E-mail transmission apparatus, e-mail transmission method and e-mail transmission program

• US 20020138583A1
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Takayama, Norihisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32037 Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3208 of an e-mail or network address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

A technology for use in an e-mail transmission apparatus capable of preventing or discovering ‘impersonation’ in e-mail transmission efficiently, in which an e-mail is sent not only to a receiving address, but also to a sending address set by a sender.

Claims

1. An e-mail transmission apparatus comprising:

sending address input means for receiving user input of a sending address;

receiving address input means for receiving user input of a receiving address;

list creation means for creating a receiving address list that includes at least the receiving address input via the receiving address input means; and

address adding means for, when a sending address is input via the sending address input means, adding the sending address to the receiving address list.

2. An e-mail transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising sending means for sending e-mail based on the receiving address list.

3. An e-mail transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sending means sends the e-mail to the sending address in the receiving address list in parallel with sending of the e-mail to the receiving address in the receiving address list.

4. An e-mail transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sending means sends the e-mail to the sending address in the receiving address list independently of sending of the e-mail to the receiving address in the receiving address list.

5. An e-mail transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sending means sends the e-mail to the sending address in the receiving address list, and then only after a return communication is received thereto, sends the email to the receiving address in the receiving address list.

6. An e-mail transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sending means sends only a portion of data comprising the e-mail to the sending address in the receiving address list.

7. An e-mail transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising registration means for registering a unique e-mail address assigned to the e-mail transmission apparatus, and wherein the address adding means adds the sending address to the receiving address list when the sending address input via the sending address input means does not match the unique e-mail address registered by the registration means.

8. An e-mail transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the address adding means adds the sending address to the receiving address list in a format such that it cannot be deleted from the receiving address list.

9. An e-mail transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the receiving address and sending address contained in the receiving address list.

10. A method for use with an e-mail transmission apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving user input of a sending address;

(b) receiving user input of a receiving address;

(c) creating a receiving address list that includes at least the receiving address input at the step (b); and

(d) adding the sending address to the receiving address list when it is input at the step (a).

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for transmitting e-mail, the instructions including the following steps of:

(a) receiving user input of a sending address;

(b) receiving user input of a receiving address;

(c) creating a receiving address list that includes at least the receiving address input at the step (b); and

(d) adding the sending address to the receiving address list when it was input at the step (a).

12. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the instructions further includes a step of sending e-mail based on the receiving address list.

13. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein at the step of sending e-mail, the e-mail is sent to the sending address in the receiving address list in parallel with sending of the e-mail to the receiving address in the receiving address list.

14. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein at the step of sending e-mail, the e-mail is sent to the sending address in the receiving address list independently of sending of the e-mail to the receiving address in the receiving address list.

15. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein at the step of sending e-mail, the e-mail is sent to the sending address in the receiving address list, and then only after a return communication is received thereto, the e-mail is sent to the receiving address in the receiving address list.

16. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein at the step of sending e-mail, only a portion of data comprising the e-mail is sent to the sending address in the receiving address list.

17. A computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the instructions further includes a step of registering a unique e-mail address assigned to a computer that is to execute the instructions, and wherein at the step (d), the sending address is added to the receiving address list when the sending address input at the step (a) does not match the unique e-mail address registered at the step of registering.

18. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein at the step (d), the sending address is added to the receiving address list in a format such that it cannot be deleted from the receiving address list.

19. A computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the instructions further includes a step of displaying the receiving address and sending address contained in the receiving address list.