KR100353258B1 - An apparatus and method for e-mail service - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronic mail service apparatus of the present invention provides a transmission / reception service of electronic mail to a user system connected through a network.

The electronic mail service apparatus includes: a database unit having a user database storing information on a user's identity and an image database storing image images; A user information management module managing information about a user stored in the user information database; If the background image is not inserted into the e-mail sent by the sender through the image image stored in the image database, and the background image is not inserted into the received e-mail, the user information of the receiver is extracted from the user information database, and the extracted user information and An image image management module for inserting a related image image as a background image of the received e-mail; And an e-mail analysis module for analyzing the contents of the received e-mail and analyzing the syntax of the e-mail to determine whether a background image is inserted in the received e-mail.

Description

E-mail service device and service method {AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR E-MAIL SERVICE}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic mail service apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an electronic mail service apparatus and method for adding an image image as a background to an electronic mail exchanged by communication users in the field of information and communication.

In general, the background of the e-mail is set to the default color (no color), so when users receive the e-mail, they receive only textual content or receive images and text separated. Due to the monotony of the e-mail, it is not possible to expect the same visual effects as when using patterned stationery in everyday life.

In addition, the advertising technique using e-mail is a method of delivering advertisement contents using only text, or separately creating a document mixed with graphics and text, and sending it as an attachment so that the recipient can open the attached file separately. Method and the like.

However, the advertisement provided by such a method may have a side effect of rejection if the recipient does not want it, and the size of the mail is large as well as the inconvenience of the sender having to write a file and send it as an attachment. There is a problem.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve such a problem, and to allow a sender to create and send an image image as a background image in an e-mail, and furthermore, a receiver image image or image processed in the background together with the received mail contents. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a visual enjoyment to the user by viewing the advertisement image and to enhance the effect of the advertisement.

1 is a view schematically showing an e-mail system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating a general e-mail transmission and reception process.

3 is a diagram illustrating a process in which an image image is added as a background image of an e-mail and transmitted.

4 is a diagram illustrating a process of separating and analyzing a received e-mail.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a sender sends an e-mail using an e-mail system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a receiver receives an e-mail using an e-mail system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of selecting an image image according to user information in the process of FIG. 6.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of storing a user-specified image in a database.

9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image stored in a database.

10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a user-specified image stored in a database.

Apparatus and method for adding a background image to an e-mail of the present invention, after extracting a portion corresponding to the e-mail from the packet unit data formed according to the network and the e-mail protocol through the analysis process, and then prepared the background Apparatus and method for inserting an image.

An electronic mail service apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for providing a transmission and reception service of an electronic mail to a user system connected through a network.

A database unit having a user database storing information about a user's image and an image database storing image images; A user information management module managing information about a user stored in the user information database; If the background image is not inserted into the e-mail sent by the sender through the image image stored in the image database, and the background image is not inserted into the received e-mail, the user information of the receiver is extracted from the user information database, and the extracted user information and An image image management module for inserting a related image image as a background image of the received e-mail; And an e-mail analysis module for analyzing the contents of the received e-mail and analyzing the syntax of the e-mail to determine whether a background image is inserted in the received e-mail.

On the other hand, the electronic mail service method according to one feature of the present invention

An e-mail service method of an e-mail service apparatus that provides a user's system for transmitting and receiving e-mail through a network, wherein the e-mail service apparatus has a user database storing information about a user's identity and an image database storing image images.

When the user accesses the web server and inputs user information, determining whether the user is a member who can receive an e-mail service; If the user is a member who can receive the service, the web server executing the e-mail creation program to allow the user to compose the e-mail; Providing a user with an image image stored in the image database to insert a background image into an e-mail created by the user; And transmitting to the receiver side an e-mail in which the image image selected by the user is inserted. If the user is a member capable of receiving the service, analyzing the contents of the e-mail received by the user and interpreting the syntax of the e-mail; Determining whether a background image is inserted into the received e-mail; And if the background image is not inserted in the received e-mail, checking the user information of the receiver from the user database, extracting an image image corresponding to the user information of the receiver from the image database, and receiving the extracted image image. Inserting as a background image in the mail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention.

1 is a view schematically showing an e-mail system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic mail system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a user system 100, a network 200 such as the Internet, and a web server 300.

The user system 100 includes an e-mail preparation module 110 for creating and sending an e-mail to be sent by a user through a user agent (UA), which is a mail program, and a web browser 120, which is a program for connecting to the Internet. ).

The network 200 receives the transmission information of one or more user systems and provides a path for delivering the information to the receiver.

The web server 300 manages information about a user stored in the user database 311 and a database unit 310 having a user database 311 in which information about a user's personal information is stored and an image database 312 in which image images are stored. The user information management module 320 to add the image stored in the image database 312 to the e-mail sent by the sender as a background image, the image image management module 330 to analyze and parse the e-mail received by the user ( and parsing the email analysis module 340.

The user system 100 may be a personal computer that is widely used by the general public as a medium for creating an e-mail and delivering it to a desired recipient. In an embodiment of the present invention, one or more user systems 100 are connected to a mail server via a network, and the user system may further include a user server for processing data of an e-mail transmitted and received.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the image image refers to a background image to be added to the e-mail. Specifically, the image image is an advertisement image to which advertisement text and an image are added or an image according to a user's taste.

The method for adding a background image to an e-mail according to an embodiment of the present invention applies the TCP / IP protocol of the Request Of Comments (RFC), which is currently the most widely used in the related art, The protocol is based on RFC's Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Post Office Protocol (POP), Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), and Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME).

2 is a view schematically showing a general e-mail transmission and reception process.

In the following description, it is assumed that the user system 100 is a server system that simultaneously performs the role of a user server, and the user system 100 may simultaneously perform a function of transmitting and receiving an e-mail.

When a user (sender) inputs necessary data using a user agent (UA), which is an e-mail program, to compose an e-mail (S10), the e-mail is temporarily stored in a sender's mail queue (MAIL QUEUE). do. (S11) Here, the mail queue refers to a state in which the sender waits for work until the sender sends mail to the receiver until the receiver server cannot immediately perform an operation for receiving an e-mail. The Message Transfer Agent (MTA) in charge of the mail transfer transmits the e-mail stored in the mail queue to the recipient mail server using TCP. (S12)

Then, the MTA of the receiver-side server 100 receives the e-mail transmitted from the outside (S13), and delivers the e-mail to each recipient's mailbox. (S14) Then, each recipient can view the e-mail through the mail program UA. (S15)

3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a process in which an image image is added as a background image of an e-mail and transmitted.

As shown in Fig. 3, when the sender composes an e-mail using the mail program UA according to the embodiment of the present invention and sends it to the receiver, an image image is inserted into the e-mail created by the user. (S20) In other words, when delivering an email from the application layer, which is generally the upper layer of TCP / IP, to the lower layer, an application header is added to this email data, but according to an embodiment of the present invention before the application head is added. A separate process of inserting an image image into an e-mail is performed. Insertion of such image images is made via UA.

Application headers, TCP headers, and IP headers are respectively added to the header of the e-mail in which the image image is inserted. (S21-S23) The data to which these headers are added is transmitted to the sender side including the Ethernet header through the Ethernet drive. (S24)

4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a process of separating and analyzing a received e-mail.

The received data is transferred from each lower layer of TCP / IP to the upper layer, where header information of each layer is removed as it passes through each layer. (S30-S33) The received data transmitted to the application layer will go through the analysis and parsing process for the e-mail. Here, parsing refers to a process of finding and analyzing a syntax structure related to an input sentence. Specifically, the mail server according to an embodiment of the present invention analyzes the UA which is the mail program used by the sender, parses the received data based on the analyzed UA, and determines whether a background image is inserted into the received e-mail. Check it. At this time, when the background image is not inserted into the received e-mail, the advertisement image or the image image is inserted into the e-mail and transmitted to the receiver.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of transmitting an e-mail using an e-mail system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, a user accesses the network 200, that is, the Internet, via the user system 100, executes the web browser 120, and accesses the web server 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thereafter, the user logs in to the web server 300 by inputting predetermined user information such as an ID and a password. (S110) Then, the web server 300 operates the user management module 320 to compare the input user information and the information stored in the user database 311 so that the user who is connected to the web server 300 can use the service. Make sure you are a member. In this case, if the user accessing the web server 300 is a member who can use the service, the web server 300 extracts user information from the user information database 311 through the user information management module 320. Here, the user information used in the embodiment of the present invention includes the user's gender, age, preferences, and the like.

Then, the web server 300 executes the UA so that a user connected to it can compose an e-mail, and the user composes the necessary e-mail using the UA provided by the web server 300. (S140)

On the other hand, if the user is not a service available in step S120, the web server 300 invites the user to register, and the user enters the member information by entering predetermined information in the registration form provided on a separate page. do. In this case, the user's information recorded by the user is stored in the user information database 311 through the user information management module 320.

In step S140, after the user creates an e-mail using the UA, the user determines whether to select an image image as the background image of the e-mail. (S150)

If the user wants to add the image of the image selected by the user to the e-mail in step S150, the user selects a desired image from the image image database 312 of the web server 300 or the user owns the image. The image is selected (S170), and the selected image image is inserted into the e-mail. In operation S150, when the user does not select an image image, the image image management module 330 of the web server 300 randomly selects an image image from the image image database 312 (S210). Insert into the mail (S180).

After inserting the image image into the e-mail, the web server 300 sends the inserted e-mail to the receiver side, and terminates the UA program. If the user wants to continue to send an e-mail (S190) and the above process is repeated (S200).

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving an e-mail using an e-mail system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 6, the receiver accesses the Internet, executes the web browser 120, accesses the web server 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and then logs in. In this case, if the user who accesses the web server 300 is a member who can use the service, the web server 300 may use the user information database 311 through the user information management module 320. Extract the information. On the other hand, if the user is not a service available in step S240, the user is invited to join the membership, and the user registers by entering predetermined information in a registration form provided on a separate page. In this case, the user's information recorded by the user is stored in the user information database 311 through the user information management module 320.

The user accesses the web server 300 and checks whether there is an e-mail received by the user, and if there is a received e-mail, the user checks the received e-mail through the e-mail analysis module 340 of the web server 300. Analyze and parse Specifically, when the user requests confirmation of the received e-mail, the e-mail analysis module 340 of the web server 300 first extracts the data of the e-mail and writes the received e-mail by some kind of e-mail program. It is distinguished. This is because the e-mail composition programs used by the companies currently providing e-mail services on the Internet are different for each company, and thus the composition of the e-mail is different for each service provider. If the e-mail writing program of the sender is extracted, the composition of the e-mail already input is analyzed, and the data of the e-mail is further subdivided through parsing and parsing (S270).

Then, the web server 300 determines whether the background image is already inserted in the data of the segmented e-mail. (S280) If the e-mail received in step S280 is written in UA, an e-mail program according to an embodiment of the present invention, and if it is determined that the background image is already inserted, the recipient immediately sends the e-mail without further processing. Make it available for viewing.

If it is determined in step S280 that no background image is inserted, the web server 300 queries user information such as gender, age, symbol, etc. as shown in FIG. The image is extracted from the image information database 312 through the image image management module 330. (S310) Fig. 9 shows a table structure of the image image stored in the image database 312 as described above. As shown in Fig. 9, in the table of the image image, the image information portion 901 and the image itself portion 902 are largely matched with each other, and the image information portion 901 is stored in the image such as the name and number of the image. Has reference information for

The web server 300 inserts the extracted background image as a background image of the e-mail (S320), so that the recipient can receive the e-mail with the background image inserted regardless of the type of the e-mail program in which the e-mail is created. .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by classifying and inserting the advertisement image of the company according to the user information, in particular in the above step S300-S320, the company can enhance the image of the enterprise through the high advertising effect and derive the purchasing power of the user On the other hand, the user has a feature that can create high added value through the present invention, such as providing an advantage that can be utilized in life by introducing product information that fits their preferences.

Next, a method of storing an image designated by a user in an image database of the web server 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

First, the user accesses the Internet, executes the web browser 120, accesses the web server 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and then logs in. (S340, S350)

In this case, if the user is a member, the user requests the web server 300 for a service for storing or changing his or her desired image in the database, and (S370) when the web server 300 responds to the request, The user selects an image to be stored or changed and sends it to the web server 300. In operation S390, the web server 300 operates the image image management module 330 to store and update the image sent by the user in the image image database 312 together with the related information. (S400).

If the user is not a member who can use the service, as described above, the user information is stored in the user information database 311 together with the user member registration.

Fig. 10 shows the configuration of the table of the image specified by the user in this way. As shown in Fig. 10, a table of images designated by a user includes a user-related information portion 1001 storing an image such as an ID and password of the user, an image-related information portion 1002 such as an image name and a number and an image itself portion 1003. ) Are stored in matched form.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, after grasping the packet information through analysis of the transmission format of the e-mail service providers, the service by inserting the background image through the parsing and parsing of the code of the packet service Regardless of the vendor, the background image of the e-mail can be viewed.

As described above, the present invention inserts an image image as a background of an e-mail sent and received in communication, so that the recipient can access the background image corresponding to the user's preferences simultaneously with the contents of the e-mail. By eliminating monotony, and identifying user information and selectively displaying specific advertisements, it is possible to increase the advertising effect that a company wants to obtain in the communication field.

Claims (11)

(Correction) An e-mail service apparatus for providing e-mail transmission / reception services to a user system connected via a network. A database unit having a user database storing information about a user's image and an image database storing image images; A user information management module managing information about a user stored in the user information database; If the background image is not inserted into the e-mail sent by the sender through the image image stored in the image database, and the background image is not inserted into the received e-mail, the user information of the receiver is extracted from the user information database, and the extracted user information and An image image management module for inserting a related image image as a background image of the received e-mail; And E-mail analysis module that analyzes the contents of received e-mails and parses the e-mails to determine whether a background image is inserted in the received e-mails E-mail service device comprising a. (delete) (delete) (delete) (Correct) In an e-mail service method of an e-mail service apparatus that provides a user e-mail transmission / reception service to a user system connected through a network, the user database storing information on a user's image and an image database storing an image image. , When the user accesses the web server and inputs user information, determining whether the user is a member who can receive an e-mail service; If the user is a member who can receive the service, the web server executing the e-mail creation program to allow the user to compose the e-mail; Providing a user with an image image stored in the image database to insert a background image into an e-mail created by the user; Transmitting an e-mail in which the image image selected by the user is inserted to the receiver side; If the user is a member capable of receiving the service, analyzing the contents of the e-mail received by the user and interpreting the syntax of the e-mail; Determining whether a background image is inserted into the received e-mail; And If the background image is not inserted into the received e-mail, the user information of the receiver is confirmed from the user database, and an image image corresponding to the user information of the receiver is extracted from the image database, and the extracted image image is received. E-mail service method comprising the step of inserting as a background image in the mail. In claim 5, The image database is And an image itself portion and an image information portion having reference information about the image are stored in match with each other. In claim 5, The image database is An e-mail service method characterized by storing an image desired by an individual user which a user accesses and inputs. In claim 7, The image database is A user-related information portion, an image-related information portion, and the image itself portion are matched and stored. (delete) (delete) (Correction) In Clause 5, And the image image is an advertisement image.