JPH04213252A - Decentralized store distribution system for mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid the revision of the system by storing decentralizingly a mail to terminal equipment when a capacity of a mail storage section in a store distributer is deficient. CONSTITUTION:A decentralizing storage section 7 able to store mails is provided to terminal equipment 2-1-2-N in the mail system in which a store distributer 1 stores and distributes mails by using the terminal equipment 2-1-2-N. Moreover, a main store section 3 storing mails and a mail management means 4 to store the storage location of each mail and the distribution store location of mails are provided to the equipment 1. Moreover, the storage location of a mail is retrieved by a management means 4 when the distribution request of stored mails is received from the terminal equipment 2-1-2-N and a storage processing means 5 allowing a received mail to store in the main storage section 3 or a decentralized storage section 7 of a decentralized storage destination terminal equipment 2 by a mail storage request from the terminal equipment 2-1-2-N and the mail is read from the main storage section 3 or the decentralized storage section 7 and sent to the terminal equipment 2-1-2-N.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail storage and distribution method in a mail system. In recent years, email systems have become not only public systems used by unspecified users;
It is also seeing remarkable development as an in-house system. These mail systems tend to become even more popular in the future because security can be easily ensured by combining them with ISDN, which is increasingly being introduced.

[0002] In a mail system, a storage and distribution device is installed at a location corresponding to a center, and a large-capacity storage device (hereinafter referred to as the main storage section) for storing mail sent from terminal devices is installed in the storage distribution device. It is common practice to allocate and use a memory area within a storage unit for each terminal device or for each user ID.

[0003] In the current mail system, a storage and distribution device receives mail from a certain terminal device, stores it temporarily, and then sends the mail to another terminal device specified by that terminal device, which is used for the original mail communication. Not only that, but also because they are often used as files to store accumulated mail for a long period of time, it is easy for some terminal devices to run out of the allocated memory area. Furthermore, in corporate systems and the like, it is often necessary to add a new terminal device after allocating all the memory areas in the main storage unit to the terminal devices.

[0004] In such a case, it may be possible to deal with it by redistributing the memory area, but if redistribution is difficult, increase the memory capacity of the main storage section if possible, and if it exceeds the capacity of the system. I had no choice but to upgrade to a higher-end model.

[0005] However, updating the system requires a large amount of expense, and especially if it becomes necessary to update the system before its useful life, it will cause a large loss to the system operator. There is a need for a storage and distribution method that can save and store and distribute emails that cannot be stored in the department.

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a prior art. The figure shows an example of a mail system in a corporate communication network, and a PBX (private branch exchange) 30 has three FAX terminals 32-1 to 32-3 (hereinafter referred to as FAX11 to 13) is shown housed.

[0007] The storage and distribution device 31 and FAX 11 to 1
3 are accommodated in the extensions of the PBX 30, but in the same figure, for ease of viewing, the storage and distribution device 31 is housed in the FAX 11 to FAX 13.
It is placed on the opposite side.

[0008] First, a case in which the FAX 11 makes a request to store mail will be described. When storing documents or drawings, F
The AX 11 calls the PBX 30 and dials the telephone number (hereinafter referred to as the terminal number) of the storage and distribution device 31. When the PBX 30 receives this, it calls the storage and distribution device 31 and connects the FAX 11 and the storage and distribution device 31. In the storage and distribution device 31, a line from the PBX 30 is connected to the data transmitting/receiving unit 40 via the line handling unit 39.

[0009] In this state, the FAX 11 is sent to the storage and distribution device 31.
The request information for the FAX 11 includes the user ID number for identifying the FAX 11, the request content (in this case, the storage request),
The stored contents (in this case, FAX information), etc. are sent by code. After these pieces of information are identified by a control unit (not shown), they are sent to the storage processing unit 35, and then sent to the storage processing unit 35 and FAX.
While exchanging control information with FAX 11, the main body of the e-mail (in this example, FAX information) is sent from FAX 11. The storage processing unit 35 stores the received mail in the storage unit 33 via FA.
The information is sequentially stored in a memory area allocated for X11, and when the storage is completed, the mail number for identifying the mail and the end of storage are notified to the FAX 11. Due to this notification, FAX
11 requests PBX 30 to disconnect the line and sends a FAX
11 and the storage/distribution device 31 is disconnected.

[0010] Next, a case will be described in which the FAX 11 delivers the previously accumulated mail to the FAX 13. Storage and distribution device 3
The process up to connection to FA 1 is performed in the same way as for an accumulation request, and
Request content (delivery request) as request information from X11,
When the mail number for distribution, distribution destination information, etc. are sent, these information are sent to the distribution processing section 36. When the FAX 11 confirms that the requested information has been received by the storage and distribution device 31, it disconnects the call.

On the other hand, according to the request information, the distribution processing section 36
After connecting to the delivery destination FAX 13 via the PBX 30, the specified mail is read from the storage unit 33 and sent to the FAX 13.
Send to AX13. When the transmission is finished, a disconnection request is made to the PBX 30, the connection between the storage and distribution device 31 and the FAX 13 is severed, and the distribution process ends.

[0012] In the above, a large-capacity file device is normally used as the storage unit 33, but when storing FAX information, etc., the required storage capacity per sheet is large, so some users may use the allocated memory. There may be times when the entire area is used up. In such cases, the mail system administrator may try to reconfigure the memory area, but this is time-consuming and has its limits, so in the end, it becomes necessary to add more storage units, and the storage unit If expansion is not possible, it will be necessary to update the system to one with even larger capacity. In this case, a large amount of expense is required, and there is also a possibility that a mail system that has reached the end of its useful life may have to be renewed, which places a heavy burden on the mail system operator.

[0013]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional mail system, when there is insufficient capacity in the storage unit in the storage and distribution device, it is necessary to deal with it by adding more storage units or updating the system. This often placed a heavy financial burden on people.

[0014] The present invention makes it possible to avoid updating the mail system by distributing and storing mails in terminal devices when there is insufficient capacity in the main storage section of a storage and distribution device that stores mails. With the goal.

[0015]

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the storage and distribution device of the mail system;
2-1 to 2-N are a plurality of terminal devices, and 7 is a distributed storage unit that is provided in some or all of the terminal devices and is capable of storing mail under the control of the storage and distribution device 1.

Further, 3 to 6 are provided in the storage and distribution device 1, 3 is a main storage unit for storing mails sent from the terminal devices 2-1 to 2-N in units of terminal devices, and 4 is a main storage section for storing mails sent from the terminal devices 2-1 to 2-N. For each device 2-1 to 2-N, information specifying one or more terminal devices to which mail will be distributed and stored when predetermined conditions are met, and correspondence between stored mail and storage location. 5 is the terminal device;
When a mail storage request is received from 2-1 to 2-N, the received mail is stored in the main storage section 3, or when a predetermined condition is met, the mail management means 4 is configured to store the received mail in a distributed storage specified by the mail management means 4. A storage processing means 6 stores the stored mail in the distributed storage section 7 of the previous terminal device (for example, 2-2), when receiving a request for distribution of the stored mail from one of the terminal devices (for example, 2-1). When the storage location is the main storage section 3, the specified mail is read out from the main storage section 3 and sent to the delivery destination terminal device (for example, 2-N). The email is sent to the terminal device where the storage location is the distributed storage destination (e.g. 2
-2), it is a distribution processing means that reads and receives the designated mail from the distributed storage unit 7 of the distributed storage destination terminal device and then transmits it to the distribution destination terminal device 2-N.

[0017]

[Operation] In FIG. 1, the main storage section 3 in the storage and distribution device 1
sends mail from each terminal device 2-1 to 2-N to terminal device 2.
The terminal device 2-2 is configured to store mail in memory areas allocated for each of -1 to 2-N, and the terminal device 2-2 has a distributed storage section 7 that can store mail. In addition, the mail management means 4 specifies a terminal device as a distributed storage destination for each of the terminal devices 2-1 to 2-N, but the terminal device 2-2 is specified as the distributed storage destination for the terminal device 2-1. It is assumed that

When the terminal device 2-1 makes a request to store mail in the above state, the terminal device 2-1 makes a call to an exchange (not shown), connects to the storage and distribution device 1, and then requests the storage. The storage request information is sent to the storage processing means 5 of the distribution device 1, and the mail to be stored is transmitted.

After temporarily storing the received mail, the storage processing means 5 checks whether the conditions for storing the received mail in the distributed storage destination are satisfied. This condition can be confirmed by, for example, comparing the amount of received mail with the amount of memory in the unstored area of the memory area in the main storage unit 3 allocated to the terminal device 2-1, and determining the amount of memory for storing received mail. This is done by checking whether or not the data is left in the unaccumulated area. As a result, if it is confirmed that the amount of memory for storing the received mail remains in the unstored area of the main storage section 3, the received mail is stored in the main storage section 3.

[0020] If the memory amount of the unaccumulated area is smaller than the amount of received mail, the storage processing means 5 uses the mail management means 4.
, and confirm the distributed storage location of the terminal device 2-1, and in this example, obtain the telephone number of the terminal device 2-2. Next, the storage processing means 5 connects to the terminal device 2-2 via an exchange (not shown), transmits the received mail, and stores it in the distributed storage section 7. When the storage processing means 5 finishes storing the received mail, it causes the mail management means 4 to store the correspondence between the information identifying the received mail and the storage location.

Next, a case will be described in which the terminal device 2-1 delivers mail already stored to another terminal device, for example, the terminal device 2-N. The terminal device 2-1 is connected to the distribution processing means 6 of the storage and distribution device 1 via an exchange (not shown), and sends distribution request information necessary for distribution. After confirming that these pieces of information have been received by the distribution processing means 6, the terminal device 2-1 disconnects.

When the distribution processing means 6 receives the distribution request information, it accesses the mail management means 4 and checks the storage location of the designated mail. As a result, if it is confirmed that the mail is stored in the main storage section 3, a connection is made to the destination terminal device 2-N via the exchange, the corresponding mail is read out from the main storage section 3, and sent to the terminal device 2-N. Send.

[0023] If the corresponding mail is stored in the distributed storage section 7 of the terminal device 2-2, the distribution processing means 6 first connects to the terminal device 2-2 via the exchange, and the corresponding mail is stored in the distributed storage section 7 of the terminal device 2-2. is read out and temporarily stored, and then connected to the destination terminal device 2-N, and the temporarily stored mail is read out and sent to the terminal device 2-N.

As described above, in the present invention, when the memory area in the main storage section 3 of some terminal devices becomes insufficient or when a new terminal device to which a memory area cannot be allocated occurs, the distribution within the terminal device is Since mail can be stored in the storage section 7, it is possible to avoid updating the mail system due to a partial capacity shortage in the main storage section 3.

[0025]

[Example] Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram of an embodiment of mail storage processing of the invention, Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram of an embodiment of mail delivery processing of the invention, and Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram of an embodiment of mail distribution processing of the invention. It is an explanatory diagram of an example mail management table.

In FIG. 2, 10 is a PBX, 11 is a storage and distribution device, 12-1 to 12-3 are FAX terminals, 13 is a main storage section, 14 is a mail management section, 15 is a storage processing section, and 16
17 is a distribution processing unit, 17 is a distributed storage unit in the FAX terminal 12-2, 18 is a mail management table provided in the mail management unit 14, 19 is a line handling unit, and 20 is a data transmission/reception unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the mail management table 18, in which 18-a1 to 18-an are user-specific information in the mail management table 18, and 18-b is a distributed storage location designation section. , 18-c is a mail storage location storage unit. Hereinafter, the user information 18-a1 will be explained as information regarding the FAX terminal 12-1 (hereinafter referred to as FAX1).

In the example of FIG. 5, the user ID number of FAX 1 is "00A1", and the distributed storage location designation section 18-
It is stored that the first distribution destination when the predetermined condition b is met is FAX2, and that the second distribution destination when the first distribution destination is unavailable is unregistered. The information in this distributed storage location designation unit 18-b can be input directly to the storage and distribution device 1 through a console (not shown), or
Each terminal device such as AX1 to FAX3 is PBX1.
0 to the storage/distribution device 1, input it, and register it in advance. In addition, the mail storage location storage unit 18-c includes:
When the storage processing unit 15 stores a mail, the mail number and the storage location of the mail are stored in correspondence with each other. It can also accumulate in places.

[0029] The above predetermined conditions, namely:
Conditions for performing distributed accumulation include, for example: (A) User I
When the unstored area of the memory area in the main storage section 3 allocated in advance for the D number becomes small (B) When an e-mail is received from a terminal device specified by the user in advance (C) When the unstored area is reduced Type information (G3FAX,
There are cases in which information type (G4 FAX, voice, etc.) is received from a terminal device, but among these, (A) is the most important condition of the present invention that is common to all terminal devices. The above conditions are separately registered in the storage processing unit 15 (details are not shown), but only the condition (A) will be explained below.

Based on the above premise, the case where the FAX 1 shown in FIG. 2 makes a mail storage request will be explained with reference to FIG. Note that (A) to (R) in the text indicate corresponding items in the sequence of FIG. 3 to be referred to.

[0031] First, the FAX 1 requests the PBX 10 to connect to the storage and distribution device 1 by calling and dialing (a). Upon receiving this request, the PBX 10 connects and calls the storage and distribution device 1 (b). In the storage and distribution device 1, the line handling section 19 performs a response operation to the PBX 10 and extends the line to the data transmitting/receiving section 20. P
The BX 10 completes the path between the FAX 1 and the storage and distribution device 1 in response to the response from the storage and distribution device 1 (c).

[0032] In this state, the FAX 1 transmits storage request information by data communication (d), and this storage request information includes, for example, the following contents. (a) User ID number of sender (FAX 1): 00A1
(b) Request content: Storage request (c) Storage content: FAX In the information storage and distribution device 1, the control unit (not shown) receives the storage request information via the data transmitting/receiving unit 20, and sends the FAX
Identifies that the request from 1 is a storage request. As a result, the storage request information from the FAX 1 is transferred to the storage processing section 15, and the storage processing section 15 performs subsequent processing.

Next, when the FAX 1 transmits mail data (simply referred to as "mail"), the storage and distribution device 1 temporarily stores the received mail in a common information memory area (not shown), and also assigns an identification number to the received mail. 001”
and notify this email number to FAX 1 (e,
He, G). As a result, FAX1 makes a disconnection request to PBX10 by on-hook operation (H), and the PBX
10, the connection between the FAX 1 and the storage and distribution device 1 is disconnected.

The storage processing unit 15 is a FAX in the main storage unit 13.
Check the storage capacity of the unaccumulated area (remaining area) of the memory area allocated to 1 and compare it with the amount of received mail. As a result, if (storable capacity of unaccumulated area) - (amount of mail)>0, the received mail is stored in the memory area for FAX 1 in the main storage section 13. When the storage is finished, the memory management unit 14 is started and the user information 1 for FAX 1 in the mail management table 18 is
8-a1 records that the mail number "001" has been stored in the main storage section 3 in the mail storage location storage section 18-c. (This example is not shown in FIG. 3).

In the above comparison, if (storable capacity of unaccumulated area) - (amount of mail)≦0, it is determined that distributed storage should be performed, and the FAX in the mail management table 18 is
Search for user information 18-a1 for 1. As a result, the FAX 2 stored as the first distribution destination in the distribution storage location designation unit 18-b is confirmed, and the terminal number 88-2 is confirmed.
222 (nu). Next, the accumulation processing section 15 passes through the line correspondence section 19 under the control of a control section (not shown)
Make a call to BX10, send terminal number 88-2222, and connect to FAX2 (l, w). When the FAX 2 responds and the path is completed (W), the storage processing unit 15 transmits storage instruction information including the following information to the FAX 2 (F).
. The mail number in the instruction information is the above-mentioned "001", but in order to make the explanation consistent with the description in FIG. 5, it is assumed below that the mail number in the case of distributed storage is "002".

(d) User ID number of sender (FAX 1): 00A1
(e) Email number: 002 (f) Request content: Storage instruction (g) Storage content: FAX information After that, the storage and distribution device 1 sends and distributes the email while exchanging control information between the storage and distribution device 1 and the FAX 2. It is stored in the storage unit 17 (Yo, Ta). When the e-mail transmission is finished, the storage processing unit 15 records in the e-mail storage location storage unit 18-c of the e-mail management table 18 in FIG. A disconnection request is made to PBX10, and the PBX
10, the connection between the storage and distribution device 1 and the FAX 2 is severed, and the storage process ends (R).

Next, the operation when the FAX 1 requests the FAX 3 to deliver the stored mail with the mail number "002" will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. Note that (a) to (ne) in the text indicate corresponding items in the sequence of FIG. 4 to be referred to.

Storage and distribution device 11 in case of distribution request
The sequence (A, B, C) up to the completion of the path with is the same as for the storage request, so it will be omitted. When the path is completed, the FAX 1 sends distribution request information including the following information to the storage and distribution device 11, and disconnects the connection (d, e).
.

(h) User ID number of sender (FAX 1): 00A1
(i) Request content: Distribution request (j) Mail number: 002 (k) Distribution destination terminal number: 88-3333 (FAX 3) In the storage and distribution device 11, the distribution processing unit 16 receives the above distribution request information and executes the process shown in FIG. The mail storage location storage unit 18-c of the mail management table 18 is searched for the storage location of the corresponding mail, and the mail storage location of the mail number "002" is FAX2.
and that the terminal number is “88-2222” (f, g).

[0040] When the distribution processing unit 16 obtains the above result,
Call PBX10, dial 88-2222 and dial F
Request connection to AX2 (ch). connection is terminated,
When the FAX 2 responds and the path is completed (R, N), the distribution processing unit 16 sends the FAX 2 an instruction to send the stored mail including the following information (R).

(m) User ID number of sender (FAX1): 00A1
(n) Request content: E-mail transmission instruction (p) E-mail number: 002 The FAX 2 reads the information of the e-mail number “002” from the information accumulated in the distributed storage unit 17 and the storage and distribution device 11
Send to (wo).

[0042] Although it is necessary to ensure security when having the FAX 2 send mail, security can be ensured by including the ID information of the storage and distribution device 11 in the storage mail transmission instruction. Also, if the PBX10 is an ISDN type model, the PBX10
The interface between the terminal device including the storage and distribution device 11 is the ISDN I interface (BRI: Basic
Rate Interface, or PRI: Pri
-mary Rate Interface), the connection information sent via the D channel at the time of connection allows the FAX 2 to confirm that the originating terminal is the storage and distribution apparatus 11, making it easy to ensure security.

[0043] The storage and distribution device 11 temporarily stores the information of the sent e-mail in a memory (not shown) and sends it to the FAX 2.
Cut off the connection with (wa, ka). Next, the distribution processing section 15
connects to the destination FAX 3 (Yo, Ta) and FA
When X3 responds (R), it sends an e-mail transmission notification containing the following information, and then sends an e-mail (S, T).

(q) User ID number of sender (FAX 1): 00A1
(r) Request content: Mail transmission notification (s) Mail number: 002 When the transmission is finished, the distribution processing unit 15 requests the PBX 10 to disconnect, and the process ends (ne).

As described above, in the configuration of FIG. 2, even if a situation arises in which the unstored memory capacity of the memory area allocated to the main storage section is insufficient for storing mail, the pre-specified terminal device (FAX terminal) ), it is possible to deal with this problem without adding memory to the main storage unit or updating the system. In this case, a distributed storage unit is required on the terminal device side, but recent FA
Many terminal devices such as X terminals have a storage function, and with the advent of writable optical disk devices, it is easy to increase memory capacity. There is no difficulty in providing distributed storage.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, FIGS. 2 to 5 merely show one embodiment of the present invention, and the configuration, sequence, and mail management table are It goes without saying that the contents are not limited to these. For example, the terminal device is not limited to a FAX terminal, but may also be a voice terminal, and the number of terminal devices is of course not limited to three. Furthermore, the exchanger is P
The function and effect are not limited to BX, but are the same even if it is a central office exchange.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2, the storage and distribution device 11 and the FAX
Although FAX 1 to FAX 3 are accommodated in the same PBX 10, the effects of the present invention remain unchanged even if these are accommodated in different exchanges in a network constituted by a plurality of exchanges. 16. It is clear that a configuration in which all or part of the mail management section 14 is combined is easily possible. In addition, in the above example, in the storage process, if distributed storage is performed because the unstored area of the main storage section 13 is insufficient, the memory area sufficient to store the received mail in the distributed storage section 17 in advance is Although we have not confirmed whether this function remains, it is possible to easily add this function.

[0048]Also, in the above explanation, the terminal device that is the source of the distribution request and the terminal device that is the destination of the distribution are different, but the same operation can be performed even if the terminal device that is the request source and the destination is the same. It is clear that Further, in FIGS. 3 and 4, description of information exchange for confirmation when information is exchanged between devices is omitted, but it goes without saying that there may be other sequences than those shown in the figures, including these.

The present invention does not exclude such modifications.

[0050]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
When there is insufficient capacity in the mail storage unit in the mail storage and distribution device of the mail system, it is possible to store the mail in a distributed manner within the terminal device, so that the memory area allocated to the mail storage unit becomes insufficient. When a terminal device occurs, or when a new terminal device is added after all the memory area in the mail storage section has been allocated to the terminal device, increase the memory capacity of the mail storage section or update the mail system. It becomes possible to deal with the situation without any problems. For this reason,
It becomes possible to significantly avoid an increase in work such as design and construction work and economic losses due to system renewal, and it is possible to significantly improve the usage efficiency and economic efficiency of such a mail system.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Figure 1] Diagram explaining the principle of the present invention

[Figure 2] Embodiment configuration diagram of the present invention

[Figure 3] Sequence diagram of an example of mail accumulation processing of the present invention

[Figure 4] Sequence diagram of an example of mail distribution processing of the present invention

[Fig. 5] An explanatory diagram of the e-mail management table according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 6] Block diagram of conventional technology

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Storage and distribution device 2-1 to 2-N Terminal device 3 Main storage section 4. Email management means 5 Accumulation processing means 6 Distribution processing means 7 Distributed storage section

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A mail system in which a storage and distribution device (1) stores and distributes mail in response to requests from a plurality of terminal devices (2-1 to 2-N), wherein , a distributed storage section (7) capable of storing e-mails under the control of the storage and distribution device (1);
The storage and distribution device (1) includes a main storage section (3) that stores mail sent from the terminal devices (2-1 to 2-N) in units of terminal devices, and the terminal device (2-N). 1
~2-N) Store information specifying one or more terminal devices to which mail will be distributed and stored when predetermined conditions are met, and the correspondence between stored mail and storage locations. e-mail management means (4) and the terminal device (2-
1 to 2-N), the mail management means (1 to 2-N) causes the received mail to be stored in the main storage section (3), or when predetermined conditions are met.
4) Terminal device (2-2) as the distributed storage destination specified in
storage processing means (5) for storing data in the distributed storage unit (7) of
), and when a request to distribute the stored mail is received from one of the terminal devices (2-1), the mail management means (4) searches for the storage location of the mail, and determines that the storage location is the main storage section ( 3) If so, the specified mail is sent from the main storage unit (3) to the destination terminal device (2-N), and if the storage location is the distributed storage destination terminal device (2-2). Distributed storage unit (7) of the distributed storage destination terminal device
Distribution processing means (6) that reads and receives the specified email and then sends it to the destination terminal device (2-N).
1. A distributed storage and delivery method for a mail system, characterized in that the mail system is equipped with the following and enables mails to be distributed and stored in terminal devices.