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

• US 8,149,467 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Takayama, Norihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, David K
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, ASHISH
• Application Number:
  US11/648,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20070109595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 358/402, 358/468, 358/1.15, 709/206, 709/207, 709/203, 709/223, 713/165, 713/150, 726/14, 726/4, 726/22, 434/362
• US Class Current: 358/402
• 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:

(a) sending address input means for receiving input of a sending address by a user;

(b) receiving address input means for receiving input of a receiving address by the user;

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

(d) 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 containing the receiving address;

(e) display means for displaying the receiving address and sending address contained in the receiving address list; and

(f) sending means for sending an e-mail to the sending address based on the receiving address list, wherein the address adding means automatically adds the sending address to the receiving address list in a format such that it cannot be deleted before sending from the receiving address list by the user who inputted the sending address in order to prevent or discover impersonation in e-mail transmission efficiently.

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

(a) receiving input of a sending address by a user;

(b) receiving input of a receiving address by the user;

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

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

(e) displaying the receiving address and sending address contained in the receiving address list, wherein at step (d) the sending address is automatically added to the receiving address list in a format such that it cannot be deleted before sending from the receiving address list by the user who inputted the sending address in order to prevent or discover impersonation in e-mail transmission efficiently; and

(f) sending an e-mail to the sending address based on the receiving address list.

3. An e-mail transmission apparatus, comprising:

a sending address input unit for receiving input of a sending address by a user;

a receiving address input unit for receiving input of a receiving address by the user;

a list creation unit that creates a receiving address list that includes at least the receiving address input via the receiving address input unit;

an address adding unit that, when a sending address is input via the sending address input unit, automatically adds the sending address to the receiving address list containing the receiving address, in a format such that the sending address cannot be deleted from the receiving address list, wherein the address adding unit adds the sending address to the receiving address list in a format such that it cannot be deleted before sending from the receiving address list by the user who inputted the sending address in order to prevent or discover impersonation in e-mail transmission efficiently;

a display unit for displaying the receiving address and sending address contained in the receiving address list; and

a sending unit for sending an e-mail to the sending address based on the receiving address list.