is returned to the client (WS that originates the call) together with the attribute data (S6 in FIG. 9). ， Address data returned (destination)
Is displayed in a list (at step S7).

FIG. 10A. In the case of, the search instruction after inputting "Attendance" entered on the input screen of the search item shown in
5a), the destination group name is "A Co., Ltd.", the search item name is "charge", and the search data is "attendance", and the search is performed. For the search, the group search file (35c in FIG. 2, see B. in FIG. 6) is searched by the key "A Co., Ltd.", and the address search file for each item belonging to the relevant group name (35b in FIG. 2, FIG. 6). A.
Get the position and length in (). Here, as a result of searching the group search file with the key "A Co., Ltd.", 7 items from "country code" to "charge"
There are two types, the position in the address data and the length. Next, from the address search file, the position in the address data of the “charge” designated as the search condition in the item is from the 47th byte to the 10th byte, so the search condition data is within the range of that data. Records containing data "Attendance",
That is, two records are extracted from the beginning of the address search file and returned to the client. The client displays a list of returned records on the screen.

In this case, the addresses of the two persons who belong to the "general affairs department" are displayed as the search result of the person in charge of "attendance", and the user selects one of the two persons as the destination. In this example, "Aoki" is selected. B. In the case of, one address of the "system" department is displayed on the search result screen as in.

When the user selects one of a plurality of address data (destinations) obtained by the search as described above, the address data defined in the selected address data (the group in FIG. 8) is selected. (Fixed data in the definition file) is added to complete the actual address (S8 in FIG. 9). After this, a mail is sent to the completed mail address (S11 in FIG. 9). A. of FIG. And B. In the case of, select one from the search results (check the displayed one in the case of B) on each screen, and give the instruction of "call" It is completed and the e-mail is sent.

Next, in S2 of FIG. 9, when it is determined that "address designation" for inputting the input item is selected,
The group definition file (see FIG. 8) is searched, the attribute of the item to be input is acquired, and the destination item input field is displayed (S9 in FIG. 9).

With reference to FIG. Is an example of designation of a destination to WS32 (FIG. 2), B. Shows an example of designation of a destination to WS 42 (FIG. 2). An example of a transmission / retrieval screen in which "A Co., Ltd." is selected is shown, and the user selects "destination designation". As a result, "department name 1" and "surname" are displayed as input items in the lower part of the screen shown in. B. In the case of, "network address" is displayed as an input item. These input items are registered in advance in the group definition file shown in FIG. For each input item, A. of FIG. And B. The user inputs as shown in each of.

Predefined address data (fixed data in FIG. 8) is added to the input address data to complete the actual address data (S10 in FIG. 9), and a mail is sent to the completed mail address. (S11).

[0040]

According to the present invention, the user does not need to know in detail the destination address of an e-mail that spans a plurality of nodes including different protocols, and whether to input some items such as the name of the other party. , It is possible to set the e-mail address accurately by only inputting a part of the search items, and it is possible to remarkably reduce the burden on the user's address and to simplify the use of e-mail.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration example of a mail system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a definition example of a mail client of each workstation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of creating an address search file and a group search file.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow for registering a group in a group definition file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an address search file and a group search file.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen example of a group registration process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a group definition file.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a destination search when sending a mail.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen configuration in the case of destination search.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen configuration in the case of inputting a destination.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of code] 1 mail server 10 communication control unit 11 mail transmission / reception unit 12 address search unit 13 address search file 14 group search file 15 search file creation unit 2 client 20 communication control unit 21 mail transmission / reception unit 22 group definition file 23 group definition Registration section 3 Display section 4 Input section

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In an electronic mail system connected to a network using a plurality of mail servers and different electronic mail transfer protocols, a group of mail addresses having a certain common part is registered and managed as a group, An electronic device characterized in that a group name is added to the group and registered together with a common part of the address in a client workstation which performs a transmission operation, and a destination address of an electronic mail is designated by selecting the group name. Mail system. 2. The client workstation according to claim 1, comprising a fixed address composed of a plurality of items forming an address corresponding to a group name, a group definition file in which items to be input are registered, and When a destination address is specified, when a corresponding input item is displayed by selecting a group name, when the corresponding input item is input, the fixed address is added to the input data to form a destination address. And an e-mail system. 3. An e-mail system connected to a network using a plurality of mail servers and different e-mail transfer protocols, registers and manages a group of mail addresses having a certain common part, On the other hand, a group name is added, information about the items that the mail address has for each group is registered in the mail server, and information regarding the conditions under which the mail address can be searched for each group is sent by e-mail. When registering in the client workstation and specifying the destination address of the e-mail, the above information of the address search server is searched based on the selected group name and specified conditions, and the destination to actually send from the search result is searched. An email message characterized by sending an email by selecting System. 4. The mail server according to claim 3, comprising an address search file in which address data corresponding to each destination of each group is registered, and an address for each group stored in the address search file. And a group search file storing data on items, the client workstation includes a group definition file in which input items for address search are registered corresponding to a group name, When specifying the destination address,
When data is input for the input items for the destination search, the mail server is requested to perform a search, and the mail server returns address data as a search result using the address search file and the group search file. , An e-mail system characterized by sending an e-mail using the address data. 5. In an electronic mail system connected to a network using a plurality of mail servers and different electronic mail transfer protocols, a group of mail addresses having a certain common part is registered and managed as a group, On the other hand, a group name is added to each group, information about the items held by the mail address is registered in the mail server, and the common part of the group address and each group are registered in the client workstation that performs the transmission operation to the group. Register the information about the conditions that can search e-mail address and specify whether to specify the destination address of the e-mail by selecting the group name and entering the specified item or by specifying the search item. Selectable, and the destination address according to claim 1 or claim 3 is selected according to the selection result. An electronic mail system characterized by specifying a dress.