JP2000105732A - Method and system for delivering delivery-time specified electronic mail - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an electronic mail delivering method which can efficiently deliver an electronic mail whose delivery date and time are specified without causing the congestion of a communication line by delivering a sent electronic mail immediately to a mail server to which the reception-side mail terminal is connected and keeping it in an unreceivable state on the mail server up to a specified date and time. SOLUTION: An electronic mail is received by the mail server 202 from the mail-transmission-side terminal 201 and delivered to the reception-side terminal 204 connected to the mail server 203. When the delivery date and time of the electronic mail are specified, it is sent to the mail server 203 at the transmission destination if the mail is not addressed to this mail server 202. An electronic mail sent from the transmission-side mail terminal 201 is kept up to the delivery date and time, the keeping state is reset on the delivery date at the delivery time, and the mail is moved to the mail box on the reception-side mail terminal 204, thereby enabling the mail to be received by the mail terminal 204.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail distribution method and system for distributing electronic mail distributed via a plurality of servers such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of distributing e-mail via a network such as the Internet, there is a method of not specifying a date and time of distribution to a recipient or a method of specifying the date and time.

In order to deliver an e-mail with a designated delivery date and time, use a mail sending terminal having a function of retaining mail until the delivery date and time, or use a server to which the mail sending terminal is connected. It is necessary to use a server that has a function to wait for mail delivery until a specified date and time. In other words, by providing a mechanism within a range that can be managed by the sender of the mail or the manager of the mail system to which the user belongs, it becomes possible to deliver the e-mail specified by the delivery date and time.

[0004]

However, when a delivery mail is kept in a mail sending terminal or a server to which a mail delivery terminal is connected, the email is delivered after the mail delivery date and time. Therefore, for example, if many people, such as New Year's cards, specify delivery during a limited time, mail delivery will concentrate at a specific time,
There is a risk of inducing problems such as communication line congestion.

An object of the present invention is to provide an e-mail delivery method and system capable of efficiently delivering an e-mail with a designated delivery date and time without inducing congestion on a communication line.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an e-mail transmitted from a transmitting terminal is immediately delivered to a mail server to which a receiving mail terminal is connected, and the mail server is connected to the mail server. Above, it is set as the reception impossible state until the designated date and time.

More specifically, in an e-mail system for distributing an e-mail transmitted from a transmitting mail terminal via at least one mail server to a receiving mail terminal, the e-mail transmitted from the transmitting mail terminal is distributed. The mail server determines whether the e-mail is specified by the date and time. If the e-mail is specified by the delivery date and time, the e-mail is immediately delivered to the mail server where the mailbox of the receiving mail terminal exists. In this case, when the specified date and time is reached, the reservation state is released and reception by the receiving mail terminal is enabled.

[0008] Further, it is determined by a predetermined control message exchange whether or not the mail server next to the own mail server in the distribution route to the receiving side mail terminal has an e-mail retaining function, and the e-mail server has the retaining function. If not, keep the received mail in the mail server until the delivery date and time, send it to the next mail server when the delivery date and time, and send it to the next mail server immediately if it has a retention function It is characterized by doing.

In addition, if the mail server in the distribution route to the receiving mail terminal receives the instruction to cancel the transmission of the e-mail transmitted from the transmitting mail terminal, does the mail server hold the relevant e-mail in a reserved state? It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the e-mail is delivered if the e-mail is held.

[0010] Further, a list of e-mails in a mailbox which has become receivable in a mail server in which a mailbox of a receiving side mail terminal is present is created and notified to a sending side mail terminal.

[0011] Further, the present invention is characterized in that a mail server in which a mailbox of a receiving mail terminal is present notifies that there is an e-mail designated by a delivery date and time before the delivery date and time.

[0012] The electronic mail distribution system of the present invention, in the mail server, determines whether or not the electronic mail transmitted from the sending mail terminal is an electronic mail with a specified delivery date and time. If so, it is determined whether or not the mailbox of the receiving mail terminal of the e-mail exists in the own mail server. A first means for immediate delivery to an existing mail server, and if there is, the mail is kept unreceivable in the mailbox, and when a specified date and time is reached,
There is provided means for canceling the holding state and enabling reception by the receiving mail terminal.

Also, it is determined by a predetermined control message exchange whether or not the mail server next to the own mail server in the distribution route to the receiving mail terminal has an e-mail retaining function, and the e-mail server has the retaining function. If not, keep the received mail in the mail server until the delivery date and time, send it to the next mail server when the delivery date and time, and send it to the next mail server immediately if it has a retention function It is characterized by further comprising means for performing.

[0014] When an instruction to cancel the transmission of the e-mail transmitted from the transmitting mail terminal is received, it is determined whether or not the corresponding e-mail is held in a retaining state. It is characterized by comprising means for interrupting the distribution of mail.

Further, a list of electronic mails in a mailbox which can be received by a mail server having a mailbox of a receiving mail terminal is prepared, and a notifying means is provided in the sending mail terminal.

Further, the mail server in which the mailbox of the receiving mail terminal exists has a means for notifying that there is an e-mail designated by the delivery date and time before the delivery date and time.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an e-mail system to which the present invention is applied. Here, a plurality of mail servers 101 to 104 are shown.
Are connected to each other via a network 100. Mail terminals 105 and 106 are connected to the mail servers 101 to 104, respectively. FIG.
Indicates that the mail terminals 105 and 106 are connected only to the mail servers 101 and 103, and illustration of other mail servers is omitted.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining the relationship between a logical mail transmitting terminal, a mail receiving terminal and a mail server when an electronic mail is delivered.
201 and 301 are mail transmitting terminals, and 204 and 306 are mail receiving terminals. 202, 203, 302, 3
03, 304, and 305 are mail servers, respectively.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a method of designating the distribution date and time of an electronic mail. 401 is an address specification of an electronic mail distribution destination, 402 is a header indicating that the electronic mail is a distribution date and time designation, and 403 is a mail. Is the title. When sending an e-mail with a specified delivery date and time, specify
2 is transmitted in a format added to the address designation 401 of the distribution destination. In this case, the designation of the distribution date and time is performed by the transmitting terminal, and the header 402 is automatically added by the transmitting terminal when the operation of specifying the distribution date and time is completed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of each mail server shown in FIGS.
Reference numeral 02 denotes a received mail spool, and an electronic mail received by the mail server is first stored in the received mail spool. Reference numeral 503 denotes a mail transmission hold queue, which stores mail held by the mail server until a designated date and time. Reference numeral 504 denotes a mailbox of a received mail, which stores an e-mail received by a receiving terminal connected to the mail server. Hereinafter, some embodiments of a method of delivering an e-mail having a designated date and time will be described.

** First Embodiment of Delivery Method ** Here, the mail server 202 shown in FIG.
An example will be described in which the information is received and distributed to the receiving terminal 204 connected to the mail server 203.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of a processing procedure of a delivery date / time designation mail of the mail server 202, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a delivery processing procedure of an electronic mail of which delivery is suspended, and FIG. 203
It is a flow chart which shows the outline of the processing procedure which judges whether or not has the function of retaining the mail of the delivery date and time designation.

In FIG. 6, when the process is started, the server 202 enters a mail reception waiting state (step 60).
1) Wait for the reception of the e-mail until the mail from the mail transmitting side terminal 201 is received (step 60).
2).

When the e-mail is received, the mail server to which the e-mail is to be transmitted is determined (step 60).
3). In the present embodiment, the transmission destination is the server 203.

Next, the header 402 of the electronic mail is checked, and it is determined whether or not the electronic mail is an electronic mail with a designated delivery date. In this example, if "X-Delivery-day" is specified, it is assumed that distribution is not performed until the specified date and time. Since the electronic mail according to the present embodiment has the header 402 for specifying the delivery date and time, it is determined that the electronic mail is the delivery date and time specified mail (step 604).

If the mail is not a delivery date designation mail, the electronic mail is connected to the mail server 202, and it is determined whether the mail is addressed to a mail terminal having a mailbox in the mail server 202 (step 608). If the message is addressed to another mail server 203 having no mailbox in its own mail server 202, the message is immediately sent to the destination mail server 203 (step 609).
When the electronic mail is addressed to the own mail server 202 having a mailbox in the own mail server 202, the electronic mail is moved to the reception mailbox 504 of the own mail server 202 (step 610).

If the electronic mail is a mail with a designated delivery date and time, the current date and time are compared with the designated delivery date and time 402 (step 605). Email is your own mail server 20
It is determined whether it is addressed to the mail terminal connected to 2 (step 608), and if it is not addressed to its own mail server 202, it is immediately sent to the destination mail server 203 (step 609). When the e-mail is addressed to the own mail server 202, the e-mail is stored in the mailbox 50
Move to 4.

If an e-mail with a designated delivery date and time is received and the current date and time are not the designated date and time, whether or not the delivery destination of the e-mail is a mail terminal connected to the own mail server 202 is determined. Is determined (step 606).

Further, it is determined whether or not the mail server of the mail delivery destination (here, the delivery destination server is 203) can handle the delivery date / time designation mail (whether or not it has a function of retaining) (step S1). 607) If the e-mail cannot be handled, the e-mail is stored in the mail transmission hold queue 50
3 (step 611).

In this example, the mail server 203 is assumed to be able to handle a delivery date / time designation mail. In this case, the e-mail is immediately sent to the mail server 203 (step 609).

On the other hand, the mail server 203 operates in the same manner as the mail server 202. That is, FIG.
Steps 601 to 605 are performed, and the e-mail transmitted from the mail terminal 201 on the transmitting side is retained until the distribution date and time is reached. Move to the mailbox of the mail terminal 204, and the mail terminal 2
04 is set to a receivable state.

In the mail server 203, the distribution destination of the received e-mail is the mail terminal connected to the own mail server 203 (step 606), and the e-mail is stored in the mail transmission hold queue 503 (step 606). 611).

In the mail server 203, as shown in FIG. 7, a process of monitoring the mail transmission suspension queue 503 is operating.

That is, in the processing shown in FIG. 7, the first mail is fetched from the mail transmission hold queue 503 (step 701), and the processing of steps 703 to 707 is repeated until all the e-mails are processed (step 702). Perform processing.

With respect to the retrieved electronic mail, it is confirmed whether or not the current date and time is after the designated date and time for distribution (step 7).
03) If the delivery date and time have not yet arrived, the e-mail is returned to the transmission hold queue 503 to retrieve the next e-mail (step 704).

If the designated delivery date has come, it is determined whether the delivery destination of the electronic mail is a mail terminal connected to the mail server 203 (step 70).
5). In this example, since the e-mail is an e-mail addressed to the mail terminal 204 connected to the own mail server 203, the e-mail is stored in the mailbox 5 of the own mail server 203.
04 (step 706). Own mail server 2
If it is not addressed to 03, it is transmitted to the next mail server (step 707).

In the above processing, the mail server 203 of the mail transmission destination determines whether or not it can handle the delivery date / time designation mail according to the processing shown in FIG.

That is, first, the mail transmission destination server 2
03 (step 801), and transmits a code or a control message in a predetermined format inquiring whether or not the delivery date / time designation mail can be handled (step 802).
A mail server that cannot handle the delivery date / time designation mail cannot recognize the code or the control message and returns an error message (step 803), so it is determined that the delivery date / time designation mail cannot be handled (step 80).
4). Also, when the delivery date designation mail cannot be handled due to some error, the same determination is made. If the mail server can handle the delivery date / time designation mail, a correct response is returned, so that it is determined that the electronic mail can be handled (step 805).

** Second Embodiment of Delivery Method ** Next, referring to FIG. 2, a method of delivering a delivery date / time designation mail when the mail server 203 cannot handle the delivery date / time designation mail will be described.

Even in the case where the mail server 203 cannot handle the delivery date / time designation mail, of the processing procedure in the mail server 202, steps 601 to 606
Up to this point is the same.

However, if it is found in step 607 that the mail transmission destination server 203 cannot handle the delivery date specified mail, the e-mail is stored in the mail transmission hold queue 503 (step 611).

Here, in the mail server 202,
As shown in FIG. 7, a process of monitoring the mail transmission suspension queue 503 is operating.

That is, in the processing shown in FIG. 7, the first mail is fetched from the mail transmission hold queue 503 (step 701), and the processing of steps 703 to 706 is repeated until all the e-mail processing is completed (step 702). Perform processing.

It is confirmed whether the current date and time of the retrieved e-mail is past the designated date and time (step 703). If the date and time are not the distribution date and time, the e-mail is stored in the mail transmission hold queue 503. Return (step 704). If the delivery date and time has come, it is determined whether the delivery destination of the e-mail is a mail terminal connected to the own mail server (step 705).
In this example, since the electronic mail is not an electronic mail addressed to the mail terminal connected to the own mail server 202, the mail is immediately transmitted (step 707).

Mail server 203 that received the e-mail
Cannot handle an e-mail with a specified delivery date and time, and performs mail delivery processing as a general mail server. That is, the received e-mail is immediately moved to the mailbox 504, and the receiving mail terminal 204 is set in a receivable state.

** Third Embodiment of Delivery Method ** Next, in FIG.
A case where all the related mail servers 302 to 305 can handle a fixed delivery date / time mail when the delivery is performed via relays 02 to 305 will be described.

When the mail server 302 in the mail reception waiting state transmits an e-mail from the e-mail transmitting terminal 301 (step 603), the e-mail is sent to the destination e-mail in the same procedure as in the above-described embodiment. Send to server.

The mail servers 302 to 305 in FIG.
Is finally delivered immediately to the mail server 305 to which the receiving terminal 306 is connected, where it is kept until the delivery date and time, and when it reaches the delivery date and time, it is stored in the mailbox 504. It is moved and becomes a receivable state.

** Fourth Embodiment of Delivery Method ** Next, the electronic mail is sent to a plurality of mail servers 302 to 302 in FIG.
A case will be described in which the mail server 304 on the way cannot handle the delivery date designation mail when the mail is relayed via the mail server 305.

In FIG. 3, when the mail server 304 functioning as the relay server cannot handle the delivery time designation mail, the mail sending terminal 301, the mail server 302,
The operation of 03 is the same as described above. Mail server 3
No. 03 keeps the e-mail until the specified time of the delivery date and time, and distributes the e-mail to the mail server 304 after the specified time.

After receiving the e-mail from the mail server 303 at the preceding stage, the mail server 304 immediately transmits the received e-mail to the next mail server 305 as a general mail server. The mail server 305 performs the same processing as the mail server 203 of the first embodiment,
Since the current date and time has already passed the designated date and time (step 605), the electronic mail delivery process is immediately performed (steps 608 and 610).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented by appropriately combining the functions thereof. Also, in the mail server in the distribution route to the receiving mail terminal, when receiving the instruction to cancel the transmission of the e-mail transmitted from the transmitting mail terminal, whether or not the corresponding e-mail is retained in the retained state Is determined, and if it is held, the distribution of the e-mail can be interrupted. In this case, it is necessary for the mail server that holds the electronic mail in a deferred state to notify the sender of the server name.

With this interruption function, if the date is before the delivery date and time, the delivery of the e-mail in which the error was found can be canceled, and the correct e-mail is sent to the destination without sending the correction e-mail many times. be able to.

Further, a list of electronic mails in a mailbox which can be received by a mail server having a mailbox of the receiving mail terminal can be created and notified to the receiving mail terminal.

With this mail list notification function, a mail list for each distribution date and time can be known. Further, the mail server in which the mailbox of the receiving side mail terminal exists may be configured to notify that there is an e-mail designated by the delivery date and time before the delivery date and time. In this case, the contents of the e-mail itself cannot be opened until the distribution date and time, and a part of the information irrelevant to the contents such as the sender can be opened.

With this function, the recipient only has to perform the operation of opening the mail immediately after the date and time, so that it is not necessary to repeatedly perform the operation of opening the mail addressed to the recipient, and the trouble is relieved. Also, from the sender's point of view, it can be expected that the mail will be opened immediately at that date and time. This will help to prevent unopened emails from staying in the mailbox, as well as sending advance notice emails such as bargain sales and expecting them to be opened at the designated date and time. Has the effect of

In the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the entire mail held in the hold queue is processed in order. However, if the mails are arranged in time order at the time of storing in the hold queue, all the mails are processed. Needless to say, such processing becomes unnecessary.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention,
E-mail sent from the sending terminal is immediately delivered to the mail server to which the receiving terminal is connected, and is kept unreceivable on the mail server until the specified date and time. Even when an e-mail expected to be received at a specific time is delivered, the risk of inducing problems such as congestion in the communication line can be avoided.

Also, even if the mail server connected to the mail receiving terminal receives the delivery date and time specified mail and does not have a function to keep it in a state of being unreceivable, the mail is transferred to the server. By distributing the mail to the relay server, the load on the communication line at the designated date and time can be limited to only the server connected to the relay server and the receiving terminal.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an electronic mail distribution method.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an electronic mail distribution method when a relay server exists.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a description method of a mail header for describing a method of specifying a delivery date and time in an electronic mail.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mail server.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of a delivery date / time designation mail processing procedure of the mail server.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a distribution processing procedure of an electronic mail whose distribution is suspended.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an outline of a processing procedure for judging whether or not a mail server to which an electronic mail is to be sent can handle a delivery date designation mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... network, 101, 102, 103, 10
4 ... Mail server, 105 ... Mail sending terminal, 106
... Email receiving terminal, 201, 301 ... Email sending terminal, 204,306 ... Email receiving terminal, 202, 20
3,302,303,304,305 ... mail server,
Reference numeral 401 designates an address of a mail delivery destination, 402 designates a delivery date and time designation header, 501 designates a control device, 502 designates a received mail spool, 503 designates a mail transmission hold queue, and 504 designates
Mailbox for incoming mail.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An e-mail system for distributing an e-mail transmitted from a transmitting mail terminal to a receiving mail terminal via at least one mail server, wherein the e-mail transmitted from the transmitting mail terminal is distributed on a time and date basis. The e-mail server determines whether the specified e-mail is received. If the e-mail is specified by the delivery date and time, the e-mail is immediately delivered to the mail server where the mailbox of the receiving mail terminal is located. An e-mail distribution method, wherein the e-mail is kept unreceivable state, and when a designated date and time is reached, the evacuation state is released to enable reception by the receiving mail terminal. 2. A predetermined control message exchange determines whether a mail server next to the own mail server has an e-mail retaining function in a distribution route to a receiving side mail terminal, and has a retaining function. If not, keep the received mail in the mail server until the delivery date and time, send it to the next mail server when the delivery date and time, and send it to the next mail server immediately if it has a retention function 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. When the mail server in the distribution route to the receiving mail terminal receives an instruction to cancel the transmission of the e-mail transmitted from the transmitting mail terminal, does the mail server hold the relevant e-mail in a reserved state? 3. The electronic mail delivery method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the electronic mail is stored, and when the electronic mail is stored, the distribution of the electronic mail is interrupted. 4. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein a list of e-mails in the mailbox which has become receivable in the mail server having the mailbox of the receiving mail terminal is created and notified to the sending mail terminal. 3. An e-mail delivery method according to any one of items 1 to 3. 5. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein the mail server in which the mailbox of the receiving mail terminal exists notifies that there is an e-mail designated by the delivery date and time before the delivery date and time. E-mail delivery method. 6. An e-mail system for distributing e-mail transmitted from a transmitting mail terminal via at least one mail server to a receiving mail terminal, wherein the mail server is transmitted from the transmitting mail terminal. Determines whether the e-mail is an e-mail with the specified delivery date and time, and if the e-mail is an e-mail with the specified delivery date, determines whether the mailbox of the receiving mail terminal of the e-mail exists in the own mail server. The first means for immediately delivering the e-mail with the specified delivery date and time to the mail server where the mailbox of the receiving mail terminal exists if the mail does not exist; A means to release the reserved state and enable the receiving mail terminal to receive when the specified date and time has been reached E-mail delivery system, characterized in that to obtain. 7. A predetermined control message exchange determines whether a mail server next to the own mail server has a function of retaining e-mail in a distribution route to a receiving side mail terminal, and has a retaining function. If not, keep the received mail in the mail server until the delivery date and time, send it to the next mail server when the delivery date and time, and send it to the next mail server immediately if it has a retention function 7. The electronic mail distribution system according to claim 6, further comprising: 8. When receiving an instruction to cancel transmission of an e-mail transmitted from a transmission side mail terminal, it is determined whether or not the corresponding e-mail is held in a retaining state. 8. The electronic mail distribution system according to claim 6, further comprising means for interrupting the distribution of the mail. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a list of e-mails in the mailbox which can be received by the mail server having the mailbox of the receiving side mail terminal is created, and the receiving side mail terminal is provided with a notifying means. Item 9. The electronic mail delivery method according to any one of Items 6 to 8. 10. A mail server in which a mail box of a mail terminal of a receiving side mail terminal is provided with means for notifying that there is an e-mail designated by a delivery date and time before the delivery date and time. E-mail delivery system according to any of the above.