Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
  • H04L51/58—Message adaptation for wireless communication

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus of providing a picture character message service, i.e., a message service including a picture character.
• BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Multimedia Messaging System MMS is a kind of application integrally performs the functions to configure, to store and to transmit various kinds of media such as a text, an image, an audio, a video, etc., which is a non-real-time delivery system that provides a Store-and-Forward paradigm such as an E-mail, a short message service of a wireless device, or a calling function.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a transmitting and receiving terminal that can provide the function to transmit or receive the picture character message.
• Still another object of the present invention is to provide a picture character message server for relaying the transmission of the picture character message.
• a method for transmitting a picture character message from a transmitting terminal comprising the steps of: (a) downloading a certain picture character from a picture character message server, the picture character being used for configuring at least one of picture character message according to a user's request; (b) creating the picture character message combined with at least one of selected picture character, as a transmission information that is a predetermined information to be transmitted to a receiving terminal from the user is input, and as an information for selecting at least one of the downloaded picture characters is input; and (c) transmitting the picture character message to the receiving terminal through the picture character message server.
• the picture character is downloaded together with a picture character ID corresponding to the picture character in the step (a); and the picture character message is created by incorporating the transmission information into the picture character ID corresponding to the selected picture character in the step (b).
• step (a) after a predetermined picture character is input from the user, the picture character that has been input is so transmitted to the picture character message server as to be registered thereon, and the picture character ID of the registered picture character is received.
• a command to connect to the picture character message server (a) a command for the picture character message server to create the picture character message corresponding to contents of the picture character message which are input from the user and are transmitted to the picture character message server, and (c) a command to transmit the created picture character message to a certain receiving terminal, are transmitted to the picture character message server.
• a method for relaying of a picture character message comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a picture character DB that stores picture character information including an image information and ID an information of at least one of picture character; (b) registering a user information on a user DB, the user information comprising an information whether a browser that provides a function to display the picture character message is equipped in a communication terminal of receiver who is to receive the picture character message that is an information including at least one of picture character among the picture characters; (c) receiving an information of picture character message information including the picture character from a transmitting terminal, together with an information on a receiving terminal for receiving the information of the picture character message; (d) confirming whether the receiving terminal is equipped with the browser by referring to the user DB; and (e) transmitting the information of the picture character message to the receiving terminal as it is determined that the receiving terminal is equipped with the browser according to the confirming result.
• the information of the picture character message the information of the picture character message
• the information of the picture character message transmitted from the transmitting terminal in the step (c) includes a certain text information and an picture information of a certain picture character.
• the step (e) comprises the steps of: (el) creating an information that informing of an arrival of the information of the picture character message, and transmitting the created information to the receiving terminal, in case the receiving terminal is not equipped with the browser; and (e2) creating a web document for expressing the information of the picture character message, and transmitting the web document to the receiving terminal when requested from the receiving terminal.
• step (e2) comprises the steps of creating a certain word processor document for expressing the information of the picture character message, and transmitting the word processor document to the receiving terminal when requested from the receiving terminal.
• the method for relaying of a picture character message further comprising the steps of: registering an arbitrary picture character transmitted from a certain user on the picture character DB, creating a certain registration fee information based on the number of the registered picture characters, and storing the created registration fee information in connection with the user; in the step (c), receiving the picture character message that is an information including a picture character from the receiving terminal together with an information on the receiving terminal that is expected to receive, generating an award information for endowing the user of the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal with a certain award, and storing the generated award information in connection with the transmitting terminal; and (f) transmitting a billing information for billing the user for a fee corresponding to the registration fee information, and transmitting an information for endowing the user of the transmitting terminal with the award corresponding to the award information to the user of the transmitting terminal.
• a method for receiving a picture character message with a receiving terminal comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting a user terminal information including an information whether a browser that provides a function to display the picture character message is equipped in a certain receiving terminal configured to receive an arbitrary picture character message, to a picture character message server so as to register thereon; (b) receiving a picture character message including an ID information of a certain picture character transmitted by the picture character message server based on the user terminal information; (c) determining whether the image information of the picture character corresponding to the ID information of the picture character included in the picture character message is stored or not; and (d) providing the picture character by displaying the picture character based on the picture character message when it is determined that the picture information of the picture character is stored.
• the picture character is provided to the user by displaying the picture character based on the picture character message after downloading the image information of the picture character from the picture character message server.
• the image information of the picture character in the step (d) includes a URL information on an address on Internet that informs of a predetermined other information corresponding to the image information.
• a message arrival information that informs of an arrival of a certain picture character message transmitted by the picture character message server based on the user terminal information is displayed to be provided to the user;
• a command to transmit the picture character message to the picture character message as a form of a web document is input from the user, and the command is transmitted to the picture character message server; and in the step (d), the picture character message is transmitted from the picture character message server as the form of the web document and then is displayed to be provided to the user.
• the web document here is a document prepared by HTML or XML, or a certain word processor document.
• a device for transmitting and receiving picture character message comprising: a receiving and transmitting portion that performs receiving operation and transmitting operation of a request information with respect to a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal, the request information for requesting a picture character message server that relays picture character message including picture character to transmit edited picture character message or an image of a picture character and an ID information included in the picture character message, the receiving and transmitting portion for receiving the picture character information from the picture character message server; a picture character storage portion that is provided with and stores the image and ID information of the picture character; an input portion for inputting a request information that is input from the user to transmit the picture character, a text information for configuring a certain picture character message, and a selection information for selecting one included in the picture character message among the picture characters stored in the picture character storage portion; a display portion that is provided with and display outside the picture character message or the picture character information stored in the picture character storage portion; and a message editing portion which is provided with the request information from the input
• a picture character message server comprising: a transmitting and receiving portion that is connected with a communication network including Internet, the transmitting and receiving portion for receiving an picture character information that is an picture of a predetermined picture character and an ID information from a user, the transmitting and receiving portion for receiving a download request information that is a request for a certain transmitting terminal or a receiving terminal to transmit the picture character information, the transmitting and receiving portion for receiving the picture character message including a predetermined picture character ID from the predetermined transmitting terminal; a picture character management portion that is provided with the picture character, and stores the picture character on the picture character DB and manages the stored picture character; a picture character download portion that is provided with the download request information, and refers to the picture character DB to provide the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal that has transmitted the download request information with the requested picture character information through the transmitting and receiving portion; and a message service portion that is provided with the picture character message from the transmitting and receiving portion, and transmits the picture character message to the
• the transmitting and receiving portion performs a function to receive a user information including an information on whether a browser having a function to display the picture character message is equipped in the receiving terminal used by the user;
• the picture character message server further comprises a member management portion that receives the user information from the transmitting and receiving portion, and stores the user information on a member DB and manages the stored user information;
• the message service portion is provided with the picture character message from the transmitting and receiving portion, refers the member DB to determine whether the browser is equipped, and when it is determined that the browser is not equipped on the receiving terminal, creates a message arrival information for informing of an arrival of the picture character message and transmits the created message arrival information to the receiving terminal, and configures the picture character message as a web document and transmits the configured web document to the receiving terminal according to a request from the receiving terminal.
• the picture character management portion performs an additional function to create a number information on the number of request to register the picture character from each user who has requested a registration of the picture character
• the picture character message server further comprises a fee and incentive adjustment portion that is provided with the number information from the picture character management portion, creates a fee information that is to be imposed to each of the user in consideration of the registration of the picture character based on the number information, and transmits a billing information of the fee to a corresponding user according to the created fee information through the transmitting and receiving portion.
• FIG. 1 is a constructional view of the preferred embodiment. of the overall system that implements the present invention.
• FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are flow charts of the preferred embodiment of the process for sending the picture character message.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the transmitting and receiving device for transmitting or receiving the picture character message according to the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the picture character message server that provides the picture character message service according to the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a reference view for illustrating the process of actually sending the picture character message according to the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a reference view for illustrating the process of joining a certain user as a member.
• FIG. 7a is a reference view for illustrating the process of editing the message with the transmitting and receiving terminal equipped with a browser for providing the picture character message service according to the present invention.
• FIG. 7b is a reference view for illustrating the process of editing the message with the transmitting terminal that is not equipped with a browser for providing the picture character message service according to the present invention.
• FIG. 7c is a reference view for illustrating the process of confirming a picture character stored in a folder of the transmitting terminal that is not equipped with a browser for providing the picture character message service according to the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a reference view for illustrating the process performed by the receiving terminal equipped with a browser for providing the picture character message service according to the present invention, while the received picture character is not stored in the receiving terminal.
• FIGS 9a and 9b are reference views for illustrating the process to register the picture character configured by a certain user on the picture character message server according to the present invention.
• FIG. 1 is a constructional view of the preferred embodiment of the overall system that implements the present invention.
• the reference numeral 101 designates a mobile communication terminal for sending a picture character message
• the reference numeral 102 designates a computer (a personal computer) connected to the Internet, which shows that the picture character message can also be sent by such a computer.
• the term 'transmitting terminal' means all of the mobile communication terminal for transmitting the picture character message or the computer connected to the Internet.
• the reference numeral 103 is a receiving terminal 103 for receiving the picture character message transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 101 or the transmitting computer 102.
• the receiving terminal 103 is preferably equipped with the browser for providing the picture character message service according to the present invention, however, the picture character message can be received as a form of a web document even without the browser.
• the reference numeral 104 performs the function to receive the picture character message from the transmitting terminal 101 or 102 and to relay the received picture character message toward the receiving terminal 103 so that the picture character message according to the present invention can be transmitted between the transmitting terminals 101 or 102 and the receiving terminal 103.
• FIG. 2a and 2b are flow charts of the preferred embodiment of the process for sending the picture character message.
• the kinds of the picture characters mentioned in the present invention can be as follows, and there is not a special restriction besides the followings.
• an advertisement or a picture character manufactured with the advertisement a picture character manufactured individually by a general user who edits the picture character message with the picture character and then transmits or receives the edited picture character message, and a picture character that has been manufactured and registered by a system manager who manages the picture character message server.
• the picture character message server is equipped with a database (picture character DB) that stores the picture characters used for configuring the picture character message.
• picture character DB a database that stores the picture characters used for configuring the picture character message.
• the picture character can be stored after being input from the system manager who manages the picture character message server, or after being input from a general user who transmits or receives the picture character message according to the present invention with the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal.
• a certain amount of fee can be imposed to the user or the advertiser who has requested to register the picture character, (which is not shown in the figure.)
• the picture characters used in the present invention are endowed with eigen-codes respectively as identifying codes, and in case a certain picture character is stored in the picture character DB, the image information of the picture character and the eigen-code endowed to the picture character are stored together.
• the picture character information used in the present invention includes the image information and the eigen-code information.
• the picture character message server is input with a member information including the personal information of the users from the users of the transmitting terminal and the users of the receiving terminal (Step 202), and registers the users as the members to establish a member database for storing the member information.
• the member DB stores personal information including the name, the civil registration number, the mobile phone number, the birthday, etc., and besides the personal information, stores and manages the information on the amount of fee to be charged to the members or the amount of award provided to the members, and the information whether the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal used by the user is equipped with the browser that supports the picture character message according to the present invention.
• the transmitting terminal can be input with a certain picture character from a user and requests (Step 204) to transmit and register the input picture character to/on the picture character message server, and the picture character message server that has received the request can register the picture character by storing the transmitted picture character on the picture character DB. (Step 205)
• the determined fee can be stored on the member DB in connection with the member information of the user of the transmitting terminal.
• the user can request (Step 206) for the picture character message server through the transmitting terminal to download the desired picture character, and the picture character message server that has been requested with such a demand searches (Step 207) the picture character requested from the user among the picture characters registered on the picture character DB, and transmits the searched picture character to the transmitting terminal. (Step 208) In such a situation, the picture character message server can read the image information of the picture character and the eigen-code information of the picture character from the picture character DB, and then transmits them to the transmitting terminal.
• the transmitting terminal that has received the picture character stores the received picture character on the picture character DB.
• the image information of the received picture character and the eigen-code of the picture character are stored together.
• the transmitting terminal is input with the message including a certain picture character from the user, and edits the picture character message with the picture character stored in the picture character DB. (Step 209) After that, the transmitting terminal transmits (Step 210) the edited picture character message to the picture character message server together with the mobile phone number of the receiving terminal.
• the information on the picture character included in the picture character message includes only the eigen-code information of the picture character.
• the picture character message server that has received the transmitted picture character message can endow the member (the user who has sent the picture character message) searched by referring to the member DB, who has sent the picture character message, with a predetermined award (or any other kinds of incentives).
• the picture character message server searches (Step 212) the phone number of the receiving terminal together with the picture character message from the member DB, and then determines whether the receiving terminal that is to be received with the picture character message is equipped with the browser (hereinafter, referred to as a "picture character browser") capable of supporting the picture character message service according to the present invention. (S213)
• the picture character message server transmits the picture character message to the receiving terminal (S214).
• the information on the picture character included in the picture character message includes only the eigen-code information of the picture character.
• the receiving terminal received with the picture character message refers (Step 215) to the picture character DB of its own on the basis of the eigen-code information included in the picture character message, and determines whether the picture characters included in the picture character message are recorded in the picture character DB. (Step 216)
• the picture character message is displayed (S220) by using the picture character information recorded in the picture character DB so as to be provided to the user.
• the receiving terminal requests (Step 217) for the picture character message server to download the picture character that is included in the picture character message but is not stored therein.
• the picture character message server that has received the download request reads the picture character by searching the picture character DB of its own, and transmits the image information and the eigen-code information of the read picture character to the receiving terminal. (Step 219) Then, the receiving terminal that has received the picture character performs the Step 220.
• the receiving terminal that is to be received with the picture character message is not equipped with the picture character browser
• the arrival information for informing of the arrival of the picture character message is created (Step 221).
• the picture character message arrival information is transmitted to the receiving terminal (Step 222).
• the receiving terminal that has received the picture character message arrival information displays the picture character message arrival information to be provided to the user, and can be input with the command to display the picture character message from the user, (not shown in the figure)
• the receiving terminal transmits (Step 223) the request to the picture character message server to transmit the picture character message.
• the picture character message server that has received the request reads the picture character image included in the picture character message from the picture character DB therein, and creates a web document that expresses the contents of the picture character message. Then, the picture character message server sends the created web document information to the receiving terminal. (Step 225) The receiving terminal that has received the web document information displays the web document information to provide it to the user. (S226) In such a situation, it has been assumed that the receiving terminal is not equipped with the picture character browser but is equipped with a browser capable of displaying the web document.
• the web document means the document configured with the language such as HTML or XML, etc., as well as the document including the pictures designed by other kinds of languages or means. That is, the term "web document" in this specification includes the document configured by the language such as HTML, XML, etc., as well as the documents configured by a word processor such as MS word or Hangul 97, etc.
• the picture character message server can create the information for imposing the fee or endowing with an award on the basis of the fee or award information on each of the members by referring to the member DB periodically or immediately after the transmission of the picture character message or the web document, and then charge the information to the communication company to which the mobile phone used by the member is subscribed.
• the communication company can reflect the award or the fee into the communication fee that is charged to the members every month.
• the award or the fee information can be transmitted to a financial company or a bank at which the member has an account, and in such a case, the award or the fee is adjusted at the account of the members.
• FIG. 2c is a flow chart showing the process of transmitting the picture character message according to the present invention, in case the transmitting terminal is not equipped with the picture character browser.
• the Steps 251 for preparing the picture character DB by registering the picture character at the picture character message server, and the Steps 252 and 253 for preparing the member DB by registering the members from the users who want to use the picture character message service are the same as those described above with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b.
• the picture character message server prepares the picture character DB and the member DB through the Steps 251, 252 and 253.
• the transmitting terminal (which means the mobile communication terminal or the computer, etc. that is not equipped with the picture character browser but is equipped with the browser having the function to display the web document) receives the command to configure a certain picture character message from the user, and transmits the command to the picture character message server. (Step 254)
• the picture character message server that has received the command to configure the picture character message configures (Step 255) the picture character message with the picture character information (that is, the picture character image information and the eigen-code information) recorded in the picture character DB according to the command, and converts the configured picture character message to a web document format and then transmits it to the transmitting terminal.
• the transmitting terminal that has received the web document expressing the picture character message displays the web document to provide it to the user, and transmits a command to the picture character message server as the command to transmit the picture character message to a certain receiving terminal is input from the user.
• Step 257 The following processes are the same as those described above with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the transmitting and receiving device for transmitting or receiving the picture character message according to the present invention.
• the transmitting and receiving device for transmitting or receiving the picture character message according to the present invention includes a transmitting and receiving portion 301, a picture character storage portion 302, a message editing portion 303, a display portion 304, and an input portion 305.
• the transmitting and receiving portion 301 performs the function to transmit or receive the picture character message information, picture character information (the image information and the eigen-code information), or the member information, etc. with respect to the picture character message server.
• the picture character storage portion 302 performs the function to store the picture character downloaded from the picture character message server.
• the display portion 304 performs the function to display the edited or received picture character message to provide it to the user.
• the input portion 305 receives required commands from the user through a keypad or a certain pointing means, and receives especially a command to edit a certain picture character message.
• the message editing portion 303 performs the function to edit the picture character including the picture characters stored in the picture character storage portion 302 according to a predetermined picture character message editing command input through the input portion 305.
• the edited picture character message is provided to the user through the display portion 304, or transmitted to the picture character message server through the transmitting and receiving portion 301.
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the picture character message server that provides the picture character message service according to the present invention.
• the picture character message server includes a receiving and transmitting portion 401, a member management portion
• a picture character management portion 404 can further include a fee and award adjustment portion 403.
• the transmitting and receiving portion 401 is connected to the Internet, and performs the function to transmit and receive the required information with respect to the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal.
• the member management portion 402 receives the personal information (name, civil registration number, phone number of the terminal, birthday, etc.) of the user of the terminal, and receives the information whether the picture character browser is equipped in the terminal from the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal, and performs the function to store and manage the information together with the award and fee information of the user.
• personal information name, civil registration number, phone number of the terminal, birthday, etc.
• the fee and the award adjustment portion 403 performs the function to create the registration fee information on the picture character that is to be charged to an advertiser or a general user who requests the registration of a certain picture character and to manage the created information by storing it on the member DB, and can create the award information that is to be endowed to the user of the transmitting terminal that transmits the picture character message according to a predetermined standard and manage the award information by storing it on the member DB.
• the fee and award adjustment portion 403 can perform the function to, in case it receives the request to download a certain picture character (the picture character download request) from the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal, transmit the picture character to the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal, while creating the fee information to impose a fee to the user of the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal and managing the created fee information by storing it on the member DB.
• the picture character management portion 404 is requested from a certain advertiser or a general user to register the picture character on the picture character DB together with the image information of the picture character, the Internet homepage information to be included in the picture character, etc., generates the eigen-code for identifying the picture character, incorporates the homepage information into the image of the picture character, and manages the incorporated information by storing it on the picture character DB. Further, the picture character management portion 404 performs the function to provide the fee and award adjustment portion 403 with the requested information.
• the picture character download portion 405 performs the function to receive the request to download a certain picture character from the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal through the transmitting and receiving portion 401, and to transmit the picture character information (the image information and the eigen-code information) to the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal that requested to download the picture character through the transmitting and receiving portion 401, after referring to the picture character DB .
• the message service portion 406 receives a certain picture character message from the transmitting terminal through the transmitting and receiving portion 401, and determines whether the receiving terminal to receive the picture character message is equipped with the picture character browser by using the phone number of the receiving terminal to receive the picture character message transmitted together with the picture character message by referring to the member DB.
• the message service portion 406 transmits the picture character message to the receiving terminal as it is determined that the receiving terminal is equipped with the picture character browser, and creates the picture character message arrival information that informs of the arrival of the picture character message and transmits the picture character message arrival information to the receiving terminal as it is determined that the receiving terminal is not equipped with the picture character browser.
• the picture character message arrival information can be a text characters, for example, "One picture character message arrived to you" or the like.
• an Internet address information (or URL, uniform resource locator information) of the picture character message server can be transmitted together with the arrival information so that the receiving terminal can be connected to the picture character message server through the Internet.
• the message service portion 406 configures the picture character message as a web document and transmits the web document to the receiving terminal so that the receiving terminal can display the picture character message configured as the web document and thereby the user can confirm the contents the picture character message.
• FIG. 5 is a reference view for illustrating the process of actually sending the picture character message according to the present invention, which shows the case that all of the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal are equipped with the picture character browser.
• the reference numeral 501 designates the display device of the transmitting terminal on which the picture character message configured by the transmitting terminal is displayed.
• the message in that situation is the picture character message in which the text character and the picture 5011 are included together.
• the reference numerals 502 and 503 are examples of real data transmitted while the picture character message is transmitted from the transmitting terminal to the picture character message server or from the picture character message server to the receiving terminal.
• the eigen-code '72%/" of the picture 5011 in the reference numeral 501 is transmitted in substitution for the picture 5011.
• the picture character message including the image information of the picture 5011 itself can also be transmitted.
• the reference numeral 504 shows the example that the receiving terminal displays the picture character message.
• the receiving terminal that received the picture character message such as "Our love is deficient for 2% ⁇ !?" designated by the reference numerals 502 and 503 searches the picture image corresponding to the eigen-code such as '72%/" from the picture DB of its own and displays the searched picture image.
• FIG. 6 is a reference view for illustrating the process of joining a certain user as a member.
• the "server” means the picture character message server.
• the transmitting or the receiving mobile communication terminal is connected (Step 602) to the a picture character message server through the Internet.
• the picture character message server provides the transmitting or the receiving mobile communication terminal with a predetermined menu, and the transmitting or the receiving terminal displays the provided menu (Step 603) to provide the menu to the user, receives the selection of the item "1. member subscription" in the provided menu from the user, and transmits the selected result to the picture character message server.
• the reference numeral 603 shows one example that the transmitting or the receiving mobile communication terminal displays the menu.
• the picture character message server transmits the input information to be input from the user for the subscription as a member to the transmitting or the receiving mobile communication terminal, and the transmitting or the receiving mobile communication terminal provides it to the user by displaying it, receives the input information from the user, and transmits the input contents to the picture character message server.
• the input information here can include the name of the member, the civil registration number, whether the browser is equipped or not, the birthday, etc.
• the reference numeral 604 shows one example that the input information is displayed on the transmitting or the " receiving mobile communication terminal.
• FIG. 7a is a reference view for illustrating the process of editing the message with the transmitting and receiving terminal equipped with a browser for providing the picture character message service according to the present invention.
• the process of editing the picture character message shown in FIG. 7a illustrates the process performed in the transmitting terminal equipped with the picture character browser.
• the transmitting terminal provides the user with the menu of the functions that can be performed by the transmitting terminal by displaying the menu thereon, and receives the selection among the menu from the user.
• the reference numeral 711 is one example that the transmitting terminal displays the menu, and it is assumed that the picture message is selected here as an example.
• the transmitting terminal provides a submenu of "3. picture message” to the user by displaying it thereon, and receives the selection among the submenu.
• the reference numeral 712 is an example of the submenu, "3. picture message", and it is assumed that the menu "1. new message" is selected here.
• the transmitting terminal that has received the selection of "1. new message” menu displays a message editing window and displays a certain message input from the user thereon.
• the reference numeral 713 shows an example of the message editing window through which the message is input from the user.
• the transmitting terminal in case it receives the command to display the picture character stored on the picture character DB from the user, stores the contents in the editing window on the memory, and then provides the picture character stored on the picture character DB by displaying it thereon. After that, the picture character to be included in the picture character message that is being editing is selected by the user. Then, while the contents in the editing window are displayed, the image of the selected picture character is incorporated into the message that is being edited and then is displayed.
• the reference numeral 714 shows one example that the picture characters stored on the picture character DB are displayed on the transmitting terminal, and the reference numeral 715 shows the state that one selected from the picture characters is incorporated into the message that is being edited.
• FIG. 7b is a reference view for illustrating the process of editing the message with the transmitting terminal that is not equipped with a browser for providing the picture character message service according to the present invention.
• the process of editing the picture character message shown in FIG. 7b illustrates the process performed in the transmitting terminal that is not equipped with the picture character browser.
• the transmitting terminal provides the user with the menu of the functions that can be performed by the transmitting terminal by displaying the menu thereon, and receives the selection among the menu from the user.
• the reference numeral 721 is one example that the transmitting terminal displays the menu, and it is assumed that the picture message is selected here as an example.
• the transmitting terminal connects to the picture character message server.
• the reference numeral 722 is an example of the message provided to the user while transmitting terminal is being connected to the picture character message server.
• the picture character message server determines whether the user of the transmitting terminal is registered as a member, and if the user is not registered as a member, it can register the user as the member.
• the picture character message server that is connected with the transmitting terminal transmits a predetermined menu that displays a variety of services provided to the users to the transmitting terminal.
• the reference numeral 723 shows an example that the transmitting terminal that has received the menu information from the picture character message server displays the menu.
• the transmitting terminal receives the selection of one in the menu from the user, and transmits the selection to the picture character message server.
• "4. sending SMS" menu is selected.
• the picture character message server that has received the selection of the "4. sending SMS” menu receives the message contents to be edited from the transmitting terminal, and converts the message contents to a web document format and then transmits it to the transmitting terminal.
• the message to be edited can include the picture character, and the process to incorporate the picture character into the message is the same as that illustrated above with reference to FIG. 7a. However, there is a difference that the message is configured with the picture character stored in the picture character DB in the transmitting terminal in FIG.
• the message is configured with the picture character allowed to be used by each user in the picture character DB in the picture character message server in FIG. 7b.
• the message is edited at the transmitting terminal in FIG. 7a but the message is edited at the picture character message server in FIG. 7b.
• FIG. 7c is a reference view for illustrating the process of confirming a picture character stored in a folder of the transmitting terminal that is not equipped with a browser for providing the picture character message service according to the present invention.
• the above-mentioned folder means a folder prepared by the picture character message server for each member, and the members can store the picture character into the folder without downloading the picture character to the transmitting terminal or the receiving terminal (the user's terminal) and can use the picture character for configuring the picture character message or for displaying the received picture character message.
• the user terminal displays the menus for the function that can be performed by the user's terminal to provide it to the user, and receives the selection of one among the menu from the user.
• the reference numeral 731 is one example of the state that the menu is displayed on the user's terminal, and it is assumed that the picture message is selected as an example.
• the reference numeral 732 shows an example of the message provided to the user while the user's terminal is being connected to the picture character message server.
• the picture character message server inspects whether the user of the user's terminal is registered as a member, and in case the user is not registered as a member, it registers the user as a member.
• the picture character message server connected with the user's terminal transmits a predetermined menu for displaying a variety of services provided to the members to the transmitting terminal.
• the reference numeral 733 shows one example that the menu is displayed on the transmitting terminal that has received the menu information from the picture character message server. Then, the user's terminal receives the selection of one in the menu from the user, and transmits the selection to the picture character message server. Here, it is assumed that "2. seeing picture character" is selected.
• the reference numeral 734 is an example illustrating the state that the user's terminal is waiting for the response from the picture character message server after the "seeing picture character" was selected in the menu.
• the picture character message server receives the selection of the "seeing picture character" menu from the user's terminal, and reads the picture character information stored in the folder of the user and creates the web document that displays the picture characters, and then transmits it to the user's terminal. Then, the user's terminal displays the web document to provide it to the user.
• the reference numeral 735 shows an example that the user's terminal displays the web document.
• FIG. 8 is a reference view for illustrating the process performed by the receiving terminal equipped with a browser for providing the picture character message service according to the present invention, while the received picture character is not stored in the receiving terminal.
• the reference numeral 801 shows an example that, in case the message "Our love is deficient for 2% ⁇ ! that is the picture character message of the present invention is received, the picture character message is normally displayed on the receiving terminal when the picture character corresponding to the eigen-code of the picture character, '72%/", is stored in the receiving terminal that receives the picture character message.
• the reference numeral 802 shows an example that a message informing of the fact that the picture character corresponding to the eigen-code of the picture character, '72%/" does not exist is displayed on the receiving terminal, in case the picture character corresponding to the "/2%/" is not stored in the receiving terminal that receives the picture character message. In such a case, the receiving terminal can download the picture character corresponding to '72%/" by connecting to the picture character message server.
• FIGS 9a and 9b are reference views for illustrating the process to register the picture character configured by a certain user on the picture character message server according to the present invention.
• the reference numeral 911 shows an example of the picture character configured by a certain user, which has been registered on the picture character message server with the picture character according to the present invention
• the reference numeral 912 shows an example of the picture character message edited with the picture character 911.
• the reference numeral 921 shows another example of the picture character configured by a certain user, which has been registered on the picture character message server with the picture character according to the present invention
• the reference numeral 922 shows another example of the picture character message edited with the picture character 921.
• the image information of the picture character can include the Internet homepage information (URL information) of the company providing the product or the service corresponding to the advertisement.
• the homepage information can be included in the image information of the picture character by using Steganography technology.
• the Steganography means the technology for hiding a secret information into a plain paraphrase or a digital image, and a third party cannot recognize the existence of the hidden message.
• the message can be hidden in a video file without damaging the video image by distorting least significant bits of digital image
• the picture character can be used at the receiving terminal as a button for executing the command to connect to the homepage of the company that provides a certain product or service corresponding to the advertisement included in the picture character.
• the picture character can include the address on the Internet (URL information) at which the information such as a music or etc. corresponding thereto is stored, and in such a case, as the user clicks the picture character, the user can connect to the address of the Internet corresponding to the URL information and can be provided with a certain information (such as a music, etc.) by downloading it.
• URL information the Internet
• the above-described embodiments can be realized as a program executable on a computer, and can be implemented on a versatile digital computer executing the program through a recording medium readable with a computer.
• the data structure used in the embodiment of the present invention can be recorded on a recording medium readable with a computer through a variety of means .
• the recording medium readable with a computer includes a magnetic recording medium (for example, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), optical reading medium (for example, CD ROM, DVD, etc.) and a carrier wave (for example, transmission through the Internet).
• a magnetic recording medium for example, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, etc.
• optical reading medium for example, CD ROM, DVD, etc.
• carrier wave for example, transmission through the Internet
• the user can configure a picture character message including a variety of picture character easily and conveniently and transmit or receive it. Furthermore, in case the user configures the picture character message with the picture character including an advertisement, the advertising effect is enhanced as the user can actively participate in an advertising activity.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

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• 2002
  • 2002-09-18 KR KR1020020056808A patent/KR20040025020A/ko not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-12-18 AU AU2002359962A patent/AU2002359962A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-12-18 WO PCT/KR2002/002290 patent/WO2004028173A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

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