JPH10190723A - Electronic mail identification method and information communication network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the user individual of a network correspond to the IP (internet protocol) address of a terminal equipment which the user uses. SOLUTION: When the user A inputs the IP address of the terminal equipment 24 in using the terminal equipment 24, the IP address is stored in a host device 23 in accordance with the account name User-A of the user A. When the user B of the terminal equipment 21 inputs an electronic mail address containing the account name User-A of the user B and a domain name Domain- G as the electronic mail address, DNS(domain name server) devices 20 and 22 specify the host device 23 with the domain dame as a keyword. The storage content of the host device 23 is retrieved with the account name as the keyword in the electronic mail address, and IP address 192. 168. 1.9 corresponding to the account name User-A is specified. Thus, the terminal equipment 21 can be connected to the terminal equipment 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail identification method and an information communication network system.
TCP (Transmission Control)
Protocol / IP (Internet Pro)
In a computer network system using a tocol) protocol, when a user of a computer network communicates with another user via a terminal device,
The present invention relates to an electronic mail identification method and an information communication network system suitable for specifying an IP address of a terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer network system using the TCP / IP protocol, in order to identify a host device or a terminal device connected to a network,
An address composed of a 32-bit binary number called an IP address is allocated. IP shown in binary
The address is convenient for the host device or the terminal device as a computer to identify another host device or the terminal device connected to the network or to control a route for connection, but for the user. Is hard to understand and hard to remember.

[0003] For these reasons, a host name represented by a character string is given to a host device or a terminal device, and a domain name /
A name management mechanism called a server (hereinafter, referred to as DNS) is used to manage the correspondence between host names and IP addresses.

[0004] DNS is a distributed name management mechanism in which a network is hierarchically divided by a name space called a domain, and a DNS device provided with a database representing the correspondence between host names and IP addresses is arranged for each domain. is there. Each domain is assigned a name of a namespace called a domain name. From the top of the namespace, a host name of a host device or a terminal device and a character string represented by a domain name hierarchically enumerated or a namespace. A character string represented by a domain name hierarchically enumerated from the top is referred to as a full quality domain name (hereinafter, referred to as FQDN). In DNS, a resource record indicating a correspondence between an FQDN including a host name and an IP address is called an A record.

Conventionally, a system shown in FIG. 3 has been known as a system having a DNS function. In FIG. 3, a network includes a plurality of namespaces (domains) 12 to
16 and each namespace 12-16 has a DN
S devices 1 to 3 and DNS devices 7 and 10 are provided.
Each of the DNS apparatuses 1 to 3, 7, and 10 is Domain
-Namespaces 12 to 1 to which domain names A to E are allocated
6 is managed. The host device 4 and the terminal devices 5 to 6 belonging to the name space 14 are respectively Hos.
Host names t-C, Term-C1 and Term-C2 are allocated, and the DNS device 3 manages the correspondence between host names and IP addresses. The host device 8 and the terminal device 9 belonging to the name space 15 are respectively Host-
Host names D and Term-D are assigned,
The DNS device 7 manages the correspondence between host names and IP addresses. The terminal device 11 belonging to the name space 16 is assigned a host name Term-E, and the DNS device 10 manages the correspondence between the host name and the IP address.

The DNS device 2 belonging to the name space 13 holds information that the name space 15 is managed by the DNS device 7 and information that the name space 16 is managed by the DNS device 10. Also, the DNS device 1
The name space 13 holds information managed by the DNS device 2 and the name space 14 holds information managed by the DNS device 3. In managing information, a notation based on FQDN is adopted.

For example, when the host device 11 is represented by FQDN, it is represented as the following (1) character string from the host name and the name of the name space to which it belongs.

Term-E. Domain-E. Domain-B. Domain-A (1) Similarly, the FQDN of the host device 4 is represented as a character string of the following (2). Host-C. Domain-C. Domain-A (2)

In addition, DNS apparatuses 1 to 3, DNS apparatus 7,
FQD for each namespace 12 to 16 managed by 10
When represented by N, it is represented by the following character string (3).

[0010] FQDN Domain-A in the namespace 13 FQDN Domain-B. Domain-A Namespace 14 FQDN Domain-C. Domain-A Name space 15 FQDN Domain-D. Domain-B. Domain-A Namespace 16 FQDN Domain-E. Domain-B. Domain-A (3) Here, the user using the terminal device 11 is
The description proceeds with an example in which the IP address of the IP address is specified.

[0011] The terminal device 11 is connected to the FQDN of the host device 4.
(Host-C. Domain-C. Domain-
A) is sent to the DNS device 10 that manages the name space to which the terminal device 11 is connected, and requests the IP address of the host device 4. At this time, the DNS device 10
Is not managed, the request from the terminal device 11 is transferred to the DNS device 2 that manages the upper space. In this case, since the DNS device 2 does not manage the host device 4 like the DNS device 11, the DNS device 2 further transfers the request from the terminal device 11 to the DNS device 1 that manages a higher-order space. Although the DNS device 1 does not directly manage the host device 4, a portion (Do) indicating the name space of the FQDN of the host device 4 indicated in the transferred request from the terminal device 11
main-C. Domain-A) has information that it is managed by the DNS device 3,
The request from the terminal device 11 is transferred to the S device 3. In response to this request, the DNS device 3 manages the correspondence between the host name (Host-C) of the host device 4 and the IP address. In this order. That is,
The terminal device 11 is notified of the IP address of the host device 4 via the DNS devices 1, 2, and 10. In this case, as a method of specifying the IP address of the terminal device, a database device that associates an arbitrary keyword for identifying a user on a computer network with the IP address of the terminal device used by the user without using DNS. There is a system called a directory server in which a user registers and deletes a keyword such as a nickname representing the user and an IP address as needed, and refers to the IP address.

On the other hand, electronic mail is delivered using the above-described DNS mechanism. As shown in the following character string (4), the address of this e-mail is the name of the user account provided in the host device that receives the e-mail and the name of the host device or the name space in which the host device is installed. Is represented by a character string (4) consisting of FQDN of

Account name $ FQDN (4) As described above, the FQDN hierarchically enumerates a character string or a name space in which the host device and the terminal device are represented by the domain name hierarchically enumerated with the host name. Although it is a character string represented by a domain name, since this character string can be considered as indicating the organization that manages the namespace,
An email address can be interpreted as follows depending on whether it contains a host name or not.

Account name ＠ Host name. Organization name (5) Account name @ Organization name (6) In the delivery of e-mail, the host device to be delivered can be specified by referring to the DNS by the FQDN indicated in the e-mail address. Including F
The A record indicating the correspondence between the QDN and the IP address cannot handle an e-mail address that does not include the host name as shown in the character string (6). For this reason, DNS (Mail Exchange
A resource record called an (anger) record is prepared.

The MX record indicates the FQDN including the host name of the device that receives the mail or the host device that relays the mail in the domain indicated by the organization name.
By referring to the A record by QDN, the IP address of the host device to which the electronic mail is to be delivered can be specified.

[0016]

DNS in a computer network system associates a host device or a terminal device with an IP address, but the relationship between a host device or a terminal device and a user is always one-to-one. Not necessarily.

For example, when a network user uses a plurality of host devices and terminal devices for different purposes, or conversely, when a single terminal device is used jointly by a plurality of users. Is mentioned. Also, a point-to-point protocol for connecting to a network via a telephone line or an ISDN line using a modem or a terminal adapter, or when a terminal device is started, a network is used from a specific device for the network. In a usage mode using a dynamic host configuration protocol that receives parameters for performing a connection, a different IP address is assigned to a terminal device each time a connection or activation is performed, so that a correspondence relationship between the terminal device and the IP address may occur. It changes dynamically.

Therefore, when a user of the computer network communicates with another user via the terminal device, not only does the terminal device in the DNS correspond to the IP address, but also the individual user and the user can communicate with each other. It is necessary to associate the IP address of the terminal device to be used.

On the other hand, since the directory server performs registration and deletion according to the user's use, it is possible to associate the individual user with the IP address of the terminal device used by the user. Can register / delete any keyword as needed. For this reason, keywords may be duplicated. Also, since there is no mechanism for authenticating the user, it is not possible to prevent unauthorized use by registering with a keyword that is regularly used by other users and impersonating other users.

Furthermore, since there is no clear management mechanism such as DNS, it is necessary to know in advance the IP address of the directory server in addition to the keyword used by the partner to be connected.

An object of the present invention is to specify an IP address of a terminal device used by a user of a network.
Provided is an electronic mail identification method and an information communication network system that can associate an individual user with an IP address of a terminal device used by the user by using an electronic mail address owned by a user of the network. is there.

[0022]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention divides a network into a plurality of domains, assigns a unique domain name to each domain, and exchanges information between the domains. Is performed, the account name of the user who uses the terminal device belonging to the domain and the I
An e-mail identification method is adopted in which the contents of the storage means in which information on the correspondence with the P address is stored are searched, and the IP address corresponding to the account name is specified. The present invention also provides an information communication network system which divides a network into a plurality of domains, assigns each domain a domain name unique to each domain, and transmits and receives information between the domains.
A storage unit for storing information relating to a correspondence between an account name of a user who uses a terminal device belonging to a domain and an IP address of the terminal device, and an e-mail including an account name and a domain name as an address received from another domain Determining means for identifying the domain name in the address and determining whether or not the email is for the own domain, and the account name in the email address provided that a positive determination result is obtained by the determining means. And a specifying means for searching the storage contents of the storage means by using the keyword as a keyword to specify an IP address corresponding to the account name. Furthermore, the present invention provides an information communication network system in which a network is divided into a plurality of domains, each domain is given a domain name unique to each domain, and information is exchanged between the domains. Storage means for storing information relating to a correspondence between an account name of a user to be used and an IP address of a terminal device; and a domain among addresses when an e-mail including an account name and a domain name is received from another domain as an address. Determining means for identifying an e-mail for the own domain by identifying the name; and an account name identifying the account name among the e-mail addresses on condition that a positive determination result is obtained by the determining means. Means for specifying and forwarding the transfer destination, and the account output from the relay means The searches the contents stored in the storage means as a keyword in which it constituted an information communication network system, characterized in that a specifying means for specifying the IP address corresponding to the account name. According to the above-described means, since the account name of the e-mail address is used as the keyword for associating the individual user with the IP address of the terminal device used by the user, the keyword is not duplicated and the account name is not duplicated. Can be specified. In addition, assuming that the e-mail address is the most widespread general keyword that can identify an individual on a network, it is not necessary to know in advance the keyword used by the partner to be connected. In transmitting and receiving information between networks, an e-mail address including an account name and a domain name is used as a keyword for associating an individual user with an IP address of a terminal device used by the user. When an e-mail to the domain is transmitted, the IP address can be specified using the account name as a keyword. For this reason, the user can use the account name for receiving the e-mail as the authentication mechanism, and there is no need to know in advance the IP address of the directory server used by the connecting party. Even when the device to be delivered is specified for each user account name, the account name is identified by identifying the account name among the e-mail addresses. The IP address corresponding to the account name can be specified.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an information communication network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a computer network using the TCP / IP protocol has a plurality of namespaces (domains) 18 and 19.
The namespaces 18 and 19 are connected to each other via a wide area network 17. Specific examples of the wide area network 17 include the Internet and a private network connecting companies and academic institutions. The namespaces 18 and 19 are Domai
n-F and Domain-G domain names are allocated, and the DNS device 20 and the terminal device 21 are stored in the name space 18.
The namespace 19 is provided with a DNS device 22, a host device 23, and a terminal device 24. The DNS device 20 manages the correspondence between the host name Term-F of the terminal device 21 provided in the name space 18 and the IP address, and the DNS device 22 hosts the host device 23 and the terminal device 24 belonging to the name space 19. The correspondence between names and IP addresses is managed. The host names of the host device 23 and the terminal device 24 are Host-G and Ter, respectively.
m-G.

The host device 23 has storage means for storing information relating to the correspondence between the account name of the user who uses the terminal device 24 belonging to the name space 19 and the IP address of the terminal device 24; It has a function as a means for specifying the IP address corresponding to the account name by searching the storage contents of the storage means using the name as a keyword, and when the e-mail is received together with the DNS device 22, the domain name is obtained. It has a function as a determination means for identifying and determining whether or not it is an electronic mail for its own domain. In particular,
The host device 23 has a database for associating the e-mail address with the IP address of the terminal device 24 used by the owner, and the e-mail for the user A using the terminal device 24 to receive the e-mail. It also has a function as a server device, and further has
Is set to indicate the host device 23. Here, the account name of user A is User-
In the case of A, the e-mail address of the user A is given by the host name and the domain name of the name space (domain) 19, and becomes User-A @ Domain-G. The IP addresses of the host device 23 and the terminal device 24 are 192.168.1.5 and 190.168.1.
9 is set.

Next, the user B who uses the terminal device 21
However, a method of specifying an IP address will be described using an example of a procedure when communicating with the user A.

First, in order to wait for a connection from the terminal device 21 used by the user B, the user A
, The application software used for communication with the user B is activated in a standby state. Specific examples of the application software at this time include an Internet telephone and an Internet videophone.

When the application software is started, as shown by an arrow 25, the IP address (192.16) of the terminal device 24 is inputted by a command from the terminal device 24.
8.1.9) is transferred to the host device 23 and registered in the database. This IP address is registered in association with the account name of the user A. The user authentication at the time of this registration uses an account for the user A to receive the e-mail. Also, the e-mail address and the IP address to be registered are not arbitrarily specified from the terminal device 24, but the name (User-A) of the account of the user A of the host device 23 and the connection of the terminal device 24 for the registration. The source IP address used is read and registered in the database. By performing such processing, the user cannot register a false e-mail address or IP address, so that it is possible to control improper use such as impersonating another person.

The correspondence between the account name registered in the database and the IP address may be a deletion request using the same account name, a registration request using another IP address from the same account name, or the same request from another account. It is deleted by a registration request using an IP address.
The latter two are based on the assumption that the IP address for the terminal device 24 is dynamically allocated.

Next, in order to communicate with the user A, the user B activates application software used for communication in the terminal device 21 and uses the user A as a connection partner.
E-mail address (User-A @ Domain-
G) to the application software. When the application software given the e-mail address (User-A @ Domain-G) starts,
A process is executed for specifying the delivery destination of the e-mail using the domain name as a keyword among the e-mail addresses. That is, as shown by the arrows 26 to 29, the MX record related to the domain name Domain-G is searched,
As the MX record of Domain-G, the host device 2
The third IP address 192.168.1.5 is specified. IP address of host device 192.168.
When 1.5 is specified, the application software of the terminal device 21 shifts to a process for specifying the IP address.

As shown by the arrow 30, an IP address related to the account name User-A among the e-mail addresses is requested. Host device 23 responding to this request
Searches the database and transfers the IP address (192.168.1.9) of the terminal device 24 corresponding to the account name (User-A) of the user A to the terminal device 21 as indicated by the arrow 31. .

According to the above-described processing, the user B using the terminal device 21 receives the IP address of the terminal device 24 used by the user A.
Identify the address (192.168.1.9) and use arrow 3
As shown in FIG. 2, processing for connecting the terminal device 21 and the terminal device 24 is executed, and the terminal device 21 and the terminal device 2 are connected.
4 is transmitted and received via the wide area network 17.

According to the present embodiment, an e-mail address including an account name and a domain name is used as a keyword for associating an individual user with an IP address of a terminal device used by the user. Does not occur, and the user can be associated with the IP address of the terminal device used by the user. Also, assuming that the e-mail address is the most widespread general keyword that can identify an individual on the network, there is no need to know in advance the keyword used by the partner to be connected. Further, since the user can use the account for receiving the e-mail as the authentication mechanism, there is no need to know in advance the IP address of the directory server used by the other party to be used for connection.

In this embodiment, an e-mail address that does not include a host name in a character string can be used, and the IP address that can be specified is not limited to the host device to which the e-mail is delivered.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is an improvement of the above-described embodiment, and can be adapted to a real network.

That is, the e-mail is sent to the M of the DNS device.
The mail is delivered to the host device indicated by the X record. In the delivery of the electronic mail, a configuration in which the host device indicated by the MX record is relayed and further delivered to another host device is also possible.

For example, in an organization with several thousand users, it is difficult to receive all e-mails with a single host device due to processing capacity. Processing such as defining and relaying a host device to be delivered for each account name of a user shown is adopted.

In a system employing such a configuration, a user account may not be set in the host device indicated by the MX record. Therefore, in the present embodiment, this problem is solved by providing the host device indicated by the MX record with a function as a relay unit for relaying the electronic mail to the device that specifies the IP address.

Next, a specific configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the computer network using the TCP / IP protocol is divided into a plurality of namespaces 34 and 35, and each namespace 34, 3
5 are connected to each other via a wide area network 33. The name space 34 is provided with a DNS device 36 and a terminal device 37, and the name space 35 is provided with a DNS device 38, host devices 39 and 40, and a terminal device 41.
Namespaces 34 and 35 each have a domain name of D
omain-H and Domain-I are allocated.

The DNS device 36 belonging to the name space 34 manages the correspondence between the host name Term-H of the terminal device 37 and the IP address, and the DNS device 3 belonging to the name space 35
Reference numeral 8 manages the correspondence between the host names of the host devices 39 and 40 and the terminal device 41 and the IP addresses. The host devices 39 and 40 and the terminal device 41 have Host-I1 and Host-I as host names, respectively.
2. Term-I is allocated.

The host device 39 is the MX device of the DNS device 38.
A host device indicated by the record, which has a function as a relay means for relaying the electronic mail to the host device 40, and, together with the DNS device 38, identifies a domain name among the addresses of the electronic mail and transmits an electronic mail related to its own domain. It has a function as a judging means for judging whether or not it is a mail.

On the other hand, the host device 40 has the account name User-C and the IP address 192.168.2.15 of the user C who uses the terminal device 41 belonging to the name space 35.
Identifying means having a function as a storing means for storing information relating to the correspondence between the electronic mail address and the IP address corresponding to the account name by searching the storage contents of the storing means using the account name of the e-mail address as a keyword As a function. Further, the terminal device 41
Has a function as an e-mail server device for a user C who uses e-mail to receive an e-mail. The e-mail address of the user C using the terminal device 41 has an account name set to User-C and a domain name set to Domain-I.
For this reason, the user C uses User-C @ Domain-I
You will receive an e-mail.

The host devices 39 and 40, the terminal device 41
Are respectively (192.168.2.
7), (192.168.2.12), (192.16)
8.2.15).

In order to specify a delivery destination according to the account name of the e-mail address, the host device 39
Has an account name User-C and User-C
C, the destination of the e-mail, ie, the IP address of the host device 40 provided with the device for specifying the IP address.
A database that associates addresses (192.168.2.12) is provided. Next, a procedure in which the user D using the terminal device 37 communicates with the user C will be described as an example.
The operation when the P address is specified will be described. First, in order to wait for a connection from the terminal device 37 used by both the users D, the user C activates the application software used for communication with the user D in the terminal device 41 in a standby state, as shown by an arrow 42. Then, the IP address (192.168.2.15) of the terminal device 41 is transferred and registered in the database. This IP address is registered in the database in a state where it is associated with the account name of User C (User-C).

Next, in order to communicate with the user C, the user D starts application software used for communication in the terminal device 37, and the user C as a connection partner.
E-mail address (User-C @ Domain-
I) to the application software. E-mail address (Use
When r-C @ Domain-I) is given, a process for specifying a delivery destination of the electronic mail is executed. That is, as shown by arrows 43 to 46, a process for specifying the name space 35 using the domain name Domain-I of the e-mail address as a keyword is performed. The IP address 192.16 of the host device 39 is obtained as a Domain-I MX record via the DNSs 36 and 38 and some DNS devices in the wide area network 33.
8.2.7 is specified. When the IP address 192.168.2.7 of the host device 39 is obtained, the terminal device 37
The application software moves to the next process. That is, as shown by the arrow 47, a request for specifying the IP address for the account name User-C among the electronic mail addresses is output to the host device 39. When the host device 39 searches the database in response to this request, as shown by an arrow 48, User-
C. The IP address (192.168.2.1) of the host device 40 that operates to identify the IP address corresponding to C.
2) is transferred to the terminal device 37. I of the host device 40
Terminal device 3 having obtained P address 192.168.2.12
The application software on 7 is indicated by arrows 49, 5
0, the I related to the account name User-C
A request for obtaining the P address is output to the host device 40. In response to this request, the host device 40 searches the storage contents of the database using the account name (User-C) as a keyword, and enters the IP address (192.168.2.15) corresponding to the account (User-C). Transfer to terminal device 37.

According to the above processing, even if the MX record indicated by the DNS device 38 does not indicate the device for directly specifying the IP address, the user D using the terminal device 37 can use the terminal device 41 used by the user C. IP address (19
2.168.2.15), connection from the terminal device 37 to the terminal device 41 becomes possible as shown by an arrow 51, and information is transmitted between the terminal device 37 and the terminal device 41 via the wide area network 33. Can be given and received.

It should be noted that each of the above-described embodiments is actually mounted on a host device and a terminal device, and its feasibility is confirmed on the Internet.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By using the e-mail address as a keyword, it is possible to associate the individual user with the IP address of the terminal device used by the user. Also, since the e-mail address is used, there is no duplication of keywords, and assuming that the e-mail address is the most popular general keyword that can identify individuals on the network, trying to connect There is no need to know in advance the keywords used by the other party, and the terminal device can be easily connected. In addition, the user can prevent unauthorized use by using the account that receives the e-mail for the authentication mechanism, and when the application software that uses the relation between the e-mail address and the IP address is started, Since the IP address is registered in the specified device, it is possible to adapt to a connection mode in which the correspondence itself between the terminal device and the IP address dynamically changes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a computer network showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of a computer network showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional computer network.

[Description of Signs] 18, 19 Name space 20, 22, DSN device 21, 24 Terminal device 23 Host device 34, 35 Name space 36, 38 DNS device 37, 41 Terminal device 39, 40 Host device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A network is divided into a plurality of domains, each domain is given a domain name unique to each domain, and when information is exchanged between the domains, an electronic mail is received when an email is received from another domain. The account name of the user who uses the terminal device belonging to the domain and the I
An e-mail identification method characterized by retrieving the contents of a storage means in which information relating to a correspondence with a P address is stored and specifying an IP address corresponding to an account name. 2. An information communication network system in which a network is divided into a plurality of domains, each domain is given a domain name unique to each domain, and information is exchanged between the domains, and a terminal device belonging to the domain is used. Storage means for storing information relating to the correspondence between the user's account name and the IP address of the terminal device; and, when an e-mail containing the account name and the domain name as an address is received from another domain, the domain name among the addresses is stored. Determining means for identifying and determining whether or not the electronic mail is for the own domain; and storing contents of the storing means using the account name as a keyword among the electronic mail addresses on condition that a positive determination result is obtained by the determining means. Specifying means for searching for an IP address corresponding to the account name by searching for An information communication network system characterized by: 3. An information communication network system for dividing a network into a plurality of domains, giving each domain a domain name unique to each domain, and exchanging information between the domains, uses a terminal device belonging to the domain. Storage means for storing information relating to the correspondence between the user's account name and the IP address of the terminal device; and, when an e-mail containing the account name and the domain name as an address is received from another domain, the domain name among the addresses is stored. A determining means for identifying and determining whether or not the email is for the own domain; and transferring the account name by identifying an account name among the email addresses on condition that a positive determination result is obtained by the determining means. Relay means for specifying the destination and the account name output from the relay means as keywords An identification means for searching the storage content of the storage means to identify an IP address corresponding to the account name.