E-mail distribution system, and E-mail distribution method

• US 8,271,002 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
• Original Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
• Inventors: Shinya, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US11/573,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20080233923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,527 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 709/206, 370/310, 370/310.2, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems

Abstract

A method and device capable of automating registration of a transmission mail address allowed for reception in a white list and reducing a user burden without an input error is provided. From a mobile unit, in respect of registration of a transmission address allowed for reception in a white list of an e-mail server, it becomes possible to eliminate a work of making an operation of inputting list data for updating the white list by utilizing information electronically stored in an address directory, and further, it becomes possible to reliably register the latest data free of an input error as a white list. In addition, the data stored in the white list of the e-mail server is transferred to a mobile terminal device, thereby making it easy to update an address directory due to a device model change.

Claims

1. A server device for distributing an e-mail via a communication line to a mobile communication terminal device of a user, said server device comprising:

a receiving device that receives from the mobile communication terminal device an address directory having stored therein communication partner information that includes an e-mail address of a communication partner and another communication identifier of the communication partner that is different from the e-mail address of the communication partner, wherein the e-mail address of the communication partner is different from an e-mail address of the user of the mobile communication terminal device;

a register device that registers in a list the communication partner information stored in the address directory received by the receiving device; and

a distribution device that performs identification processing on an e-mail received from a transmitter for distribution to the mobile communication terminal device, wherein the e-mail includes content text data, wherein the identification processing includes the distribution device determining an e-mail address of the transmitter,

wherein if the e-mail address of the transmitter of the e-mail is included in the list, the distribution device distributes the e-mail to the mobile communication terminal device, and

wherein if the e-mail address of the transmitter of the e-mail is not included in the list, the distribution device further performs the following;

determines, independently of the content text data of the e-mail, a different communication identifier of the transmitter of the e-mail, determines whether the different communication identifier of the transmitter is included in the list, and, if the different communication identifier of the transmitter is included in the list, distributes the e-mail to the mobile communication terminal device.

2. The server device of claim 1, wherein, in the case where a change has been made with an address directory of the mobile communication terminal device, the receiving device receives from the mobile communication terminal device an address directory from which a change has been made.

3. The server device of claim 2, wherein, in the case where a change has occurred with a communication network used for mail communication, the receiving device receives an address directory from the mobile communication terminal device.

4. The server device of claim 2, wherein the register device is capable of making a search of a storage memory for storing an e-mail address assigned to a subscriber of a mobile communication service, and, in the case where another mail address of the communication partner is stored in the storage memory, said another mail address is registered in the list as one of the e-mail addresses of the communication partner.

5. The server device of claim 1, wherein, every time a predetermined time has elapsed, the receiving device receives an address directory from the mobile communication terminal device.

6. The server device of claim 5, wherein, in the case where a change has occurred with a communication network used for mail communication, the receiving device receives an address directory from the mobile communication terminal device.

7. The server device of claim 5, wherein the register device is capable of making a search of a storage memory that stores an e-mail address assigned to a subscriber of a mobile communication service, and, in the case where another mail address of the communication partner is stored in the storage memory, said another mail address is registered in the list as one of the e-mail addresses of the communication partner.

8. The server device of claim 1, wherein the receiving device receives an address directory from the mobile communication terminal device in accordance with an arbitrary timing.

9. The server device of claim 8, wherein, in the case where a change has occurred with a communication network used for mail communication, the receiving device receives an address directory from the mobile communication terminal device.

10. The server device of claim 8, wherein the register device is capable of making a search of a storage memory that stores an e-mail address assigned to a subscriber of a mobile communication service, and, in the case where another mail address of the communication partner is stored in the storage memory, said another mail address is registered in the list as one of the e-mail addresses of the communication partner.

11. The server device of claim 1, wherein, in the case where a change has occurred in a communication network used for mail communication, the receiving device receives an address directory from the mobile communication terminal device.

12. The server device of claim 11, wherein the register device is capable of making a search of a storage memory that stores an e-mail address assigned to a subscriber of a mobile communication service, and, in the case where another mail address of the communication partner is stored in the storage memory, said another mail address is registered in the list as one of the e-mail addresses of the communication partner.

13. The server device of claim 1, wherein, if the e-mail address of the transmitter in the e-mail to be distributed to the mobile communication terminal device is not included in the list, when another mail address of the transmitter is included in the list, the distribution device distributes the e-mail to the mobile communication terminal device.

14. The server device of claim 13, wherein the distribution device is capable of making a search of a storage memory for storing an e-mail address assigned to a subscriber of a mobile communication service, and another mail address of the transmitter is acquired by making a search of the storage memory, based on the e-mail address of the transmitter in the e-mail to be distributed to the mobile communication terminal device.

15. The server device of claim 13, wherein the register device registers in the list another e-mail address of the transmitter in the e-mail.

16. The server device of claim 13, wherein the register device is capable of making a search of a storage memory that stores an e-mail address assigned to a subscriber of a mobile communication service, and, in the case where another mail address of the communication partner is stored in the storage memory, said another mail address is registered in the list as one of the e-mail addresses of the communication partner.

17. The server device of claim 1, wherein the register device is capable of making a search of a storage memory that stores an e-mail address assigned to a subscriber of a mobile communication service, and, in the case where another mail address of the communication partner is stored in the storage memory, said another mail address is registered in the list as one of the e-mail addresses of the communication partner.

18. The server device of claim 17, further comprising:

a transmission device that transmits the e-mail address registered in the list to the mobile communication terminal device.

19. The server device of claim 18, wherein information indicating which of the e-mail addresses registered in the list is an e-mail address acquired from the storage memory is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal device.

20. The server device of claim 17, further comprising:

a transmission device that transmits to the mobile communication terminal device mail addresses excluding the e-mail address acquired from the storage memory among the e-mail addresses registered in the list.

21. The server device of claim 1, wherein the other communication identifier of the communication partner is a telephone number of the communication partner.

22. The server device of claim 1, wherein the other communication identifier of the communication partner is another e-mail address of the communication partner.

23. A method for a server device to distribute an e-mail via a communication line to a mobile communication terminal device of a user, said method comprising the steps of

a server device receiving from the mobile communication terminal device an address directory having stored therein communication partner information that includes an e-mail address of a communication partner and another communication identifier of the communication partner that is different from the e-mail address of the communication partner, and then, registering in a list the communication partner information stored in the address directory, wherein the e-mail address of the communication partner is different from an e-mail address of the user of the mobile communication terminal device;

the server device performing identification processing on an e-mail received from a transmitter for distribution the mobile communication terminal device, wherein the e-mail includes content text data, wherein the identification processing includes the server device determining an e-mail address of the transmitter of the e-mail,

wherein, if the e-mail address of the transmitter of the e-mail is included in the list, the server device distributes the e-mail to the mobile communication terminal device, and

wherein, if the e-mail address of the transmitter of the e-mail is not included in the list, the server device further performs the following;

determines, independently of the content text data of the e-mail, a different communication identifier of the transmitter of the e-mail, determines whether the different communication identifier of the transmitter is included in the list, and, if the different communication identifier of the transmitter is included in the list, distributes the e-mail to the mobile communication terminal device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the other communication identifier of the communication partner is a telephone number of the communication partner.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the other communication identifier of the communication partner is another e-mail address of the communication partner.