Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information management system, and program storage medium

• US 20020016823A1
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Matsuda, Kouichi, Ueno, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

The CPU of a mail server accepts input of electronic mail. The CPU judges whether or not the mail has an attached file of a data capacity larger than a predetermined threshold value. If the mail is judged to have such an oversized attached file, the CPU generates key information (or a URL and a password). Then, the CPU writes the key information in association with a name of the attached file to a file ID table in a storage device. The CPU replaces the attached file with the key information. And, the CPU increments by 1 a counter value (N) representative of the number of times an attached file storage service has been used (N=N+1) The CPU outputs the attached file to a user-wise attached file storage area for storage therein. When the mail is not judged to have any oversized attached file or when the attached file is stored in the user-wise attached file storage, the CPU sends the electronic mail to a destination mail server.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

first input controlling means for controlling input of electronic mail;

first judging means for judging whether or not first information attached to said electronic mail has a capacity larger than a first capacity;

generating means for generating second information corresponding to said first information;

storage controlling means which, if said first judging means judges that said first information attached to said electronic mail has a capacity larger than said first capacity, then controls storage of said first information in association with said second information;

replacing means for replacing said first information attached to said electronic mail with said second information generated by said generating means; and

first output controlling means for controlling output of said electronic mail after said first information has been replaced with said second information by said replacing means.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage controlling means controls storage of said first information for each of subscribing users.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said user is a sender of said electronic mail.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said user is a receiver of said electronic mail.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising recording controlling means for controlling recording, for each of subscribing users, of the number of times said first information has been stored by said storage controlling means.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising computing means for computing charges for any one of said subscribing users based on said number of times of which the recording has been controlled by said recording controlling means.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

second judging means for, if said first input controlling means controls input of new electronic mail together with another first information, judging whether or not a plurality of pieces of said first information destined for any one of said subscribing users have a total storage capacity larger than a second capacity;

second output controlling means for, if said second judging means judges that said plurality of pieces of said first information have a total storage capacity larger than said second capacity, controlling output of a query signal asking whether or not said first information attached to said new electronic mail is to be stored; and

second input controlling means for controlling input of a storage designation signal designating storage of said first information;

wherein said storage controlling means controls storage of said first information if, within a predetermined time period after said second output controlling means has controlled output of said query signal, said second input controlling means controls input of said storage designation signal designating storage of said first information.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising computing means for computing charges for said subscribing users;

wherein said computing means computes charges based on said second capacity and, if said second input controlling means controls input of said storage designation signal designating storage of said first information, computes additional charges.

9. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second information is authentication key information.

10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

second input controlling means for controlling input of said authentication key information;

second judging means for judging whether or not said authentication key information is valid after the input of the information has been controlled by said second input controlling means; and

second output controlling means for, if said second judging means judges said authentication key information to be valid, controlling output, for each data capacity equal to or less than a predetermined capacity, of said first information controlled in storage by said storage controlling means.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second information is made up of address information and authentication information needed to refer said first information.

12. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

controlling input of electronic mail;

judging whether or not first information attached to said electronic mail has a capacity larger than a first capacity;

generating second information corresponding to said first information;

controlling, if said first information attached to said electronic mail is judged to have a capacity larger than said first capacity in said judging step, storage of said first information in association with said second information;

replacing said first information attached to said electronic mail with said second information generated in said generating step; and

controlling output of said electronic mail after said first information has been replaced with said second information in said replacing step.

13. A program storage medium which stores a program causing an information processing apparatus to execute the steps of:

controlling input of electronic mail;

judging whether or not first information attached to said electronic mail has a capacity larger than a first capacity;

generating second information corresponding to said first information;

controlling, if said first information attached to said electronic mail is judged to have a capacity larger than said first capacity in said judging step, storage of said first information in association with said second information;

replacing said first information attached to said electronic mail with said second information generated in said generating step; and

controlling output of said electronic mail after said first information has been replaced with said second information in said replacing step.

14. An information processing apparatus connected to a second information processing apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail, said information processing apparatus comprising:

reading controlling means for controlling reading, from said second information processing apparatus, of the number of times first information attached to said electronic mail has been controlled in storage for each of subscribing users; and

computing means for computing charges for said subscribing users in accordance with said number of times of which the reading has been controlled by said reading controlling means.

15. An information processing method for use with an information processing apparatus connected to a second information processing apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail, said information processing method comprising the steps of:

controlling reading, from said second information processing apparatus, of the number of times first information attached to said electronic mail has been controlled in storage for each of subscribing users; and

computing charges for said subscribing users in accordance with said number of times of which the reading has been controlled by said reading controlling step.

16. A program storage medium which stores a program for use with an information processing apparatus connected to a second information processing apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail, said program causing said information processing apparatus to execute the steps of:

controlling reading, from said second information processing apparatus, of the number of times first information attached to said electronic mail has been controlled in storage for each of subscribing users; and

computing charges for said subscribing users in accordance with said number of times of which the reading has been controlled by said reading controlling step.

17. An information processing apparatus connected to a second information processing apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail, said information processing apparatus comprising:

reading controlling means for controlling reading, from said second information processing apparatus, a signal indicating whether or not a plurality of pieces of first information attached to a plurality of pieces of said electronic mail for any one of subscribing users have amounted in storage to a capacity equal to or larger than a predetermined capacity agreed on with the subscribing user in question; and

computing means for computing charges for said subscribing users;

wherein said computing means computes charges based on said predetermined capacity, and computes additional charges in accordance with said signal read by said reading controlling means.

18. An information processing method for use with an information processing apparatus connected to a second information processing apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail, said information processing method comprising the steps of:

controlling reading, from said second information processing apparatus, a signal indicating whether or not a plurality of pieces of first information attached to a plurality of pieces of said electronic mail regarding any one of subscribing users have amounted in storage to a capacity equal to or larger than a predetermined capacity agreed on with the subscribing user in question; and

computing charges for said subscribing users;

wherein said computing step computes charges based on said predetermined capacity, and computes additional charges in accordance with said signal read in said reading controlling step.

19. A program storage medium which stores a program for use with an information processing apparatus connected to a second information processing apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail, said program causing said information processing apparatus to execute the steps of:

controlling reading, from said second information processing apparatus, a signal indicating whether or not a plurality of pieces of first information attached to a plurality of pieces of said electronic mail for any one of subscribing users have amounted in storage to a capacity equal to or larger than a predetermined capacity agreed on with the subscribing user in question; and

computing charges for said subscribing users;

wherein in said computing step charges based on said predetermined capacity are computed, and additional charges are computed in accordance with said signal read in said reading controlling step.

20. An information processing apparatus comprising:

reception controlling means for controlling reception of electronic mail; and

acquiring means for acquiring second information from said electronic mail controlled in reception by said reception controlling means, said second information being needed for access to first information.

21. An information processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising output controlling means for controlling output of authentication key information to a second information processing apparatus which controls storage of said first information, said authentication key information being included in said second information acquired by said acquiring means.

22. An information processing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

accessing means for accessing web contents over a network in accordance with address information included in said second information acquired by said acquiring means; and

output controlling means for controlling output of authentication information to a second information processing apparatus which manages said web contents, said authentication information being included in said second information acquired by said acquiring means.

23. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

controlling reception of electronic mail; and

acquiring second information from said electronic mail controlled in reception by said reception controlling step, said second information being needed for access to first information.

24. A program storage medium which stores a program causing an information processing apparatus to execute the steps of:

controlling reception of electronic mail; and

acquiring second information from said electronic mail controlled in reception by said reception controlling step, said second information being needed for access to first information.

25. An information management system comprising:

a first information processing apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail;

a second information processing apparatus connected to said first information processing apparatus for controlling the transmission and reception of said electronic mail; and

a third information processing apparatus for transmitting and receiving said electronic mail,

wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises;

input controlling means for controlling input of said electronic mail;

judging means for judging whether or not first information attached to said electronic mail has a capacity larger than a first capacity;

generating means for generating second information corresponding to said first information;

storage controlling means for, if said judging means judges that said first information attached to said electronic mail has a capacity larger than said first capacity, controlling storage of said first information in association with said second information and for each of subscribing users;

replacing means for replacing said first information attached to said electronic mail with said second information generated by said generating means; and

output controlling means for controlling output of said electronic mail after said first information has been replaced with said second information by said replacing means;

wherein said second information processing apparatus comprises;

reading controlling means for controlling reading, from said first information processing apparatus, of charge information about said first information controlled in storage by said storage controlling means; and

computing means for computing charges for said subscribing users based on said charge information controlled in reading by said reading controlling means; and

wherein said third information processing apparatus comprises;

reception controlling means for controlling reception of said electronic mail; and

acquiring means for acquiring said second information from said electronic mail controlled in reception by said reception controlling means, said second information being needed for access to said first information.

26. An information management system comprising:

a first information processing apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail; and

a second information processing apparatus for transmitting and receiving said electronic mail,

wherein said first information processing apparatus comprises;

input controlling means for controlling input of said electronic mail;

judging means for judging whether or not first information attached to said electronic mail has a capacity larger than a first capacity;

generating means for generating second information corresponding to said first information;

storage controlling means for, if said judging means judges that said first information attached to said electronic mail has a capacity larger than said first capacity, controlling storage of said first information in association with said second information and for each of subscribing users;

replacing means for replacing said first information attached to said electronic mail with said second information generated by said generating means;

output controlling means for controlling output of said electronic mail after said first information has been replaced with said second information by said replacing means; and

computing means for computing charges for each of said subscribing users regarding said first information controlled in storage by said storage controlling means; and

wherein said second information processing apparatus comprises;

reception controlling means for controlling reception of said electronic mail; and

acquiring means for acquiring said second information from said electronic mail controlled in reception by said reception controlling means, said second information being needed for access to said first information.