Relay device

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of appropriately processing an attached file even to a destination having no transmission result.SOLUTION: When a mail with an attachment file is sent from one of the communication terminals 20 under the control of the relay device 10, the data-processing unit 13A of the control unit 13 determines whether the domain of the destination of the mail and the format of the attachment file match those stored in the storage unit 12. On the basis of the determination result, a data-determining part 13B determines whether the attachment file is to be converted, and when it is determined that the attachment file is to be converted, a mail processing part 13C converts the attachment file into a PDF file.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for appropriately processing at least an email or an attachment file depending on a destination when sending the email with the attachment file. [Background technology]

[0002] When sending an email with an attachment, if the recipient cannot handle the format of the attachment (the recipient cannot open the attachment), the sender may have to convert the file and resend it, which may require unnecessary resending or contacting the recipient.

[0003] To address this issue, for example, prior art documents have disclosed a technique in which, if the recipient has a history of sending emails with attachments, the attachments are converted into a file format that has a history of sending attachments and then sent. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-267178 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the above prior art documents have the problem that while they are effective for destinations with which there is a history of sending, they do not take into consideration how to handle attachments, such as converting attachments, for destinations with which there is no history of sending, nor do they take into consideration how to handle attachments when the file format cannot be converted.

[0006] The present invention is made to solve such problems, and aims to provide a technique that can process attachments appropriately even to destinations that have not been sent to before. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve this object, the relay device of the present invention is a relay device connected to a communication network and configured to relay a first communication terminal connected thereto to the communication network, and includes: a memory unit that stores email data of emails received by the first communication terminal; and a control unit that processes emails sent and received by the first communication terminal. The control unit includes a data processing unit that creates data associating the format of the first attachment with at least each domain of the sender of a first email from data of a first email with a first attachment sent from a second communication terminal that is not connected thereto, and stores the data in the memory unit; a data determination unit that, when sending a second email with a second attachment from the first communication terminal, determines whether at least the domain of the destination of the second email and the format of the second attachment match the data, and determines whether to convert the second attachment based on the determination result; and a mail processing unit that converts the second attachment to a file in PDF (Portable Document Format) format if the data determination unit determines that the second attachment should be converted.

[0008] Furthermore, the relay device according to the present invention is a relay device connected to a communication network and configured to relay a first communication terminal connected thereto to the communication network, and comprises: a memory unit that stores email data of emails received by the first communication terminal; and a control unit that processes emails sent and received by the first communication terminal. The control unit comprises: a data processing unit that creates data associating the format of the first attachment with at least each domain of the sender of the first email from the data of the first email with a first attachment sent from a second communication terminal that is not connected thereto, and stores the data in the memory unit; a data determination unit that, when sending a second email with a second attachment from the first communication terminal, determines whether at least the domain of the recipient of the second email and the format of the second attachment match the data, and based on the determination result, determines whether to process to add viewer information that allows the second attachment to be viewed; and a mail processing unit that, if it is determined that the viewer information should be added, processes to add viewer information that allows the second attachment to be viewed.

[0009] In addition, the relay device according to the present invention is a relay device connected to a communication network and configured to relay a first communication terminal connected thereto to the communication network, and comprises: a memory unit that stores email data of emails received by the first communication terminal; and a control unit that processes emails sent and received by the first communication terminal, wherein the control unit comprises: a data processing unit that creates data associating the format of the first attachment for each destination or domain of the sender of the first email from the data of the first email with a first attachment sent from a second communication terminal that is not connected thereto, and stores the data in the memory unit; a data determination unit that, when sending a second email with a second attachment from the first communication terminal, determines whether at least the domain of the destination of the second email and the format of the second attachment match the data, and determines whether the second attachment can be converted based on the determination result; and a mail processing unit that adds an error message to the second email if it is determined that the second attachment cannot be converted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, even when sending an attachment to a destination that has not been sent to before, the attachment is appropriately converted, etc., thereby reducing unnecessary retransmissions. Furthermore, instead of converting the file, viewer information can be added to the email or the attachment, or an error message can be added if the attachment cannot be converted, thereby reducing unnecessary retransmissions and notifications regarding errors. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a relay device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the structure (organization) of mail data. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the relay device in processing mail data in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the relay device in processing mail data in the second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the relay device in processing mail data in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a relay device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

[0013] The relay device 10 is connected to a communication network NW such as a WAN (Wide Area Network) typified by the Internet, and has a first communication terminal A20 under its control. Also connected to the communication network NW is a second communication terminal X30 that is not under the control of the relay device 10. Furthermore, a cloud server 40 is connected to the communication network NW, which exchanges data such as uploading and downloading data of emails and files attached to the emails.

[0014] Communication terminal A20 and communication terminal X30 are communication terminals such as general PCs or mobile terminals, and are equipped with applications such as a browser for accessing the Internet and a mailer for exchanging emails, depending on the user's operation.

[0015] [Repeater] Next, with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1, the configuration of the relay device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the relay device 10 includes a communication I / F 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13 as main processing units.

[0017] [Communication I / F] The communication I / F 11 is connected to the communication network NW via a communication line L1, and is configured to relay and connect a communication terminal A20 connected to a LAN (not shown) to the communication network NW. The communication I / F 11 is also configured to take in various messages exchanged between the communication terminal A20 and a mail server (not shown) when sending and receiving mail, output them to the control unit 13, and relay and transfer the various messages output from the control unit 13 to the mail server and the communication terminal A20.

[0018] [Storage] The memory unit 12 as a whole comprises storage devices such as semiconductor memory and a hard disk, and is configured to store email data 12A such as data related to various emails and data on attachments, and a program 12P used in processing email data and attachments in the control unit 13.

[0019] The program 12P includes a program for executing processing of data relating to emails in the control unit 13 by working in cooperation with the CPU of the control unit 13, a program for determining whether to convert files or the like based on the data relating to emails, and a program for executing processing such as file conversion on attached files and emails based on the determination, as will be described later. The program 12P is read from an external device or a recording medium (neither of which is shown) and stored in the storage unit 12 in advance.

[0020] Mail data 12A of storage unit 12 stores data related to the mail (first mail) sent from communication terminal X30, specifically data including basic information such as the sending time, sender, destination, destination domain, and attached file format, as well as processed data processed by data processing unit 13A of control unit 13. The data is taken into communication I / F 11 from the mail sent from communication terminal X30, or is processed by control unit 13 and stored in mail data 12A of storage unit 12.

[0021] [Control Unit] The control unit 13 has a CPU and its peripheral units, and is configured to execute the processes of a data processing unit 13A, a data determination unit 13B, and a mail processing unit 13C in the control unit 13 by having the CPU cooperate with a program 12P in the storage unit 12. Each unit (13A, 13B, 13C) will be described below.

[0022] [Data Processing Unit] The data processing unit 13A extracts necessary data from the basic information stored in the mail data 12A of the storage unit 12, for example, and processes the extracted data to generate more useful processed data.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a table (FIG. 2(a)) showing the relationship between destinations (email addresses) and file formats, which are examples of processing data, and a table (FIG. 2(b)) showing the relationship between domains and file formats.

[0024] Figure 2(a) shows processed data (hereinafter referred to as the "email address table") that extracts the data on the email address of the sender of the received email and the format of the file attached to the email, and associates the data on the format of the attached file with each email address.

[0025] Figure 2(b) shows processed data (hereinafter referred to as the "domain table") that extracts data on the domain of the email address from which the received email was sent and the format of the file attached to the email, and associates the data on the format of the attached file with each email address domain.

[0026] The processing data that can be generated by the data processing unit 13A is not limited to the above. The data processing unit 13A can generate processing data that suits the intended use by appropriately combining basic information data.

[0027] [Data Judgment Section] The data determination unit 13B determines, based on the processing data generated by the data processing unit 13A, what processing is appropriate for the file attached to the email to be sent.

[0028] In one example, it is determined whether to change the format of an attachment file of an email to be sent based on the processing data of the email address table shown in FIG. 2(a) and the domain table shown in FIG. 2(b).

[0029] In one example, it is determined whether to attach a link to viewer information that enables the contents of the attached file to be checked to the email without converting the format of the attached file to be sent.

[0030] In one example, it is determined whether the format of the attached file of the email to be sent can be converted, and if it cannot be converted, it is determined whether to return an error to the sender.

[0031] [Email processing section] The mail processing unit 13C processes the mail based on the result of the determination made by the data determination unit 13B.

[0032] In one example, the system converts the attachments of emails to be sent. For example, by referring to the tables shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), if at least one of the email address and domain, or the format of a previously received attachment, does not match, the system converts the attachment into the format of the previous attachment. Alternatively, the system converts the attachment into a format that can be viewed by a typical communication terminal user, such as a PDF (Portable Document Format) file.

[0033] Here, if the data determination unit 13B determines that the attached file should be converted, the email processing unit 13C may default to converting the attached file into a PDF file. Alternatively, instead of converting the attached file into a PDF file, the attached file may be converted into a format that is likely to be installed by many communication terminal users, such as a Microsoft Office format.

[0034] In one example, instead of converting the attachment, viewer information is added to the email so that the recipient can view the attachment. This allows the recipient to check the contents of the attachment by sending the viewer information even if they do not have an application to view the attachment.

[0035] For example, by referring to the tables shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), if at least one of the email address and domain or the format of the attached file does not match, a link to the viewer information may be added. In this case, the email processing unit 13C of the control unit 13 may check the format of the attached file and add viewer information corresponding to the file format to the email. Here, data related to the viewer information may be prepared in advance in the storage unit 12.

[0036] In one example, if it is determined that the attachment cannot be converted, an error message may be sent instead of converting the attachment.

[0037] 2(a) and 2(b), an error message can be added to the email if at least one of the email address and domain or the format of the attached file does not match. In this case, a program such as an application that checks the format of the attached file or whether it is a convertible file format may be installed in the program 12P of the storage unit 12, and the data determination unit 13B of the control unit 13 may check whether the file can be converted.

[0038] [Operation of this embodiment] Next, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are sequence diagrams showing the operation of the relay device 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0039] <Email data storage process> The mail data storage process will be described. First, a first mail with a first attached file is sent from communication terminal X30, which is not under the control of relay device 10, to communication terminal A20, which is connected under relay device 10 (101). Before sending the mail to communication terminal A20, relay device 10 stores basic data of the mail (hereinafter referred to as "basic data") in storage unit 12 (102). Here, the basic data is data such as the sending time of the mail, the destination, the sender (email address), the domain of the sender (email address), the format of the attached file, etc.

[0040] <Email data processing> Next, the relay device 10 uses the basic data of the email described above to associate elements of the basic data and saves the associated processing data (103). The processing data is, for example, the email address table shown in Figure 2(a) and the domain table shown in Figure 2(b). In Figure 2(a), the sender address of the email is associated with the file format of the attached file, and in Figure 2(b), the domain of the sender address of the email is associated with the file format of the attached file.

[0041] Next, a second mail with a second attached file is sent from a communication terminal A20 connected under the relay device 10 to a communication terminal X30 not connected under the relay device 10 (201). The subsequent processing will be explained according to each embodiment.

[0042] [First embodiment] In this embodiment, an embodiment in which a file attached to an email is converted will be described with reference to FIG.

[0043] <When using an email address table> First, we will explain the case where the email address table shown in Figure 2(a) is used. In the email data determination process, the basic data of the sent email is compared with the processed data information created in the email data process (202). If the format is one of the formats shown in Figure 2(a) that has a reception history, the email is sent to the other party's communication terminal X30 without converting the attached file.

[0044] In this embodiment, the relay device 10 refers to the email address table in Fig. 2(a) to determine whether the email addresses match and whether the attached file is in a format with a reception history. If the email addresses do not match, or if the email addresses match but the attached file is in a format with no reception history, the relay device 10 performs file conversion processing (203) and uploads the converted file to the cloud server 40 (204).

[0045] Upon receiving the uploaded file, cloud server 40 stores a uniform resource locator (URL) or a password (PW) related to the file in relay device 10 (205). Relay device 10 transmits the URL / PW transmitted from communication terminal A20 to communication terminal X30 (206).

[0046] In this embodiment, if at least the email address or the file format of the attached file does not match, the file format is converted to PDF format. A file converted to PDF format has the advantage that it can be viewed in the same layout in different environments, such as a personal computer (PC) or a smartphone as a communication terminal.

[0047] Even if the recipient's communication terminal X30 cannot view the file in the format before conversion, it will be able to view the converted file in PDF format. Since most communication terminals on the market can view PDF files, there are significant practical advantages to setting PDF as the default format for file conversion.

[0048] <When using the domain table> Next, we will explain the case where a domain table is used as the stored data, as shown in Figure 2(b). In the email address table in Figure 2(a), if the email address does not match exactly, it is treated as a format with no received history, even if the domain is the same.

[0049] On the other hand, when the domain table of FIG. 2(b) is used, it can be determined that a file format that can be processed by a communication terminal in the same domain can also be handled by communication terminal X30 that has no reception history (202).

[0050] The relay device 10 refers to the domain table in Fig. 2(b) to determine whether the domains match and whether the attached file is in a format for which there is a reception history. If the domains do not match, or if the domains match but the attached file is in a format for which there is no reception history, the relay device 10 performs file conversion processing (203) and uploads the converted file to the cloud server 40 (204).

[0051] The subsequent processing is the same as when the email address table in FIG. 2(a) is used, except that email addresses are replaced with domains.

[0052] In the first embodiment, when using the email address table, even when sending an email with an attachment to a communication terminal with no sending history, it is possible to determine whether to send the attachment as is or convert it. That is, when sending an email with an attachment to a communication terminal with a receiving history of email with an attachment, if the file formats of both files match, the file is sent as is without conversion. If at least the email address or the file formats of both files do not match, the file format is converted to PDF format. This allows at least the file to be viewed on a general communication terminal.

[0053] Furthermore, when using the domain table in Figure 2(b), even if an email with an attachment is sent to a communications terminal with no reception history, if there is a reception history from a communications terminal with a matching domain, it is assumed that the attached file can be used on the communications terminal with the matching domain. In this case, if at least the domain or file format does not match, the file format is converted to PDF format. This makes it possible to at least view the file on a general communications terminal.

[0054] [Second embodiment] In this embodiment, with reference to FIG. 4, an embodiment will be described in which viewer information that enables a file attached to an e-mail to be viewed is added.

[0055] In the mail data determination process, it is determined whether at least the mail address or domain does not match and whether the attached file is in a format that has no reception history (302).

[0056] As in the first embodiment, the basic data of the sent email is compared with the processed data information created in the email data processing (302). If the format is one of the reception history formats shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the email is sent to the other party's communication terminal X30 without adding viewer information to the email (302).

[0057] On the other hand, if at least one of the email address and domain, or the format of the previously received attachment does not match, and at least the email address or domain does not match and the attachment is in a format that has not been received in the history, the relay device 10 performs viewer information addition processing (303).

[0058] Here, viewer information refers to information that can be viewed at least temporarily even if the corresponding application is not installed or even if you do not have permission to use the application provided by the cloud service. Generally, it is provided as software, but it also includes information that can be viewed without installing software, such as a browser.

[0059] In this embodiment, the viewer information also includes site information from which the software can be downloaded and browser information that allows direct viewing using a browser.

[0060] In the above mail data determination process (302), even if the mail addresses do not match but the domains match, it may be determined that the process can proceed to the viewer information addition process (303).

[0061] In the viewer information addition process, the viewer information is attached to the email to be sent (303). The relay device 10 then transmits the email with the attached viewer information to the communication terminal X 30 (304).

[0062] As a specific example of this embodiment, when sending and receiving a file created with Visio (registered trademark), a Microsoft application, if the email addresses match, no special processing is performed on the email. On the other hand, when the email addresses do not match but the file created with Visio is sent as an attachment to a recipient with the same domain, a link to Visio viewer information is attached to the email to enable viewing of the file created with Visio.

[0063] In the second embodiment, if at least one of the email address and domain, or the format of a previously received attachment does not match, when sending an email with an attachment, viewer information for viewing the attachment is attached to the email as a link, making it possible for anyone other than a specific user to view the attachment without converting it.

[0064] [Third embodiment] In this embodiment, with reference to FIG. 5, an embodiment will be described in which, when it is determined that a file attached to a mail cannot be converted, an error message is added to the mail.

[0065] In the mail data determination process, it is determined whether at least the mail address or domain does not match and whether the attached file is in a format that has no reception history (402).

[0066] As in the second embodiment, the data is compared with the processed data information created in the mail data processing (402). If the format is one of the formats shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b) and the reception history is present, the mail is sent to the other party's communication terminal X30 without adding an error message (402).

[0067] If at least one of the email address and domain, or the format of the previously received attachment does not match, a file conversion determination process is performed (403).

[0068] In the file conversion determination process, it is determined whether the attached file can be converted into another file format, such as PDF, as in the first embodiment (403). If it is determined that the attached file cannot be converted, the relay device 10 performs an error message addition process based on the determination result (404).

[0069] In the file conversion determination process, in order to further increase the accuracy of determining whether or not a file can be converted, an application or software for determining whether or not a file can be converted may be installed on the relay device 10, or the relay device may be authorized to use such software in the cloud service.

[0070] In the error message addition process, an error message indicating that file conversion is impossible is attached to the email to be sent (404). The relay device 10 then sends the email with the attached error message to communication terminal X 30 (405).

[0071] A specific example of this embodiment is a data file created by a CAD (Computer Aided Design) application. CAD data cannot be viewed unless a special application for processing CAD data is installed on the recipient's communication terminal.

[0072] In addition, if a recipient requests CAD data, it may be necessary to send the CAD data file to fulfill the request, but the sender may not have an application for viewing the CAD file installed on their communication device.

[0073] In such a case, since the sender cannot directly check the contents of the file, the relay device 10 uses a determination application to determine whether the CAD data cannot be converted (402). If the data cannot be converted, the relay device 10 sends an email with an attached error message to the receiving communication terminal X30 (405). On the other hand, the relay device 10 also sends an error message to the sender's communication terminal A20 indicating that the data cannot be converted (406).

[0074] In the third embodiment, when sending an email with an attachment, if at least one of the email address and domain, or the format of a previously received attachment, does not match, and if the attachment cannot be converted, an email with an attached error message is sent to inform the recipient that the attachment cannot be viewed and cannot be converted into a viewable file. In some cases, an error message is also sent to the sender, so that the sender can also know that the attached file cannot be converted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10...Relay device, 11...Communication I / F, 12...Memory unit, 12A...Email data, 12P...Program, 13...Control unit, 13A...Data processing unit, 13B...Data determination unit, 13C...Email processing unit, 20...Communication terminal A, 30...Communication terminal X, 40...Cloud server, NW...Communication network.

Claims

1. A relay device connected to a communication network and configured to relay and connect a first communication terminal connected under the relay device to the communication network, a storage unit for storing email data of emails received by the first communication terminal; a control unit that processes emails sent and received at the first communication terminal; Equipped with The control unit a data processing unit that creates data relating a format of the first attachment file for at least each domain of a sender of a first email from data of the first email with the first attachment file sent from a second communication terminal that is not connected under the relay device, and stores the data in the storage unit; a data determination unit that, when sending a second email with a second attached file from the first communication terminal, determines whether at least a domain of a destination of the second email and a format of the second attached file match the data, and determines whether to convert the second attached file based on the determination result; an email processing unit that converts the second attached file into a file in a portable document format (PDF) when the data determination unit determines that the second attached file should be converted; A relay device comprising:

2. A relay device connected to a communication network and configured to relay and connect a first communication terminal connected under the relay device to the communication network, a storage unit for storing email data of emails received by the first communication terminal; a control unit that processes emails sent and received at the first communication terminal; Equipped with The control unit a data processing unit that creates data relating a format of the first attachment file for at least each domain of a sender of a first email from data of the first email with the first attachment file sent from a second communication terminal that is not connected under the relay device, and stores the data in the storage unit; a data determination unit that, when sending a second email with a second attached file from the first communication terminal, determines whether at least a domain of a destination of the second email and a format of the second attached file match the data, and determines, based on the determination result, whether to perform processing to add viewer information that allows the second attached file to be viewed; a mail processing unit that performs processing to add viewer information that enables the second attachment to be viewed when it is determined that the viewer information is to be added; A relay device comprising:

3. A relay device connected to a communication network and configured to relay and connect a first communication terminal connected under the relay device to the communication network, a storage unit for storing email data of emails received by the first communication terminal; a control unit that processes emails sent and received at the first communication terminal; Equipped with the control unit creates data relating a format of the first attachment file for at least each domain of a sender of a first email from data of the first email with the first attachment file sent from a second communication terminal that is not connected under the relay device, and stores the data in the storage unit; and a data determination unit that, when sending a second email with a second attached file from the first communication terminal, determines whether at least a domain of a destination of the second email and a format of the second attached file match the data, and determines whether the second attached file can be converted based on the determination result; an email processing unit that adds an error message to the second email if it is determined that the second attachment file cannot be converted; A relay device comprising:

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