Mail server providing information on electronic mail for sharing the electronic mail

• US 20030033372A1
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Shimada, Hirokatsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,165,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

Upon reception of an electronic mail, a mail server analyzes header information. If a header portion includes no broadcasting destination (CC, BCC destination), a normal mail transmission process is performed. If the header portion includes a broadcasting destination, the mail is stored by associating it with a TO destination, and Web data including the mail information is created. When the TO destination draws out that mail from the mail server, the mail server registers the Web data in a viewable directory. Thus, the Web data is updated. The mail server further creates and sends an electronic mail notifying the broadcasting destination that the mail has been viewable.

Claims

1. A mail server, comprising:

an address extraction portion to extract a TO address, a CC address and a BCC address designated as destinations from a received electronic mail;

a body information extraction portion to extract body information from said received electronic mail;

a storage portion to store said extracted body information in a viewable state;

a mail creation portion to create a first electronic mail having said extracted TO address as a destination and including said body information, and a second electronic mail having one of said extracted CC address and BCC address as a destination for notifying that said extracted body information is stored in said storage portion; and

a controller to provide control such that said created first electronic mail is sent, said extracted body information is stored into said storage portion, and said second electronic mail is sent, when at least one of said CC address and BCC address is designated as a destination for said received electronic mail.

2. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein

said controller provides control such that said extracted body information is stored into said storage portion in a viewable state after said first electronic mail is sent or drawn out.

3. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein

said controller provides control such that said second electronic mail is sent after said first electronic mail is sent or drawn out.

4. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein

said mail creation portion attaches a request for reception confirmation to said first electronic mail, when said extracted TO address is an address required to be transferred to another mail server, and

said controller provides control such that said extracted body information is stored into said storage portion in a viewable state, after said reception confirmation for said first electronic mail is performed.

5. The mail server according to claim 1, wherein

said mail creation portion attaches a request for reception confirmation to said first electronic mail, when said extracted TO address is an address required to be transferred to another mail server, and

said controller provides control such that said second electronic mail is sent after said reception confirmation for said first electronic mail is performed.

6. A program product for a mail server, comprising:

an address extraction step of extracting, from a received electronic mail, a TO address, a CC address and a BCC address that are designated as destinations;

a determination step of determining whether or not one of the CC address and the BCC address is designated for said received electronic mail;

a body information extraction step of extracting body information from said received electronic mail, if it is determined in said determination step that at least one of the CC address and BCC address is designated for said received electronic mail;

a first transmission step of sending a first electronic mail including said body information to said extracted TO address;

a storing step of storing said extracted body information into a storage portion in a viewable state; and

a second transmission step of sending a second electronic mail to one of said extracted CC address and BCC address for notifying that said extracted body information is stored in said storage portion.

7. The program product according to claim 6, wherein

said storing step stores said extracted body information into said storage portion in a viewable state after said first electronic mail is sent or drawn out.

8. The program product according to claim 6, wherein

said second transmission step sends said second electronic mail after said first electronic mail is sent or drawn out.

9. The program product according to claim 6, wherein

said first transmission step sends said first electronic mail with a request for reception confirmation attached, when said extracted TO address is an address required to be transferred to another mail server, and

said storing step stores said body information into said storage portion in a viewable state after said reception confirmation for said first electronic mail is performed.

10. The program product according to claim 6, wherein

said first transmission step sends said first electronic mail with a request for reception confirmation attached, when said extracted TO address is an address required to be transferred to another mail server, and

said second transmission step sends said second electronic mail after said reception confirmation of said first electronic mail is performed.

11. A mail server, comprising:

an address extraction portion to extract, from a received electronic mail, a TO address designated as a destination and information on a group constituted by a predetermined user;

a body information extraction portion to extract body information from said received electronic mail;

a storage portion to store said extracted body information in a viewable state;

a mail creation portion to create a first electronic mail having said extracted TO address as a destination and including said body information, and a second electronic mail having said predetermined user constituting said extracted group as a destination for notifying that said extracted body information is stored in said storage portion; and

a controller to provide control such that said created first electronic mail is sent, said extracted body information is stored into said storage portion, and said second electronic mail is sent, when information on said group is designated as a destination for said received electronic mail.

12. The mail server according to claim 11, wherein

said controller provides control such that said extracted body information is stored into said storage portion in a viewable state, after said first electronic mail is sent or drawn out.

13. The mail server according to claim 11, wherein

said controller provides control such that said second electronic mail is sent after said first electronic mail is sent or drawn out.

14. The mail server according to claim 11, wherein

said mail creation portion attaches a request for reception confirmation to said first electronic mail, when said extracted TO address is an address required to be transferred to another mail server, and

said controller provides control such that said extracted body information is stored into said storage portion in a viewable state, after said reception confirmation for said first electronic mail is performed.

15. The mail server according to claim 11, wherein

said mail creation portion attaches a request for reception confirmation to said first electronic mail, when said extracted TO address is an address required to be transferred to another mail server, and

said controller provides control such that said second electronic mail is sent after said reception confirmation for said first electronic mail is performed.

16. A program product for a mail server, comprising:

an address extraction step of extracting, from a received electronic mail, a TO address designated as a destination and information on a group constituted by a predetermined user;

a determination step of determining whether or not the information on said group is designated for said received electronic mail;

a body information extraction step of extracting body information from said received electronic mail, when it is determined at said determination step that the information on said group is designated for said received electronic mail;

a first transmission step of sending a first electronic mail including said body information to said extracted TO address;

a storing step of storing said extracted body information into a storage portion in a viewable state; and

a second transmission step of sending a second electronic mail to said predetermined user constituting said extracted group for notifying that said extracted body information is stored in said storage portion.

17. The program product according to claim 16, wherein

said storing step stores said extracted body information into said storage portion in a viewable state after said first electronic mail is sent or drawn out.

18. The program product according to claim 16, wherein

said second transmission step sends said second electronic mail after said first electronic mail is sent or drawn out.

19. The program product according to claim 16, wherein

said first transmission step sends said first electronic mail with a request for reception confirmation attached, when said extracted TO address is an address required to be transferred to another mail server, and

said storing step stores said extracted body information into said storage portion in a viewable state after said reception confirmation for said first electronic mail is performed.

20. The program product according to claim 16, wherein

said first transmission step sends said first electronic mail with a request for reception confirmation attached, when said extracted TO address is an address required to be transferred to another mail server, and

said second transmission step sends said second electronic mail after said reception confirmation of said first electronic mail is performed.