JP2003288308A - E-mail distribution device and e-mail distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] Recently, with the spread of the Internet, net shopping and the like have become popular, and merchandise sellers often provide merchandise information by e-mail. However, it is quite troublesome for a user to open a large number of e-mails sent individually, and in many cases, the user only looks at the title and deletes it as it is. An electronic mail delivery device (21) includes an electronic mail (2).
2 Attachment file 23 such as direct mail (DM)
Is attached and distributed to the PC 11 of the user 10. User 1
In the case where 0 has opened the attached file 23, the e-mail distribution device 21 receives the information indicating that the attached file 23 has been opened, and transmits the point data given to the opened attached file 23 to the corresponding user in the database 41. To the destination pair cumulative point data 41a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail delivery apparatus and an electronic mail delivery method, and more particularly to electronic mail delivery for giving points (service points, etc.) to a user who has opened an attachment file attached to an electronic mail. The present invention relates to a device and an electronic mail delivery method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a product distributor provides product information to a customer, a method of sending a direct mail (DM) to the customer has been generally used. Further, recently, due to the spread of the Internet, net shopping and the like have become popular, and product sellers often provide product information by electronic mail. By the way, for customers who receive direct mail (DM) and e-mail,
It is quite troublesome to open these direct mail (DM) and e-mail individually, and in the case of direct mail (DM), you can just look at the table and discard it as it is.
In the case of e-mail, I often saw only the title and deleted it as it was.

However, the merchandise distributor only sends direct mail (DM) or e-mail, and does not take any special measures to increase the opening rate of direct mail (DM) or e-mail. Email (D
In M), it was just a display in a table, and in the case of e-mail, it was only displayed in the title column such as "Important" or "It is a great service".

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to deliver an electronic mail which can improve the opening rate of the delivered electronic mail and attached files of the electronic mail. A device and an electronic mail delivery method are provided.

[0005]

The present invention is to solve the above problems, and the invention of claim 1 of the present invention is a database for recording the destination of an electronic mail and the point data associated with each destination. An e-mail creating means for inserting an attachment file into an e-mail and creating an e-mail including information of points associated with the attachment file in the e-mail message; And an e-mail delivery means for delivering the e-mail to a predetermined destination, and a point associated with the attached file when the information indicating that the attached file has been opened is received from the terminal device that has received the e-mail. Is added to the point data associated with the corresponding destination in the database. It is obtained by the e-mail delivery device which is characterized in that.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a procedure for recording the destination of an electronic mail and the point data associated with each destination in a database, inserting an attachment file into the electronic mail, and An e-mail creating procedure for creating an e-mail including information on points associated with the attachment in a message; and an e-mail delivering procedure for delivering the e-mail created by the e-mail creating procedure to a predetermined destination. When the information indicating that the attached file has been opened is received from the terminal device that received the email, the point associated with the attached file is added to the point data associated with the corresponding destination in the database. And an e-mail delivery method characterized by including a point writing procedure .

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Explanation of Concept of Electronic Mail Distributor] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an operation concept of the electronic mail distributor of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an electronic mail delivery device 21
Attaches an attachment file 23 such as a direct mail (DM) requested by the advertisement client to the e-mail 22, and attaches the personal computer of the user 10 (hereinafter referred to as “P”).
11) (referred to as "C") (arrowed line a).

When the user 10 opens the attached file 23 attached to the received electronic mail 22 (arrow line b), the PC 11 notifies the electronic mail delivery device 21 of the opening notification 24 (arrow line c, arrow). Attached line d), the e-mail delivery device 21 cumulatively adds points according to the type of the opened attached file 23 to the destination-to-cumulative point data 41a in the database 41.

As described above, in the electronic mail delivery device 21 of the present invention, when the user 10 opens the attached file 23 of the delivered electronic mail 22, by giving the user 10 a service point, the user 10 can receive the service point. The motivation is to positively open the attached file 23 to improve the advertising effect.

The user 10 has previously registered as a member in order to use the service of the electronic mail delivery device 21.
In addition, for e-mail 22, receive it with general e-mail software, and for opening the attached file,
Special opening software is installed in the PC 11 of the user 10 in advance, and the attached file 23 is opened using the opening software.

[Description of Function and Data Structure of E-mail Distribution Device] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional structure of the electronic mail distribution device of the present invention. Hereinafter, each function (means) in FIG. 2 will be described.

The electronic mail creating means 31 creates the electronic mail 22 based on the advertising request information 43 from the advertising client 100, in order to deliver the electronic mail 22 requested by the advertiser 100 to the user 10. Is a means to

The electronic mail delivery means 32 adds the attached file 2 such as direct mail (DM) to the electronic mail 22.
3 is a means for delivering to the PC 11 of the user 10 with 3 attached.

The opening notification receiving means 33 is means for receiving the opening notification of the attached file 23 from the PC 11 of the user 10.

The point writing means 34 gives points to the opened user 10 based on the opening notification of the attached file 23 from the PC 11 of the user 10, and the database 4
It is a means for adding to the destination pair cumulative point information 47 in 1.

The web page publishing means 35 is a means for publishing a web page on the communication network 1. On this Web page, explanations regarding the delivery of e-mails, acceptance of membership applications, etc. are performed.

· Software for distributing notice 36 for exclusive use of opening notice
Is a means for distributing to the PC 11 of the user 10 dedicated software for notifying the e-mail delivery device 21 of the opening of the attached file 23 when the attached file 23 is opened on the PC 11 of the user 10. .

The advertisement request information receiving means 37 receives the distribution destination list of the electronic mail 22, the advertisement information to be provided, and the information of the attached file 23 to be distributed from the server 101 of the advertisement client 100, and the advertisement is stored in the database 41. This is means for recording the request information 43 and the attached file information 44.

Further, the following information is recorded in the database 41. The member information 42 is information that records the user's personal information, user ID, password, etc. registered as a member to receive the delivery of the email 22 from the email delivery device 21.

The advertisement request information 43 is the advertisement requester 100
The information of the advertisement request (delivery destination, advertisement content, etc.) notified from the server 101 is recorded.

The attached file information 44 is the advertisement client 1
The information of the attached file 23 for advertisement notified from the server 101 of 00 is recorded.

The delivery management information 45 is a record of delivery management information indicating when, to whom, which electronic mail 22 and attached file 23 should be sent.

The open notification dedicated software 46 is software transmitted to the PC 11 of the user 10, and when the attached file 23 is opened on the PC 11 of the user 10, the opening of the attached file 23 is sent by the electronic mail delivery device. Two
It is a dedicated software for notifying 1 to 1.

The destination-to-cumulative point information 47 is information in which point data is cumulatively recorded for each user (destination) who has opened the attached file 23.

The delivery history information 48 is information that records a delivery record of the electronic mail 22 and a history of opening notification from the user 10.

[System Configuration Example of E-mail Delivery Device]
Further, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the electronic mail distribution device, and shows only the portion directly related to the present invention.

In FIG. 3, 25 is a communication network 1.
Is a router that connects the electronic mail delivery apparatus 21 with 40, a database server (DB server) 40, an application server 50, and a processing program unit in the application server 50. The database 41 is the same as that shown in FIG.

Further, the processing program section 51 includes the following processing sections.

The electronic mail creation processing unit 52 notifies the user 10 of the electronic mail 22 requested by the advertisement advertiser 100, and the advertisement request information 43 from the advertisement requester 100.
Is a processing unit for creating an e-mail based on.

The electronic mail delivery processing unit 53 adds an attached file 23 such as a direct mail (DM) to the electronic mail.
Is attached to the PC 11 of the user 10 and distributed to the PC 11.

The opening notification reception processing section 54 is used by the user 10
Is a processing unit for receiving a notification of opening the attached file 23 from the PC 11.

The point writing processing unit 55 is used by the user 10
It is a processing unit for giving points to the opened user 10 based on the notification of opening the attached file 23 from and adding it to the destination-to-cumulative point information 47 in the database 41.

The Web page publishing processing unit 56 is a processing unit for publishing a Web page on the communication network 1. On this Web page, explanations regarding the delivery of e-mails, acceptance of membership applications, etc. are performed.

-Open distribution notification dedicated software distribution processing unit 5
7 is a processing unit for distributing to the PC 11 of the user 10 dedicated software for notifying the e-mail delivery device 21 of the opening of the attached file 23 when the attached file 23 is opened on the PC 11 of the user 10. Is.

The advertisement request information reception processing unit 58 receives the distribution destination list of the electronic mail 22, the advertisement information to be provided, and the information of the attached file 23 to be distributed from the server 101 of the advertisement client 100, and the information is stored in the database 41. A processing unit for recording the advertisement request information 43 and the attached file information 44.

[Operational Flow in E-mail Distribution Device] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operational flow in the electronic mail distribution device. E-mail delivery device 2
The operation procedure between 1 and the user's PC 11 is performed as follows. (1) The user 10, who is a mail recipient, accesses the website provided by the electronic mail distribution device 21 from the PC 11 (step S1) and opens the web page (steps S2 and S3).

(2) The user 10 performs membership registration on the Web page (step S4). Member information (email address, address, name, etc.) of the user 10 is registered in the database 41 (step S5). At the time of member registration, a user ID and password are issued (step S
6) The PC 11 of the user 10 is notified. User 10
The notified user ID and password are stored in the PC 11 (step S7).

(3) After completing the member registration, the user 10 downloads the "opening notification dedicated software" from the electronic mail delivery device 21 to the PC 11 (steps S8, S).
9).

(4) The electronic mail 22 is distributed from the electronic mail distribution device 21 to the PC 11 of the user 10 (step S10). The PC 11 of the user 10 receives the e-mail (step S11). FIG. 5 shows an example of “e-mail”.

(5) When the clip mark 25 on the electronic mail screen illustrated in FIG. 5 is clicked, the password input screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. The password is entered on this screen (step S12).

(6) When the password is entered and the user logs in, the attached file 23 is opened and the direct mail (DM) screen illustrated in FIG. 7 is displayed (step S1).
3).

(7) When the attached file 23 is opened,
By the operation of the "opening notification dedicated software", the e-mail delivery device 21 is notified that the attached file 23 is opened (step S14).

(8) The e-mail delivery device 21 that has received the opening notice uses the points given to the attached file 23 opened by the user 10 as the points newly acquired by the user 10 in the destination pair in the database 41. The cumulative point information 47 is added and recorded (step S1).
5). FIG. 8 shows an example of destination-to-cumulative point data.

(9) Distribution of the above-mentioned e-mail (step S
The steps from 10) to the addition of points to the database (step S15) are repeated every time the electronic mail 22 is distributed from the electronic mail distribution device 21 to the PC 11 of the user 10.

(10) When the points have accumulated to some extent, the user 10 can receive the service such as the sending of a prize from the mail sender 20 or the advertisement client 100 according to the accumulated points. Although the flow of operation of the electronic mail distribution device has been described above, the password input procedure in step S12 can be omitted.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the processing program section 51 in the application server 50 of the electronic mail delivery apparatus 21 shown in FIG. 3 may be realized by dedicated hardware. The processing program unit is configured by a general-purpose information processing device such as a memory and a CPU (central processing unit), and a program (not shown) for realizing the function of the processing unit is loaded into the memory and executed. The function may be realized by doing so. Further, it is assumed that an input device, a display device, etc. (none of which is displayed) are connected to the electronic mail delivery device as peripheral devices. here,
The input device refers to an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. A display device is a CRT (Cathode Ray
Tube) and liquid crystal display devices.

Further, the processing program section 51 in FIG.
A program for realizing the function of is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer system,
By executing the processing, processing necessary for the electronic mail delivery device of the present invention may be performed. The “computer system” mentioned here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

The "computer-readable recording medium" means a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk,
A portable medium such as a ROM or a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium"
Is a communication line that holds a program dynamically for a short period of time, such as a communication line for transmitting the program through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line.
(Transmission medium or transmission wave), such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as a server or a client in that case, that holds a program for a certain period of time is also included. Further, the above-mentioned program may be a program for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions, and a program that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system, that is, a so-called difference file (difference file). Program).

Further, the electronic mail delivery apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned illustrated examples, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0052]

As described above, in the electronic mail delivery apparatus according to the first aspect, the destination of the electronic mail and the points (service points, etc.) are stored in the database in association with each other, and the electronic mail is transmitted from the user's terminal device. When the information indicating that the attached file of the e-mail has been opened is received, the points according to the type of the opened attached file are added to the point data associated with the destination in the database. As a result, the e-mail recipient can be encouraged to actively open the attached file, and the opening rate of the attached file is improved. Therefore, the effects of direct mail (DM) and the like are improved.

Further, in the electronic mail delivery method according to the second aspect, the destination of the electronic mail and the points (service points, etc.) are associated and stored in the database, and the attached file of the electronic mail is sent from the user's terminal device. When the information indicating that the file has been opened is received, points corresponding to the type of the opened attached file are added to the point data associated with the destination in the database.
As a result, the e-mail recipient can be encouraged to actively open the attached file, and the opening rate of the attached file is improved. Therefore, the effects of direct mail (DM) and the like are improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an operation concept of an electronic mail delivery device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a function and a data configuration of an electronic mail delivery device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of an electronic mail distribution device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a flow of operations in the electronic mail distribution device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic mail.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a password input screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an attached file.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of destination-to-cumulative point data.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 communication network 10 users 11 Personal computer (PC) 20 Email senders 21 E-mail delivery device 22 Email 23 Attachment 24 Open notice 31 E-mail creation method 32 E-mail delivery method 33 Opening notice receiving means 34 Point writing means 35 Web page publishing means 36 Software for Distribution of Software for Opening Notification 37 Advertising request information receiving means 41 Database 42 Member information 43 Advertising request information 44 Attachment file information 45 Delivery management information 46 Open notification software 47 Destination-to-cumulative point information 48 Delivery history information

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A database for recording a destination of an electronic mail and point data associated with each destination, an attachment file inserted in the electronic mail, and points associated with the attachment file in a message of the electronic mail. Email creating means for creating an email containing information, email delivering means for delivering the email created by the email creating means to a predetermined destination, and a terminal device receiving the email. And a point writing unit for adding the point associated with the attached file to the point data associated with the corresponding destination in the database when the information indicating that the attached file is opened is received. An electronic mail delivery device characterized by. 2. A procedure for recording a destination of an electronic mail and point data associated with each destination in a database, inserting an attached file into the electronic mail, and associating the attached message with the message of the electronic mail. An e-mail creating procedure for creating an e-mail including point information, an e-mail delivering procedure for delivering the e-mail created by the e-mail creating procedure to a predetermined destination, and a terminal that receives the e-mail. A point writing procedure for adding the point associated with the attached file to the point data associated with the corresponding destination in the database when the information indicating that the attached file has been opened is received from the device. An e-mail delivery method characterized by the following.