U.S. patent application number 11/980400 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-20 for address inquiry system, computer software product, and address inquiry method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Norihiro Koizumi. Invention is credited to Yoichi Okudera.
Application Number | 20080071928 11/980400 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18806540 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080071928 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okudera; Yoichi |
March 20, 2008 |
Address inquiry system, computer software product, and address
inquiry method
Abstract
This system includes a changer data base, in which a changer
registers his or her own new address, relationally storing a new
address disclosing condition for an inquirer who wishes to know the
new address of the changer, a disclosure judge judging whether to
disclose the new address to the inquirer based on the new address
disclosing condition when the inquirer inquirers about the new
address with the presentation of an old address of the changer, and
a discloser disclosing the new address of the changer to the
inquirer if the disclosure judge judges that the new address is
disclosed. Hence, various responses, with a high degree of freedom,
can be made depending on a changer's intention when an inquiry
about the new address after change of the changer is sent from an
inquirer.
Inventors: |
Okudera; Yoichi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Norihiro Koizumi
Shizuoka-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
18806540 |
Appl. No.: |
11/980400 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09875208 |
Jun 6, 2001 |
|
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|
11980400 |
Oct 31, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/245 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 29/12301 20130101;
H04L 61/157 20130101; H04L 63/083 20130101; Y10S 707/99931
20130101; H04L 29/1216 20130101; H04M 3/42153 20130101; H04M 3/4931
20130101; H04L 69/40 20130101; H04L 61/2076 20130101; H04M 3/382
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/245 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 30, 2000 |
JP |
2000-329940 |
Claims
1. An address inquiry system for informing an inquirer of a new
address of a changer based on an old address of the changer via an
Internet, the old address having been changed to the new address,
the system comprising: a data base relationally storing at least
the old address, the new address, and an address disclosing
condition capable of setting a condition whereby the changer judges
whether to give permission to disclose the new address; a means for
searching the new address corresponding to the old address and the
address disclosing condition from the data base when the inquirer
sends an inquiry including the old address; a means for making the
changer confirm whether the new address is disclosed when the
address disclosing condition in searching includes the set
condition; and a means for informing the inquirer of the new
address via the system when the changer permits the disclosure of
the new address.
2. The address inquiry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
data base includes a list of specific inquirers who are refused
inquiries about the new address, the system further comprising: a
means for refusing an inquiry from the inquirer included in the
list.
3. The address inquiry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
data base relationally stores a plurality of old addresses and one
new address.
4. The address inquiry system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the
address disclosing condition is allowed to be set on each of the
plurality of old addresses in the data base.
5. The address inquiry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
old address and the new address each include at least one sort out
of an electronic mail address, an IP address, a Uniform Resource
Locator, a telephone number, an address, and a residence.
6. The address inquiry system as set forth in claim 5, further
comprising: a means for informing the inquirer of the new address
of a predetermined sort according to the sort of the old address
included in the inquiry sent from the inquirer.
7. The address inquiry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
inquiry sent from the inquirer includes a message text sent from
the inquirer to the changer, the system further comprising: a means
for sending the message text to make the changer confirm whether
the new address is disclosed according to the selection of the
changer.
8. A system for making an inquiry about an address, comprising: an
address data base, in which a registrant registers his or her own
address, relationally storing an address disclosing condition for
an inquirer who wishes to know the address of the registrant; a
disclosure judging means for judging whether to disclose the
address to the inquirer based on the address disclosing condition
when the inquirer makes an inquiry about the address of the
registrant; and an address disclosing means for disclosing the
address of the registrant to the inquirer via the system if the
disclosure judging means judges that the address is disclosed,
wherein the disclosing condition includes information about
inquirers to whom the address is disclosed or not disclosed,
wherein the disclosure judging means includes a confirming means
for making the registrant confirm whether the address is disclosed
to the inquirer when the inquirer who inquires about the address is
not registered in the inquirers in the disclosing condition,
wherein the confirming means informs the registrant of the
attribute information about the inquirer at the time of
confirmation, wherein the address data base stores one, or two or
more old addresses of the registrant, and wherein the disclosure
judging means receives the old address of the registrant in the
inquiry about the address of the registrant from the inquirer and
acquires the address disclosing condition of the registrant by
searching the address data base with this old address.
9. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the address data
base stores one, or two or more old addresses of the registrant,
and wherein the disclosure judging means receives the old address
of the registrant in the inquiry about the address of the
registrant from the inquirer and acquires the address disclosing
condition of the registrant by searching the address data base with
this old address.
10. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the information
about the inquirers to whom the address is disclosed or not
disclosed includes information that the address is disclosed or not
disclosed to all of the inquirers or only a part thereof.
11. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the attribute
information includes a profile of the inquirer.
12. The system as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: an
inquirer attribute information storing means for previously storing
the attribute information about the inquirer; and an inquirer
attribute information registering means for accepting registration
of the attribute information from the inquirer when the attribute
information of the inquirer is not stored by the inquirer attribute
information storing means.
13. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the confirming
means allows a part or all of a message to the registrant received
from the inquirer to be sent to the registrant.
14. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the confirming
means includes a disclosing condition registering means for
receiving a confirmation result from the registrant and registering
the inquirer in the disclosing condition as an inquirer to whom the
address is disclosed or not disclosed.
15. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the disclosure
judging means refuses to disclose the address to the inquirer when
a response to a confirmation requested by the confirming means is
not obtained from the registrant before a predetermined
deadline.
16. The system as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: a means
for informing the registrant that the inquirer made the inquiry
about the address.
17. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the address is an
electronic mail address.
18. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the address is a
home page address.
19. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the address is a
telephone number or an address/residence.
20. A computer software product for instructing a computer system
to inquire of a system according to claim 8 for making an inquiry
about an address comprising: a storage medium; and an inquiry
instructing means, stored in the storage medium and started based
on the return of an electronic mail because its destination is
unknown, for instructing the computer system to inquire of the
system for making the inquiry about the address about an electronic
mail address of an addressee of the electronic mail.
21. A computer software product for instructing a computer system
to inquire of a system according to claim 8 for making an inquiry
about an address, comprising: a storage medium; and an inquiry
instructing means, stored in the storage medium and started based
on the impossibility of display of a home page because its
destination is unknown, for instructing the computer system to
inquire of the system for making the inquiry, about the address
about an address of the home page.
22. The computer software product as set forth in claim 21, further
comprising: a home page displaying means for instructing the
computer system to display the home page concerned in the address
based on the disclosure of the address by the system for inquiring
about the address.
23. A method for inquiring about an address of a registrant with a
system connecting to an Internet, comprising: an inquiry receiving
step of receiving an inquiry about the address of the registrant
from an inquirer; a registration judging step of judging whether
the registrant is registered in an address data base; a disclosure
judging step of judging whether the address is disclosed to the
inquirer based on a predetermined disclosing condition when the
registrant is registered in the address data base; and an address
disclosing step of disclosing the address of the registrant to the
inquirer via the system if it is judged that the address is
disclosed in the disclosure judging step, wherein the disclosing
condition includes information about inquirers to whom the address
is disclosed or not disclosed, wherein the disclosure judging step
includes a confirming step of making the registrant confirm whether
the address is disclosed to the inquirer when the inquirer who
inquires about the address is not registered in the inquirers in
the disclosing condition wherein attribute information about the
inquirer is reported to the registrant in the confirming step, and
wherein it is judged whether the registrant is registered by
searching the data base with an old address of the registrant in
the registration judging step.
24. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein the registration
judging step includes a step of making the inquirer select a
registrant whose address the inquirer inquires about when the old
address of the registrant is registered for a plurality of
registrants in the data base.
25. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein the attribute
information includes a profile of the inquirer.
26. The method as set forth in claim 23, further comprising: an
inquirer attribute information storing step of previously receiving
and storing the attribute information about the inquirer.
27. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein a part or all of a
message to the registrant received from the inquirer is allowed to
be sent to the registrant in the confirming step.
28. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein the confirming
step includes a disclosing condition registering step of receiving
a confirmation result from the registrant and registering the
inquirer in the disclosing condition as an inquirer to whom the
address is disclosed or not disclosed.
29. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein the disclosure of
the address to the inquirer is refused in the disclosure judging
step when a response to a confirmation requested in the confirming
step is not obtained from the registrant before a predetermined
deadline.
30. The method as set forth in claim 23, further comprising: a step
of informing the registrant that the inquirer made the inquiry
about the address.
31. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein the address is an
electronic mail address.
32. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein the address is a
home page address.
33. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein the address is a
telephone number or an address/residence.
34. The method as set forth in claim 31, further comprising: a step
of making an inquiry about the address based on the return of an
electronic mail sent from the inquirer to the registrant because
its destination is unknown.
35. The method as set forth in claim 32, further comprising: a step
of making an inquiry about the home page address of the registrant
based on the refusal of a request for the display of a home page
transmitted from the inquirer to the registrant because its
destination is unknown.
36. The address inquiry system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
attribute information about the inquirer includes identity
information of the inquirer.
37. The address inquiry system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the
attribute information about the inquirer includes identity
information of the inquirer.
38. The address inquiry system as set forth in claim 23, wherein
the attribute information about the inquirer includes identity
information of the inquirer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an address inquiry system,
a computer software product, and an address inquiry method, for
example, used when one, who gets access to an old address of a
changer who has changed his or her address and cannot communicate
with the changer, inquires about a new address of the changer.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] When two persons or corporations who are away from each
other communicate with each other bi-directionally or
uni-directionally, the other party concerned in communication is
generally specified by the use of some address. When this address
is wrong, the communication with the aforesaid other party is
impossible.
[0005] In some cases, however, the address of the other party is
unknown because the other party has moved. Therefore, various means
for disclosing a new address of a new location to an inquirer have
been hitherto provided.
[0006] In the case of a telephone number, for example, it is
possible to automatically inform one who got access to an old
telephone number about a new telephone number of a new location for
a fixed period of time.
[0007] Even when the old telephone number is unknown, a paper
telephone directory (the Yellow Page or White Page), commercially
available package software thereof, and the like are given as means
for searching someone's telephone number from his or her name and
the like. If such means are used, anyone can know a new telephone
number of a new location as far as the telephone number is
registered.
[0008] Also regarding a mail address, an electronic mail address,
(hereinafter defined as an e-mail address in this embodiment) a
home page address (URL), and the like in addition to the telephone
number, the similar listing service is provided, and a desired
address can be known without any limitation as far as the address
is registered in the list.
[0009] Incidentally, in the case of a mail address, mail is only
forwarded to a registered new address without a post office
disclosing the new address to a sender. Therefore, in this case, it
is necessary for a receiver of the mail to inform the sender of the
mail about the new address on another occasion.
[0010] According to the aforesaid conventional services, however,
the following problems of various sorts which need to be solved
exist.
[0011] (1) In most of conventional services, as described in
Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 11-74931, a new address of a changer
is disclosed to an inquirer unconditionally or by the input of a
password if the inquirer inquires about an old address of the
changer and the said old address is registered. Namely, in such
services, the new address can be reported or not be reported
depending on a password and the like, but it is impossible to
selectively inform the inquirers about the new address depending on
individual inquirers.
[0012] (2) In the services like this, the changer side cannot know
when or to whom the new address is disclosed.
[0013] (3) Conventionally, to notify a third party of change
information about a URL of a home page, it is necessary to notify
him or her of a URL (a new address) of a new home page on the old
home page. Therefore, the domain name of the old home page and a
contract with an Internet service provider needs to be maintained,
which causes a problem that the cost thereof needs to be borne
during the notification of change information.
[0014] (4) When change information about a telephone number or mail
address is given, there is a limit in terms of a period to the
present service of a telephone office or a post office.
[0015] (5) In the case of mail service, the receiver needs to
inform a sender of mail delivered to the old address about the new
address on another occasion by himself or herself as described
above.
[0016] (6) Meanwhile, in transport by the majority of private
companies, it is impracticable to make a forwarding request to all
of transport companies, and moreover, some private companies do not
accept such a request.
[0017] (7) Addresses sometimes cease to be used for some reason.
Namely, the use of the addresses themselves is sometimes stopped
without the telephone number being changed. In this case, since the
conventional service handles only addresses of the same sort, some
who know only the telephone number cannot know other addresses of
the changer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] An object of the present invention is to provide a new
address inquiry system with a high degree of freedom in compliance
with the wishes of a changer and an inquirer who inquires about a
new address of the changer.
[0019] To solve the aforesaid problems, according to a first aspect
of the present invention, an address inquiry system for informing
an inquirer of a new address of a changer based on an old address
of the changer via an Internet, comprising: a data base
relationally storing at least the old address, the new address, and
an address disclosing condition capable of setting a condition
whereby the changer judges whether to give permission to disclose
the new address; a means for searching the new address and the
address disclosing condition corresponding to the old address from
the data base when the inquirer sends an inquiry including the old
address; a means for making the changer confirm whether the new
address is disclosed when the address disclosing condition in
searching includes the set condition; and a means for informing the
inquirer of the new address when the changer permits the disclosure
of the new address is provided.
[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to make
the changer judge whether to give permission to disclose the new
address, which makes it possible to inform only inquirers desired
by the changer about the new address of the changer.
[0021] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a
system for making an inquiry about an address, comprising: an
address data base, in which a registrant registers his or her own
address, relationally storing an address disclosing condition for
an inquirer who wishes to know the address of the registrant; a
disclosure judging means for judging whether to disclose the
address to the inquirer based on the address disclosing condition
when the inquirer makes an inquiry about the address of the
registrant; and an address disclosing means for disclosing the
address of the registrant to the inquirer if the disclosure judging
means judges that the address is disclosed is provided.
[0022] According to the present invention, various responses can be
given to the inquiry about the address from the inquirer in
accordance with the address disclosing condition set by the
registrant (for example, a changer who changed his or her old
address to a new address) which registered his or her own address.
For example, depending on inquirers, various sorts of settings, for
example, refusal of an inquiry from the said inquirer,
unconditional disclosure of the address, confirmation by the
registrant, and the like can be made, and moreover they can be
automatically executed.
[0023] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a
computer software product for instructing a computer system to
inquire of a system for making an inquiry about an address, about
an address, comprising: a storage medium; and an inquiry
instructing means, stored in the storage medium and started based
on the return of an e-mail because its destination is unknown, for
instructing the computer system to inquire of the system for making
the inquiry about the address, about an e-mail address of an
addressee of the e-mail is provided.
[0024] According to the present invention, the inquiry instructing
means is started based on the receipt of a notice of non-delivery
of the e-mail by e-mail software installed in the computer, for
example, which makes it possible to inquire of the system according
to the first or the second aspect about the address by using the
e-mail address related to the non-delivery.
[0025] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a
computer software product for instructing a computer system to
inquire of a system for making an inquiry about an address, about
an address, comprising: a storage medium; and an inquiry
instructing means, stored in the storage medium and started based
on the impossibility of display of a home page because its
destination is unknown, for instructing the computer system to
inquire of the system for making the inquiry about the address,
about an address of the home page is provided.
[0026] According to the present invention, the inquiry instructing
means is started based on the receipt of a notice of the refusal of
a request for display of a URL by a browser installed in the
computer, for example, which makes it possible to inquire of the
system according to the first or the second aspect about the
address by using an old URL related to the impossibility of
display.
[0027] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a
method for inquiring about an address of a registrant, comprising:
an inquiry receiving step of receiving an inquiry about the address
of the registrant from an inquirer; a registration judging step of
judging whether the registrant is registered in an address data
base; a disclosure judging step of judging whether the address is
disclosed to the inquirer based on a predetermined disclosing
condition when the registrant is registered in the address data
base; and an address disclosing step of disclosing the address of
the registrant to the inquirer if it is judged that the address is
disclosed in the disclosure judging step is provided.
[0028] According to aforesaid configuration, the system according
to the first or the second aspect can be executed.
[0029] These objects and still other objects and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent upon reading the following
specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the entire
configuration of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
changer database;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an
inquirer data base;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing an address
inquiry system;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the registration process of
changer information;
[0035] FIG. 6 shows an example of an interface screen for
explaining the registration of the changer information;
[0036] FIG. 7 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the registration of the changer information;
[0037] FIG. 8 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the registration of the changer information;
[0038] FIG. 9 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the registration of the changer information;
[0039] FIG. 10 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the registration of the changer information;
[0040] FIG. 11 is a first flowchart showing the process of
registration of inquirer information and inquiry about a new
address;
[0041] FIG. 12 shows an example of an interface screen for
explaining the registration of inquirer information;
[0042] FIG. 13 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the registration of the inquirer information;
[0043] FIG. 14 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the registration of the inquirer information;
[0044] FIG. 15 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the registration of the inquirer information;
[0045] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an
inquirer terminal in which special-purpose software for inquiry is
installed;
[0046] FIG. 17 is a second flowchart showing registration of
inquirer information and the process of inquiry about the new
address;
[0047] FIG. 18 shows an example of an interface screen for
explaining the inquiry process in which the special-purpose
software for inquiry is used;
[0048] FIG. 19 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry process in which the special-purpose
software for inquiry is used;
[0049] FIG. 20 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry process in which the special-purpose
software for inquiry is used;
[0050] FIG. 21 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry process in which the special-purpose
software for inquiry is used;
[0051] FIG. 22 is a third flowchart showing the process of
registration of inquirer information and inquiry about the new
address;
[0052] FIG. 23 shows an example of an interface screen for
explaining an inquiry operation by an address inquiry system;
[0053] FIG. 24 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry operation by the address inquiry system;
[0054] FIG. 25 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry operation by the address inquiry system;
[0055] FIG. 26 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry operation by the address inquiry system;
[0056] FIG. 27 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry operation by the address inquiry system;
[0057] FIG. 28 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry operation by the address inquiry system;
[0058] FIG. 29 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry operation by the address inquiry system;
[0059] FIG. 30 shows an example of an interface screen for
explaining another embodiment of the present invention;
[0060] FIG. 31 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry operation by the address inquiry system;
and
[0061] FIG. 32 shows an example of the interface screen for
explaining the inquiry operation by the address inquiry system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0062] A Preferred embodiment of the present invention will be
explained below with reference to the drawings.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, an address inquiry system 1 according to
this one embodiment is connected to an Internet 2 and structured to
be able to bi-directionally communicate with a terminal (a changer
terminal 4) of a changer 3 and a terminal (an inquirer terminal 6)
of an inquirer 5.
[0064] The changer 3 is defined here as an individual or a
corporation (hereinafter defined as an individual in this
embodiment) who has moved, for some reason, from an old address to
a new address, has changed his or her own address from the old
address to the new address, or has stopped the use of the old
address. The inquirer 5 is defined here as an individual or a
corporation (hereinafter defined as an individual in this
embodiment) which inquires about the new address of the changer 3
since an access by the old address of the changer 3 is refused in
transmitting e-mail, requesting data, and the like to the old
address.
[0065] Further, an address is defined here as information for
specifying a position of his or her own in communication by the use
of existing communication means, and an e-mail address, an IP
address, a URL, a telephone number, a mail address, and the like
are given as its examples. When these addresses are unknown or
incorrect, it is impossible to communicate with the other party
through the use of their corresponding communication systems.
[0066] An object of the present is to provide the address inquiry
system 1 capable of flexibly coping with an intention of the
changer 3 when the inquirer 5 inquires about the new address based
on the old address of the changer 3.
[0067] Elements of this embodiment will be explained below in
detail.
[0068] This address inquiry system 1 is mainly composed of a
changer data base 10 storing information about the changer 3, an
inquirer data base 11 storing information about the inquirer 5 who
inquires about the new address, and an information processing unit
12 processing the inquiry from the inquirer 5 based on the
information stored in these data bases 10 and 11.
[0069] These elements will be explained below.
[0070] (Changer Data Base)
[0071] As shown in FIG. 2, the changer data base 10 stores a
changer authenticating information 14 including a changer ID 21 and
a changer password 22 for specifying the changer 3, change
information 15 including one, or two or more old addresses 23 and a
new address 24, a changer attribute information 16 storing the
property of the changer 3, a changer profile information 33 for
characterizing the changer 3, an address disclosing condition 17
storing responses depending on the inquirers 5, an inquiry refusal
list 18 storing a list of the inquirers 5 who are refused an
inquiry, a confirmation form format 19 which is sent to the changer
3 to confirm whether the new address 24 is disclosed or not, and a
changer reference address 20 (an e-mail address) provisionally
assigned to the changer 3.
[0072] The changer authenticating information 14 such as the
changer ID 21 and the changer password 22 is information required
for security when information is registered or changed in the
changer data base 10 and issued to the changer 3 who has registered
the new address 24 and the like in the address inquiry system
1.
[0073] The change information 15 is composed of a disclosure rule
25 in addition to the old address 23 and the new address 24
described above. The sorts of addresses which can be registered in
this embodiment are four sorts such as an e-mail address, a home
page URL, a telephone number, and an address, and the changer 3 is
requested to register the old address 23 and the new address 24
concerning at least one or more sorts out of the aforesaid sorts.
In this embodiment, after the old address 23 and the new address
24, codes 26 and 27 denoting the sorts of these addresses are given
(FIG. 2). Incidentally, two or more old addresses 23 or new
addresses 24 may be registered per one sort.
[0074] Moreover, by setting the disclosure rule 25, the changer 3
can freely set the sort of the new address 24 to be disclosed when
receiving an inquiry with the presentation of each old address 23.
Namely, when any of the aforesaid four sorts of old addresses 23 is
presented, the new address 24 different from the presented old
address 23 in sort can be disclosed or a plurality of new addresses
24 can be disclosed. For example, such setting that a new e-mail
address is disclosed when an inquiry with the presentation of an
old telephone number is received, or a new e-mail address and a new
home page URL are disclosed when an inquiry with the presentation
of an old mail address is received can be performed.
[0075] The changer attribute information 16 is one in which the
changer 3 previously registers information other than the old
address 23 such as a name and an address capable of distinguishing
and specifying the changer 3 himself or herself. The changer
profile information 33 is one in which the changer 3 previously
registers a profile other than the changer attribute information 16
such as a self-introduction capable of characterizing the changer
3. For example, in many cases, an e-mail address is composed by a
combination of alphabets, numbers and symbols, and the like, and
the owner thereof cannot be specified by this e-mail address only.
Therefore, the changer attribute information 16 and the changer
profile information 33 are useful information for confirming
whether the owner of the address is the changer 3 of whom the
inquirer 5 wishes to inquire.
[0076] Response patterns (the numerals 28 to 30 in FIG. 2) of this
address inquiry system 1 in the case where an inquiry with the
presentation of the old address 23 is received from the inquirer 5
are previously registered in the address disclosing condition 17.
In this embodiment, the changer 3 can set a response by selecting
one from the following three sorts of responses (1) to (3).
[0077] (1) "Disclose a new address instantly." (the numeral 28 in
FIG. 2)
[0078] This response pattern means that the new address 24 is
disclosed to the specific inquirer 5 or the inquirer 5 which
fulfills a fixed condition without making the changer 3 confirm
whether the new address 24 is disclosed or not. In this embodiment,
the new address 24 is disclosed to all the inquirers 5
unconditionally by the selection of this item. Incidentally, it is
suitable that a new address disclosure list is prepared and that
the new address 4 is disclosed only to the inquirers 5 included in
this list without the confirmation of the changer 3.
[0079] (2) "Make the changer 3 judge whether to disclose a new
address by transmitting information about the inquirer 5 without
disclosing the new address instantly." (the numeral 29 in FIG.
2)
[0080] This response pattern means that when the inquirer 5 which
inquires about an address fulfills or does not fulfill a specific
condition, the information of this inquirer 5 is transmitted to the
changer 3 for confirmation. In this case, the changer 5 can judge
whether to give permission to disclose the new address 24 after
confirming who the inquirer 5 is, for what purpose the inquirer 5
requests the disclosure of the new address 24, and the like from
the information about the inquirer 5.
[0081] (3) "Refuse an inquiry about a new address instantly." (the
numeral 30 in FIG. 2)
[0082] This response pattern means that when the inquirer 5 which
is going to inquire about an address fulfills or does not fulfill a
specific condition, the inquiry about the address is automatically
refused. Incidentally, in this embodiment, when this item is
selected, inquiries from all the inquirers 5 are refused
unconditionally.
[0083] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, by registering the inquirers
5, inquiries from whom the changer 3 wishes to refuse, in the
inquiry refusal list 18, setting such that inquiries from the
inquires 5 registered in this inquiry refusal list 18 are refused
even when the pattern (1) or the pattern (2) is selected is
possible.
[0084] It is possible to previously register the other parties,
inquiries from whom the changer 3 wishes to refuse, in the inquiry
refusal list 18. In this embodiment, however, also when the
response of "Do not disclose new address, and refuse inquiry from
this inquirer hereafter" (See the hyperlink 112 in FIG. 23) is
selected when the changer 3 makes a judgment in the pattern (2), an
e-mail address of this inquirer 5 is automatically registered in
the inquiry refusal list 18.
[0085] In this embodiment, the respective responses of the patterns
(1) to (3) can be set in each of the registered old addresses 23.
For example, it is possible that when an inquiry about the new
address 24 with the presentation of an old home page URL is
received, "Disclose a new address instantly" (the pattern (1)) is
selected, and that when an inquiry with the presentation of an old
telephone number is received, the response of "Make a changer judge
whether to disclose a new address by transmitting information about
an inquirer without disclosing the new address instantly." (the
pattern (2)) is sent through the address inquiry system 1.
[0086] Meanwhile, in the confirmation form format 19, the format of
the confirmation form for the permission of disclosure sent from
the address inquiry system 1 to the changer 3 can be set in the
case of the response pattern (2). Namely, in this embodiment, as
will be explained later, the inquirer 5 first makes out an inquiry
message for the address inquiry system 1, and the address inquiry
system 1 draws up the confirmation form for the changer 3 based on
this inquiry message. It is possible to include an important matter
(a message text and the like) from the inquirer 5 in this
confirmation form. In the confirmation form format 19, "with
message text" 31 or "without message text" 32, which means that a
message text included in an inquiry message from the inquirer 5 is
included or not included in the confirmation form for the changer
3, can be selected.
[0087] As will be explained later, even if the "without message
text" 32 is set in the confirmation form format 19, the changer 3
can obtain the message text from the inquirer 5 by e-mail
later.
[0088] The changer reference address 20 is an e-mail address issued
by the address inquiry system 1 to exchange communications
including the confirmation form with the changer 3, and issued when
the changer 3 has no e-mail address or does not want to use its own
e-mail address even if he or she has the address, or issued for
ensuring security.
[0089] (Inquirer Data Base)
[0090] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3, the inquirer data base 11
stores an inquirer authenticating information 35 composed of an
inquirer ID 41 and an inquirer password 42 for authenticating the
inquirer 5, an inquiry log 36, an inquirer attribute information
37, an inquirer profile information 38, an inquirer reference
address 39, and the like.
[0091] The inquirer authenticating information 35 such as the
inquirer ID 41 and the inquirer password 42 is necessary
information in terms of security when a demand for the search for
the new address 24 from the inquirer 5 is executed and its result
is confirmed.
[0092] The inquiry log 36 is information for monitoring an inquiry
process by the inquirer 5, and for example, utilized for confirming
whether a response from the changer 3 to the confirmation is within
a predetermined period.
[0093] The inquirer attribute information 37 is information about
the inquirer 5 presented to the changer 3 for making the changer 3
confirm whether the new address 24 is disclosed to the inquirer 5.
In this embodiment, this inquirer attribute information 37 is
composed of a name, an address (an e-mail address, a telephone
number) and the like of the inquirer 5.
[0094] The inquirer profile information 38 is a brief composition
of introduction for characterizing the inquirer 5 and registered to
characterize the inquirer 5 in making the changer 3 confirm whether
to disclose the new address 24. The registration of the inquirer
profile information 38 is left to the discretion of the inquirer 5,
but it is desirable to persuade the inquirer 5 to register it as
much as possible since there is a case where the changer 3 refuses
the disclosure of the new address 24 since the inquirer 5 is not
identified only by an e-mail address and the like.
[0095] The inquirer reference address 39 is an e-mail address
issued by the address inquiry system 1 to exchange communications
including the inquiry message with the inquirer 5, and issued when
the inquirer 5 has no e-mail address or does not want to use its
own e-mail address even if he or she has the address, or issued for
ensuring security.
[0096] (Information Processing Unit)
[0097] Next, the information processing unit 12 will be
explained.
[0098] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the entire configuration of the
address inquiry system 1 including this information processing unit
12. The information processing unit 12, the changer data base 10,
and the inquirer data base 11 are connected to a bus 59 to which a
CPU 55, a RAM 56, a ROM 56, and communication interfaces 58 of
various kinds are connected.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 4, the information processing unit 12 of
the address inquiry system 1 is composed of a changer authenticator
45 authenticating the changer 3, a changer register 46 receiving
the change information 15 such as the new address 24 inputted by
the changer 3 and storing it in the changer data base 10, an
inquirer authenticator 47 authenticating the inquirer 5, an
inquirer register 48 registering information about the inquirer 5
in the inquirer data base 11, a changer searcher 49 searching the
changer data base 10 with the old address 23 of the changer 3 when
the inquirer 5 inquires about the new address 24 of the changer 3,
a changer selector 50 making the inquirer 5 select from the
changers 3 on whom the inquiry about the new address 24 is executed
when there exist plural changers 3 who fulfill the condition in the
search, a new address disclosure judge 51 judging whether to
disclose the new address 24 to the inquirer 5 based on the address
disclosing condition 17 for the new address 24 of the changer 3, a
changer confirmer 52 making the changer 3 confirm whether the new
address 24 is disclosed or not, an inquiry process monitor 53
administering the period of each inquiry process, and a discloser
54 disclosing an inquiry result to the inquirer 5.
[0100] These elements 45 to 54, the changer data base 10, and the
inquirer data base 11 are practically composed of computer programs
installed in a storage medium of a computer system as shown in FIG.
4 and show various functions of the present invention by being read
and executed in the RAM 56 by means of the CPU 55.
[0101] The detailed configurations and functions of the elements
(45 to 54) will be explained below with reference to flowcharts and
interface examples.
[0102] (Registration by Changer)
[0103] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the registration process of
changer information by the changer register 46 and the like.
[0104] The changer register 46 first judges whether the changer 3
concerned in an access has already registered changer information
or not by inquiring of the changer data base 10 about it (step S1).
When the changer information is registered for the first time, the
changer register 46 receives the information, registers it in the
changer data base 10 (step S2), and thereafter issues the changer
ID 21 and the changer password 22 to the changer 3 (step S3).
[0105] Meanwhile, when the changer 3 wishes to changes information
which has been already registered, the changer authenticator 45
authenticates an access through the use of the changer ID 21 and
the changer password 22 by making inquiries at the changer data
base 10 (step S4), and thus a change and a renewal of information
in the changer data base 10 are permitted (step S5).
[0106] FIG. 6 to FIG. 10 show examples of an interface screen when
changer information (See FIG. 2) in the changer data base 10 is
registered. Although a series of registration processes are
executed in connection with a Web site offered by the address
inquiry system 1 in this example, registration may be performed by
transmitting and receiving necessary information to/from the
address inquiry system 1 by e-mail.
[0107] FIG. 6 is an example of an interface screen for registering
the changer attribute information 16. The changer 3 inputs basic
information such as a name 60, a present address 61, a telephone
number 62, a FAX number 63, on this screen. The changer register 46
registers this information as the changer attribute information 16
(See FIG. 2). If the changer 3 wishes, the changer reference
address 20 for receiving notice from the address inquiry system 1
is set and acquired through this screen. Incidentally, in
registering basic information about the changer 3, individual
registration or corporate registration can be selected, and an
example of the individual registration is shown here.
[0108] When the registration of the basic information is completed,
the changer register 46 displays an interface screen shown in FIG.
7. This screen is an interface for registering the old address 23
and the new address 24 to be disclosed based on the old address 23
from the change information 15, and FIG. 7 shows an example of a
screen for an e-mail address.
[0109] The changer 3 registers an address before change (the old
address 23) necessary for receiving an inquiry and an address after
change (the new address 24) which is disclosed when there is an
inquiry on this screen. In this embodiment, a plurality of (three
in this embodiment) old addresses 23 can be registered and renewed
at any time by the aforesaid process. When the new address 24 to be
disclosed is the same as that in the basic information (the changer
attribute information 16) registered in the interface in FIG. 6, a
button of "Same as basic information" 67 is pressed, whereby the
basic information is transferred and repeated input can be
avoided.
[0110] The changer register 46 also accepts the changer profile
information 33 in an input section shown by the numeral 68 in this
screen. This changer profile information 33 is information given to
the inquirer 5 to confirm and specify the other party (the changer
3) about whose address the inquirer 5 wishes to inquire as
described above.
[0111] Subsequently, the changer register 46 displays an interface
screen shown in FIG. 8. This interface screen is to register and
set the address disclosing condition 17, the disclosure rule 25,
and the confirmation form format 19 from the information in the
changer data base 10 shown in FIG. 2.
[0112] Namely, on this screen, the changer 3 registers the sort of
the new address 24 to be disclosed to the inquirer 5 out of the
registered new addresses 24 such as a new e-mail address and a new
address, a condition of disclosure (including unconditional
disclosure and unconditional non-disclosure) in the case where an
inquiry is sent from the inquirer 5. The example in FIG. 8 shows
the setting of the address disclosing condition 17, the disclosure
rule 25, and the like when an inquiry with the presentation of an
e-mail address as the old address 23 is sent.
[0113] In this example, "Make changer judge whether to disclose
address to inquirer after acquisition of inquiry information
(information about the inquirer 5)." (the pattern (2) shown by the
numeral 29 in FIG. 2) is registered as the address disclosing
condition 17, "New e-mail address" is registered as the sort of the
new address 24 to be disclosed based on the e-mail address (the
disclosure rule 25), and "Exclude message text (from the inquirer
5) from inquiry information (information about the inquirer 5)" is
registered as the confirmation form format 19. The above
information is registered in the changer data base 10 by the
changer register 46.
[0114] Meanwhile, FIG. 9 is an example of a registration screen of
the inquiry refusal list 18 (See FIG. 2).
[0115] On this screen, the changer 3 inputs conditions such as
e-mail addresses of the inquirers from whom the changer 3 wishes to
refuse inquiries. By pressing a "Registration" button 69 on this
screen, these addresses are registered in the inquiry refusal list
18, and stored in the changer data base 10. Incidentally, this
inquiry refusal list 18 can be renewed (added, deleted) at any time
by the aforesaid process.
[0116] When the changer 3 finishes inputting changer information on
each of the above screens, the changer register 46 displays a
confirmation screen such as shown in FIG. 10. Incidentally, in
order to confirm that the e-mail address registered by the changer
3 is owned by the changer himself or herself, it is suitable that
the issued changer ID 21 is not displayed on this screen and that
an e-mail notifying the completion of changer registration is
separately transmitted from the address inquiry system 1 to the
changer 3 to notify the changer ID 21 by this e-mail. Moreover, an
e-mail in which the same contents are described may be transmitted
to the changer 3 without displaying this confirmation screen (FIG.
10).
[0117] (Registration by Inquirer)
[0118] Next, the registration of inquirer information by the
inquirer register 48 will be explained with reference to a
flowchart shown in FIG. 11 and examples of an interface screen
shown in FIG. 12 to FIG. 15. This registration of inquirer
information is executed as a part of the process of an inquiry
about the new address 24 from the inquirer 5.
[0119] Namely, the inquiry from this inquirer 5 is executed when
the inquirer 5 cannot get access to the changer 3 when he or she
sends an e-mail to the old address 23 without knowing the change
thereof or tries to refer to a home page by an old URL address
without knowing the change thereof.
[0120] The inquirer register 48 first judges whether an inquiry
from the said inquirer 5 is his or her initial inquiry by inquiring
of the inquirer data base 11 about it (step S6). When the inquirer
5 uses the address inquiry system 1 for the first time, that is,
when the inquirer 5 inquires about an address for the first time,
the inquirer register 48 accepts the registration of this inquirer
5 (step S7).
[0121] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are examples of screens for accepting
the registration of information about the inquirer 5.
[0122] FIG. 12 is an example of a screen in which the inquirer
register 48 accepts the registration of attribute information of
the inquirer 5, and the inquirer 5 registers basic information such
as a name 70, an address 71, a telephone number 72, a FAX number 73
and sets and acquires the inquirer reference address 39 for
receiving an inquiry result if he or she wishes. Incidentally, in
registering the basic information about the inquirer 5, individual
registration or corporate registration can be selected, and an
example of the individual registration is shown here. The
information inputted on this screen is registered as the inquirer
attribute information 37 and the inquirer reference address 39 in
the inquirer data base 11 (See FIG. 3).
[0123] Then, the changer selector 50 performs setting on receipt of
a response to a search result on a screen shown in FIG. 13.
Specifically, when the matching changers 3 are searched as a result
of the search of the change information, it is selected that the
inquiry is immediately made for (all) the matching changers 3 (a
pattern shown by the numeral 76 in FIG. 13), that an inquiry is
made after the selection of the changer 3 when a plurality of
matching changers 3 are searched (a pattern shown by the numeral 77
in FIG. 13), or that the inquiry is made after a memo, a profile,
or the like which characterizes the changer 3 is confirmed (a
pattern shown by the numeral 78 in FIG. 13).
[0124] Thereafter, the inquirer register 48 displays a screen shown
in FIG. 14 for the inquirer 5 which has acquired the inquirer
reference address 39 on the registration screen of inquirer
information in FIG. 12, and notifies him or her of account
information.
[0125] After the completion of the aforesaid registration
operations, the inquirer register 48 displays a screen of the
completion of inquirer registration shown in FIG. 15. This screen
shows a list of information contents inputted or selected by the
inquirer 5 in order that the inquirer 5 confirms registration
contents. Incidentally, an e-mail in which the same contents are
described may be sent to the inquirer 5.
[0126] Thereafter, the address inquiry system 1 makes the inquirer
5 judge whether to download special-purpose software for assisting
the inquiry about the address (step S8-1). When this
special-purpose software is downloaded, the download and set-up
thereof is executed in step S8-2.
[0127] Namely, after this special-purpose software is downloaded in
the computer system of the inquirer 5, an installer is
automatically started, and this software is installed in the
inquirer terminal 6 at the request of the inquirer 5 (step S8-2).
This special-purpose software is automatically started by
recognizing that e-mail is returned because its destination is
unknown or that a URL address is not found as will be explained
later (step S9), and has a function of assisting an access to the
address inquiry system 1 and the search for the new address 24.
[0128] Even if the inquirer 5 is not a person who sends an inquiry
to the address inquiry system 1 for the first time (No in step S6),
the special-purpose software is downloaded when it has not been
downloaded yet (step S10). When the special software is not
downloaded in the aforesaid step S8-1, subsequent processes are
executed on Web page provided by the address inquiry system 1 (step
S8-3). The inquiry process on this Web page is almost the same as
the under-mentioned inquiry process by the use of the
special-purpose software, and thus the explanation thereof is
omitted.
[0129] (Inquiry by Inquirer)
[0130] Next, the process of an inquiry about the new address 24 by
the use of the special-purpose software will be explained.
[0131] FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram showing the inquirer
terminal 6 in which the special-purpose software is installed in a
storage medium such as a hard disk. FIG. 16 shows the configuration
of only a software program related to the present invention, and
the illustration of hardware such as a CPU and basic software such
as an OS is omitted.
[0132] In the inquirer terminal 6 in which this software is
installed, a browser 80 for browsing an Internet home page and a
mailer 81 for transmitting and receiving e-mail are set up in
advance. The aforesaid software has e-mail account setter 82
setting e-mail account of the inquirer reference address 39 in the
mailer 81, a starter 83 starting this software based on the receipt
of a notice that an address is unknown by the browser 80 and the
mailer 81, an inquiry message maker 84 making out an inquiry
message for the address inquiry system 1 based on information from
the browser 80 and the mailer 81, an inquiry executor 85 logging in
the address inquiry system 1 and registering the inquiry message,
and a new location displayer 86 displaying a new location (for
example, a home page) based on the acquisition of the new address
24 of the new location as the result of the inquiry.
[0133] The starter 83 and the inquiry message maker 84 operate
based on starting conditions stored in a starting condition storage
shown by the numeral 87 in FIG. 16. Namely, in the starting
condition storage 87, starting conditions such that the browser 80
and the mailer 81 automatically starts this software based on the
receipt of a notice that an access with presentation of the old
address 23 is refused are stored depending on the sort of the
browser 80 and the mailer 81 as described above.
[0134] Moreover, this software has an inquirer authenticating
information storage 88 storing the inquirer authenticating
information 35. The inquiry message maker 84 automatically takes in
the inquirer authenticating information 35 from this inquirer
authenticating information storage 88, and the inquiry executor 85
logs in the address inquiry system 1 by using the inquirer
authenticating information 35.
[0135] The inquiry process of the new address 24 will be explained
below by means of flowcharts in FIG. 17 and FIG. 22 and interface
screen examples in FIG. 18 and the following figures.
[0136] When the aforesaid special-purpose software is used, the
starter 83 starts the inquiry message maker 84 based on the receipt
of an e-mail of a non-delivery notice, in which a message that a
destination is unknown is described, by the mailer 81 (steps S11-1
and S11-2 in FIG. 17). Incidentally, manual starting is also
possible by changing starting conditions stored in the starting
condition storage 87.
[0137] FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram showing operations at the
time of the starting of inquiry software. The inquiry message maker
84 has functions of displaying an input screen for an inquiry
message such as shown by the numeral 90 in FIG. 18 in the inquirer
terminal 6 and transferring a sender 93, a destination 94, a
subject 95, a message text 96, and the like out of the contents of
original e-mail 92 attached to the non-delivery notice e-mail to
the input screen in response to the click of a "Incorporate e-mail
information" button 91 on this screen (step S12). It is possible to
directly amend the inputted matters on this screen 90 when the
inquirer 5 wants to supplement the information. Thus, the inquiry
message to be sent to the address inquiry system 1 is made out.
[0138] If the making of the inquiry message is completed, the
inquiry executor 85 is started by pressing a "Search change
information" button 97 on the screen 90, and gets access to the
address inquiry system 1, and logs in the system 1 using the
inquirer authenticating information 35. Authentication on this
occasion is executed by the inquirer authenticator 47 (See FIG. 4)
of the system.
[0139] When the authentication by the inquirer authenticator 47 is
completed, the destination 94, that is, the old address 23 of the
changer 3 out of the inquiry information is sent to the changer
searcher 49. The changer searcher 49 searches the changer data base
10 by means of the received old address 23 (step S14).
[0140] FIG. 19 to FIG. 21 show examples of interface screens for
showing search results by the changer searcher 49 on the inquirer
terminal 6.
[0141] FIG. 19 shows an example of a screen of a Web page for
informing the inquirer 5 that as the result of a search of the
changer data base 10 in the address inquiry system 1 for the old
address 23 of the changer 3, the said address is not found (step
S15). In this case, the inquiry about the corresponding new address
24 comes to an end at this stage (step S16).
[0142] Meanwhile, FIG. 20 shows an example of a screen of a Web
page for informing the inquirer 5 that only one matching address is
found as the result of the search of the change information 15. The
changer searcher 49 displays the changer profile information 33
together with the old address 23 of the changer 3, whereby the
inquirer 5 can judge whether the owner of this old address 23 is
the changer 3 about whose new address 24 the inquirer 5 wishes to
inquire. When he wishes an inquiry, a "Start inquiry" button 100 is
pressed (steps S17 and S19).
[0143] FIG. 21 shows an example of a screen of a Web page of the
address inquiry system 1 informing the inquirer 5 that a plurality
of matching addresses are found as the result of the search of the
change information 15. In this case, the inquirer 5 can select the
changer 3 about whose new address 24 the inquirer 5 wishes to
inquire with reference to the changer profile information 33 (the
changer attribute information 16) of the changer 3. By pressing a
"Start inquiry" button 103 after the selection of the changer 3 by
the use of check boxes 101 and 102, an inquiry about the new
address 24 of the changer 3 can be started (step S17 to S19).
[0144] Incidentally, the communication between the changer 3 and
the inquirer 5, and the address inquiry system 1 can be performed
by e-mail, in which case it is possible to use the changer
reference address 20 and the inquirer reference address 39 which
are assigned by the address inquiry system 1.
[0145] Based on the press of the "Start inquiry" buttons 100 and
103 by the inquirer 5, the new address disclosure judge 51 takes
the address disclosing condition 17 out of the changer data base 10
and confirms which pattern out of the numerals 28 to 30 shown in
FIG. 2 the address disclosing condition 17 of the changer 3 imposed
on the inquiry about the new address 24 is (step S20 in FIG.
22).
[0146] When the address disclosing condition 17 is "Disclose new
address instantly" (the numeral 28 in FIG. 2), the inquiry refusal
list 18 is then checked in this embodiment, and only when the
inquirers 5 are not registered in the inquiry refusal list 18, the
new address 24 is disclosed unconditionally to all the inquirers 5
(steps S21, S22-1, and S22-2). In this case, the address disclosure
judge 51 and the discloser 54 in the address inquiry system 1
display a screen shown in FIG. 26 in the inquirer terminal 6 and
disclose the new address 24 of the changer 3 to the inquirer 5. In
this example, only an e-mail address is disclosed as the new
address 24, but other sorts of new addresses 24, that is, a URL
address, an address, a telephone number, and the like can be
displayed according to the disclosure rule 25.
[0147] When the address disclosing condition 17 registered by the
changer 3 is "Make changer judge whether to disclose new address
without disclosing new address instantly" (the numeral 29 in FIG.
2), the inquiry refusal list 18 is then checked in this embodiment,
and only when the inquirer 5 is not registered in the inquiry
refusal list 18, the process advances to the next step (steps S23
and S24).
[0148] FIG. 27 shows an example of a notice screen in the inquirer
terminal 6 by the new address disclosure judge 51 and the discloser
54 when the inquirer 5 is not registered in the inquiry refusal
list 18. This example shows a notice of the inquiry result when the
plural changers 3 (a changer A and a changer B) are selected on the
screen shown in FIG. 21, and the new address 24 regarding the
changer A is disclosed by the pattern shown by the numeral 28 in
FIG. 2. Meanwhile, regarding the changer B, the inquirer 5 is
informed that the changer 3 judges whether to disclose the new
address 24 according to the pattern shown by the numeral 29 in FIG.
2.
[0149] Incidentally, even when this pattern is selected, if the
inquirer 5 is registered in the inquiry refusal list 18, his or her
inquiry is refused (step S25). In this case, the screen shown in
FIG. 25 is displayed in the inquirer terminal 6.
[0150] Further, when the address disclosing condition 17 registered
by the changer 3 is "Refuse inquiry about new address instantly"
(the numeral 30 in FIG. 2), inquiries from all the inquirers 5 are
refused unconditionally in this embodiment (steps S26 and S25).
Also in this case, the same screen shown in FIG. 25 is displayed in
the inquirer terminal 6.
[0151] Next, the process of the confirmation of the changer 3 in
step S27 and the following steps will be explained.
[0152] In this case, the new address disclosure judge 51 sends an
e-mail of a confirmation form 105 with contents shown in FIG. 23 to
the changer 3 to confirm whether the new address 24 is disclosed or
not (step S27 in FIG. 22). In the confirmation form 105, a notice
106 that an inquiry about the new address 24 is sent, a date and
time of the inquiry 107, an address 108 of the inquirer 5, a
profile 109 of the inquirer 5, and a subject 110 are displayed.
When "without message text" (the pattern shown by 32 in FIG. 2) is
set in the confirmation form format 19, the message text in the
inquiry message 90 shown in FIG. 18 received from the inquirer 5 is
not displayed as described above. However, by selecting a link 111
for obtaining and displaying the message text, an e-mail in which
the message text is described can be received (step S28).
[0153] Meanwhile, in the confirmation form 105, as shown in FIG.
23, the changer 3 who receives it can select a response to this
inquiry among hyperlinks shown by the numeral 112 to 114 in FIG.
23, that is, in this embodiment, can select a response from "Do not
disclose new address, and refuse inquiry from this inquirer
hereafter" (the hyperlink shown by the numeral 112 in FIG. 23),
"Disclose new address" (the hyperlink shown by the numeral 113 in
FIG. 23), or "Do not disclose new address this time, but receive
inquiries from this inquirer hereafter" (the hyperlink shown by the
numeral 114 in FIG. 23).
[0154] FIG. 31 is an example of a notice to the inquirer 5 when "Do
not disclose new address, and refuse inquiry from this inquirer
hereafter" (the hyperlink shown by the numeral 112 in FIG. 23) is
selected. In this case, the inquirer 5 is registered to the inquiry
refusal list 18, and hereafter inquiries from the said inquirer 5
are automatically refused until the changer 3 changes the setting
(steps S30 and S31).
[0155] FIG. 32 is an example of a notice to the inquirer 5 when
"Disclose new address" (the hyperlink shown by the numeral 113 in
FIG. 23) is selected (step S32). Via this screen, the inquirer 5
can know the new address 24 of the changer 3 and get access to the
said changer 3 by e-mail or the like.
[0156] FIG. 28 shows an example of the contents of an e-mail
received when the changer 3 selects "Do not disclose new address
this time, but receive inquiries from this inquirer hereafter" (the
hyperlink shown by the numeral 114 in FIG. 23) in the confirmation
form 105 shown in FIG. 23. In this example, the changer 3 refuses
an inquiry about the new address 24 from the inquirer 5 but does
not register this inquirer in the inquiry refusal list 18, and
thereby a notice that the similar inquiries can be made hereafter
is given (step S33). Moreover, when the changer 3 selects nothing
within a predetermined period, an e-mail shown in FIG. 29 is
transmitted, the inquiry is refused, and the processing is
completed (steps S34 and S35).
[0157] Incidentally, the display screens in FIGS. 28, 29, 31, and
32 show examples in the case where the changer 3 who discloses the
new address is singular. When an inquiry is made about a plurality
of changers 3 at the same time, a list of results of responses to
the permission of disclosure of new addresses of the plurality of
changers 3 may be displayed all at once by the same screens.
Further, the display screens in FIGS. 28, 29, 31, and 32 are notice
screens when a notice from the address inquiry system 1 is received
by e-mail. Meanwhile, the inquirer 5 can confirm this notice
through a Web page by being authenticated by the address inquiry
system 1 and logging therein.
[0158] A notice of the inquiry result to the inquirer 5 is executed
by the discloser 54, and the monitoring of the aforesaid
predetermined period is executed by the inquiry process monitor 53.
If the new address 24 obtained as the result of the inquiry is a
home page address, the new location displayer 86 operates to make
the browser 80 display a home page of the new location
automatically.
[0159] According to the configuration explained above, the
following effects can be obtained.
[0160] (1) In most of conventional services, the inquirer is
informed about the new address of the changer 3 unconditionally if
the inquirer 5 inquires about the old address 23 and the said old
address is registered. Namely, in such services, it is impossible
to selectively inform the inquirers 5 about the new address 24
depending on the inquirers 5.
[0161] Contrary to this, according to the aforesaid embodiment, the
changer 3 can freely set the address disclosing condition 17 of the
new address 24 and judge whether to disclose the new address 24
after checking the profile of the inquirer 5, thereby producing an
effect that flexible responses to meet the situation of the changer
3 can be made with regard to the disclosure of the new address
24.
[0162] (2) In conventional services, the changer 3 side cannot know
when or to whom the new address 24 is disclosed.
[0163] Contrary to this, according to the aforesaid embodiment, the
changer 3 can receive a confirmation form to confirm whether the
new address 24 is disclosed to the inquirer 5, and the changer 3
can determine when and to whom the new address 24 is disclosed by
controlling his or her response to the confirmation form.
[0164] (3) Conventionally, to notify a third party of the change
information 15 of a URL of a home page, it is necessary to notify
him or her of a URL (the new address 24) of a new home page on the
old home page. Therefore, a domain name of the old home page and a
contract with an Internet service provider need to be maintained,
which causes a problem that the cost thereof needs to be borne
during the notification of the change information 15.
[0165] Contrary to this, according to the aforesaid embodiment, the
address inquiry system 1 can provide an inquiry about the URL (the
new address 24) of the new home page, so that a domain server of
the old home page or the contract with the Internet service
provider does not need to be maintained. Thus, to the changer 3,
server administration becomes easier, and the cost of maintaining
servers can be reduced.
[0166] (4) When the change information 15 about a telephone number
or a mail address is given, there is a limit in terms of a period
to the present service of a telephone office or a post office.
[0167] Contrary to this, according to the aforesaid embodiment, the
new address 24 can be disclosed regardless of the service of the
telephone office or the post office.
[0168] (5) In the case of mail service, the receiver needs to
inform a sender of mail delivered to the old address about the new
address on another occasion by himself or herself as described
above.
[0169] Contrary to this, according to the aforesaid embodiment, the
system can respond to an inquiry about a new mail address (the new
address 24) in place of the receiver of the mail, thereby
eliminating such a trouble.
[0170] (6) Meanwhile, in transport by the majority of private
companies, it is impracticable to make a forwarding request to all
of transport companies, and moreover, some private companies do not
accept such a request.
[0171] Contrary to this, if the address inquiry system 1 is used, a
private transporter can be used after the new address 24 of the
changer 3 is known, which makes it possible to ensure the delivery
of a load and the like by such transporter.
[0172] (7) Addresses sometimes cease to be used for some reason.
Namely, the use of the addresses themselves is sometimes stopped
without the telephone number being changed. In this case, since the
conventional service handles only addresses of the same sort, some
who know only the telephone number cannot know other addresses of
the changer 3.
[0173] Contrary to this, according to this embodiment, by setting
the disclosure rule 25, inquiries about the new addresses 24 of
different sorts can be made, for example, a new telephone number
(the new address 24) is detected based on the e-mail address (the
old address 23), whereby the aforesaid trouble is eliminated.
[0174] It should be mentioned that the present invention is not
limited to the aforesaid embodiment, and various changes may be
made therein without changing the spirit of the present
invention.
[0175] For example, it is already described that processing can be
executed by the same process as above also in the case of an
inquiry about a new home page URL as the new address 24. The home
page, however, aims at being opened to the public, and hence the
permission of disclosure of a URL at a new location is often given
unconditionally. In this case, it is imagined that it is
troublesome to follow the same steps as that of the e-mail address,
which is sometimes unbecoming for the purpose of the home page.
[0176] To cope with this, in the aforesaid special-purpose
software, based on the detection of "An access destination is
unknown" by the browser 80, the inquiry message maker 84 and the
inquiry executor 85 may automatically make out an inquiry message
and transmit it to the address inquiry system 1 without obtaining
confirmation from the inquirer 5.
[0177] If the changer searcher 49 finds the new address 24 (new
location URL), the discloser 54 or the new location displayer 86
may give a command to the inquirer terminal 6 to display a Web page
concerned in the new address 24.
[0178] Such a configuration enables the automatic display of a new
home page 116 at the new location in the inquirer terminal 6 based
on the detection of "An access destination to a desired home page
is unknown" by the browser 80 as shown in FIG. 30. In this case, it
is preferable to display also a screen 117 for persuading the
inquirer 5 to renew the access destination in order to call the
attention of the inquirer 5. Further, it is more preferable to
display the new home page 116 at the new location without
displaying an error display screen of "An access destination is
unknown" by the browser 80.
[0179] Furthermore, in the aforesaid embodiment, the confirmation
form (the screen shown by the numeral 105 in FIG. 23) from the
address inquiry system 1 to the changer 3 is sent only when the
response pattern (2) is selected (step S23) as shown in step S27 in
FIG. 22, but the present invention is not limited to this.
[0180] For example, even when the response pattern (1) or (3) is
selected (step S21 or S26), it is possible to send the changer 3
this form as an general notice in which information such that about
which address, from what sort of the inquirer 5, and on what sort
of matter an address inquiry is received is described when the
inquiry about the new address 24 is received from the inquirer 5.
Moreover, it is possible to include a message text to the changer
in this notice.
[0181] In this case, however, it is preferable that only in the
notice when the response pattern (2) is selected, the hyperlinks
(the hyperlinks shown by the numeral 112 to 114 in FIG. 23) for
confirming whether to disclosed the new address to the inquirer
exist and that a response to the permission of disclosure of the
new address is given with reference to the information about the
inquirer 5 displayed in this notice.
[0182] Moreover, in the aforesaid embodiment, a registrant is
explained with the changer 3 who has changed his or her own address
from the old address 23 to the new address 24 as an example, but
the registrant in the present invention is not limited to the
changer 3 like this. For example, the registrant may be one who
registers his or her own e-mail address or the like only to
disclose it to others (the inquirer 5). Furthermore, based on the
old address 23 of the changer 3, the new address 24 thereof is
searched and disclosed in the aforesaid embodiment, but the present
invention is not limited to this. The new address 24 may be
searched by using information except the old address 23, for
example, some attribute information of the changer 3.
[0183] As explained above, when an inquiry about a new address of a
registrant is sent from an inquirer, various responses, with a high
degree of freedom, can be made depending on the registrant's
intention according to the present invention.
[0184] The embodiment explained above intends to clarify technical
meaning of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention
is not intended to be limited to the above concrete embodiment and
to be interpreted in a narrow sense, and various changes can be
made therein without departing from the spirit of the present
invention and within the meaning of the claims.
* * * * *