Abstract:
The present invention is to direct sender&#39;s attention to sending destination addresses and to prevent occurrence of missending of electronic mails. An electronic mail send program according to the present invention makes a computer execute: a determination step that determines whether or not a sending destination address specified for an electronic mail is a predetermined address; and an output step that displays a determination result thereof if the determination result of the determination step is positive, thereby to direct the user&#39;s attention to that the sending destination address is not wrong.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a computer-readable medium storing an electronic mail send program, electronic mail send device, and an electronic mail send method, which prevents wrong sending of an electronic mail by letting the user to check that a sending destination address is correct when sending an electronic mail. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A today&#39;s information device such as a personal computer (PC), PDA, or a mobile phone has a function to send an electronic mail and constitutes an electronic mail send device. In case of this electronic mail send device, a user specifies an address written in an address book of a mailer and presses down a send button. Then, a mail can be easily sent to the destination address. 
         [0005]    Known as part of technology relevant to this prior art is an electronic mail send device by which the user can select an electronic mail address without problems even when the display part thereof is small, and can also select easily a desired electronic mail address in a very short time even when there are a very large number of received mails (for example, see Patent Document 1: Jpn. Pat. AppIn. Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-219016). Also known is another electronic mail send device which manages relationships to individual persons. This electronic mail send device prevents the user from becoming estranged from acquaintances or friends without cares taken by the user (for example, Patent Document 2: Jpn. Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-281050). 
         [0006]    However, in this kind of electronic mail send device, sending destination addresses can be easily set and sent from an address book. This causes a risk that an unintended address may be set wrongly when selecting a sending destination address from the address book and the mail may be sent to the unintended address. In many cases, this kind of missending is left unaware unless who receives the mail gives an advice. Particularly when a business secret is sent to a private acquaintance at a similar address, a trouble may occur. Such missending is caused by sender&#39;s carelessness particularly when there are similar addresses. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above, and has an object of providing an electronic mail send program, electronic mail send device, and electronic mail send method, which can directs sender&#39;s attention to sending destination addresses of electronic mails, to prevent missending of electronic mails. 
         [0008]    To solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided an electronic mail send program that sends an electronic mail and makes a computer execute: a determination step that determines whether or not a sending destination address specified as a destination to which an electronic mail is to be sent is a predetermined address; and an output step that outputs a notification concerning whether sending of the electronic mail may be allowed or not, based on a determination result made by the determination step. 
         [0009]    The electronic mail send program according to the present invention further comprises an address setting step that sets a desired address, wherein the determination step determines whether or not the sending destination address is an address set by the address setting step, as the predetermined address. 
         [0010]    In the electronic mail send program according to the present invention, the determination step determines whether or not the sending destination address is an address, as the predetermined address, of which a period from a time point when a previous electronic mail was sent using the sending destination address or a time point when an electronic mail addressed at the same receiving destination address as the sending destination address was received to the current time point has passed a set period. 
         [0011]    In the electronic mail send program according to the present invention, the determination step determines whether or not the sending destination address is an address, as the predetermined address, which has a predetermined relationship with an address registered in an address book. 
         [0012]    In the electronic mail send program according to the present invention, the determination step determines whether or not the sending destination address is an address which has a relationship of similarity to an address registered in the address book, as the predetermined relationship. 
         [0013]    In the electronic mail send program according to the present invention, the relationship of similarity is based on spellings of addresses. 
         [0014]    In the electronic mail send program according to the present invention, the determination step is executed when an instruction to send an electronic mail is given. 
         [0015]    Also according to the present invention, there is provided an electronic mail send device for sending an electronic mail, comprising: a determination section that determines whether or not a sending destination address specified as a destination to which an electronic mail is to be sent is a predetermined address; and an output section that outputs a notification concerning whether sending of the electronic mail may be allowed or not, based on a determination result made by the determination section. 
         [0016]    The electronic mail send device according to the present invention further comprises an address setting section that sets a desired address, wherein the determination section determines whether or not the sending destination address is an address set by the address setting section, as the predetermined address. 
         [0017]    In the electronic mail send device according to the present invention, the determination section determines whether or not the sending destination address is an address, as the predetermined address, of which a period from a time point when a previous electronic mail was sent using the sending destination address or a time point when an electronic mail addressed at the same receiving destination address as the sending destination address was received to the current time point has passed a set period. 
         [0018]    In the electronic mail send device according to the present invention, the determination section determines whether or not the sending destination address is an address, as the predetermined address, which has a predetermined relationship with an address registered in an address book. 
         [0019]    In the electronic mail send device according to the present invention, the determination section determines whether or not the sending destination address is an address which has a relationship of similarity to an address registered in the address book, as the predetermined relationship. 
         [0020]    In the electronic mail send device according to the present invention, the relationship of similarity is based on spellings of addresses. 
         [0021]    In the electronic mail send device according to the present invention, the determination section is executed when an instruction to send an electronic mail is given. 
         [0022]    Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an electronic mail send method that sends an electronic mail, to be executed by a computer, comprising: a determination step that determines whether or not a sending destination address specified as a destination to which an electronic mail is to be sent is a predetermined address; and an output step that outputs a notification concerning whether sending of the electronic mail may be allowed or not, based on a determination result made by the determination step. 
         [0023]    According to the present invention, a senders attention can be directed to a sending destination address of a mail, with a simple structure, so that occurrence of missending of the electronic mail can be prevented. This can contribute to prevention of leakage of secret information by electronic mails and deterioration in communications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the overall structure of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing setting operation of the missending prevention function in the first embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is an explanatory view conceptually showing the setting operation of the missending prevention function in the first embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing the operation of missending prevention function in the first embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a view showing an alarm indication in the first embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing setting operation of the missending prevention function in a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is an explanatory view conceptually showing setting operation of the missending prevention function in the second embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing operation of the missending prevention function in the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a view of an alarm indication in the second embodiment; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is an explanatory view conceptually showing setting operation of the missending prevention function in a third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described as for an information processing apparatus having an electronic mail send device, with reference to the drawings. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the overall structure of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. This information processing apparatus  10  is applicable to any apparatus that has an electronic mail send device (electronic mail send function), including a PC, PDA, cellular phone or the like. This information processing apparatus  10  includes a CPU  1 , ROM  2 , RAM  3 , operation section  4  including operation keys and a screen input section, display section  5 , and an interface  6 . 
       First Embodiment 
       [0036]    The first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the first embodiment, a user feels that plural address in an address book are similar to each other. When the user is going to select one address of those addresses as a sending destination address, the address is felt to be easily mistaken for another. In this case, if the user is going to send an electronic mail to such an address as a transmission destination address, a missending prevention mechanism works to invite the user to pay attention to the sending destination address. 
         [0037]    For example, if two persons “Mr. Yamamoto” in a company and “Mr. Yamamoto” outside the company are registered in the address book, the missending prevention function is set to work with respect to the latter “Mr. Yamamoto” outside the company. Then, an alarm rings every time when “Mr. Yamamoto” outside the company is selected. 
         [0038]    In the following, setting operation for the missending prevention mechanism in the operation of the first embodiment will be described specifically with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing setting operation of the missending prevention function.  FIG. 3  is an explanatory view showing concepts of the operation. At first, as shown in  FIG. 3 , whether or not an address book  11  of a mailer has been activated is determined (step S 1 ). If the address book has been activated (step S 1 , Y), whether or not an address  12  has been selected (clicked) by a user operation is determined (step S 2 ), as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0039]    If an address is selected (step S 2 , Yes), whether or not a missending prevention button  13  has been pressed down is determined (step S 3 ). If the missending prevention button  13  has been pressed down (step S 3 , Y), a check mark (for example, mark!)  14  is attached to an address  12   a , and setting processing is terminated. 
         [0040]    This missending prevention button  13  is equipped in the address book. Alternatively, the button  13  may be equipped on an electronic mail creation screen such that this button can be pressed down in the process of creating an electronic mail. 
         [0041]    Next, operation of the missending prevention function when sending an electronic mail will be described specifically with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing the operation of the missending prevention function.  FIG. 5  is an explanatory view showing concepts of the operation. 
         [0042]    At first, an electronic mail is created (step S 11 ), and whether or not an electronic mail send button has been pressed down is determined (step S 12 ). If the send button has been pressed down (step S 12 , Yes), whether or not a sending destination address has been added with a check mark is checked (step S 13 ). If a check mark has been added (step S 14 , Yes), the missending prevention function works, and displays, for example, an alarm  16  as shown in  FIG. 5 , as a confirmation indication to the user with respect to the sending destination address (step S 15 ). If no check mark has been added (step S 14 , No), the electronic mail is sent intactly (step S 17 ). 
         [0043]    According to the alarm indication shown in  FIG. 5 , a question  16   a  asking whether or not the electronic mail can be sent now without changes is displayed, and an OK button  16   b , a cancel button  16   c , and a setting release button  16   d  are displayed. 
         [0044]    Upon a confirmation by the user, the OK button  16   b  is pressed down (step S 16 , Yes), and the electronic mail is sent intactly (step S 17 ). On the other side, if the setting release button  16   d  is pressed down (step S 18 , Yes), the setting is released and the electronic mail is intactly sent (step S 17 ). As the setting release button  16   d  is pressed down, the missending prevention function is released, and the check mark is deleted from the address book. Further, if the cancel button  16   c  is pressed down (step S 20 , Yes), the processing returns to step S 11 . 
         [0045]    According to the first embodiment, the user attaches a check mark to a sending destination address of an electronic mail which the user particularly pays attention to. In this way, when the user is going to send an electronic mail to the sending destination address, the missending prevention function works and attracts the user&#39;s attention, so occurrence of missending can be prevented. In the present embodiment, the missending prevention function to display an alarm indication is executed when the send button is pressed down. Needless to say, however, this function can be executed at the time when a sending destination address is inputted to an address column. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0046]    The second embodiment is configured to invite the user to pay attention when the user is going to send an electronic mail to an address, as a sending destination address, an address which has not been addressed for a long time. 
         [0047]    In the following, setting operation of the missending prevention mechanism in the operation of the second embodiment will be described specifically with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing setting operation of the missending prevention function.  FIG. 7  is an explanatory view showing concepts of the operation. 
         [0048]    At first, as shown in  FIG. 7 , whether or not an address book  21  of a mailer has been started up is determined (step S 31 ). If the address book  21  has been started up (step S 31 , Yes), whether or not a missending prevention button  23  has been pressed is determined (step S 32 ). If the missending prevention button has been pressed down (step S 32 , Yes), an unused period setting screen  24  is displayed (step S 33 ). 
         [0049]    The unused period setting screen  24  is provided with input columns  24   a  and  24   b , an OK button  24   c  to be pressed down after inputting, and a cancel button  24   d . The input columns  24   a ,  24   b  are to set how many days or more the address has not been used for or how many months or more the address has not been used for. The unused period setting screen  24  may be configured such that a message “input a number of press CANCEL” is displayed if the OK button  24   c  is pressed down with the columns kept not inputted (empty). 
         [0050]    It the OK button  24   c  is pressed down on the screen after inputting a period (step S 34 , Yes), a setting completion indication is given (step S 35 ). For example, the frame of the missending prevention button  23  is decorated by a bold line, so that the user can recognize setting completed. 
         [0051]    Otherwise, if the cancel button  24   d  is pressed down in place of the OK button  24   c  (step S 36 , Yes), the processing returns to step S 33 . 
         [0052]    Next, operation of the missending prevention function at the time of sending an electronic mail will be described specifically with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing operation of the missending prevention function.  FIG. 9  is an explanatory view showing concepts of the operation. 
         [0053]    At first, an electronic mail is created (step S 41 ). Whether or not a send button (not shown) for an electronic mail has been pressed down is determined (step S 42 ). If the send button has been pressed down (step S 42 , Yes), whether or not the transmission destination address of the electronic mail has been unused for a set period is checked (step S 43 ). If the address is determined as having been unused for a set period or longer (step S 44 , Yes), the missending prevention function works and displays an alarm  26 , for example, as a confirmation indication to the user with respect to the sending destination address, as shown in  FIG. 9  (step S 45 ). 
         [0054]    According to the alarm indication shown in  FIG. 9 , a question  26   a  asking whether or not the electronic mail can be sent now without changes is displayed, and an OK button  26   b , a setting release button  26   c , a cancel button  26   d , and a setting change button  26   e  are displayed. 
         [0055]    Upon a confirmation by the user, the OK button  26   b  is pressed down (step S 46 , Yes), the electronic mail is sent now without changes (step S 47 ). On the other side, if the setting release button  26   c  is pressed down (step S 48 , Yes), the setting is released (step S 49 ) and the electronic mail is intactly sent (step S 47 ). 
         [0056]    As the setting release button  26   c  is pressed down, the missending prevention function is released, and a period setting is released. If setting change button  26   e  is pressed down, the setting screen transits to the display step S 33  (step S 51 ). Further, if the cancel button  26   d  is pressed down (step S 52 , Yes), the processing returns to step S 41 . 
         [0057]    According to the second embodiment, the missending prevention function works when the user is going to send an electronic mail, using a sending destination address of an electronic mail which the user has not used for a long time. The missending prevention mechanism then attracts the user&#39;s attention, so that occurrence of missending can be prevented. Like in the first embodiment, the missending prevention function to display an alarm is executed when the send button is pressed down, in the present embodiment. Alternatively, the missending prevention function may be executed at the time point when a sending destination address is inputted to an address column, needless to say. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0058]    The first and second embodiments described above are based on addresses set by a user and unused periods. In addition, attention may be paid likewise when there is a similar address to a sending destination address, such as an address having the same account, the same domain, the same consecutive spelling, or the like. 
         [0059]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart explaining setting operation according to the third embodiment. At first, the mailer is started up. Then, a similar address automatic setting button (not shown) is provided as a missending prevention button described in the first and second embodiments, or together with the button. Further, if this button is pressed down (step S 61 , Yes), whether or not an account mode has been selected is determined (step S 62 ). In the account mode, the prevention function is let work in case of the same account. If this account mode has been selected (step S 62 , Yes) and if any address that has the same account as the sending destination address exists in the address book, the mode is set in which the address is searched for, and an alarm is displayed for each of those addresses (step S 63 ). 
         [0060]    Next, if a domain mode is selected (step S 64 , Yes) and if any address that has the same domain as the sending destination address exists in the address book, another mode is set (step S 65 ). In this mode, the address is searched for and an alarm is displayed. 
         [0061]    Otherwise, if a same consecutive spelling mode is selected (step S 66 , Yes), for example, the number of characters consecutively forming the same spelling as the spelling of the sending destination address is inputted (step S 67 ). Further, when sending an electronic mail, if any address having the number of characters consecutively forming the same spelling as the spelling of the sending destination address, which has been set in step S 67 , exists in the address book, further another mode is set (step S 68 ). In this further another mode, the address having the number of characters consecutively forming the same spelling is searched for, and an alarm is displayed. 
         [0062]    According to the setting of the same consecutive spelling mode, an alarm is displayed also when an address having the same account or the same domain is registered in the address book, depending on the inputted number of spelled characters. In this embodiment, the number of spelled characters can be inputted and set in case of a spelling in which one character is spelled continuously repeatedly. However, a different mode may be set. In this mode, an alarm is displayed if only several equal spelled characters exist even though the equal spelled characters are not consecutive. 
         [0063]    Operation concerning these alarms is the same as that described in the first embodiment. An alarm as shown in  FIG. 5  may be displayed if a search is executed from the address book on the search condition in each mode and if an address which satisfies the condition is found in the address book, as a result. In the first to third embodiments, an alarm based on the missending prevention function is displayed on the screen. In place of the alarm or in combination with the alarm, an alarm sound may be outputted. 
         [0064]    The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Needless to say, however, the embodiments each may be configured such that any of the embodiments or a combination of the embodiments can be selected and set in one information processing apparatus. 
         [0065]    In the embodiments of the present invention described above, steps shown in each flowchart may be stored in form of an electronic mail send program in a recording medium readable from a computer. In this way, the computer can be let execute the missending prevention function. In the present invention, the recording medium readable from a computer may include a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk, DVD disk, magneto-optical disk, or IC card, a database which stores a computer program, another computer and a database thereof, or further a transfer medium on lines.