JPH11175427A - Error mail correcting device, error mail correction method and program record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automate address correction of an error mail and to resend it by associating an error address of an address error mail with data for address correction and rewriting it into a formal address by using the associated data for address correction. SOLUTION: A mail distinguishing means reads the titles, etc., of a mails that are returned, divides them into normal receiving mails and the other and distinguishes normal receiving mails and error mails. A picking-up means picks up an error mail which is returned due to an address error among the error mails. A correspondence deciding means of an address correcting means of a knowledge base makes the error address of an address error mail that is picked up associate with data for address correction and a rewriting means rewrites it into a formal address. Consequently, an electric mail of transmission return is efficiently processed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique capable of coping with an e-mail address error, and more specifically, automatically corrects an erroneous address when an e-mail address error occurs, and And a technology that can resend an e-mail to an address.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art E-mail is an effective communication means for distributing messages to members in an organization or specific customers. If a list of e-mail addresses is created in advance, it is possible to automatically transmit a specific document to the addresses of the list simultaneously or sequentially (hereinafter, referred to as "broadcast").

[0003] Incidentally, if the address name is incorrectly described,
If the address name has not been changed when updating the list, it will be returned. The returned e-mail (hereinafter referred to as “error mail”) is checked by the maintenance staff for the incompleteness of the address name that caused the error, and if the content of the insufficiency is found, the address name is manually described. Correct and resubmit.

[0004]

However, the above technique has the following problems. If the address name is not properly described, or if the address has been changed, it will be returned as an error mail. In particular, when a large number of broadcasts are performed, not a small number of error mails are returned. With regard to the processing technology specialized for this error mail, generally only a mere sorting by title is performed.

[0005] On the other hand, it is often possible to judge at first glance what kind of error the address name is incompletely described. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a technique for automating error mail address correction. It is an object of the present invention to provide an error mail correcting apparatus capable of automating error mail address correction and retransmitting the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an error mail correcting apparatus capable of performing retransmission by a corrected address. It is another object of the present invention to provide an error mail correcting device capable of performing an artificial correction. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an error mail correcting method for automating error mail address correction.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a recording medium on which a program for performing error mail correction for automating error mail address correction is recorded.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to achieve the above object. (Claim 1) The invention according to claim 1 is a mail discriminating means for discriminating between a normal received mail and a returned error mail, and an error in the error mail discriminated by the mail discriminating means. Pickup means for picking up the returned address error mail, and address correction means for correcting the address of the address error mail picked up by the pickup means, the address correction means having knowledge of address correction data recorded in advance. A base, correspondence determining means for associating the error address of the address error mail with the address correction data, and rewriting means for rewriting to a formal address using the address correction data associated by the correspondence determining means. It is characterized by.

(Explanation of terms) The "mail distinguishing means" is a method which has been conventionally performed to sort a normally received mail and an unsuccessful mail by reading a title or the like of a returned mail. Is used.
The "pickup means" picks up the address error mail by reading the title "USERUNKNOWN", "HOST UNKNOWN", etc. of the returned mail, for example.

The "address correction data" includes "base file data" including a domain name list file and a customer name list file, and "error pattern file data" including an empirically common error pattern.
and so on. That is, the "address correction means" includes a comparison correction by spelling comparison with "base file data" and an empirical correction using "error pattern file data", and either one of them may be used,
A combination of both may be used.

Here, the "comparison and correction" is to correct by performing a so-called spell check using a "base file" including a domain name list file, a customer name list file, and the like. For example, if "Saburo Suzuki / SUZUKI-SABURO / XYZ Co., Ltd." SUZUKI@XYZ.CO.JP "or" niftys "in the" Domain name list file ".
erve ", the" AAA12345 @ niftyserb "
e.or.jp "is an error in the email address" AAA12
345@niftyserve.or.jp ".

The "empirical correction" is an error that cannot be corrected by spell check and can be empirically patterned. For example, "AB
C12345@niftyserve.or.jp '' is replaced by `` nifty
Correct the error such as "ID = ABC12345". (Operation) First, normal received mail and error mail are distinguished by the mail distinguishing means. Then, an address error mail returned due to the address error is picked up from the error mails by the pickup means.

The error address of the picked up address error mail is made to correspond to the address correcting data by the correspondence determining means of the address correcting means of the knowledge base, and is rewritten to the formal address by the rewriting means. As described above, the return e-mail due to an address error can be efficiently processed without bothering the maintenance staff. (Claim 2) The invention according to claim 2 limits the error mail correction device according to claim 1, and further comprises a retransmitting means for retransmitting using the official address rewritten by the rewriting means. Features.

[0014] A management system after retransmission may be provided. For example, if the mail is returned again as an error mail even after resending, the server informs the server not to use the address of the mail or controls the server. On the other hand, if the transmission is successful as a result of the retransmission, the server is contacted or the server is controlled so that the address of the error mail is rewritten to the corrected address.

(Operation) Since retransmission means is provided, automation can be performed up to retransmission using the rewritten official address. (Claim 3) The invention according to claim 3 limits the error mail correcting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the address of the address error mail picked up by the pickup means is the address correction data. And a correction judging means for judging whether or not the correction can be made by using the address correcting means. When the correction judging means judges that the correction is possible, the correction by the address correcting means is performed.

(Operation) The correction determining means determines whether or not the address of the address error mail picked up by the pickup means can be corrected using the address correcting data. Then, when it is determined that the correction is possible by the correction determining means, the correction is performed by the address correcting means. (Claim 4) The invention according to claim 4 is a limitation of the error mail correcting device according to claim 3, comprising an artificial correction means capable of inputting by an artificial correction operation, wherein the artificial correction means is provided. When the correction determining means determines that the correction is not possible, the input is enabled.

(Operation) The correction determining means determines whether or not the address of the address error mail picked up by the pickup means can be corrected using the address correction data. Then, when it is determined by the correction determining means that the correction is impossible, the input by the artificial correcting means is made possible. When the input becomes possible, the operator examines how to correct the address error that does not correspond to the error pattern, and corrects the input.

According to the present invention, the possibility of correcting an address error that does not correspond to an error pattern can be searched for. (Claim 5) The invention according to claim 5 is a limitation of the error mail correcting device according to claim 4, wherein the error mail is retransmitted at the address corrected by the artificial correction means, and when the transmission is completed, the correction progress is made. And additional writing means for adding to the address correction data by using

(Operation) If retransmission succeeds at the address corrected by the artificial correction means, a new error pattern is found in the course of the correction. Is to be added. By doing so, the number of error patterns is automatically increased, so that the automation of error mail correction is promoted. (Claim 6) The invention according to claim 6 is a mail discrimination procedure for discriminating a normal received mail from a returned error mail, and is returned from the discriminated error mail due to an address error. It has a pickup procedure for picking up the address error mail, and an address correction procedure for correcting the address of the picked up address error mail. The address correction procedure uses a knowledge base in which address correction data is recorded in advance, Error mail correction characterized by comprising: a correspondence determination procedure for associating an error address with address correction data; and a rewriting procedure for rewriting to an official address using the address correction data associated by the correspondence determination procedure. Is the way. (Claim 7) The invention according to claim 7 is a mail discriminating means for discriminating between a normal received mail and a returned error mail, and an address error from the error mail discriminated by the mail discriminating means. Pickup means for picking up an address error mail returned as a cause, and a recording medium recording a program for functioning an address correction means for correcting the address of the address error mail picked up by the pickup means, The address correction means includes a knowledge base in which address correction data is recorded in advance, a correspondence determination means for associating an error address of an address error mail with the address correction data, and an address correction means associated with the correspondence determination means. Write to official address using data Characterized in that it is a means and a rewriting means for changing.

(Terminology) A "recording medium" is a medium that can carry a program that cannot occupy space by itself, and is, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, PD, or the like. is there. (Claim 8) The invention according to claim 8 is an invention relating to a recording medium to which the program function according to the invention according to claim 7 is added, wherein retransmission is performed by using a formal address rewritten by rewriting means. A program for causing the means to function is recorded.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments and drawings. The drawings used here are FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the process shown in FIG. 1 in more detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the second embodiment of the present invention. (First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. (1) The server sends an e-mail using an address list in which destination addresses are recorded. After transmission, the error mail is returned to the server.

The server determines whether the received mail is a normal received mail or a returned error mail by using the mail distinguishing means. In the knowledge base, domain names that are officially present in advance are stored as necessary, and new storage and update are performed as needed. (2) For the found error mail, the correspondence is separated from the content (title or body) of the mail. For example, if it is found that a description such as “USER UNKNOWN” exists in the title or body of the error mail, it can be determined that the user name is incorrect or the registration as a user has been deleted. If it is found that a description such as "HOSTUNKNOWN" exists in the title or the body of the error mail, it can be determined that the domain name is incorrect or the registration of the domain name has been deleted. Further, even in the case where a reply is sent due to the cause of the e-mail transmission destination server, it may be determined from the content of the error mail.

As described above, from the content of the error mail,
Regarding a pattern that can determine whether the error is related to the user name or the domain name, the pattern is stored in the knowledge base as a mail address error pattern. Further, the correction pattern of each error pattern is also stored in the knowledge base. Thereafter, the cases corresponding to the error patterns are automatically separated. (3) When a reply is sent due to the server, the system is often stopped for maintenance, so retransmission is performed after a fixed time. If there is an e-mail transmission list, keep a record of it. In order to cope with a case where the system is not stopped for maintenance, retransmission is not performed more than a predetermined number of times. (4) By dividing the error mails, for the error mails corresponding to the error patterns stored in the knowledge base, the most appropriate correction is performed from the correction patterns stored in the knowledge base. Then, retransmission is performed using the corrected address.

In the present embodiment, the correction is performed by combining the comparative correction and the empirical correction. The details of what kind of correction is made will be described later in the third embodiment, and simple correction examples will be listed here. (Example of correction pattern) When the correct address is “XXX00000@abc-efg.co.jp” 1) When “.” Should be replaced with “,” or “-” 2) “＠” When the place where it should be is ":" or "-" 3) When the place that should be "co" is "or" or "gov" 4) Where it should be "0 (zero)" is "O ( OPEN 'O') ''
5) Where "O ('O' of OPEN)" should be "0 (zero)"
(5) The corrected address causes the server to revise the address list that records the destination address in the server. In addition,
The address list may be revised only when the retransmission is successful. (6) For an error mail returned even though it was resent using the corrected address, the server informs the server not to send it to the address of the error mail or controls the server. (7) If retransmission is not successful even with the corrected address, correct it with another correction pattern and retransmit. (Second Embodiment) The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The second embodiment is to present to the operator a situation where an artificial correction can be input for an error that does not correspond to the correction pattern that was processed as being unretransmittable in the first embodiment. Is made possible. By providing such artificial correction means,
The operator can examine how to correct an address error that does not conform to the error pattern and make a correction input.

Further, although not shown in the figure, additional writing means is provided which retransmits the data at the address corrected by the artificial correction means and adds the correction progress to the error pattern of the knowledge base when the transmission is completed. . If retransmission succeeds at the address corrected by the artificial correction means, a new error pattern has been found in the course of the correction, and the error pattern is added to the knowledge base. By doing so, the number of error patterns is automatically increased, so that the automation of error mail correction is promoted. (Third Embodiment) Here, more specific correction will be described.

(Definition) A file in which a combination of an organization code and a country code is described is defined as a “code file”. -A file in which the domain names (combinations of organization names, organization codes, country codes, etc.) of major providers and companies are described is defined as an "organization file".・ E-mail address list with customer name etc.
Defined as "list file". Usually, phonetic characters such as the name of the organization or the name of the company are entered in Roman characters. A program for comparing the e-mail address (including a part) of the e-mail returned as an error with the above file and checking for missing characters, replacements, and typographical errors is defined as a "comparison program". -If characters or symbols that are not used in the e-mail address are described in the address, or if the e-mail address does not include "＠", a pattern to convert to the notation that is considered correct is described. File
Defined as "appropriate notation conversion file".

(1) Judgment of Error Cause The error cause is judged from the title of the error mail.
That is, based on the title of the error mail, whether the mail was not delivered due to a problem in the network environment (such as a server malfunction) or not delivered due to insufficient email address description (“User Unknow
n "," Host Unknown ", etc.). In the former case, resend after a certain period. In the latter case, the process proceeds to step (2).

(2) Conversion processing It is determined whether an invalid symbol is used in the e-mail address, and if it is, conversion processing is performed. If not, go to step (3). Symbols that cannot be used in email addresses (“,”, space, “、”,
If "＄", ";", ":", "&", full-width characters, half-width katakana, etc.) are used, the appropriate conversion is performed with reference to the appropriate notation conversion file, and resent. For example,
For full-width characters, convert them to half-width characters and use "," or "."
Is converted according to a proper notation conversion file in which a conversion pattern such as "."

(3) Judgment of "at" mark It is judged whether or not only one "@" is included in the e-mail address. If there is only one "@", the process proceeds to step (4). If there is any deficiency, perform conversion based on the proper notation conversion file and resend. For example, "NIFTY: ABC12345", "ABC12345.niftyserve.or.
jp "and" ABC12345 @ niftyserve @ or.jp "are converted to" ABC12345@niftyserve.or.jp ".

(4) Judgment of description of code It is determined whether the country code and organization code of the e-mail address are correctly described. Generally, an e-mail address has a structure such as “user name ＠ organization name.organization code.country code”. As for the country code, only the United States is omitted, and the organization code is determined for each country. US organization codes include com, org, net, edu, gov, etc. The country code for Japan is jp, and the organization code is co, or, n
e, ac, go, etc.

The country code and the organization code are collated with the code file, and if incorrect, the process proceeds to step (5). If there is no defect, proceed to step (8). (5) Collation with organization file The e-mail address is collated with the organization file using the comparison program. If any corrections are found, correct the address and resend. If no correction is found, go to step (6). For example, "ABC12345 ＠ ni
ftyserve.of.jp ”and“ ABC12345＠niftyserve.org.jp ”
For domain names such as, use the comparison file to find the closest domain name "niftyserv
e.or.jp '' and find `` ABC12345@niftyserve.or.jp ''
To fix.

(6) Collation of Code Name If not found in the collation with the organization file in step (5), the comparison program compares the country code of the e-mail address with the organization code. If no correction is found, go to step (7). If any corrections are found, correct the address and resend. For example, "ABC12345@xxxxx.of.jp" or "ABC12345
The notation `` ＠ xxxxx.org.jp '' is replaced with ``ABC12345＠xxxxx.or.j
p ”.

(7) Verification by Phonetic Using a comparison program, the organization name of the e-mail address is collated with the Romanized phonetic name of the organization name in the list file. If any corrections are found, correct the address and resend. For example, the destination of the error with "yyyyy@tamaka.co.jp" is a company called "Tanaka Denki",
If the directory file is pretend to be "tanaka-denki", modify it to "yyyyy@tanaka.co.jp".

(8) Domain Name Non-Existence Error Processing is performed in the case of an error caused by transmission with a non-existent domain name such as "Host Unknown". Otherwise, go to step (9). Using a comparison program, the domain name of the e-mail address is checked against the organization file. If any corrections are found, correct the address and resend. For example, "ABC12345＠niftysrve.or.j
Typing a domain name such as "p" is "ABC12345 ＠ nif
tyserve.or.jp ".

(9) Error of non-existence of user A message returned as an error mail because the destination mail server does not exist as a user (“User U
nknown ": etc.), the user name of the e-mail is checked against the list file using a comparison program. If any corrections are found, correct the address and resend. For example, it is assumed that the destination of the error is a user "Taro Tanaka" and the directory file is pretend to be "tanaka-taro". And "tamaka@abcdef.c
o.jp "to" tanaka@abcdef.co.jp "and" tato-ta
naka@abcdef.co.jp '' then ``taro-tanaka@abcdef.c
o.jp ".

(10) Uncorrectable Address The e-mail address that could not be corrected in the above series of steps is left in the list file and is not used for the next transmission unless any further correction is made. The processing is performed as follows. (Fourth Embodiment = Recording Medium) The procedure described above can be created as an error mail processing program, saved as application software on a recording medium, and distributed.

Here, the "recording medium" is a medium capable of carrying a program which cannot occupy space by itself, and is generally a floppy disk, a hard disk or a CD-ROM. The program consists of a mail discriminator that distinguishes between a normal received mail and a returned error mail, and an address error returned from the error mail that was discriminated by the mail discriminator due to an address error. A pickup unit for picking up the mail; and an address correction unit for correcting an address of the address error mail picked up by the pickup unit. The address correction unit has a function of storing address correction data in advance. A base, correspondence determining means for associating the error address of the address error mail with the address correction data, and rewriting means for rewriting to an official address using the address correction data made by the correspondence determining means. .

The "address correction data" includes "base file data" including a domain name list file and a customer name list file, and "error pattern file data" including empirical patterns of errors.
and so on. These are provided with database software as a part of the error mail processing program.
Further, the database software can also read out and take in “base file data” already recorded in another database software.

The above-described error mail processing program can also execute the following additional functions. However, unnecessary additional functions may not be installed or may be deleted according to the selection of the program user. (Retransmission function) A retransmission means is provided for retransmitting using the formal address rewritten by the rewriting means.

Further, a management system after retransmission is provided. For example, if the message is returned again as an error mail even after resending, the server has a function of notifying the server so as not to use the address of the mail and controlling the server. On the other hand, if the transmission is successful as a result of the retransmission, the server is contacted or the server is controlled so that the address of the error mail is rewritten to the corrected address.

(Address Correction Function) The address error mail picked up by the pickup means is provided with correction judgment means for judging whether or not the address can be corrected by using the address correction data, and can be corrected by the correction judgment means. In addition, a function is provided for causing the address correction unit to perform correction when it is determined that

(Function for Artificial Correction) An artificial correction means capable of inputting by an artificial correction operation is provided. The artificial correction means inputs the data when the correction determining means determines that the correction is impossible. It also has a function that makes it possible. (Address Correction Function After Artificial Correction) An additional writing means is provided which retransmits the data at the address corrected by the artificial correction means and, when the transmission is completed, adds to the address correction data using the correction progress.

(Operation and Effect of the Program) The error mail processing program described above is installed on a computer from a recording medium and used. This error mail processing program distinguishes a normal received mail from an error mail by a mail distinguishing means. Then, an address error mail returned due to the address error is picked up from the error mails by the pickup means.

The error address of the picked-up address error mail is made to correspond to the address correction data by the correspondence determining means of the address correcting means of the knowledge base, and is rewritten to the formal address by the rewriting means. As described above, the return e-mail due to an address error can be efficiently processed without bothering the maintenance staff.

Automation is possible up to retransmission using the rewritten official address. The correction determining means determines whether or not the address of the address error mail picked up by the pickup means can be corrected using the address correction data. Then, when it is determined that the correction is possible by the correction determining means, the correction is performed by the address correcting means.

The correction determining means determines whether or not the address of the address error mail picked up by the pickup means can be corrected using the address correction data. Then, when it is determined by the correction determining means that the correction is impossible, the input by the artificial correcting means is made possible. When the input becomes possible, the operator examines how to correct the address error that does not correspond to the error pattern, and corrects the input.
That is, it is possible to search for the possibility of correction for an address error that does not conform to the error pattern.

Further, if retransmission succeeds at the address corrected by the artificial correction means, a new error pattern is found in the course of the correction, and the error pattern is added to the address correction data. It is to be added. By doing so, the number of error patterns is automatically increased, so that the automation of error mail correction is promoted.

[0049]

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide an error mail correcting apparatus for automatically correcting an error mail address. Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an error mail correction device capable of performing retransmission by a corrected address.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide an error mail correcting device capable of performing an artificial correction. Further, according to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to provide an error mail correcting method for automating error mail address correction. Moreover,
According to the seventh and eighth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a recording medium on which a program for performing error mail correction for automating error mail address correction is recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process shown in FIG. 1 in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (8)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A mail discriminating means for discriminating between a normal received mail and a returned error mail, and an address error mail returned from an error mail discriminated by the mail discriminating means due to an address error. Pickup means for picking up the address error mail, and an address correction means for correcting the address of the address error mail picked up by the pickup means. The address correction means comprises: a knowledge base in which address correction data is recorded in advance; Error mail correction characterized by comprising correspondence determining means for associating an error address with address correction data, and rewriting means for rewriting to an official address using the address correction data associated by the correspondence determination means. apparatus. 2. The error mail correcting device according to claim 1, further comprising retransmission means for retransmitting the formal address using the formal address rewritten by the rewriting means. 3. An address error mail picked up by the pick-up means is provided with a correction judgment means for judging whether or not the address can be corrected by using the address correction data, and it can be corrected by the correction judgment means. 3. The error mail correcting device according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined, the correction is performed by an address correcting unit. 4. An artificial correction means capable of inputting by an artificial correction operation, wherein the artificial correction means is formed so as to be capable of input when it is determined by the correction determining means that the correction is impossible. The error mail correcting device according to claim 3, wherein 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a rewriting means for retransmitting the data at the address corrected by the artificial correction means and, when the transmission is completed, adding the corrected data to the address correction data. Error mail correction device. 6. A mail distinguishing procedure for distinguishing a normal received mail from a returned error mail, and a pick-up procedure for picking up an address error mail returned from an identified error mail due to an address error. , And address correction procedure for correcting the address of the picked-up address error mail,
The address correction procedure uses a formal address and a knowledge base in which the formal address is recorded in advance as address correction data, and determines a correspondence between the error address of the address error mail and the address correction data. A rewriting procedure of rewriting to an official address using the address correction data corresponding to the error mail. 7. A mail discriminating means for discriminating a normal received mail from a returned error mail, and an address error returned from the error mail discriminated by the mail discriminating means due to an address error. What is claimed is: 1. A recording medium recording a program for causing a pickup unit for picking up mail and an address correction unit for correcting an address of an address error mail picked up by the pickup unit to function, the address correction unit comprising: Determining means for associating the error address of the address error mail with the address correction data, and a formal address using the address correction data associated by the correspondence determining means. Rewriting means and Recording medium, characterized in that the means provided. 8. The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein a program for causing the retransmitting means to retransmit using the formal address rewritten by the rewriting means is recorded.