JP2000134251A - Electronic mail incoming information transmitter, electronic mail incoming information transmission method, electronic mail incoming information receiver and electronic mail incoming information reception method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make all users able to share public information and to maintain the secrecy of the private information of the respective users. SOLUTION: A mail server 11 views the contents of the mail spool of the respective users, reads the MAC address of the respective users from a data base 12 and prepares an incoming reporting information structure variable for the respective users based on it. Further, the mail server 11 transfers the incoming reporting information structure of all the users through a dedicated line to the data server 21 of this incoming information transmitter 20 of a digital broadcast consignment company. Then, the mail server 11 is activated after one minute and performs a similar processing again.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an e-mail arrival information transmitting apparatus, an e-mail arrival information transmitting method, an e-mail arrival information receiving apparatus, and an e-mail arrival information receiving apparatus for notifying a user that an e-mail has arrived. It relates to a method for receiving incoming call information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of the Internet today, many people have contracted with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to obtain an e-mail address. Thus, in an environment where each individual dials up and reads e-mail at home, unless the user is constantly connected to a mail server with an Internet service provider, the user is required to check for new mail. I have to work. Specifically, the user makes a dial-up connection to the ISP and sets the POP (Post Off
It is possible to confirm the presence or absence of an e-mail for the first time by extracting the e-mail from the POP server by performing authentication with an ice protocol) server.

[0003]

Therefore, the user has to make a number of telephone calls each time such a work is performed, and the communication cost is increased only by the work for confirming the new mail. Sometimes.

[0004] In order to solve such a problem, some dial-up routers and the like periodically dial up to an ISP to check the presence or absence of an e-mail of a POP server. However, the user's work is certainly reduced, but also in this case, the telephone cost is similarly increased, and the communication cost is increased.

Further, there is a service for notifying the arrival of an electronic mail using the D-CH of ISDN. This is because the sending side of the e-mail preliminarily filters the telephone number and sends the incoming notification, so that the incoming notification information relating to an individual whose telephone number is different from his / her own is not transmitted. For example, when a broadcast mail is exchanged, the sender of the e-mail cannot recognize whether the recipient is reading the e-mail. For this reason, when e-mails are exchanged between broadcasts, there is a request to know not only the user but also the arrival information of e-mails of other users. On the other hand, even if such incoming information is notified to other users, personal information should not be disclosed, and such non-public information must be kept secret from other users.

The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and allows all users to share public information and maintain confidentiality of non-public information of each user. It is an object of the present invention to provide an e-mail incoming information transmitting device, an e-mail incoming information transmitting method, an e-mail incoming information receiving device, and an e-mail incoming information receiving method.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic mail incoming information transmitting apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
Information acquisition means for acquiring the non-public information and public information in the incoming notification information relating to the electronic mail in the mail spool of the mail server at predetermined time intervals; an encryption means for encrypting the non-public information; The system includes a file generating unit for generating an incoming notification file including the non-public information encrypted by the encrypting unit, and a file transmitting unit for transmitting the incoming notification file by broadcast.

The method for transmitting incoming e-mail information according to the present invention comprises: an information obtaining step of obtaining non-public information and public information in the incoming notification information relating to the e-mail in the mail spool of the mail server at predetermined time intervals; An encryption step of encrypting the public information, a file generation step of generating an incoming notification file including the public information and the private information encrypted in the encryption step, and transmitting the incoming notification file by broadcast And a file transmitting step.

An electronic mail incoming information receiving apparatus according to the present invention comprises public information and encrypted non-public information in incoming notification information relating to an electronic mail in a mail spool of a mail server for identifying an individual. File receiving means for receiving the incoming information notification file to which the identification address is added, display means for displaying the contents of the public information of all incoming information files received by the receiving means,
File receiving means for obtaining, from among the incoming information files received by the receiving means, an incoming information file to which an identification address matching the own identification address is added;

[0010] A method for receiving incoming e-mail information according to the present invention comprises public information and encrypted non-public information in incoming notification information regarding an e-mail in a mail spool of a mail server, and identifies an individual. Receiving the incoming information notification file to which the identification address is added, displaying the contents of the public information of all the incoming information files received in the file receiving step, and receiving in the file receiving step And a file acquisition step of acquiring an incoming information file to which an identification address that matches its own identification address is added among the received incoming information files.

[0011]

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

The present invention is applied to, for example, a mail arrival notification system 1 having the configuration shown in FIG.

The mail arrival notification system 1 includes a mail server system 10, an incoming information transmitting device 20 for transmitting information on whether an electronic mail (hereinafter, referred to as “mail”) has arrived at the mail server system 10, and a mail. An incoming information receiving device 30 receives information as to whether mail has arrived at the server system 10.

The mail server system 10 is connected to the Internet 40, and retrieves mail addressed to each user from a dial-up terminal device based on the POP protocol. Specifically, the mail server system 10 includes a mail server 11 having a mail spool and a database 12.

The mail server 11 has a mail spool for each user, and stores mail transmitted via the Internet in the mail spool of each user.

The database 12 stores a MAC (Media Access Control) address and a password for a user's satellite line. MAC in database 12
The address and the like are read from the mail server 11 as needed.

The mail server 11 is programmed to periodically check the contents of the mail spool of each user. Specifically, the mail server 11 performs the processing from step ST1 to step ST5 shown in FIG.

The mail server 11 looks at the contents of the mail spool of each user (step ST1) and checks the M of each user.
The AC address is read from the database 12 (step ST2), and based on this, an incoming notification information structure variable is created for each user (step ST3). FIG. 3 shows an example of the incoming notification information structure variable.

The mail server 11 transmits the incoming notification information structure of all users to the data server 2 (to be described later) of the incoming information transmitting apparatus 20 of the digital broadcasting consignment company via a dedicated line.
1 (step ST4). Then, the mail server 11 is started up one minute later (step ST5), and executes the processing from step ST1 again.

For example, when the mail server 11 receives a mail addressed to the name (or handle name) of Tiger, it sends an incoming notification information structure variable, which is information on electronic mail in the mail spool of Tiger, to the incoming information. Transmit to the device 20.

The incoming information transmitting apparatus 20 includes a data server 21 for creating an incoming notification file, a service ID,
The system includes a database 22 for storing a program ID, a password, etc., which are MAC addresses, and an encoder 23 for encoding the incoming notification file.

The data server 21 creates an incoming notification file based on the incoming notification information structure variable array from the mail server system 10. Specifically, the data server 21 performs steps ST11 to ST1 shown in FIG.
By executing the processing up to 5, the above-mentioned incoming call notification file is created.

The data server 21 creates an incoming notification file for each user based on the incoming notification information structure of each user transmitted from the mail server system 10 (step ST11). The incoming call notification file is configured, for example, as shown in FIG.

The data server 21 reads the MAC address and password for each user stored in the database 22 and encrypts the user's personal information with reference to the encryption key generated based on the password (step ST1).
2). For example, a MAC address, type information indicating the number of unread mails, and public information indicating information to be disclosed to all users are not encrypted, and electronic mails and files addressed to individuals are encrypted. .

The data server 21 transmits an incoming call notification file including the encrypted data, the type information, and the public information, and a transmission specification (serviceID, programID = m, which is an identification address for each user in the database 22).
acAddress) and transferred to the encoder 23 (step ST14). Then, the data server 21
Starts one minute later, and executes the processing from step ST11 again (step ST15).

For example, when the data server 21 receives the above array indicating that a new mail addressed to Tiger has arrived,
From the customer database 22, for example, "800 (0x320) @traphone A" as a Tiger service ID, "1234 = 0x42d" as a Tiger program ID, and a Tiger encryption key are read. The data server 21 encrypts the mail or file addressed to Tiger with the encryption key, and transmits the incoming notification file to the encoder 23 as described above.

The encoder 23 encodes the incoming call notification file according to a predetermined rule for data transmission as shown in FIG. 6, with a MAC address for each user, and further in accordance with the format. Encoder 23
Sends the encoded incoming notification file to the transmitting antenna 2
4 to the communication satellite 50.

On the other hand, the incoming information receiving device 30 is an IRD 32 as a receiver, a television receiver 33 for displaying whether or not there is an incoming mail, and a so-called terminal for displaying whether or not there is an incoming mail and transmitting and receiving mail. And a personal computer 34.

The IRD 32 receives the incoming call notification file transmitted from the communication satellite 50 via the receiving antenna 31, and demodulates it into a baseband band. IRD
32 obtains an incoming notification file addressed to itself based on the transmission specifications assigned to each user, analyzes the contents thereof, and determines whether a mail has arrived. In addition, IR
D32 transmits the analysis result to the television receiver 33 or the personal computer 34, and displays the contents of the public information, specifically, whether or not mail has been received, on the monitor.

For example, all users can recognize through the monitor that a new mail has arrived at Tiger, the number of unread mails, the presence or absence of incoming information regarding other users, and other public information. . However, since the mail or the file addressed to Tiger is encrypted, it is possible to prevent other users from reading the information on the individual Tiger.

When the user confirms that his / her mail has arrived, the personal computer 3
4 dial-up connection to the mail server 11 of the mail server system 10 to decrypt the mail or file using its own decryption key held by the personal computer 34 to read unread mail or open the file. can do.

When the mail server 11 reads an unread mail, the mail server 11 deletes the ty of the incoming notification information structure to reduce the number of mails remaining in the mail spool where the mail is stored to zero.
Set pe to 0. Then, as described above, the mail server 11 continues to send information indicating that there is no incoming mail to all users every minute.

As described above, the mail arrival notification system 1 can not only obtain the arrival information on whether the mail has arrived at itself, but also transmit the arrival information to a plurality of persons by broadcasting. Thus, for example, the sender of the mail can confirm whether the mail has arrived at the recipient's POP server and has been read. Further, for example, a mail indicating that the user is on vacation is transmitted to himself / herself, and information indicating that the user is on vacation is provided in the public information, whereby all users can be notified that the user is on vacation.

Also, by changing the value of the type of the incoming notification information structure variable shown in FIG. 3, it becomes possible to transmit to the user information with a mail text or information other than the incoming mail.

For example, when a subject is prefixed with [sub_mail] (PREFIX), a rule is followed that a character string following the prefix always represents a short message.
At this time, the type of the incoming call notification file generated in the data server 21 is type = subject_mail, and a character string originally treated as a subject is interpreted on the receiving side as a short message from the sender, and the content of the short message is interpreted. May be displayed to each user.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the mail server 11 may check the mail spool not every minute but every ten minutes or every hour. Good. Further, instead of transmitting and receiving the incoming call notification file via the communication satellite 50, it may be performed via a one-way transmission path such as a terrestrial wave or a cable, and the scope of the technical idea described in the claims is not limited. Of course, the design can be changed without departing from the range.

[0037]

As described above in detail, according to the e-mail incoming information transmitting apparatus and the incoming information transmitting method of the present invention, the non-public information in the incoming notification information on the e-mail in the mail spool of the mail server is provided. And public information and at predetermined time intervals, encrypting the non-public information, generating and transmitting an incoming notification file including the public information and the non-public information encrypted by the encryption means, Is transmitted to all users, and the confidentiality of the non-public information of each user can be maintained.

According to the e-mail incoming information receiving apparatus and the incoming information receiving method of the present invention, incoming information to which an identification address for identifying an individual is added, which comprises public information and encrypted non-public information. Receiving the notification file, displaying the contents of the public information of all the received call information files, and obtaining the call information file to which the identification address that matches the own identification address of the received call information file is added. Accordingly, all users can share the public information, and only the user relating to the non-public information can acquire the non-public information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mail distribution system to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a mail server of the mail distribution system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an incoming call notification information structure variable.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a data server of the mail distribution system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an incoming call notification file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a transmission format when transmitting the above-mentioned incoming call notification file.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Incoming mail notification system, 10 mail server system, 11 mail server, 12, 22 database, 20 incoming information transmitting device, 21 data server, 3
0 incoming information receiving device, 32 IRD, 33 television receiver, 34 personal computer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5J104 AA07 BA03 CA02 DA03 EA26 NA02 NA05 PA08 5K030 GA15 HA06 HC01 HD09 JL02 JT06 KA06 LA07 LD07 LD14 LD19 LE12

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An information acquiring means for acquiring private information and public information in an incoming notification information relating to an electronic mail in a mail spool of a mail server at predetermined time intervals; an encrypting means for encrypting the private information; An e-mail incoming call comprising: a file generating means for generating an incoming notification file including the public information and the non-public information encrypted by the encrypting means; and a file transmitting means for transmitting the incoming notification file by broadcast. Information transmission device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the encrypting unit converts the non-public information relating to the electronic mail in the mail spool of each user into an encryption key generated based on an address and / or a password used for authentication of each user of the mail server. 2. The electronic mail arrival information transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic mail is used for encryption. 3. The electronic mail incoming information transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means transmits said incoming notification file via a one-way transmission path. 4. An information acquisition step of acquiring private information and public information in an incoming notification information regarding an electronic mail in a mail spool of a mail server at predetermined time intervals; an encryption step of encrypting the private information; An incoming e-mail comprising: a file generating step of generating an incoming notification file including the public information and the non-public information encrypted in the encrypting step; and a file transmitting step of transmitting the incoming notification file by broadcast. Information transmission method. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the encrypting step includes the steps of: converting non-public information relating to the electronic mail in the mail spool of each user to an encryption key created based on an address and / or a password used for authentication of each user of the mail server. The method for transmitting incoming e-mail information according to claim 4, wherein the e-mail is used for encryption. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said incoming notification file via a one-way transmission path. 7. An incoming information notification file comprising public information and encrypted non-public information in the incoming notification information relating to an electronic mail in a mail spool of a mail server and having an identification address for identifying an individual added thereto. File receiving means for receiving the received information, display means for displaying the contents of the public information of all the incoming information files received by the receiving means, and identification of the incoming information file received by the receiving means which coincides with its own identification address. An e-mail incoming information receiving device, comprising: a file obtaining means for obtaining an incoming information file to which an address is added. 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the display unit displays, based on the public information of the received file arrival information, whether each user has received an e-mail or the number of unread e-mails. E-mail incoming information receiving device. 9. The e-mail incoming information receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said file receiving means receives an incoming notification file transmitted via a one-way transmission path. 10. A decrypting means for decrypting encrypted private information of the incoming notification file acquired by the file acquiring means, and a private information output for outputting the private information decrypted by the decrypting means. The electronic mail incoming information receiving apparatus according to claim 7, comprising means. 11. An incoming call notification including public information and encrypted non-public information in incoming call notification information on an electronic mail in a mail spool of a mail server, to which an identification address for identifying an individual is added. A file receiving step of receiving a file, a display step of displaying the contents of public information of all the incoming information files received in the file receiving step, and a self-identifying address of the incoming information file received in the file receiving step. A file obtaining step of obtaining a received information file to which a matching identification address is added. 12. The display step according to claim 11, wherein, based on the public information of the received file arrival information, whether or not each user has received an e-mail or the number of unread e-mails is displayed. How to receive incoming e-mail information. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said file receiving step receives an incoming notification file transmitted via a one-way transmission path. 14. A decrypting step of decrypting the encrypted non-public information of the incoming notification file acquired in the file acquiring step, and outputting a private information decrypted in the decrypting step. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: