KR20020071663A - Method and Apparatus for the mail delivery service on the internet - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a postal mailbox service using the Internet in an electronic commerce using an information communication system, comprising: pre-registration of a web server by a recipient computer; Storing, by the DB server, information about the mail sent to the recipient; Transmitting, by a mail server, information on mails sent to the recipients stored in the DB server to the recipient computer using an information communication network; And a mail server service providing method using the Internet, the web server transmitting a mail status search window to the recipient.

Description

Method and device for providing mail mailbox service using internet {Method and Apparatus for the mail delivery service on the internet}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a postal mailbox service using an information communication network. More particularly, when a mailbox server operator inputs information displayed on a mail received in a mailbox DB server and notifies the mail receiver of the mail arrival, the mail receiver receives a mail. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a postal mailbox service using the Internet, which accesses an Internet site of a mailbox server operator to check information on a postal mail and to receive the postal mail.

A conventional method for a postal mailbox service will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

When the mail receiver 10 applies for a postal mailbox service to the post office 20 or the like, the post office 20 or the like gives the postal mailbox address requested by the recipient 10 (S2).

The payee 10 announces the postal mail address given by the post office to those who want to send mail to him (S4).

The sender 30 to send the mail to the recipient 10 will send the mail to the mail box address (S6).

The post office or the like keeps the mail sent from the recipient 10 in the recipient's postal mailbox address. Accordingly, the recipient 10 visits the mail box directly or checks the arrival of the mail sent to him through a telephone and receives the mail directly or receives a mail by applying a delivery service such as a courier service (S8).

However, the conventional postal mailbox service has the following problems.

The existing mailbox service is given a specific address for each mailbox and a specific mailbox space is provided for each individual. However, due to the limited number of mailboxes, we can only serve new recipients if the mailbox is actually empty. Accordingly, when all mailboxes are in service, not only the mailbox service can be provided anymore, but the actual mailboxes are not 100% used as usual, and thus there is a problem of inefficient use of space in the operation of the mailboxes.

In addition, the existing postal mailbox service does not notify the recipient of the arrival when the mail arrives. Therefore, the recipient should check directly to know whether the mail has arrived. The mail cannot be received immediately after the mail arrives, and after a certain period of time, the recipient finds the mail. There was a problem that the loss is large.

In addition, the existing Mailbox service did not database the mail that arrived at the recipient. If the mail arrived in the mailbox, the recipient would not know who sent what mail to his or her mailbox before verifying the mailbox. There was a problem that the time is also limited to a certain time zone.

In addition, in the case of the existing mailbox service, the mail having been confirmed for arrival can be directly received, or if it is temporarily located in another area due to a business trip or the like, the courier service can be applied to the desired address through the telephone. However, during the process of delivering an address over the telephone, the address may be misrouted, the mailbox service must respond to the call and check the mail in the recipient's mailbox. In the case of limited personnel there was a problem difficult to handle.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to solve the uneconomical problem of space utilization in the existing mailbox service by using the variability between the unique mailbox address assigned to the recipient by the mailbox server operator and the actual mailbox address managed by the mailbox server operator. I tried to solve.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that upon receipt of the mail sent to the recipient, the mailbox server notifies the recipient of the mail information using an information communication network, and the recipient retrieves the mail information from the site of the mailbox server operator. By doing so, it attempted to solve the time limit of mail information retrieval and the time and economic problems in receiving mail.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the problem of receiving mail by allowing the mail to be selected according to the convenience of the recipient.

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment for providing a conventional postal mailbox service.

2 is an exemplary diagram of an information communication system to which the present invention is applied.

3 is a logical diagram of a postal mailbox service using the Internet according to the present invention;

4 is an embodiment flow diagram for the pre-registration step according to the present invention.

5 is a correspondence diagram between a payee, a unique mailbox and an actual mailbox.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a mail arrival notification and a mail status search window transmission step according to the present invention.

7 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a postal mail search window transmission step in a method for providing a postal mailbox service using the Internet according to the present invention;

8 is an illustration of a 'My Mailbox' window appearing on the payee computer screen.

9 is an exemplary view of a 'arrival article confirmation' window that appears on the recipient computer screen;

10 is an exemplary view of a 'arrival goods delivery request / change' window that appears on the recipient computer screen.

11 is an exemplary view of a 'confirm shipment' window that appears on the recipient computer screen;

12 is an exemplary view of a 'reservation check' window that appears on the payee computer screen;

The present invention for achieving the above object relates to a method for providing a postal mailbox service using the Internet, the web server receiving a pre-registration from the recipient computer; Storing, by the DB server, information about the mail sent to the recipient; Transmitting, by a mail server, information on mails sent to the recipients stored in the DB server to the recipient computer using an information communication network; And a mail server service providing method using the Internet, the web server transmitting a mail status search window to the recipient.

Meanwhile, the present invention relates to an apparatus for providing a postal mailbox service using the Internet in an electronic commerce system using an information and communication system. The DB stores a unique management number, a unique mailbox address, and an actual mailbox address of a mail received in a recipient's personal information and a recipient's name. server; A web server receiving an application for assigning a unique mailbox address from a payee, giving a unique mailbox address to the payee, and transmitting a mail status search window to the payee; And a mail mailbox service providing apparatus using the Internet including a mail server which transmits information on mails sent to a payee stored in the DB server to a corresponding payee computer using an information communication network.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in more detail the present invention.

2 is an exemplary diagram of an information communication system to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in the figure, an information communication system to which the present invention is applied includes an information communication network 100 for supporting a postal mailbox service according to the present invention on the Internet, a mailbox server operator according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "operator". Recipient's computer 200 (hereinafter referred to as "Recipient Computer") who wishes to receive a fixed mailing address from "Recipient", assigns the recipient a postal mail address and notifies the fact that the mail arrives, and requests service from the recipient It is composed of a mailbox server 300 receiving the back and the payment institution server 400 that is responsible for payment for electronic commerce between the recipient and the operator.

The recipient computer 200 may use an Internet browser capable of displaying web content in the form of Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), Wireless Markup Language (WML), or Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML). Have.

The mailbox server 300 is a DB server 310 that stores personal information of the recipient, the unique mailbox address specified in the mail received by the operator, the sender, the type of mail, the arrival date, and the like, and the DB server 310. Inquiring the information of the mail stored in the) to the operator site, the recipient is connected to the payment institution server 400 and performs a function such as performing a payment and the like to send the mail arrival to the recipient and the web server It consists of a mail server 330 to perform a contact function with the recipient.

3 is a logical configuration diagram of a postal mailbox service using the Internet according to the present invention.

The mailbox server 300 performs a pre-registration step with the payee computer 200 to provide a service related to the present invention to the payee (S10).

In the pre-registration step, the web server 320 receives a unique mailbox address grant request from the payee, assigns a unique mailbox address accordingly, and publishes the unique mailbox address. The web server also receives a request for other services.

After the pre-registration step according to the step S10, the sender who wants to send mail to the recipient sends the mail to the addressee's unique mailbox address, and the operator receives it (S12).

When the sender sends the mail, the address entry is in the form of writing the recipient's unique mailbox address (serial number) in parentheses in the mailbox address opened by the operator at a post office or the like.

The mail received by the step S12 is classified according to the criteria set by the operator. The DB server stores the information on the mail, and the mail server notifies the recipient of the mail information using the information communication network.

After receiving the mail information, the payee accesses the operator site and searches the mail status (S14).

The recipient who has searched for the mail in step S14 receives the mail directly or receives the mail through the delivery of the mail (S16).

In the case where the recipient directly receives the mail, it is preferable to present the identification card (identification of the recipient and the agent when receiving the representative) at the operator visit and receive the mail.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a pre-registration step according to the present invention.

The payee accesses the mailbox server 300 through the computer 200 and performs a logon procedure (S22). However, if the payee is not a member (S18), after performing a separate member registration procedure (S20), to perform a logon procedure (S22), at this time, the member information is transmitted to the DB server. At the time of membership registration, the DB server 320 stores information about a recipient's resident registration (corporate registration) number, address, telephone number, account number, and the like.

The web server 320 receives a unique mailbox address request from the payee computer 200 (S24).

It is desirable that the information necessary for the application of a unique mailbox is used so that the application of the payee stored in the DB server 320 is not received separately.

The web server 320 assigns a unique mailbox address to the recipient according to a criterion set by the operator in response to the application for assigning a unique mailbox address in step S24 (S26).

The unique mailbox address provided to the payee in the present invention is not an actual physical mailbox (hereinafter referred to as an "real mailbox") address managed by the operator, but a virtual mailbox address uniquely given to each payee individual. The relationship between the unique mailbox address and the actual mailbox address will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 as follows.

5 is a correspondence diagram between a payee, a unique mailbox and an actual mailbox.

First, the physical mailbox is given a physical address, and each recipient is given a unique mailbox address, which is a unique virtual mailbox address. The unique mailbox address may be given in the form of a serial number, which will be described later.

When the mail arrives, attach the unique management number to the mail with a barcode and keep it in the actual mailbox, and enter the unique management number, unique mailbox address, and actual mailbox address of the mail in the DB server. The storage location of each mail can be identified by the actual mailbox address stored in the DB server.

The recipient's mail is always delivered to his or her own mailbox address, but the mail delivered is not kept in the same location each time, depending on the physical mailbox. That is, the address of the actual mailbox corresponding to the unique mailbox address may change every time.

The unique mailbox addressing method will now be described in detail.

The unique mailbox address is assigned to the recipient in the form of a serial number as described above. Therefore, the overall unique mailbox address is a format in which the operator puts the serial number assigned to the recipient by the operator in step S26 in the mailbox address donated by the post office, etc. (for example, 'Seoul Daedong-dong mailbox XXX (1234) ) '}.

This form eliminates the inconvenience of waiting for extra space in the mailbox area if there is no space in the mailbox area.

The web server 320 which assigns a unique mailbox address in step S26 determines the selection of the recipient related to the mail opening service (S28).

As a result of the determination in step S28, when the recipient does not select the mail opening service, the web server 320 announces the recipient's unique mailbox address in step S26 to the operator site (S32). The payee may also disclose his or her own mailbox address in a general manner.

As a result of the determination in step S28, when the recipient selects the mail open service, the web server receives the selectable mail from the recipient (S30).

Openable postal items are based on criteria preset by the operator. For example, a method of receiving the right to open individually by mail, receiving the right to open each type of mail (LTR, parcel, etc.), or opening right for a certain period is preferable. In addition, the web server 320 may be programmed to be post-selectable.

As described above, the web server 320 receiving the openable mail in step S30 discloses a unique mailbox address in step S32.

Referring to FIG. 6, the mail arrival notification and the mail status search window transmission step according to step S14 are described below.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a mail arrival notice and a mail status search window transmission step according to the present invention.

The operator provides the DB server with information regarding a unique management number, a unique mailbox number, an actual mailbox number and a sender, a sender address, an arrival date, a type of mail, and a tariff in the case of a foreign mail, for the mail received in step S12. Store in (S34).

In the step S30, when the payee gives the operator the right to open the mail, the operator checks the contents of the mail to which the right to be opened is stored together in the DB server 310.

When the DB server 310 stores the postal information about the addressee in step S34, the mail server 330 sends the type, quantity, sender of the mail to the addressee through the information communication network by an e-mail sending program. Automatically notify the information of the mail (S36).

After receiving the mail-related information according to step S36, the recipient accesses a site opened by the operator and searches for the arrival status of the mail sent to his / her own mailbox address, the sender, the type of mail, and the like. In addition, if the operator is granted the right to open the mail in step S30, the contents of the mail in the range of the authorized authority are also searched, and a receiving method corresponding to the recipient's situation is selected (S38).

When the payee selects a receiving method, the web server 320 calculates a fee imposed on the mail, such as a mail type, a receiving method, and a tariff, and transmits the fee to the payee computer 200. In response to this, when the payee acknowledges the payment, the web server 320 performs payment with the payment institution server 400 (S40).

However, when receiving the mail directly, it is also possible to pay the above fees and duties upon receipt of the mail.

The step S38 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7 as follows.

7 is a detailed flowchart of a mail searching step in the method of providing a postal mailbox service using the Internet according to the present invention.

The recipient receives the information on the mail from the mail server 330 by the step S36, and then accesses the operator site (for example, www.mymailbox.co.kr) and receives a unique mailbox granted from the operator. The logon procedure is performed using the address or member number (S42).

When the logon procedure is performed, the web server 320 transmits the 'My Mailbox' window as shown in FIG. 8 to the recipient computer 200 and accordingly, the recipient performs a 'My Mailbox' window search (S44). .

Searching for the 'My Mailbox' window will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

8 is an exemplary view of a 'My Mailbox' window that appears on the payee computer screen.

As shown in FIG. 8, the 'My Mailbox' window includes a 'Arrival Items Confirmation' window for checking the details of mail items currently arriving at the recipient's mailbox, and confirming the application / change / cancellation of the courier service and the status of processing. View / change member information such as 'Confirm shipment' window to check the status of the goods that have been processed so far, 'Reservation confirmation' window where you can check the deposit points settled monthly and apply for gift certificates, and the address / password of the recipient The 'change magnetic information' window is linked, the recipient can select the desired confirmation window and search for the information accordingly.

Hereinafter, each window will be described in detail based on the procedure shown in FIG. 8.

When the recipient selects the 'arrival article confirmation' window illustrated in FIG. 9 in the 'my mailbox' window of FIG. 8, the web server 320 transmits the 'arrival article confirmation' window to the recipient computer 200. (S46).

9 is an exemplary view of a 'arrival article confirmation' window that appears on the recipient computer screen.

The recipient checks the 'arrival goods confirmation' window to check the details of the mail currently arrived in his or her mailbox, and transmits whether the received mail is sent by courier service (S46).

The web server 320 determines whether the selection of the recipient's receiving method in step S46 is a parcel delivery request (S48).

As a result of the determination in step S48, when the recipient requests parcel delivery, the web server 320 allows the recipient to select the parcel delivery request / change button in the 'arrival article confirmation' window to place it as desired. Ask for a courier service. In addition, when the reason for the change of circumstances occurs within a certain period of time, the web server 320 is programmed so that the recipient can access the 'arrival article confirmation' window to cancel the delivery service.

The courier service is a concept that includes not only courier service in a general sense but also sending the arrival item to the addressee through a separate transport means such as registered mail.

When the recipient selects the delivery / delivery request button in the 'confirm arrival item' window, the web server 320 displays the 'arrival goods delivery request / change' window as illustrated in FIG. 10. 200) and receives the necessary input items in the 'arrival application delivery request / change' window from the recipient (S50).

The necessary matters will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10 as follows.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view of a window for requesting to change / deliver arrival items on a recipient computer screen. FIG.

Personal information provided to the operator by the addressee when the member registers in step S20 is described in the 'delivery address' column. Therefore, when the addressee receives the mail at the address provided when the member registers, fill in the 'delivery area selection' and 'payment' fields and select the 'confirmation' button.

However, if the addressee wishes to receive the mail at an address different from the address 'Shipping Address' or sends the item to another addressee who resides at another address, select 'different from the order' in the 'Recipient address' field, Fill in the personal information such as the address you want to receive or the name, address, telephone number, etc. of the other recipient, select 'Delivery Area', fill in the 'Payment' field accordingly, and select the 'Confirm' button. .

In step S50, the DB server stores the input data in the 'arrival article delivery service request / change' window (S52).

When the search for the 'delivery items delivery request / change window' by the steps S50 to S52 is completed, the recipient requests the web server 320 to search the 'shipment confirmation window', and the web server ( 320 transmits the 'confirm shipment item' window to the recipient computer 200 as illustrated in FIG. 11 (S54).

11 is an exemplary view of a 'confirm shipment' window that appears on the recipient computer screen.

In the 'Shipping Goods Confirmation' window, the contents of the dispatch date, the purchase place, etc. of the goods sent or received by courier to the present day by using the operator's mailbox are searched.

When the payee completes the search for the shipment confirmation window according to the step S54, the payee requests the web server 320 to search for the deposit confirmation window, and the web server 320 is shown in FIG. As illustrated, the 'reservation check' window is transmitted to the payee computer 200 (S56).

12 is an exemplary view of a 'reservation check' window appears on the payee computer screen.

The payee searches for his / her total reserve and basic information on the reserve confirmation window.

As a result of the determination in step S48, if the recipient does not apply for the courier delivery, the web server 320 does not need to perform the procedure of steps S50 to S52, and the recipient does not need to perform the procedure. Visit and receive the operator at your convenience. In this case, however, it is preferable that the identification card of the recipient or the recipient and the agent be presented upon receipt of the mail.

In the step of transmitting the 'confirm the shipment' window and the 'send the confirmation of the deposit' window, the steps S54 to S56 are performed as in the case of applying for the delivery service.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited to the drawing.

According to the present invention as described above, when the mail arrives, the recipient is automatically notified, there is an effect that you do not need to visit the mailbox directly or by phone to check the mailbox.

Recipients who are notified of the information on archived mail can access the operator's Internet site without any time limit, search for each mail stored in the mailbox under various conditions, and receive the mail by delivery service. There are also savings.

Claims (6)

As a method for providing a postal mailbox service using an information communication network, Receiving, by the web server, pre-registration from the recipient computer (S10); Storing, by the DB server, information on the mail sent to the recipient (S34); Transmitting, by the mail server, information about the mail sent to the recipient stored in the DB server to the recipient computer using an information communication network (S36); And Transmitting, by the web server, a mail status search window to the recipient (S38). Mail box service providing method using the Internet comprising a. The method of claim 1, In step S10, the web server receives pre-registration from a recipient computer. Receiving, by the web server, a unique mailbox addressing request from the payee computer (S24); And The web server giving a unique mailbox address to the payee computer (S26) Electronic commerce method on the Internet comprising a. The method of claim 1, In step S10, the web server receives pre-registration from a recipient computer. The web server receiving a mail opening service request from the payee computer (S28) E-commerce method on the Internet, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 1, The step of sending the mail status search window to the recipient by the web server, Transmitting at least one of a 'My Mailbox' window, a 'Check Arrival Item' window, a 'Check Shipment Item' window or a 'Check Deposit' window on the web server according to the recipient's selection. Mail box service providing method using the Internet, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 4, wherein The step of transmitting the 'arrival goods confirmation' window, Receiving a parcel delivery request from the payee computer at the web server; Mail box service providing method using the Internet, characterized in that it further comprises a. In the mail mailbox service providing apparatus using an information communication network, DB server 310 for storing the personal information of the recipient and the unique management number of the mail arrived in the name of the recipient, the unique mailbox address and the actual mailbox address; A web server 320 receiving an application for assigning a unique mailbox address from a payee, giving a unique mailbox address to the payee, and transmitting a mail status search window to the payee; And Mail server 330 for transmitting the information about the mail sent to the recipients stored in the DB server to the recipient computer using the information communication network Mail mailbox service providing apparatus using the Internet, including.