JPH10341301A - Message distribution processing system, message distribution processing method and message distribution processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure safety in distribution by performing the distribution of messages, while acquiring optimum transmission medium and address with respect to a recipient out of an organization or at a remote place. SOLUTION: When a user inputs a distribution request and a message to a client 5, a message distribution processing(MDA) server 6 acquires both the address and the optimum transmission medium of an MDA server 18 in the case of the recipient being a remote user. However, when the recipient is a local user, the address of remote printer connected to a LAN is acquired. When an inquiry is received from the MDA server 6 to the MDA server 18, it is inquired with respect to a reliable server list 26 whether or not the MDA server 6 is reliable and when it is reliable, the schedule of recipient is inquired to a data base 19. Then, the optimum address and the optimum transmission medium are supplied via the MDA server 18 to the MDA server 6. Based on this information, the MDA server 6 prepares envelop data and terrorists them to message distribution subsystems 7, 8 and 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a message delivery processing system, a message delivery processing method, and a message delivery processing device, and more particularly, to selecting a transmission destination by setting at least one transmission medium and an address. A message delivery processing system and a message delivery processing method for supporting message delivery to the selected destination,
The present invention also relates to a message delivery processing device for performing the message transmission / reception processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of information communication technology and information communication networks in recent years, message delivery has been performed using various media such as mail, facsimile communication, electronic mail, and network news. In particular, recently, specific electronic information is converted into a format suitable for each of a plurality of transmission media such as facsimile communication and e-mail, and a message having the same content can be delivered via any of the media. Such a message delivery processing system is being actively developed.

[0003] In this type of message delivery processing system, conventionally, differences in address formats depending on different transmission media are transparent to users, and recipients serving as delivery destinations are not addressed in a unique address format. Instead, a name or the like is directly stored in an address book, a recipient stored in the address book is specified, and a message is delivered to the specified delivery destination (hereinafter, referred to as “No. 1).

FIG. 14 shows an example of an address book used in the first conventional example. The address book has a destination column 101 and an address column 102, and includes a facsimile number corresponding to a destination. Email addresses are stored centrally. That is, in the first conventional example, a facsimile number and an e-mail address that depend on these transmission media are integrated into a single address book in order to deliver a message via different media such as facsimile communication and e-mail. Therefore, the user can transmit a desired message to the recipient by selecting a desired recipient from the address book without being particularly aware of the details of the delivery method. That is, the first
In the conventional example, the address book is searched using the recipient as a keyword, and an appropriate transmission medium and address are specified to deliver the message.

In order to select an optimal address,
A message delivery processing system that determines a destination address by making an inquiry to a schedule database that has registered an action schedule of a receiver has also been proposed. Can only select the desired address if it is possible to understand the recipient. For example, if the recipient is in a remote location or is an employee of a company different from the sender, the optimal recipient can be selected. Knowing the address is virtually impossible. That is, the schedule database in which the behavior schedule of the receiver is managed and updated appropriately is generally actually prepared only in the organization to which the receiver belongs.

Therefore, from such a viewpoint, a message delivery processing server under the jurisdiction of the receiver is previously inquired of the optimum address, and the message delivery processing server receiving the inquiry searches the schedule database to find the optimum address. Message delivery processing system that sends a message to the optimum address to recipients outside the organization or at a remote location by selecting the message and replying the selection result to the message delivery processing server on the sender side. (Hereinafter referred to as "second conventional example").

[0007]

However, in the first conventional example, there is no mechanism for following a change in an e-mail address or a facsimile number. . That is, the recipient's e-mail address and facsimile number may be changed for various reasons.For example, if the recipient is in a remote location or is an employee of another company, the change is followed. Then, it is difficult to sequentially update the address book, and thus there is a problem that a correct address cannot always be held.

Further, in the first conventional example, since there is no means for tracking the location of the moving receiver, there are the following problems. That is, the optimal transmission medium and address for delivering a message to a specific recipient are not always one, and for example, the recipient may use different e-mail addresses or different facsimile numbers at home and at work. May have. In particular, the recipient moves from location to location based on his or her activity schedule, which changes the optimal transmission medium and address for the recipient. Therefore, it is difficult to track such movements, for example, if the recipient is at a remote location or is an employee of another company, and it is not feasible to deliver the message to the optimal address for the recipient. Above may be impossible.
For this reason, in the first conventional example, when delivering a message to a recipient who is traveling away from home, the action schedule of the recipient is confirmed through a third party such as a secretary, and thereafter, the recipient's action is confirmed. There is a problem that it takes time and effort to transfer facsimile reception to the location.

[0009] In the second conventional example, since the optimum address is successively provided in response to an inquiry from outside the organization, it is possible to easily estimate the location and the destination of the receiver, while the organization's There is a problem that an undesirable situation may occur in security.

In the second conventional example, when an inquiry is received while the recipient is at home, for example, personal information such as an e-mail address and a facsimile number indicating a contact method at home leaks out of the organization. However, there is a problem that an unfavorable situation occurs from the viewpoint of privacy protection.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and obtains an optimal transmission medium and an address for promptly delivering a message to a recipient outside an organization or a remote place. An object of the present invention is to provide a message delivery processing system, a message delivery processing method, and a message delivery processing device capable of ensuring security from the viewpoint of security and privacy protection for delivering a message to an address.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a message delivery processing system according to the present invention comprises at least one or more first information to which delivery information consisting of a message content and a message delivery request is input. A delivery support unit, a second delivery support unit that manages a plurality of pieces of address information of the specific recipient, and an external communication network that connects the first delivery support unit and the second delivery support unit. In the message delivery processing system for transmitting the delivery information from the first delivery support means to the second delivery support means via the external communication network, the second delivery support means includes a first delivery support means A reliability determining means for determining the reliability of the means, and an address communication means for determining whether or not to notify the first delivery support means of the address information according to the determination result of the reliability determining means. It is characterized by and a propriety means.

Further, the message delivery processing system according to the present invention provides a delivery side which manages a plurality of pieces of address information of a specific recipient via an external communication network by using delivery information comprising a message content and a message delivery request of a sender. In the message delivery processing method for delivery processing toward, the receiving side determines whether the transmitting side has reliability, whether or not to notify the address information to the transmitting side according to the determination result It is characterized by the decision.

Further, the message delivery processing device according to the present invention has a delivery function of delivering delivery information composed of a message content and a message delivery request, and a management function of managing a plurality of address information of a specific recipient. In a message delivery processing device having delivery support means, a reliability determination means for determining reliability of a transmission side transmitting delivery information, and the address information is transmitted to the transmission side in accordance with a determination result of the reliability determination means. And an address notification enabling / disabling means for determining whether or not notification should be performed.

[0015] Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a message delivery processing system according to the present invention.
In the message delivery processing system, a first message delivery processing device 1 and a second message delivery processing device 2 are mutually connected via an external network 3 and a public network 4.

The first message delivery processing device 1 is composed of a personal computer, a workstation, or an intelligent OA device, etc., and sends a message delivery request. 1st for receiving delivery request and message and delivering to optimal address by optimal transmission medium
Message delivery processing server (hereinafter, referred to as a “first MDA server”) 6, a first schedule database 50 in which an action schedule of a local user under the jurisdiction of the first MDA server 6 is registered, and an STMP ( Simple Mail
Transfer Protocol (TCP / IP)
a first e-mail server 7 for transmitting predetermined envelope data and messages in accordance with an application protocol of ission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol, and electronic information obtained by converting predetermined envelope data and messages into bitmap images A first facsimile spooler 8 for performing facsimile transmission to the public line network 4 and a department (mail room) for collecting and delivering postal matter in a company, etc., are provided at remote locations to store predetermined envelope data and messages. 1st output on recording paper
Are connected to each other via a first local area network (LAN) 10.
Is connected to the external network 3 via a first router 11, and the first fax spooler 8 is a first modem unit 1 having a built-in network control unit (NCU).
2 is connected to a public network 4. In the present embodiment, the first electronic mail server 7, the first fax spooler 8, and the first remote printer 9 constitute a message delivery subsystem.

Further, a first trusted server list 13 and a first address book 14 are connected to the first MDA server 6.

The first trust server list 13 contains the first M
The DA server 6 stores and manages the addresses of other MDA servers that are reliable. That is, for example, when the other MDA server that has issued the selection request of the optimum address is a server that is reliable for the first MDA server 6, the server address of the other MDA server is stored in the first trusted server list 13. The first MDA server 6 determines the optimum transmission medium and the optimum address based on the search result of the first schedule database 50,
The optimum transmission medium and the optimum address are set and delivered to the other MDA server.

The first address book 14 stores transmission media and addresses associated with each recipient as a set. That is, the first address book 14 indicates that the recipient as the delivery destination is a local user under the control of the first MDA server 6 or a remote location outside the control of the first MDA server 6. The user (hereinafter referred to as “remote user”) is identified, and in the case of a remote user, address information of another MDA server to which the remote user belongs is stored.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the first address book 14 has a destination field 15 and an address field 16, and the destination recipient is a remote address that is controlled by another MDA server. In the case of a user, the address of another MDA server that controls the remote user is registered in the address column 16. In other words, when the recipient is under the jurisdiction of another MDA server, as shown in FIG. 2A, the address column 16 stores another LA under the jurisdiction of the recipient (XX).
N address of the MDA server on N (mda.xxx.co.j
p), recipient's identifier in the MDA server (xx)
And that the delivery processing protocol of the MDA server is used for the delivery processing (MDA :) is registered. In the case where the destination recipient is a local user controlled by the first MDA server 6, the address of the first MDA server 6 itself is stored in the address field 16. That is, when the recipient is under the jurisdiction of the first MDA server 6, as shown in FIG. 2B, the address column 16 stores the server of the first MDA server 6 which supervises the recipient (○). The address (localhost), the identifier of the recipient (受 信) in the first MDA server 6, and the fact that the delivery processing protocol of the MDA server is used for the delivery processing (MDA :)
Is registered. Further, the recipient of the destination is the MD
When not controlled by the A server, as shown in FIG. 2C, a normal facsimile number, an e-mail address and the like are stored as in the conventional case.

The second message delivery processing device 2
1 has the same configuration as that of the first message delivery processing device 1, as shown in FIG.
, A second schedule database 19, a second e-mail server 20, a second fax spooler 21, and a second remote printer 22. The second LAN 23 is connected to the external network 3 via a second router 24, and the second fax spooler 21 is connected to a network control device (LAN). NCU) built-in second
Is connected to the public line network 4 via the modem unit 25 of the first embodiment. Further, a second trusted server list 26 and a second address book 17 are connected to the second MDA 18.

FIG. 3 shows that the first message delivery processing device 1 is a message delivery processing device on the transmission side, and the second message delivery processing device 2 is a message delivery processing device 3 on the reception side.
It is a block diagram which shows the detailed flow of a process in the case of making.

When the user inputs a delivery request and a message to the first client 5, the first client 5 connects to the first MDA server 6 via the first LAN 10. Then, the first MDA server 6 receives the delivery request and the message from the first client 5, creates envelope data, and delivers the envelope data and the message to the optimal address of the optimal transmission medium. That is, the first MDA server 6 first inquires of the first address book 14 about the optimum address of the recipient that the client user who is the sender wants to deliver a message or the like,
Next, the first address book 14 returns the optimum address of the recipient and the optimum transmission medium to the first MDA server 6.
Accordingly, when the recipient is a remote user, the first MDA server 6 sets the server address of the MDA server (in the present embodiment, the second MDA server 18) that has jurisdiction over the recipient together with the optimal transmission medium. If the recipient is a local user, the address of the first remote printer 22 connected to the first LAN 10 is acquired.

If the recipient is a remote user based on the result of the inquiry in the first address book 14, the first MDA server 6 inquires the second MDA server 18 of the recipient via the external network 3. I do. Then, the second MDA server 18 which has received the inquiry from the first MDA server 6 has the second trusted server list 1
8, the first MDA server 6 is the second MDA server 1
Inquiry as to whether or not the sender is a trustworthy sender. Then, the second trust server list 26 searches whether or not the first server 6 is registered in the second trust server list 26, and the first MDA server 6 searches the second trust server list 26. If the search result is registered in
To the MDA server 18. And the second MDA
If the first MDA server 6 is reliable, the server 18 inquires the second schedule database 19 about the individual schedule of the recipient, and sets the action schedule of the recipient to the second M
The data is transmitted to the DA server 18.

Next, the second MDA server 18 transfers the recipient's optimum address and the optimum transmission medium to the first MDA server 6 based on the information, and
The DA server 6 creates envelope data suitable for the optimal address and the optimal transmission medium supplied from the second MDA server 18 and the first address book 14, and uses the created envelope data and message to select a transmission medium. Accordingly, the message is transmitted to a message delivery subsystem such as the first e-mail server 20, the first fax spooler 21, or the first remote printer, and the recipient transmits the message transmitted through the message delivery subsystem. Will receive.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the management information registered in the second schedule database 19. The second schedule database 19 chronologically shows the behavior of an individual to be a message recipient. You are registered with

In the figure, the vertical axis represents time,
Each row shows the individual's action schedule in that time zone. The schedule database 19 includes a schedule column 28 indicating the contents of an individual's scheduled action, a location column 29 indicating the location, and a contact column 30 registered as a set of a transmission medium and an address indicating a method of contacting the location. A proxy flag 31 indicating whether the message delivery to the contact is through an agent, and a confidential flag indicating whether the route has confidentiality if the message is transmitted through an agent. 32. Note that the first schedule database 50 on the transmitting side also registers individual activity schedule information in the organization of the first LAN 10.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a message transmitted from the client user to the recipient.
3 and a message body 34. Then, information of “destination”, “subject”, “date and time”, “attribute”, “expiration date” and “transmission source” are written in the delivery request unit 33, and the attributes of the delivery request unit 33 include An urgent flag indicating whether delivery should be performed as soon as possible, a confidentiality flag indicating confidentiality, and whether a transmission subsystem delivery processing result report should be returned to the sender. , And a copy file flag indicating whether or not a copy of the transmission should be recorded in the file. The “expiration date” indicates the time limit when the message content is valid, and the expiration date can be specified by time, or can be specified by the current time or the elapsed time from the transmission time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the transmission process executed by the first MDA server 6.

In step S1, the system waits for a delivery request and a message from the first client 5, and upon receiving the delivery request and the message, specifies destination information based on the delivery request (step S2). Then, in the subsequent step S3, the recipient is searched from the first address book 14 using the recipient name of the specified destination information as a keyword,
It is determined whether the destination of the recipient is managed by the MDA server (step S4).

If the answer to step S4 is negative (No),
That is, as a result of searching the first address book 14, when it is determined that the destination information is not managed by the MDA server, it is determined that the facsimile number, the e-mail address, and the like are registered in the address column 16 as the destination information. Then, the process proceeds to step S5.

Next, in step S5, the first address book 14 is searched, and the transmission medium and the unique address information acquired thereby are acquired as a set. Next, in step S6, envelope data is created based on a format suitable for the attribute included in the delivery request in an expression format suitable for the selected transmission medium. That is, if the transmission medium is facsimile communication, a bitmap image of a facsimile communication cover page is created as envelope data, and if the transmission medium is e-mail, an e-mail header is created as envelope data. Also,
If the transmission medium is a printout to the remote printer 9, a "send form" in a predetermined format is used as envelope data.
Create a bitmap image of. The format used for creating the envelope data is stored in advance in a storage device (not shown) built in the first MDA server 6,
"Attribute" of the message included in the delivery request (Fig. 5)
Then, a predetermined format is selected and adopted according to the transmission destination characteristic information such as “proxy” and “confidential” acquired from the schedule database 19. Therefore, for example, when a message is delivered to a destination where an agent intervenes, it is also possible to automatically generate envelope data with “notice”.

Next, in step S7, the selected message delivery subsystem (the first electronic mail server 7,
Alternatively, it connects to the first fax spooler 8 or the remote printer 9), transmits the envelope data including the selected address information and the message content, and ends the delivery processing.

If it is determined in step S4 that the recipient as the destination is under the jurisdiction of the MDA server, the process proceeds to step S8, where the destination information retrieved from the first address book 14 is stored in the first MDA server. Second MDA different from 6
Determine whether the server is under the jurisdiction of the server.

When the answer is negative (No),
It is determined that the recipient is a local user under the control of the first MDA server 6, and the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the first schedule database 50 that manages the local user's activity schedule is inquired of the recipient's activity schedule, and then in step S10, a response from the first schedule database 50 is received, and based on the recipient's activity schedule. The selected transmission medium and address are selected. Next, in step S11, as described above, envelope data is created based on a format compatible with the attributes included in the delivery request in an expression format compatible with the selected transmission medium. In step S12, the selected envelope data is created. Connect to the transmission medium subsystem, transmit the envelope data including the selected address information and the message content to the sender, and end the transmission process.

If the answer to step S8 is affirmative (Yes), that is, if the receiver is a remote user under the control of the second MDA server 18, the process proceeds to step S13, where the first
The MDA server 6 connects to the second MDA server 18 using a predetermined network protocol. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the first TCP / IP is used.
Via the LAN 10, the first router 11, the external network 3, the second router 24, and the second LAN 23.
MDA server 6 and the second MDA server 18 are mutually connected.

Next, in step S14, the second MDA server 18 is inquired of the optimum address regarding the destination, and in the following step S15, the optimum transmission medium and the optimum address returned from the second MDA server 18 are acquired as a set. I do. At this time, characteristic information of the transmission destination such as “proxy” and “confidential” is also obtained as necessary. Then, in step S16, similarly to the above, envelope data is created based on a format suitable for the attribute included in the delivery request in an expression format suitable for the selected transmission medium. Next, in step S17, the connection is made to the selected message delivery subsystem, the envelope data including the selected address information and the message content are transmitted, and the transmission processing ends.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the reception processing executed by the second MDA server 18.

In step S21, the process waits for the second MDA server 18 to receive the inquiry request for the optimum address, and upon receiving the inquiry request, accepts the connection with the first MDA server 6 (step S22). ).

Next, in step S23, the second schedule database 19 for managing the user's action schedule is inquired about the recipient's action schedule. In the following step S24, a response from the second schedule database 19 is received, and the receiver's action schedule is received. An optimal transmission medium and an optimal address are selected based on the action schedule. Next, in step S25, the second trusted server list 26 is searched using the first MDA server 6, which is the connection partner server that has requested the inquiry about the optimum address, as a keyword.

Next, in step S26, it is determined whether the connection partner server (first MDA server 6) is a reliable server based on the second trusted server list 26, and the answer is negative (No), that is, If the partner server is not reliable, the process proceeds to step S27, in which a transmission medium and an address registered in advance as a default are set, a response is sent to the first MDA server 6 that is the request source, and the process ends. As the default transmission medium and address, for example, data that is regularly published by the recipient, such as a facsimile number or an e-mail address printed on a business card, is adopted.

On the other hand, the answer to step S26 is affirmative (Ye
s), that is, when it is determined that the first MDA server 6, which is the connection partner server, is a reliable server, the process proceeds to step S28, and the first transmission medium and the optimum address selected in step S24 are set as a first set. Reply to MDA server 6 to end the process. At this time, "substitute" inquired to the second schedule database 19,
A response is sent to the first MDA server 6 as necessary with the transmission destination characteristic information such as "confidentiality", along with the optimum transmission medium and the optimum address.

FIG. 8 shows an example of an e-mail generated by the first MDA server 6. The e-mail is supplied to the first e-mail server 6 and is sent to an appropriate address (for example, the second e-mail server). (The remote user managed by the MDA server 18).

FIG. 9 shows an example of a facsimile image generated by the first MDA server 6. The facsimile image is supplied to the first facsimile spooler 8.
Sent to the appropriate facsimile number (eg, a remote user under the jurisdiction of the second MDA server 18).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first MDA server 6 on the sender side has jurisdiction over the recipient in order to process the delivery request and the message sent from the first client 5. A first or second MDA server 6,
Inquiry of the optimum transmission medium and the optimum address to the MDA server 18 and the MDA server in charge of the receiver sets the action schedule of the receiver to be the destination to the first or second schedule database 5.
A desired transmission medium and address are selected by inquiring 0 and 19, and the selected transmission medium and address are returned to the server on the sender side for a reliable server,
For untrusted servers, the default transmission medium and address are returned to the sender server,
Simple message delivery tracking the location of the recipient can be realized in a secure state.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the second embodiment executed by the second MDA server 18.
When it is determined in step S26 that the connection partner server is not reliable, a proxy address (transmission medium and address) indicating the second MDA server 18 on the receiving side is returned to the first MDA server 6 on the transmitting side ( Step S31) The process ends. That is, in step S31, the MDA server on the receiving side (the second MDA server 18) temporarily makes the MDA on the transmitting side without revealing the location of the receiver to the sender.
The message from the DA server (first MDA server 6) is picked up, and the second MDA server 18 transfers the message to the optimum transmission medium and the optimum address of the receiver.
For example, in FIG. 5 described above, xx belonging to section △△
When the second MDA server 18 that has jurisdiction over the request receives an inquiry about the optimum address from the unreliable first MDA server 6, the second MDA server 18 does not return the true optimum address, but instead returns, for example, <email, XX} mda. ○○○ co.jp ＞
return it. This proxy address instructs the first MDA server 6 to send an e-mail to xx@mda.xxx.co.jp. Here, xx is a person name as an identifier, md
a. ○○○ co.jp indicates the address of the network interface of the second MDA server 18. The e-mail sent from the first MDA server 6 passes through a plurality of networks, waits for the connection of the second MDA server 18 by STMP, and reaches, for example, a well-known port 25. The second MDA server 18 is a well-known
The e-mail received from port 25 is identified by the identifier “×
The rescheduling is automatically performed as a redelivery request (and a delivery message) to the optimal address of the responsible user identified by “x”. Then, in the same manner as a normal delivery request from the second client 17, an action schedule is searched from the second schedule database 19, a proper transmission medium and an address are selected, and if necessary, a message is expressed. Convert the format from e-mail to the format appropriate for the medium, create and attach an envelope, and deliver it to the appropriate transmission subsystem. This series of steps is transparent from the second MDA server 18 that is the source of the original message, and there is no particular concern that the second MDA server 18 will know the action schedule of the recipient.

FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram of a message delivery processing system showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, first and second message delivery processing devices 35 and 36 are provided. Shows a case where there is no trusted server list in the first and second embodiments.

That is, in the third embodiment, FIG.
If the recipient is a remote user, as shown in FIG.
When the second MDA server 18 receives an inquiry from the first MDA server 6, the second MDA server 18 directly inquires of the second schedule database 19 about the activity schedule of the recipient, and then the schedule database 19 The server 18 obtains the action schedule of the receiver, sets the optimum transmission medium and the optimum address and sets the first MDA.
Returned to server.

In the third embodiment, the same transmission processing as in the first and second embodiments is executed in the first MDA server 6 on the transmitting side (see FIG. 6), and the first MDA server 6 on the transmitting side performs the same processing. In the second MDA server 18, the receiving process shown in FIG. 13 is executed.

In step S41, the process waits for the second MDA server 18 to receive the inquiry request for the optimum address, and upon receiving the inquiry request, accepts the connection with the first MDA server 6 (step S42). ).

Next, in step S43, the second schedule database 19 for managing the user's action schedule is inquired about the recipient's action schedule. In the next step S44, a response from the second schedule database 19 is received, and the receiver's action schedule is received. An optimal transmission medium and an optimal address are selected based on the action schedule. Next, in step S45, the optimal transmission medium and the optimal address selected in step S44 are returned to the connection partner server (first MDA server 6) as a set, and the process is terminated. At this time, the second schedule database 19
The first MDA server 6 is replied to the first MDA server 6 as necessary with the transmission destination characteristic information such as "proxy" and "confidentiality", etc.

As described above, when confidentiality to the communication destination is not particularly a problem, the system can be simplified by omitting the connection to the device in the trusted server list.

In this embodiment, three message delivery subsystems of e-mail, facsimile communication, and remote printer are described as message transmission media, but other message transmission media are added or replaced. It is also possible. For example, as a transmission medium for other messages, a telephone that reads out text information by synthetic voice, a system that combines such a telephone with a voice mail on the receiving side, a pager with a short text display function, a net news and an electronic bulletin board, a world wide Similar functions and effects can be obtained by using registration in an information transmission type database such as a web (WWW) or fax server, a chat function to a login terminal of a receiver, and the like.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a message is sent from a sender belonging to an external organization, the behavior of the receiver is unnecessarily revealed to the sender's organization. In addition, it is possible to automatically deliver a message to an appropriate transmission medium and address reflecting the intended behavior of the recipient, and to improve the operability of the system safely and safely.

Further, even a message addressed to a receiver belonging to a remote place or an external organization can be automatically delivered to an optimum transmission medium and an optimum address reflecting the action plan of the receiver, and the system operation can be controlled. Improvement can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a message delivery processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of registered contents of an address book.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of processing contents of a message delivery processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of registered contents of a schedule database.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a transmission message input by a user to a client.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a transmission processing procedure of the message delivery processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a reception processing procedure of the message delivery processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the content of an electronic mail delivered to a recipient by the message delivery processing system of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a facsimile image delivered to a recipient by the message delivery processing system of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a reception processing procedure of a message delivery processing method as a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram of a message delivery processing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing details of processing contents of the message delivery processing system of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a reception processing procedure according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of registration of an address book used in a conventional message delivery processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 3 external network (external communication network) 4 public line network (external communication network) 5 client (information processing device) 6 first MDA server (first delivery support means) 7 first electronic mail server (transmission medium) 8 1st fax spooler (transmission medium) 9 1st remote printer (transmission medium) 18 2nd MDA server (2nd delivery support means) 19 2nd schedule database (action schedule list) 26 2nd reliability Server list (reliability list)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 3/00 H04N 1/00 107Z 3/42 1/32 Z H04N 1/00 107 107 H04L 11/20 101C 1/32

Claims (29)

[Claims] At least one or more first delivery support means to which delivery information including a message content and a message delivery request is inputted, and a second delivery support means for managing a plurality of address information of a specific recipient And an external communication network for connecting the first delivery support means and the second delivery support means, and the first delivery support means and the second delivery support means via the external communication network. Wherein the second delivery support means determines a reliability of the first delivery support means, and a determination result of the reliability determination means. A message delivery processing system comprising: an address notification permission / prohibition unit that determines whether the address information should be notified to the first delivery support unit. 2. The address notification enabling / disabling means, when the first delivery support means connected via the external communication network is determined to be reliable by the reliability determining means, includes When the first delivery support means is determined to be unreliable by the reliability determination means, and further comprising address notification means for selecting the specific address information from the first delivery support means and notifying the first delivery support means of the specific address information. 2. The message delivery processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an address notification prohibition unit that prohibits the first delivery support unit from notifying the specific address information. 3. When the notification of the specific address information to the first delivery support means is prohibited by the address notification prohibition means, a predetermined value stored in advance by the second delivery support means is equal to the predetermined value. 3. The message delivery processing system according to claim 1, wherein the notification is sent to one delivery support unit. 4. When the notification of the specific address information to the first delivery support unit is prohibited by the address notification prohibition unit, the address information unique to the second delivery support unit is changed to the first delivery support unit. 3. The message delivery processing system according to claim 1, wherein the message is notified to the support means. 5. A reliability list in which a list of said first delivery support means having reliability is registered is connected to said second delivery support means, and said reliability determination means is based on said reliability list. The message delivery processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reliability of the first delivery support means is determined by using the method. 6. A plurality of the second delivery support means are connected to the external communication network, and the first delivery support means selects a specific second delivery from the plurality of second delivery support means. The message delivery processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a support means is selected, and the first delivery support means communicates with the specified second delivery support means. 7. The plurality of pieces of address information of the specific recipient include an action schedule list in which an address of a location contact indicating the action schedule of the recipient is registered together with a predetermined transmission medium, and the action schedule list is the second schedule. The message delivery processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said specific address information is selected from said action schedule list while being connected to said delivery support means. 8. The first delivery support unit includes: an envelope data creation unit that creates envelope data including the address information; and a supply unit that supplies the envelope data created by the envelope data creation unit to the predetermined transmission medium. The message delivery processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: 9. The predetermined transmission medium includes at least facsimile communication, e-mail, and an output device connected to a local communication network to which the recipient belongs.
Or the message delivery processing system according to claim 8. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first delivery support unit is connected to an information processing device, and the delivery information is input to the information processing device. Message delivery processing system. 11. A message delivery processing method for delivering delivery information including a message content and a message delivery request held by a transmission side to a reception side managing a plurality of address information of a specific recipient via an external communication network. In the message delivery process, the reception side determines whether the transmission side has reliability, and determines whether to notify the transmission side of the address information according to a result of the determination. Method. 12. When the receiving side determines that the transmitting side is reliable, the receiving side selects specific address information from the plurality of pieces of address information and notifies the transmitting side of the specific address information. 12. The message delivery processing method according to claim 11, wherein when the transmitting side determines that the transmission side is unreliable, notification of the specific address information is prohibited to the transmitting side. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the notification of the specific address information to the transmission side is prohibited, a predetermined value stored in advance in the reception side is notified to the transmission side. Item 13. The message delivery processing method according to Item 12. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein when notification of the specific address information to the transmitting side is prohibited, address information unique to the receiving side is notified to the transmitting side.
The message delivery processing method according to claim 1 or 12. 15. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a reliability list indicating the reliability of the transmission side, and determining the reliability of the transmission side based on the reliability list. Message delivery processing method described. 16. The transmitting side, wherein a plurality of receiving sides are connected to the external communication network, a receiving side is specified from the plurality of receiving sides, and the transmitting side communicates with the specified receiving side. The message delivery processing method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein 17. The plurality of pieces of address information of the specific recipient include an action schedule list in which addresses of location contacts indicating the action schedule of the recipient are registered together with a predetermined transmission medium, and the specific address information is stored in the action schedule list. 17. A method for selecting from a list.
The message delivery processing method according to any of the above. 18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting side creates envelope data including the address information and supplies the envelope data to the predetermined transmission medium. Message delivery processing method. 19. The message delivery according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined transmission medium includes at least facsimile communication, e-mail, and an output device connected to a local communication network to which the receiver belongs. Processing method. 20. A message delivery processing device having delivery support means provided with a delivery function for delivering delivery information including a message content and a message delivery request, and a management function for managing a plurality of address information of a specific recipient. A reliability determining means for determining the reliability of the transmitting side transmitting the delivery information, and an address for determining whether or not to notify the address information to the transmitting side according to the determination result of the reliability determining means A message delivery processing device comprising: a notification permission / prohibition unit. 21. The address notification enabling / disabling means, when the reliability determining means determines that the transmitting side connected via the external communication network is reliable, a specific address information from the plurality of address information. And the address notifying means for notifying the specific address information to the transmitting side, and notifying the specific address information to the transmitting side when the transmitting side is determined to be unreliable by the reliability determining means. 21. The message delivery processing device according to claim 20, further comprising an address notification prohibiting unit that prohibits the message. 22. When the address notification prohibiting unit prohibits the transmission of the specific address information to the transmission side, the transmission unit notifies the transmission side of a predetermined value stored in advance. 22. The message delivery processing device according to claim 21. 23. The transmitting device according to claim 20, wherein when the address notification prohibiting unit prohibits the transmission of the specific address information to the transmitting side, the address information is notified to the transmitting side. 21. The message delivery processing device according to 21. 24. A reliability list in which a list of reliable senders is registered is connected, and said reliability determination means determines the reliability of said sender based on said reliability list. The message delivery processing device according to any one of claims 20 to 23. 25. A transmission apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a plurality of transmission apparatuses to be transmitted are connected, and at the time of transmission, a specific transmission apparatus is selected from among the plurality of transmission apparatuses for communication. 25. A message delivery processing device according to claim 24. 26. The plurality of pieces of address information of the specific recipient include an action schedule list in which addresses of location contacts indicating an action schedule of the recipient are registered together with a predetermined transmission medium, and the action schedule list is connected. 26. The message delivery processing device according to claim 20, wherein the specific address information is selected from the action schedule list. 27. Envelope data creating means for creating envelope data including the address information at the time of transmission, and supply means for supplying the envelope data created by the envelope data creating means to the predetermined transmission medium. The message delivery processing device according to any one of claims 20 to 26, wherein: 28. The message delivery according to claim 26, wherein the predetermined transmission medium includes at least facsimile communication, e-mail, and an output device connected to a local communication network to which the recipient belongs. Processing equipment. 29. The message delivery processing device according to claim 20, wherein an information processing device is connected, and the delivery information is input to the information processing device.