JP2002183002A - Server device for notifying a domain name of a correction candidate, a client computer using the domain name of the correction candidate notified by the server device, a recording medium on which a program running on this client computer is recorded, and a mail for the correction candidate Mail server that notifies the address - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a server device for notifying a domain name, a URL, or the like of a correction candidate, which can reduce a trouble of a user who has erroneously input a URL or the like to re-enter the URL. SOLUTION: D which is performed when a client computer 1 accesses a predetermined site 4 on the Internet.
A server device 2 that performs an inquiry of an IP address to an NS server 3 and obtains a character string specifying a domain name of a predetermined site 4 from a client computer 1;
The DNS server 3 is queried for the IP address corresponding to the character string, and the DNS server 3
When it is notified that there is no address, a domain name of a correction candidate for the character string is searched, and a character string of a correction candidate such as a URL generated based on the domain name of the correction candidate is notified to the client computer 1. To do it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention reduces the burden on the user when reentering a character string such as a URL or a mail address that designates a destination or a connection destination by mistake. The present invention relates to a technology for reducing and making the Internet more comfortable to use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When using the Internet, it is often necessary to manually input a character string such as a URL or a mail address in order to specify a connection destination or a destination.
Since these character strings are usually composed of long character strings combining alphabetic characters and special characters, erroneous input is not rare.

If these character strings are erroneously input, W
You will have to perform tedious tasks such as checking each character string displayed in a small window of an eb browser or mailer one by one. Also, even if you notice that you made a mistake, you may have misunderstood or misunderstood it, the URL or e-mail address described in the referenced magazine or business card may be incorrect, or may not be available on the website operator's side. For example, the URL may have been changed, and it is not difficult to find the exact URL and mail address.

[0004]

When such an erroneous input is made, for example, it is convenient if there is a service that provides a URL or a mail address of a correction candidate. Also,
When using a Web browser, for example, it is common to randomly input a URL guessed from a company name or the like and try to access a target site. In such a case, use the service as described above. Then, a real URL corresponding to the guessed URL is presented, which is convenient. Also, soon Japanese domain names will be officially available,
For example, it is expected that erroneous input specific to Japanese domain names, such as "-" (major sign) and "-" (minus sign), and "Watanabe" and "Watanabe" will increase, and the necessity of the service is required. Is expected to increase further in the future.

The present invention has been made from such a viewpoint. When a character string designating a destination or a connection destination such as a URL or an e-mail address is erroneously input, it is necessary to re-input these character strings. A server device for notifying a correction candidate domain name and a client using the correction candidate domain name notified by the server device, which can reduce the burden on the user and make it possible to use the Internet more comfortably. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer, a recording medium storing a program operating on the client computer, and a mail server for notifying a mail address of a correction candidate.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server apparatus for notifying a domain name of a correction candidate, wherein a client computer accesses a predetermined site on the Internet. Means for inquiring of a DNS server for an IP address to be performed at the time of requesting, means for obtaining a character string designating the domain name of the predetermined site from the client computer, and setting an IP address corresponding to the character string Means for inquiring the DNS server, means for outputting a domain name of a correction candidate based on the character string when notified that the IP address does not exist from the DNS server in response to the inquiry, and a domain of the correction candidate The name of a correction candidate such as a name or a URL generated based on the And further comprising a means for notifying the Yuta.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 of the present invention provides
A server device for notifying a domain name of a correction candidate,
Means for monitoring communication between a DNS server and a client computer making an inquiry to the DNS server, and detecting that the DNS server has notified the client computer that no IP address exists, and A means for outputting a domain name of a correction candidate based on a character string designating a domain name of a predetermined site; and a client for converting a domain name of the correction candidate or a character string of a correction candidate such as a URL generated based on the name to the client. Means for notifying the computer.

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 of the present invention provides:
3. The client computer which uses a domain name of a correction candidate presented by the server device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the client computer notifies the correction candidate domain name or the domain name of the correction candidate notified by the server device. A means for displaying a character string of a correction candidate generated based on the information is provided.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 of the present invention provides:
A procedure for receiving the domain name of the correction candidate notified from the server device or the character string of the correction candidate, and a state where the received domain name or the character string of the correction candidate can be selected by a user interface In the list display procedure, the domain name of the correction candidate selected from the list displayed, or
A procedure for delivering the character string of the correction candidate to software such as a Web browser operating on the client computer, and a program operating on the client computer.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 of the present invention is directed to a mail server for notifying a mail address of a correction candidate, wherein the character string for designating a domain name of a mail server having jurisdiction over an outgoing mail to be processed is provided. Means for inquiring a corresponding IP address to a DNS server; means for outputting a domain name of a correction candidate based on the character string when the DNS server notifies the DNS server that the IP address does not exist; Means is provided for creating an e-mail in which the e-mail address of the correction candidate generated based on the domain name of the correction candidate is described, and transmitting the generated e-mail to the sender of the transmitted e-mail.

[0011]

<Embodiment 1> In this embodiment, W
If you enter the URL incorrectly in the eb browser,
The service for presenting the RL will be described. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of each device that uses or provides this service. All of these devices connect to the Internet. On the user computer 1, the W
The eb browser is running.

The proxy server 2 performs an inquiry of an IP address to the DNS server 3 when the user computer 1 accesses the Web site 4 on the Internet. Further, the proxy server 2 operates a database d that manages the correspondence between a character string that is apt to be erroneously input as a domain name and a domain name of a correction candidate used for providing the service. Include, for example, correspondence between a character string that is likely to be misspelled and its correct character string, presence or absence of a prolonged symbol at the end of a katakana name (such as “Yahoo” and “Yahoo”), Descriptions of character strings and domain names that are susceptible to erroneous input in various cases where erroneous input is expected, such as when a hyphen "-" is input where a long sign "-" should be input or vice versa The correspondence with the character string correctly described as is registered. The domain name of the correction candidate may be registered with domain information to be described later.

When the user operates a user interface such as a keyboard and a mouse to enter the URL of the target Web site 4 in the URL input field of the Web browser and gives a predetermined transmission instruction, the user computer 1 The URL is sent to the proxy server 2. When the URL is sent from the user computer 1, the proxy server 2 queries the DNS server 3 for an IP address corresponding to the character string described in the description field of the domain name in the URL. When an IP address is returned from the DNS server 3 in response to this inquiry (that is, when the name resolution of the character string is successful), the proxy server 2 notifies the user computer 1 of the IP address, The user computer 1 receives the notified IP
Using the address, access the Web site 4 specified by the URL.

On the other hand, when the DNS server 3 notifies that the IP address does not exist (that is, when the name of the character string cannot be resolved), the proxy server 2 transmits the entire character string, Alternatively, a domain name of a correction candidate is searched from the database d using a part as a key (a plurality of domain names may be searched), and the description field of the domain name of the URL is replaced with the searched domain name of the correction candidate. The user computer 1 is notified of the URL of the correction candidate generated as described above and the domain information that was registered when the domain name was registered, together with a message that the IP address corresponding to the character string does not exist. Here, the domain information is, for example, JPNIC
(Information managed by a domain name management organization such as Japan Network Information Center (registered trademark)), and the name of the organization that uses the domain name notified by the applicant to the organization when applying for a domain name , Network service name, and the like.

When the user computer 1 is notified of the message, the user computer 1 displays a list of correction candidate URLs attached to the message in a state selectable by a user interface (for example, a so-called list box format). . Further, the domain name information is also displayed as appropriate with the URL. Then, when the user operates the user interface to select a certain URL from the user interface, the URL is automatically set in the URL input field of the Web browser. That is, the user can re-enter the correct URL into the Web browser by a simple operation of selecting from the list. Also, the user can refer to the displayed domain name information to obtain a more accurate URL.
Can be selected.

The above-described processing in the user computer 1 is performed by a program incorporated as an add-on to the Web browser or a program (for example, a device driver) separated from the Web browser that operates in cooperation with the Web browser. , Provided by a program that operates in an appropriate form.

In this embodiment, the correction candidate U
Although the RL is configured to be generated by the proxy server 2,
Only the domain name of the correction candidate may be notified from the proxy server 2, and the URL of the correction candidate may be generated by the client computer 1. Instead of the URL of the correction candidate, in this case, the domain name of the correction candidate notified from the proxy server 2 may be displayed in a list on the client computer 1 so as to be selectable on the user interface.

Further, in this embodiment, the proxy server 2 is configured to perform only the inquiry to the DNS server 3, but the proxy server 2 is also configured to perform the access from the user computer 1 to the Web site 4. It may be.

<Embodiment 2> Next, the proxy server 2
A description will be given of another embodiment that does not use the method. FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of each device in the second embodiment. Each device connects to the Internet.

The user computer 1 is connected to the Internet by a network function of the OS, and the OS is set to refer to the DNS server 3 with the highest priority. The DNS server 3 has a basic function as a DNS server that notifies an IP address corresponding to the inquired domain name (that is, performs name resolution).
In the DNS server 3, the database d is running.

When the user operates the user interface to enter a URL in the URL entry field of the Web browser and gives a predetermined transmission instruction, the user computer 1 writes the domain name in the URL to the DNS server 3. An inquiry is made for an IP address corresponding to the character string described in the column. Here, the name is successfully resolved in response to this inquiry, and DN
When the IP address is notified from the S server 3 to the user computer 1, the user computer 1 accesses the Web site 4 specified by the URL using the IP address.

On the other hand, when the IP address does not exist (namely, the name cannot be resolved), the DNS server 3 searches the database d for the domain name of the correction candidate using the whole or a part of the character string as a key. (A plurality of domain names may be searched.) The URL of the correction candidate generated by replacing the description field of the domain name of the URL with the domain name of the searched correction candidate and the domain information described above are added to the character string. The user computer 1 is notified together with a message that the corresponding IP address does not exist. When notified of the message, the user computer 1 displays a list of the URLs of the correction candidates in a list that can be selected by the user interface in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Also, the domain name information is displayed as appropriate. Then, when a URL is selected from these, the URL is set to Web
Automatically set in the URL input field of the browser.

In this embodiment, the correction candidate U
Although the RL is generated by the DNS server 3,
Only the domain name of the correction candidate is notified from the S server 3,
The URL of the correction candidate may be generated by the client computer 1. Instead of the URL of the correction candidate, the domain name of the correction candidate notified from the DNS server 3 in this case may be displayed in a list on the client computer 1 so as to be selectable on the user interface.

Third Embodiment Next, a service for notifying a user of a mail address of a correction candidate will be described.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of each device that uses or provides this service.

The configuration of the user computer 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that software (hereinafter, referred to as "mailer") for editing, transmitting and receiving mail exchanged on the Internet is operating. Is the same. DNS
The configuration of the server 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The mail server 5 also processes outgoing mail sent from a mailer or received mail sent from another mail server to a user's mailbox according to a protocol such as SMTP or POP3. Has functions. In the mail server, the above-described database d operates, and if the DNS server 3 cannot resolve the name, not only the fact is described, but also a mail in which the correction candidate of the domain name or the like is described in the body of the user's mailbox. It has a function to send back to.

The outgoing mail created and transmitted by the user operating the mailer is transmitted between the mailer and the mail server 5 by the SMT.
The mail is posted to the user's mailbox of the mail server 5 by a normal procedure according to P. The mail server 5
Mail is sent to the mailbox (sent)
Then, in accordance with a normal mail transfer procedure, the jurisdiction mail server 7 as the transfer destination of the outgoing mail is changed to the DNS server 3
Ask In response to this inquiry, the DNS server 3 succeeds in resolving the name of the
When the address is notified, the mail server 5 tries to transfer the transmission mail to the jurisdiction mail server 7.

On the other hand, when the DNS server 3 replies that the domain name of the jurisdiction mail server 7 cannot be resolved, the mail server 5 transmits a message notifying that the name could not be resolved and a destination of the transmitted mail. A list of correction candidate e-mail addresses generated by replacing the domain name part of the address with the domain name of the correction candidate retrieved from the database d (this list is appended with the domain information as appropriate) is not described in the text. A delivery notification mail is created and posted (sent) to the sender's mailbox of the transmission mail. Here, the mail address of the correction candidate is included in the mail body in an active URL format (a URL display method designed so that a corresponding program such as a mailer sentence editing window is started by a simple operation such as clicking with a mouse). Is described.

By the way, the mail address (aaa@bbb.ccc.
ddd), the host name (also called the subdomain name) (bb) as well as the domain name (ccc.ddd)
b) may be described, but in this case, the domain name part (ccc.ddd) is replaced with the domain name (ee
e.ddd) (aaa@bbb.eee.ddd) and the one with the host name part (bbb) further omitted (aaa@eee.ddd) are generated as correction candidate email addresses. These are described in the body of the non-arrival notification mail. The reason why the mail address of (aaa@eee.ddd) is also described in the non-arrival notification mail is that the mail server that is the final destination of the transmitted mail is described in a form in which the host name is omitted. This also takes into account that there is a possibility that it corresponds to an email address.

The sender of the transmitted mail opens the undelivered notification mail sent in this way, and simply selects the mail address of the correction candidate indicated by the active URL, and can easily select the correction candidate. You can resend the email to your email address. In addition, by referring to the domain information described in the mail, for example, even when many similar domain names exist, a correct mail address can be selected with extremely high accuracy.

<Others> In the above embodiment, the user is notified of the domain name of the correction candidate.
Instead of a domain name unit, it is also conceivable to notify correction candidates for some characters and some character strings constituting the domain name.

In the above embodiment, the domain name of the correction candidate retrieved from the database d, or
Although the character string of the correction candidate generated based on this is presented to the user, for example, the long sound symbol "-" may be replaced with a hyphen "-", or the long sound symbol "-" It is also conceivable to present to a user a domain name of a correction candidate or a character string of a correction candidate generated according to a certain rule, such as automatically giving or deleting the character.

In the above embodiment, when there are a plurality of domain names of correction candidates, the URL and mail address of the correction candidate corresponding to each of them are presented to the user. Alternatively, the display order may be devised, such as by arranging them in the order of access frequency, instead of simply displaying them in alphabetical order or in the Japanese syllabary. That is, for example, when a URL of “xxx.co.jp” and a URL of “xxx.ne.jp” having a higher access frequency than this are presented as the URLs of the correction candidates, simply sorting in alphabetical order will result in “ xxx.co.j
"p" will be displayed preferentially, but if it is displayed in order of access frequency, "xxx.ne.jp" will be displayed preferentially, and this will lead to more users Can be satisfied.

In the above description of the embodiment, the URL and the mail address of the correction candidate are presented to the user only when the DNS server 3 cannot resolve the name. However, it is also conceivable that the correction candidate is configured to be presented to the user.

In the first embodiment, the correspondence between the character string that is likely to be erroneously input as the domain name and the domain name of the correction candidate is cached in the proxy server 2, and when the same error is made next time, If the correction candidate character string retrieved from the cache is notified to the user computer, the correction candidate character string can be quickly notified to the user computer 1. Further, in the first or second embodiment, if the character string of the correction candidate sent from the proxy server 2 or the DNS server 3 is cached in the memory of the user computer 1 or the like, the URL of the correction candidate can be quickly obtained. Can be presented to the user.

The proxy server 2 and the DNS
The server 3 and the mail server 5 may be provided with a user authentication function, and only the users who have passed the user authentication may be provided with the various services described above. In this case, a usage log may be recorded for each user, and charging information may be generated based on the usage log, or the charging information may be notified to the user by e-mail or the like.

Further, if the contents of the database d are exchanged between the servers via the Internet, each server can operate the database d efficiently. Further, one database d may be used by a plurality of servers.

Further, in the above embodiment, the service of notifying a correction candidate for a URL or a mail address has been described. However, in the present invention, the input of a domain name is required when specifying a connection destination or a destination. It can be applied to various situations when using the Internet.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a URL or a mail address is erroneously input,
Since the correction candidate is presented to the user, the user can easily re-enter the existing URL or e-mail address by using the correction candidate, and the user who has made an erroneous input can re-input these character strings. The burden of inputting is greatly reduced.

Further, when accessing the Internet from a small terminal such as a portable telephone, it is troublesome to modify the URL mail address. In such a case, the present invention is particularly effective. Become.

Further, if the exact URL is not known but the URL can be guessed from the company name or the like, the URL is entered for the time being, and the correct URL is known from the URL of the correction candidate presented when the URL does not exist. Can be obtained, and a more comfortable use environment of the Internet can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of each device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of each device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of each device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 User computer 2 Proxy server 3 DNS server 4 Web site 5 Mail server 7 Jurisdiction mail server d Database

Continuation of front page (54) [Title of Invention] A server device for notifying a domain name of a correction candidate, a client computer using the domain name of the correction candidate notified by the server device, and operating on the client computer A mail server that notifies you of the recording medium on which the program is recorded and the e-mail addresses of correction candidates

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A DNS executed when a client computer accesses a predetermined site on the Internet.
A server device that performs an inquiry of an IP address to a server, wherein: a means for acquiring a character string specifying a domain name of the predetermined site from the client computer; and an IP address corresponding to the character string to a DNS server. Means for inquiring, means for outputting a domain name of a correction candidate based on the character string when the DNS server notifies that there is no IP address in response to the inquiry, or a domain name of the correction candidate, or A means for notifying the client computer of a character string of a correction candidate such as a URL generated on the basis of the URL, a server device for notifying a domain name of the correction candidate. 2. A means for monitoring communication between a DNS server and a client computer making an inquiry to the DNS server;
Means for detecting that the address is not present and outputting a domain name of a correction candidate based on a character string designating a domain name of the predetermined site having the inquiry; and a domain of the correction candidate. A server for notifying the client computer of a name of a correction candidate such as a name or a URL generated based on the name or the like to the client computer. 3. The client computer using the domain name of the correction candidate presented by the server device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the domain name of the correction candidate notified from the server device, or ,
There is provided a means for displaying a character string of a correction candidate generated based on the domain name. 4. A procedure for receiving a domain name of the correction candidate or a character string of the correction candidate notified from the server device, and the received domain name or
A procedure for displaying the character strings of the correction candidates in a list in a selectable manner by a user interface, and a domain name of the correction candidates selected from the list displayed, or a character string of the correction candidates. Transferring the program to software such as a Web browser running on the client computer. 5. A means for querying a DNS server for an IP address corresponding to a character string designating a domain name of a mail server having jurisdiction over an outgoing mail to be processed, and there is no IP address from the DNS server for the query. Means for outputting the domain name of the correction candidate based on the character string when notified of the fact, and an e-mail describing the e-mail address of the correction candidate generated based on the domain name of the correction candidate is created. A mail server for notifying a mail address of a correction candidate, comprising: means for transmitting the transmission mail to a sender.