JP2003218941A - Communication apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus capable of operating an electronic mail system even in the absence of a DNS server and needing no protocol other than a transfer protocol of electronic mail. <P>SOLUTION: The communication apparatus 1 has a storage section 13 for storing an address table 14 in which IP addresses of other communication apparatuses are registered. In the case transmitting electronic mail, a communication section 12 uses a destination IP address and transmits the electronic mail directly to a destination communication apparatus in compliance with the SMTP or the like. Further, when the IP address of its own apparatus is revised, an IP address revision notice is transmitted to the destination registered in the address table 14 by using the IP address of each communication apparatus by means of electronic mail and the communication apparatus receiving the electronic mail identifies the electronic mail of the revision notice of the IP address to update the address table depending on the contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting / receiving electronic mail using a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of network technology in recent years, communication using electronic mail has become popular.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of communication using a general electronic mail. In the figure, 21 and 24 are mail clients,
22 and 23 are mail servers, and 25 is a DNS server. For example, when sending an e-mail from the mail client 21 to the mail client 24, first, an e-mail addressed to the mail client 24 is sent to the mail server 22 provided in the domain to which the mail client 21 belongs, for example, SMTP or the like. To send. At this time, if the IP address of the mail server 22 is unknown, the A record is subtracted using the IP address of the DNS server 25, the IP address of the mail server 22 is acquired, and the mail is acquired using the acquired IP address. Send an email to the server 22.

The mail server 22 obtains the IP address of the mail server 23 provided in the domain to which the destination mail client 24 belongs from the destination electronic mail address by subtracting an MX record from the DNS server 25. . Then, using the acquired IP address, the electronic mail received from the mail client 21 is transferred to the mail server 23. The mail server 23 is from the mail server 22 to the mail client 2
Receive and retain email addressed to 4. Then, the mail client 24 requests the mail server 23 to retrieve the e-mail by POP or the like, so that the e-mail sent from the mail client 21 to the mail client 24 is sent to the mail client 24.
Will be delivered to.

As described above, the normally used electronic mail system is premised on the existence of the DNS server 25, and the electronic mail system could not be operated without the DNS server.

Further, as described above, when sending an electronic mail, a protocol such as SMTP is used, but various other information such as management information of a communication device used by the user, not information addressed to the user, is sent. When I try to transfer
Other protocols will be used. Therefore, it is necessary to configure another protocol so that the management information and the like can be transferred, which causes a problem that the device scale and cost are increased.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. It is possible to operate an electronic mail system without a DNS server, and to use a protocol other than an electronic mail transfer protocol. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that does not require it and a program that performs such communication processing.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in a communication device, a communication means for communicating via a network, a storage means for holding an address table in which an IP address is registered in association with a destination, and the address are provided. It is characterized by further comprising control means for acquiring an IP address corresponding to a destination from a table, designating the IP address from the communication means, and transmitting the electronic mail. Further, the present invention is a program executed by a computer, which holds an address table in which an IP address is registered in advance in association with a destination, acquires the IP address corresponding to the destination from the address table, and acquires the IP address. The electronic mail is transmitted by designating the IP address. By transmitting the e-mail using the IP address in this way, it is necessary to convert the e-mail address into the IP address D
The NS server can be eliminated. Therefore, DNS
It is possible to construct an e-mail system that can be operated without a server.

In such a configuration of the present invention, when the IP address of the own device is changed, the changed IP address of the own device is set to the IP address of the destination for each destination registered in the address table. It can be configured to specify an address and notify by e-mail. Further, it has a function of receiving an e-mail sent by designating the IP address of its own device, and when an e-mail when the IP address is changed is received, based on the contents of the received e-mail, It may be arranged to update the address table in the storage means. With such a configuration, the address table of each communication device in the electronic mail system can always be matched with the latest information. At the same time, there is an advantage that even when the information in the address table is transferred between the communication devices, communication can be performed in the form of electronic mail, and another protocol is not required.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a communication mode in a communication system including the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 to 5 are communication devices, 11 is a control unit, and 12
Is a communication unit, 13 is a storage unit, 14 is an address table, 1
Reference numeral 5 is an operation unit. The communication devices 1 to 5 are all similar communication devices of the present invention, and are capable of transmitting and receiving electronic mail using an IP address at least via a network. Although only the internal configuration of the communication device 1 is shown, other communication devices 2 to 5 may have the same configuration. Further, although FIG. 1 is illustrated as transmitting and receiving an electronic mail between the five communication devices, the number of communication devices is arbitrary.

The communication device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12,
The storage unit 13 and the operation unit 15 may be included. The control unit 11 uses the communication unit 12 as information to be transmitted to the destination specified by the operation unit 15 as electronic mail.
Send from At this time, in order to specify the destination, the IP address is directly input from the operation unit 15, and one or a plurality of addresses are selected from the address table 14 stored in the storage unit 13. When selected from the address table 14, the IP address of the selected destination is acquired from the storage unit 13. Then, using the IP address, the communication unit 12 sends an e-mail to the destination communication device by, for example, SMTP.

When the IP address of the own device is changed, the control unit 11 has a function of notifying the other communication devices 2 to 5 of the changed IP address by electronic mail. Such a notification is sent to each destination registered in the address table 14 by the IP address of each destination.
The address can be used for SMTP or the like.

Further, the control unit 11 controls the other communication devices 2-5.
The electronic mail sent from the device via SMTP or the like is received via the communication unit 12. At this time, the other communication devices 2 to
The e-mail indicating that the IP address has been changed from No. 5 is distinguished from other ordinary e-mails, and the e-mail indicating that the IP address has been changed is stored in the storage unit 1
The address table 14 in 3 is updated.

The communication unit 12 receives the I
It is possible to communicate with the communication devices 2 to 5 and other various devices on the network using the P address.

The storage unit 13 can store various information that needs to be saved in the communication device 1. In particular,
The address table 14 is stored. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the address table. Address table 1
4, the name of the destination and the IP of the destination along with the identification number
The address is registered. The identification number can be associated with, for example, a one-touch key provided on the operation unit 15 or a shortened number. The name of the destination is a name when the destination is presented to the user, such as when the destination is selected, the selected destination is displayed, or output as a communication log, and can be arbitrarily registered by the user. . IP
The address is uniquely set within the system in a closed system. A global IP address is set in the system using the Internet. Of course, in addition to the information shown in FIG. 2, information about various destinations may be registered.

The operation unit 15 has a display unit, an input unit, etc., and receives various instruction inputs from the user. For example, when sending an e-mail, specify the destination by directly entering the destination IP address, using one-touch keys or abbreviated numbers, or selecting from the list of destination names in the address table. Further, a transmission instruction or the like can be performed. It is also possible to perform an operation of setting the IP address of the own device.

Next, an example of the operation of the embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation at the time of sending an electronic mail in the embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention. For example, the address table 14 shown in FIG. 2 is registered in the communication device 1 in advance. The address table 1
For the initial setting of No. 4, setting registration may be performed from the operation unit 15.

First, in S31, the user inputs the setting necessary for sending an electronic mail such as a destination from the operation unit 15. For inputting the destination, various input methods such as directly inputting an e-mail address or an IP address, inputting with a one-touch key or an abbreviated number, or displaying the contents of the address table 14 in a list and selecting it are used. can do. When one-touch keys or abbreviated numbers are operated, the storage unit 13
The corresponding IP address may be acquired from the address table 14 stored in. Further, when the contents of the address table 14 are displayed as a list, for example, the destination name may be displayed and the IP address corresponding to the selected destination may be acquired. A plurality of destinations may be set. S
At 32, it is determined whether or not the start of transmission is instructed,
Various settings in S31 are performed until the start of transmission is instructed.

When the start of transmission is instructed, an electronic mail to be transmitted is created in S33. For example, the communication device 1
Is an Internet facsimile, this S
At 33, the image on the document is read, and an e-mail having the read image as an attachment file may be created.

When the electronic mail is created, in S34, the electronic mail is directly transmitted to one of the destinations by using the IP address, for example, SMTP or the like.
In S35, it is determined whether or not the data has been transmitted to all the destinations, and if there are untransmitted destinations, S34 is performed.
Return to and send an email to an unsent destination. When the transmission to all the destinations is completed, the transmission process ends.

In this way, the transmission of electronic mail is
Since it is performed by using the P address, for example, SMTP, etc.
E-mail can be sent without using the S server.

In the above-described operation example when sending an electronic mail, S
Although various settings such as the destination are made in 31 and the electronic mail is created by, for example, reading the information to be transmitted in S33, the electronic mail transmission request can be received from another external device. In that case, S31
The information set in step 3 and the content of the electronic mail created in step S33 will be received from the external device. The present invention can also be used as such a server.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation when changing the IP address in the embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention. As described above, since the electronic mail is transmitted using the IP address of each communication device, the I
If the P address is changed, it becomes impossible to receive e-mails from other communication devices. Therefore, it becomes necessary to update the address table held by another communication device. In order to automate the update of this address table, when the IP address of the own device is changed, the changed IP address is notified to other communication devices. Also in this case, it is possible to notify by e-mail using the IP address of each communication device.

In S41, the IP address of the own device is changed and set. Then, in S42, the storage unit 13
An IP address associated with one destination is acquired from the internal address table 14. Then, in S43, using the IP address acquired in S42, an electronic mail including information on the newly set IP address of the own device is transmitted by, for example, SMTP. In S44, I is set to all the destinations in the address table 14.
It is determined whether or not the change of the P address has been notified, and if there are unsent destinations remaining, the process returns to S42 and the unsent destinations are sequentially notified of the change of the IP address by e-mail. When all the destinations have been notified, the process of changing the IP address of the own device ends.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of an example of an operation at the time of receiving an electronic mail in the embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention, FIG.
Is also a flowchart. The electronic mail transmitted by the processing at the time of transmitting the electronic mail described above with reference to FIG. 3 is received by the destination communication device, and the processing at the time of reception is performed. Further, it is necessary to receive the e-mail at the time of changing the IP address described with reference to FIG. 4 and perform the address table changing process. Here, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), assuming that an electronic mail is transmitted from the communication device 3 to the communication device 1, an example of the receiving operation of the electronic mail in the communication device 1 will be described. Storage unit 13 of communication device 1
It is assumed that the address table 14 having the contents as shown in FIG. 5B (the same contents as in FIG. 2) is stored in the table.

In the flow chart shown in FIG. 6, when the communication device 3 sends an e-mail designating the IP address of its own device, the sent e-mail is received via the communication section 12 in S51. . And S52
At, it is determined whether the received e-mail is an e-mail notifying the change of the IP address. If it is a normal e-mail, the received e-mail is processed as a normal e-mail in S53. For example, in the case of the Internet facsimile machine, the content of the received electronic mail can be recorded and output by a recording unit (not shown) or can be delivered to the client. Thus, the normal e-mail receiving process is completed.

If the received e-mail informs the change of the IP address, in S54,
The address table 14 is updated with the content of the received e-mail (that is, the new IP address after the change). For example, the new IP address of the communication device 3 is “20
0. ***. 50.200 ”, the new IP address is notified by e-mail. The IP address corresponding to the communication device 3 in the address table 14 is updated according to the content of this e-mail. As a result, the address table 14 shown in FIG. 5 (B) is updated as shown in FIG. 5 (C). This allows the IP
The process for the e-mail of the address change notification ends.

When the destination is associated with, for example, one-touch keys or abbreviated numbers of the operation unit 15 by updating the address table 14 as described above, new IP addresses are added to those one-touch keys or abbreviated numbers. Will be associated.

Further, the address table 14 as described above is used.
2 and 5B and 5C for the identification numbers and the like in the configurations shown in FIGS.
5, a common identifier such as the identification number of the device itself is added to the IP address change notification, so that the update can be easily performed. Of course, the old IP address can be changed to the new IP address by providing a common identifier in addition to the identification number or by sending an electronic mail together with the old IP address.

In the communication device 3 which has changed the IP address, the IP address is changed not only in the communication device 1 but also in the communication devices 2, 4 and 5 as shown by the dotted line in FIG. An email will be sent to notify you. As a result, in the same manner as the operation in the communication device 1 described above, the communication devices 2, 4,
The address table stored in 5 is also updated.

In this way, each of the communication devices 1 to 1
The IP address in 5 is shared as an address table in each of the communication devices 1 to 5. Then, even when the IP address is changed, the address table in each of the communication devices 1 to 5 can be automatically updated, and the address table can be always kept in the latest state.

Further, as described above, in the system including the present invention, the notification at the time of changing the IP address can be made by the electronic mail using the IP address. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare another protocol to notify the change of the IP address, and the protocol used when sending an electronic mail such as SMTP can be used as it is. Therefore, it is possible to perform communication of management information such as e-mail and IP address change notification by only a specific protocol such as SMTP.

In the above embodiment, each of the communication devices 1-5
Has sent an e-mail for notifying the change of the IP address to each of the other communication devices. For example, a management device that manages the address table is installed or a management function is added to one communication device to operate as a management device. However, when the management device is notified of the change of the IP address, the management device may notify another communication device. In this case, for example, when a communication device is newly added, if only the IP address of the management device is known, the management device is notified of the change of the IP address of the management device, and the IP address is not known. It is possible to notify the IP address of the own device to the communication device.

Further, the address table can be received from the management device by e-mail by transmitting an e-mail requesting the address table to the management device or a communication device having a management function. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the setting operation of the address table when a new communication device joins. In this case, the management device that receives the request or the communication device that has the management function processes the email requesting the address table separately from other emails, and returns all or part of the address table to the inquiry source by email. It has only to have a function to do.

Of course, many communication devices (or all communication devices) may have such a management function. In that case, even if not all communication devices have the same address table, for example, the IP address of the destination communication device is not registered in the address table in the communication device that tried to send the e-mail, or the address table is not registered. If it does not have an IP address, it may be configured to make an inquiry to another communication device and return the IP address of the destination communication device or all or part of the address table including the IP address. it can.

The various operations in the above-described embodiment of the present invention can be realized by, for example, being described in a program and being executed by a computer. In that case, the data such as the program and the address table can be stored in an external storage unit such as a memory or a disk, or can be recorded in various recording media. Alternatively, the program can be transferred to a computer via a network and executed.

[0036]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an electronic mail is transmitted by using an IP address as a destination, so that the mail system can be operated without a DNS server. . Also, by notifying management information by e-mail using the IP address when the IP address is changed,
It is not necessary to prepare a protocol different from the electronic mail for transferring the management information, and the management information can be transferred by the same protocol as the normal electronic mail.
Further, such transfer of the management information has an effect that an IP address and the like can be shared by communication devices in the system, and the latest information can be easily updated and maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a communication mode in a communication system including the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an address table.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation at the time of sending an electronic mail in the embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an IP in one embodiment of the communication device of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when changing an address.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an operation at the time of receiving an electronic mail in the embodiment of the communication device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation at the time of receiving an electronic mail in the embodiment of the communication apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of communication using general electronic mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 to 5 ... Communication device, 11 ... Control unit, 12 ... Communication unit, 13
... storage section, 14 ... address table, 15 ... operation section, 2
1, 24 ... Mail client, 22, 23 ... Mail server, 25 ... DNS server.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A communication means for communicating via a network, a storage means for holding an address table in which an IP address is registered in association with a destination, and an IP address corresponding to the destination from the address table. A communication device comprising: control means for transmitting the e-mail by designating the IP address from the communication means. 2. The control means, when the IP address of the own device is changed, the changed IP address of the own device is set to the IP address of the destination for each destination registered in the address table. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is designated and notified by e-mail. 3. The control means has a function of receiving an e-mail sent by designating an IP address of its own device, and is received when an e-mail when the IP address is changed is received. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the address table in the storage unit is updated based on the content of the electronic mail. 4. An address table in which an IP address is registered in advance in association with a destination is held, and an IP address corresponding to the destination is acquired from the address table,
A program for causing a computer to execute a process of designating the acquired IP address and transmitting the electronic mail. 5. When the IP address of the own device is changed, the changed IP address of the own device is set for each destination registered in the address table.
The program according to claim 4, which causes a computer to execute a process of designating a P address and notifying it by e-mail. 6. A process of receiving an e-mail sent by designating the IP address of the own device, and an e-mail received when an e-mail when the IP address is changed by the process is received. The program according to claim 5, which causes a computer to execute a process of updating the address table based on the content of