JP2000261490A - Server for electronic direct mail transmission/browsing confirmation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a server for an electronic direct mail transmission/reception and browsing confirmation system where a sender can confirm persons (users) that actually have browsed advertisement in a direct mail. SOLUTION: The server 10 that is connected to a user terminal 20 via a network 1 in the system where information is transmitted and information browsing by users is confirmed, is provided with a mail generating means 133 that inserts a user identification ID to identify a user and an information transmission job ID to identify served information into the served information to users and generates transmission information, a mail transmission means 135 that transmits the transmission information to the users, a mail reception means 141 that receives mails that include user IDs and information transmission job IDs in the transmission information returned by the users, and a distribution processing means 142 that confirms that each mail includes the user ID and the information transmission job ID.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a server of a system which is connected to a user terminal via a network, transmits information to the user terminal, and confirms information browsing of the user by replying to a mail from the user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an information providing service in which a consumer (user) responds to a direct mail (e-mail) transmitted from an advertising agency via the Internet by e-mail, thereby confirming viewing of the direct mail.

As a method of confirming reception of direct mail, there is a method in which when a consumer receives direct mail, mail software possessed by the consumer automatically sends a mail as a receipt confirmation to an advertising agency. .

[0004] As a method of encouraging consumers to read direct mail, a method of adding predetermined points to a consumer who has replied to an e-mail confirming receipt, and setting a privilege in accordance with the added number of points has been proposed. is there. in this case,
An e-mail address for accepting a reply e-mail is prepared for each consumer, and when a reply is sent to the e-mail address, points are added to the corresponding consumer.

[0005]

According to the conventional technology, it is possible to confirm that a consumer has received a direct mail, but it is not possible to confirm whether or not an advertisement in the direct mail is actually viewed. Was. For this reason, points are added to consumers who are not actually browsing the advertisement, and are not suitable for the direct mail service that originally wants to view the advertisement. Also, the management of reply e-mail addresses prepared for each consumer is a heavy burden.

Therefore, the present invention enables a sender of a direct mail to confirm a consumer who has actually viewed the advertisement in the direct mail, and to add points to the consumers who have confirmed the browsing. An object of the present invention is to provide a server for an electronic direct mail transmission / reception / browsing confirmation system.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is connected to a user terminal via a network, and transmits information and confirms information browsing of a user (consumer). In a server of a system that responds to an e-mail from a user, transmission that creates transmission information by inserting a user ID for identifying the user and an information transmission job ID for identifying the provision information in the provision information to be provided to the user Information generation means; information transmission means for transmitting the transmission information to a user; mail reception means for receiving a mail including the user ID and the information transmission job ID in the transmission information returned by the user; And an ID confirmation unit for confirming that the user ID and the information transmission job ID are included in the information transmission job ID.

[0008] According to the server configured as described above,
The information provided by the transmission information generation means to the user includes the user I
D and the information transmission job ID for identifying the provided information are inserted to create transmission information, and the information transmission unit transmits the transmission information to the user. The mail receiving means receives the mail returned by the user. ID confirmation means confirms that the mail returned by the user includes the user ID and the information transmission job ID.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the server according to the first aspect, the ID confirmation means includes a user ID.
Confirm that D and the information transmission job ID are in the subject part of the mail. According to this, it is possible to confirm which user has viewed the information provided by which information distribution job by the returned mail.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the server according to the first or second aspect, the transmission information generating means includes:
ID decrypting means for encrypting the user ID and the information transmission job ID to obtain an encrypted ID, wherein the ID confirming means decrypts the encrypted ID to obtain a decrypted ID. Having. According to this, the user ID
And the information transmission job ID can be prevented from being understood by the user. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately confirm the user who browsed the provided information.

[0011] The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claims 1 to 3.
User ID for identifying a user in the server described in 1.
And a management list database storing user information including point information and user personal information added according to information browsing, and the user ID of the user who sent the mail
And a setting file database storing the information transmission job ID and the user ID and the information transmission job ID confirmed by the ID confirming means in the setting file database. Point addition means for adding a predetermined point to the point information stored in the management list database for a user corresponding to the user ID;
Is configured to further be provided.

According to the server configured as described above,
The setting file database stores a user ID and an information transmission job ID in association with each other in order to determine which provided information has been transmitted to which user. I
D confirmation means uses the user ID in the reply mail from the user.
And the information transmission job ID. When the user ID and the information transmission job ID confirmed by the ID confirming means are stored in association with the setting file database, the point adding means confirms the ID by the ID confirming means stored in the management list database. A predetermined point is added to the point information about the user.

[0013] The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
3. The server according to claim 2, wherein the setting file database stores, for each of the information transmission job IDs, information including the transmission information and transmission date and time information that is a date and time at which the transmission information is transmitted. Means transmits the transmission information based on the transmission date and time information. According to this, the provision information can be automatically transmitted by setting the provision information and the distribution date / time information.

[0014] The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5.
Wherein the setting file database stores information including deadline date and time information that is a deadline for accepting a reply mail from the user. The point addition means determines the validity of the reply mail based on the deadline date information, and when the reply mail is valid, the point addition means A predetermined point is added to the point information. According to this, it is possible to prompt the user to browse the provided information at an early stage. Also, the sender can expect a waiting period for the reply mail.

[0015]

First, a basic idea of the present invention will be described.

[0016] There are transmission sources that distribute direct mail through the Internet, and a plurality of users who receive direct mail at terminals connected to the Internet.

The transmission source includes a job ID for identifying the mail content and a user ID for identifying the destination user in an advertisement to be browsed by the user (hereinafter referred to as “mail content”). Send direct mail including.

The user who has received the direct mail browses the mail content while searching for the user ID and the job ID contained therein. Of course, at this time, the content of the mail content is read to some extent. The user who has finished browsing returns the user ID and the job ID to the sender with the user ID and the job ID set in the subject part of the mail (hereinafter, this is referred to as “reply mail”). Here, the "subject" is an item provided in the header portion of the e-mail, and is originally a place where the title of the e-mail is described. Generally, when a list of received mails is displayed, the contents of the subject part are displayed.

The sender confirms which user has viewed which mail content from the user ID and the job ID set in the subject part of the reply mail.

Note that the same job ID is used for direct mails having the same mail content, and information on direct mail transmission is managed for each job ID. Transmission of direct mail is also performed for each job.

The direct mail is automatically transmitted at a preset transmission date and time in units of job ID. The deadline for reply mail is set for each job ID.
Only the reply mail returned including the correct user ID and job ID by the deadline is determined to be valid. A user who has returned a valid reply mail is given a predetermined point as a reward for viewing the direct mail. Since the user can obtain some kind of privilege according to the number of points, browsing of direct mail is promoted.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an electronic direct mail transmission / browsing confirmation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the electronic direct mail transmission / browsing confirmation system has the Internet 1, a server 10 connected thereto, and a plurality of user terminals 20. Note that only one user terminal 20 is illustrated for convenience.

The server 10 includes a server device 11, a mail content database 12, a management list database 13, and a setting file database 14.

The server device 11 includes a schedule module 110, a list management module 120, a mail transmission module 130, and a mail reception module 140
And

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the functions of the server 10. As shown in this figure, the schedule module 110 handles the setting file database 14 and the like. Further, the date and time at which the direct mail is transmitted and the date and time at which the reception of the reply mail is closed are regularly checked. The list management module 120
The management list database 13 is handled. The mail transmission module 130 includes a transmission target extraction unit 131
, A Reply-ID generation unit 132, a mail generation unit 133, and a mail transmission unit 134, which perform handling of the mail content database 12, processing related to direct mail transmission, and the like. The mail receiving module 140 includes a mail receiving unit 141, a distribution processing unit 142, and a point adding unit 143, and performs a process related to a reply mail from the user.

FIG. 3 shows a mail content database 12, a management list database 13, and a setting file.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of data stored in a database 14; As shown in this figure,
The database 12 stores mail contents transmitted by direct mail.

The management list database 13 stores user information including personal information, preference information, and point information of a user to whom direct mail is to be transmitted. The personal information includes information about the user, such as a user ID, address, gender, and age. The preference information includes information on the user's preference. The point information includes information on the number of points given to the user.

The setting file database 14 stores transmission job information, which is information on a direct mail transmission job, for each job. The file name of the transmission job information is the same as the job ID. The transmission job information includes a job ID, target person extraction information, transmission information, browsing user information, transmission date and time information, and deadline date and time information. The target person extraction information is information relating to conditions for extracting a user to whom a direct mail is to be transmitted from the management list database 13. This condition is based on personal information and preference information included in the user information. The transmission information includes direct mails to be transmitted to the users by the number of users who transmit. The viewing user information includes a user ID of a user who has viewed the content. That is, the browsing user information is created by receiving a reply mail from the user after transmitting the direct mail. The transmission date and time information includes a transmission date and time at which the direct mail is transmitted and a transmission flag for storing whether or not the direct mail has been transmitted. The transmission flag is used to determine whether the direct mail of the transmission job information has already been transmitted. When the transmission flag is ON (1), it indicates that transmission has been completed. The deadline date / time information includes a deadline date / time that is the expiration date of the reply mail and a deadline flag that stores whether the deadline has been completed. The deadline flag is used to determine whether or not points have already been added to the user ID of the transmission job information. When the deadline flag is ON (1), it indicates that points have been added.

Next, the processing performed by the server 10 will be described. The processing performed by the server 10 includes direct mail generation processing, direct mail transmission processing, reply mail distribution processing, and point addition processing.

In the direct mail generation process, the server 1
The mail transmission module 130 generates a direct mail according to predetermined data input performed by the operator 0.
In the direct mail transmission process, the mail transmission module 130 transmits a direct mail according to a command from the schedule module 110 based on the transmission date and time information. In the reply mail distribution process, the mail receiving module 1
40 periodically checks the presence or absence of a reply mail, and determines the validity of the received reply mail. The point addition processing is performed by the mail receiving module 140 according to an instruction from the schedule module 110 based on the deadline date and time information.
Adds points to the user's point information.

The schedule module 110
Monitors transmission date / time information and deadline date / time information for all transmission job information, and executes direct mail transmission processing or point addition processing for transmission jobs that have reached the transmission date / time or the deadline date / time.

First, the procedure of the direct mail generation process will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the direct mail generation process. The procedure of the direct mail generation process will be described with reference to this flowchart.

The schedule module 110 receives the job ID, the file name of the mail content, the subject extraction condition, the transmission date and time information, and the deadline information input by the operator of the server 10. The schedule module 110 creates a transmission job information file having the same name as the job ID in the setting file database 14 and stores the job ID, the subject extraction condition, the transmission date and time information, and the deadline date and time information, respectively. . At this time, both the transmission flag and the deadline flag are set to OFF (0) (step S01).

The schedule module 110 gives a mail generation command to the mail transmission module 130. The transmission target person extracting means 131 includes the list management module 12
The user information matching the subject extraction condition is extracted from the management list database 13 via the management list database 0, and a mail transmission subject list is created (step S02).

If there is no user information in the mail transmission target person list, the direct mail generation processing ends. If there is user information, the process proceeds to the next step (step S03).

The Reply-ID generating means 132 combines the job ID with the user ID extracted from the user information,
By encrypting this by a predetermined method, Reply
-Generate an ID (step S04).

The mail generating means 133 stores the mail content corresponding to the file name of the mail content previously input by the operator into the mail content database 12.
Search within. The Reply-ID is embedded in the mail content found as a result of the search, and a mail address included in the user information is set to generate a direct mail (step S05). FIG. 4A shows an example of the direct mail generated at this time.

The mail generation means 133 stores the generated direct mail as transmission information in the setting file database 14 via the schedule module 110, and returns to step S03 (step S06).

Through the above processing, direct mails are generated in the setting file database by the number of transmission targets.

Next, the direct mail transmission processing will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the direct mail transmission process.

The server device 11 is provided with an in-system time, and the schedule module 110 compares the in-system time with the transmission date and time information in the transmission job information, so that the transmission job that has always reached the transmission date and time is determined. It is checked whether there is information (step S11).

If the transmission job information has not reached the transmission date and time, or if the direct mail has been transmitted (the transmission flag is ON (1)), the direct mail transmission processing ends. The transmission job information has reached the transmission date and time, and the direct mail has not been transmitted (the transmission flag is O
FF (0)), the schedule module 11
0 designates a job ID and specifies the mail transmission module 13
0 is given a mail transmission command (step S12).

The mail transmitting means 134 reads out the direct mail stored in the transmission information of the designated job ID via the schedule module 110 and transmits it (step S13).

After all the direct mails have been transmitted, the transmission flag is set to the state where the direct mail has been transmitted (ON (1)), the transmission information is deleted, and the mail transmission processing is terminated (step S14).

Here, the user who has received the above-described direct mail shown in FIG. 4A searches for the Reply-ID while browsing the mail contents, and changes the Reply-ID as shown in FIG. A reply is sent to the sender in the subject (Subject) part of the reply mail.

Next, the reply mail distribution process will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the reply mail distribution process.

In the server device 11, the mail receiving means 141 of the mail receiving module 140 receives a reply mail from the user and accumulates it in the spool as needed. The distribution processing unit 142 periodically checks the spool to confirm the receipt of the reply mail (step S21).

If the reply mail does not exist in the spool, the reply mail distribution process ends, and if there is, the process proceeds to the next step (step S22).

The distribution processing means 142 extracts the Reply-ID from the subject part of the reply mail. Repl
The y-ID is decrypted by a predetermined method to obtain a user ID and a job ID. The user ID is inquired to the management list database and the job ID is inquired to the setting file database to check whether the Reply-ID is correct (step S23).

If the Reply-ID is not correct, the flow returns to step S02 to check the next reply mail.
If the Reply-ID is correct, the process proceeds to the next step (step S24).

The user ID is stored in the browsing user information of the transmission job information identified by the job ID. However, if the same user ID is already stored in the browsing user information, that is, if the same user has sent a plurality of reply mails to the same direct mail, storing the user ID in the browsing user information Is not performed. Step S0
2 to process the next reply mail (step S
25).

User ID obtained from Reply-ID
When both the job ID and the job ID are correct, it can be confirmed that the user specified by the user ID has viewed the direct mail specified by the job ID.

Next, the point addition processing will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the point addition process.

The schedule module 110 constantly checks whether there is any transmission job information that has reached the deadline date by comparing the in-system time with the deadline date / time information of the transmission job information (step S31).

If the transmission job information has not reached the deadline or the point addition has already been executed (the deadline flag is ON (1)), the point addition processing is terminated. The transmission job information has reached the deadline date and the point addition processing has not been performed (the deadline flag is OFF
(0)) In the case, the schedule module 110
Specifies the job ID and specifies the mail receiving module 140
Is given a point addition instruction. (Step S32).

The point adding means 143 of the mail receiving module 140 refers to the user ID stored in the browsing user information of the designated job ID via the schedule module 110. As described above, the user ID stored in the viewing user information is the user ID of the user who viewed the direct mail. The point adding means 143 adds a predetermined point to the point information of the user information corresponding to the user ID via the list management module 120. Points are similarly added for all user IDs (step S33).

When the addition of the points is completed, the deadline flag is set to a state where the points have been added (ON (1)), and the browsing user information is deleted (step S34).

Thus, the processing performed by the server 10 ends.

The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be variously modified. For example, Repl in reply mail
The installation location of the y-ID is not limited to the subject part, but may be the entire header portion or the mail text as long as the location can be extracted by the distribution processing means. Alternatively, a keyword may be included in the mail content, and a Reply-ID and a keyword may be requested as elements of the direct mail browsing confirmation. In this case, the advertisement effect can be enhanced by using the keyword as the answer to the advertisement product name or the quiz.

[0062]

As described above, according to the server of the electronic direct mail transmission / browsing confirmation system of the present invention, in order for consumers (users) to obtain points for obtaining benefits according to the quantity. Must search for predetermined information (Reply-ID) embedded in the direct mail, provide the predetermined information in the subject part of the mail, and return it. Therefore, since the consumer who replies to the mail reads at least the contents of the direct mail, the sender can confirm the consumer who actually browsed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of a server of the system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a data configuration of each database.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an outline of direct mail,
(B) is a figure which shows the outline of a reply mail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a direct mail generation process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a direct mail transmission process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a reply mail distribution process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a point addition process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Internet 10 Server 11 Server device 12 Mail content database 13 Management list database 14 Setting file database 20 User terminal 110 Schedule module 120 List management module 130 Mail transmission module 131 Transmission target extraction means 132 Reply-ID generation means 133 Mail generating means 134 mail transmitting means 140 mail receiving module 141 mail receiving means 142 distribution processing means 143 point adding means

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Nishida 1-1-1 Ichigaya-Kaga-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo F-term in Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. 5B089 GA11 GA21 HA10 JA31 JA37 JB22 KA13 KB00 KB11 KC15 KC28 KC34 KC36 KC47 KH30 LA07 LA11 LA19 5K030 GA15 HA06 HB15 HC01 HD09 KA06 KA07 5K033 AA08 CB11 DA06 DB12 DB14 9A001 BB02 BB03 BB04 CC03 DD09 DD10 EE03 EZ03 JJ14 JJ18 JJ25 JJ27 JJ72 KK60

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A server of a system which is connected to a user terminal via a network and transmits information and confirms information browsing of the user by replying to an e-mail from the user. Transmission information generating means for creating transmission information by inserting a user ID for identification and an information transmission job ID for identifying the provided information; information transmission means for transmitting the transmission information to a user; Mail receiving means for receiving a mail including the user ID and the information transmission job ID in information; and the user ID and the information transmission job ID in the mail.
And an ID confirming means for confirming that the information is included. 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the ID confirmation unit confirms that the user ID and the information transmission job ID are in a subject part of the mail. 3. The transmission information generating means according to claim 1, wherein
D and the information transmission job ID are encrypted to form an encrypted ID.
3. An ID encrypting unit comprising: an ID decrypting unit that decrypts the encrypted ID to obtain a decrypted ID;
Server as described in. 4. A management list database for storing user information including a user ID for identifying a user, point information added according to information browsing, and user personal information; A setting file database storing the information transmission job ID in association with the information transmission job ID, and when the user ID and the information transmission job ID confirmed by the ID confirmation unit exist in the configuration file database in association with each other, 4. The server according to claim 1, further comprising: point addition means for adding a predetermined point to the point information stored in the management list database for a user corresponding to the user ID. 5. The setting file database stores, for each of the information transmission job IDs, information including the transmission information and transmission date and time information that is the date and time when the transmission information is transmitted. The server according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the server transmits the transmission information based on the transmission date and time information. 6. A distribution processing means for distributing mails replied by the user, wherein the setting file database stores information including deadline date and time information that is a deadline for receiving a reply mail from the user. The distribution processing means determines the validity of the reply mail based on the deadline date information, and when the reply mail is valid, the point addition means determines whether or not the user who has returned the reply mail The server according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined point is added to the point information.