KR100831105B1 - Arrangement in a computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for obtaining an electronic information service in a computer system connected to a network, wherein a plurality of users can record information to and read information from the information service of the computer system over a network. The apparatus has means for generating a first information object, which includes a partial region of the virtual pixel region. The pixel area contains information recorded by some of the above-mentioned plurality of users. In addition, means for transmitting a first information object to a first user of the plurality of users described above via a network, means for receiving a second information object from a first user corresponding to at least a portion of the partial region of the pixel region described above; And means for updating the pixel region using the received second information object.

Description

A device in a computer system {ARRANGEMENT IN A COMPUTER SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing an electronic information service and a corresponding method.

A great deal of interactive information services are provided for users with Internet access. These web services authorize users to read information recorded by the service by other users, and also enter their own information, for example, in response to an issue or an earlier post submitted by another user. To give.

An example of such a service is the so-called web bulletin board (BBS). Another example is a so-called "chat" web page. In the latter case, a message is continuously recorded by the user if he visits the service frequently. The most recently recorded message is added to the bottom of the service page and the previous message is scrolled to the top of the screen. These services allow users to chat in text in real time.

Web pages of the "chat" type, hereinafter referred to as chat pages, have become very popular despite many limitations. If a new post comes in at a high speed, the previous post scrolls quickly and disappears from view. This makes it difficult to continue the conversation on the chat page. Also, even if attention can be made to these effects at the beginning of a later article, it is difficult to know which later article is a reply to one of the previous ones. This is because there may be several other posts between the reply and the post.

If the chat page is very crowded, it can be difficult to continue the conversation. Thus, some web pages provide a number of so-called "chat rooms," which are chat pages for users with specific purposes or within groups of a certain age group. This reduces the burden on each individual chat page because users can be distributed.

Known chat pages are based on document text and, in principle, are a linguistic means for expression. However, for example, there is an example of using a combination of non-verbal symbols such as ":-)" or ":-(" to indicate emotions and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the abovementioned limitations, in whole or in part. This object is achieved by an apparatus for providing an information service in a computer system according to claims 1 and 12 and a corresponding method according to claims 11 and 14.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a more precise device and corresponding method of a computer system are provided. The apparatus aims to provide an electronic information service in a computer system connected to a network. Many users may enter information into or read information from an electronic information service in a computer system via a network. The apparatus is specified by means for generating a first information object comprising a partial region of a virtual pixel region. The pixel area includes information provided by some of the above-described plurality of users. In addition, means for transmitting the first information object to a first one of the plurality of users described above via a network, means for receiving a second information object from a first user corresponding to the aforementioned partial region of at least a portion of the virtual pixel region. And means for updating the virtual pixel region using the received information object.

Thus, the user can download a predetermined portion of the pixel region, read a message on such a partial region, and add his own message to the partial region. The user can then resubmit the changed partial region, after which the pixel region is updated by the added message.

In such information services, messages can be inserted at selectable locations on the pixel area. The message is not moved but can remain in the same location on the area. Thus, it is easier for a user to associate his or her message with a previous message by placing the message after the previous message. It is much easier to proceed with the conversation because messages that are not linked to the conversation can be placed in different parts of the pixel area.

Due to the use of pixel regions, information services are distributed in text format if necessary, which means that more meaningful messages can be provided. For example, various types of shapes may be included. According to a preferred embodiment, the virtual pixel region comprises a position coding pattern. Alternatively, the means for generating the first information object may also add a location coding pattern to the first information object. This allows the user to write a message using a drawing device using a location coded base, which is the base on which the location coding pattern is provided after the output of the selected partial region. Such position coding patterns can be designed in the manner described in Applicants' patent applications WO 00/73983 and PCT / SE00 / 01667, which are incorporated herein by reference. Reference is also made to WO 01/16691, the content of which is referred to in the description of the invention. Thus, the drawing device may include a pen that stores ink on the base, while the optical sensor can detect the position on the base.

The means for generating the first information object preferably further comprises means for receiving a request from the first user in connection with the transmission of a particular subregion of the virtual region. This partial area is inserted into the information object. This allows the user to read and write a message anywhere in the partial area. According to another preferred embodiment, the virtual pixel region comprises a background image. Alternatively, the means for generating the first information object may also add a background image to the virtual pixel. This makes it easier for the user to work on the virtual pixel area.

The virtual pixel area may be composed of graphic files. However, the virtual pixel region preferably consists of a plurality of graphic files, which allows a very large total pixel region to be used in an effective manner.

The means for generating the first information object also preferably adds an information image to this information object. This enables the system to send an advertisement to a user, for example, which can be used as a source of income. Preferably the information image is selected based on user parameters specific to the first user available to the computer system. This allows for example on-demand advertising. According to yet another embodiment, the computer system may comprise means for notifying the second user when the partial region of the pixel region has been updated. This allows the user to keep up to date what has been recorded in a particular subregion without his or her effort.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus and corresponding method of a computer system comprising an electronic information service and connected to a network. The user can write a message to or read a message from the service via the network.

The apparatus comprises a virtual area consisting of a pixel matrix that is at least two dimensional, means for receiving a message from a user, means for receiving a location indication associated with the message from the user, and means for placing the message at a location determined by the location indication on the area. It is characterized by including. The advantages of this aspect of the invention have been described above.

According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises means for deleting the message after a certain time period. This prevents the information service from filling up with new messages.

1 is a diagram schematically showing an apparatus of a computer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the apparatus in the computer system of the type shown in FIG.

Figure 3 illustrates a simplified form of operation of the apparatus of a computer system according to the present invention.

4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a virtual pixel region in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates the functions of the preferred form of the present invention in which position coding is used.

1 is a diagram schematically showing an apparatus of a computer system 1 according to the present invention. The computer system 1 is connected to the personal computer 5 of multiple users via the Internet 3. Such a user can communicate with computer system 1 and is allowed to read and write information in electronic information service 7 of computer system 1. The information service 7 is designed as a virtual pixel area 9, which will be described in detail below. The pixel region 9 is composed of a two-dimensional matrix of the pixel 11 in its simplest form, which may represent at least two states of "1" / "black" or "0" / "white". The size of the pixel area 9 is preferably significantly larger than the pixel area of a standard computer monitor screen. The size may be, for example, 10000 * 10000 pixels, but may be larger than this. Thus, a user with a standard personal computer 5 can see only a small portion of the pixel area 9 at the highest resolution at a time. However, the large format of the pixel region 9 allows room for a large number of messages 13 of various kinds at any particular time.

A user using the service may require viewing various subregions at various resolutions. Thus, a user can start a session, for example, by viewing the entire area at a very low resolution. After that, the message entered into the area will probably not be readable. Instead, areas with messages will appear as darker areas in the image that the user sees. The pixels on the user's screen will probably represent an average of several hundred pixels on the virtual area. The user can then mark the area of the smaller portion that he wants to see in greater detail. The request is then sent to the computer system, which creates and retransmits a new file with the contents of this area. The user can, for example, use the arrow keys on his personal computer to jump around the area until he finds a location on the area where he wants to record the message. The system preferably only permits the recording of images shown at the highest resolution when there is a one-to-one relationship between the pixels in the virtual pixel area of the computer system and the pixels in the image shown on the user's personal computer. The background image is preferably obtained in the form of a map on the pixel area, for example so that the user can more easily adapt himself on the area. It also creates an intuitive "chat room" such as, for example, an area, city or mountain area.

FIG. 2 shows the operation 21 of the type shown in FIG. 1 and the apparatus of the computer system 1 with which it is referred. In a first step 23 a request is received from the user via the network 3 for the transmission of a particular part of the virtual pixel region 9. Computer system 1 is provided with means for receiving such a request. Software is typically limited to means within a computer system, which includes program steps that cause the system to perform certain operations. The fact that certain operations are performed inversely means that the system includes software to do this. The apparatus also creates an information object 17 in the form of a file comprising a copy 15 'of the requested partial region 15 of the virtual pixel region 9 of the computer system 1 in a second step 25. Means for doing so.

The generated file 17 may have various formats. The simplest form consists of a copy of the requested partial region of the virtual pixel region. If a partial area of pixel area is requested that is larger than the user monitor screen can display at full resolution, the system can adjust this in various forms. The partial region can be integrated into the existing state in the generated information object 17 or reduced so that the resolution of the image region can be displayed on all of the monitor screens of the requesting user. In the first case, the user can instead choose to display another part of the image area, for example using the arrow keys on his personal computer 5.

In an optional third step 27 a double printed position coding pattern and / or background image may be added. Alternatively, this can be integrated into the virtual pixel region. The use of pixel regions and background images will be described in detail below.

In an optional fourth step 29, the information image 19 can be added to the generated information object 17. This may be double printed, but preferably combines with a copy 15 'of the requested partial region 15 to form a composite image comprising two partial regions. The added information image 19 may preferably consist of an advertising message or other information which the owner of the computer system 1 wishes to send to the user. The information image may preferably be selected based on parameters specific to the user, such as, for example, the user's age, hobbies, and the like. These parameters are assumed to be available to computer system 1.

In a fifth step 31, the system 1 sends the generated information object 17 to the user via the network 3. The user can then read the text and pictures of the message and the added information image recorded in the requested partial region. The user can also add information to herself using various input devices. This can be done with a copy of the transmitted information object or can be done directly the same. The added information may consist of text or pictures.

If the user performs addition to the partial region in the transmitted information object and wishes to integrate it into the virtual pixel area of the computer system, the information object is returned to the computer system. This may be an information object received and changed by the user, or may be a new information object generated based on this. It is only necessary to retransmit a portion of the partial area 15 sent to the user that the user has changed.

Thus, the computer system receives the second information object from the user in the sixth step 33. The received object also includes an indication as to which partial region of the virtual pixel region the received object, which is the position of the received partial region in the pixel region. The computer system then updates the virtual pixel region 9 in a seventh step 35 using the received information object so that the user's added message can be read by other users of the system.

In an optional seventh step 37, the computer system notifies the other user that the partial area that the user wanted to monitor has been updated.

3 shows the operation 41 of the device in a simplified form in a computer system according to the invention. In addition, the present invention also includes a virtual pixel region. In a first step 43 a message is received from the user. In a second step 45 an indication is received in the form of a position indication as to where in the virtual pixel area the user receives the message. The order of these two steps may be reversed. In a third step 47 the message is placed at a location on the virtual pixel area indicated by the location indication.

4 shows a preferred embodiment of the virtual pixel region 51 according to the present invention. Preferably, the virtual pixel region consists of a number of files 53, 53 ', 53 ", etc. stored on a digital storage medium in a computer system. Each file is preferably composed of a two-dimensional matrix of pixels 55. In the simplest form, each pixel exhibits a value "1" and a value "0" corresponding to black and white when the partial region of the pixel region is displayed, but the pixel may preferably represent more values and thereby Each pixel can be given a time value as a time value when the value of the pixel was last changed by recording the message, which is used to indicate that the message is to be completely filled. It is possible to insert a function into the system to delete after a period of time to prevent the writing of new messages. It is possible for a message to be lost after a certain period of time by having the integrated pixels progressively exhibit a light gray scale value The virtual pixel region can be composed of a matrix of two or more dimensions, whereby several layers can be obtained. One layer may contain a background image, but it is displayed to a user who is unable to record information on such a layer, instead, the user may record information on a drawing layer which is double-printed on the background layer when displayed. .

The advantage of having the virtual area 51 composed of multiple graphic files 53, 53 ', 53 "is that only a small set of files can be updated if the user adds information instead of a very large file that needs to be updated. In order to update the partial region 57 of the virtual region, one to four files 53 ', 53 "are typically updated even if the pixel region consists of hundreds of files. In this way very large pixel areas can be used without updating very long time consuming areas. The transmitted partial region is typically much smaller than the virtual pixel region.

The file format of the pixel region may be, for example, a compressed graphic format of type .jpg or .gif. However, it can also be an uncompressed format, for example .bmp or .tiff. The advantage of this is that when you update the pixel region, uncompressed files open more quickly for editing. However, compressing these files is not quite advantageous because they are not transmitted over narrowband channels. The information objects 17 (FIG. 1) generated at the request of the user from the partial area of the virtual area may be preferably composed of compressed files on the one hand because they are transmitted via the computer network 3 (FIG. 1).

5 illustrates the functionality of the preferred form of the invention in which location coding is used. In a first alternative, the pixel region 61 preferably comprises a position coding pattern 63 in a separate layer. As a second alternative, this pattern may be double printed on the partial region 65 of the pixel region 61 of the system selected by the user when an information object intended to be sent to the user is created. As a third alternative, this pattern can be added by the application of the personal computer 67 used by the user.

When the user outputs the requested partial area on the local printer, the position coding pattern 63 appears on the output area 69. The position coding pattern 63 may preferably be of the type shown in the applicant's patent applications WO 00/73983 and PCT / SE00 / 01667, where each position is encoded by a plurality of symbols and one symbol is a plurality of symbols. Used to encode a location. The position coding pattern 63 is configured as shown in WO 00/73983, where a large point represents "1" and a small point represents "0". However, it is possible to design a location coding pattern as disclosed in PCT / SE00 / 01667, where different arrangements of points in relation to raster points encode different symbol values.

The drawing device 71 is arranged to detect the position on the output area 69 using the position coding 63 pattern. When the drawing device 71 is moved in contact with and relative to the area 69, the drawing device 71 records a series of locations on the area 69, which are transmitted to the user's personal computer 67. do. The transmission of location information can be performed by various types of cables or infrared links. However, short-range radio links are preferably used, for example in accordance with the BLUETOOTH standard. The location information can be transmitted as a set of coordinate pairs, but preferably the drawing device first converts a series of coordinate pairs into a polygonal train which is subsequently transmitted. When the user draws on the output area 71, what is drawn may be recorded by the application of the user personal computer 67. The created record 73 can then be used to update the virtual pixel area 61 in the information service as described above.

As a further possibility the user can map the location coded base he already owns to the partial area he has downloaded. The message can then be added to the partial area, which is downloaded by writing on the base with the drawing device as described above.

The scope of application of the present invention to be protected is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The invention can be modified in various ways within the basic structure of the following claims.

Claims (14)

A device for providing electronic information services in a computer system connected to a network, A plurality of users can write information to and read information from the electronic information service in the computer system via the network, Means (25) for generating a first information object comprising a partial area of a virtual pixel area containing information recorded by a user of some of said plurality of users; Means (31) for transmitting the first information object to a first user of the plurality of users via the network; Means (33) for receiving a second information object from the first user corresponding to at least a portion of the partial region of the virtual pixel region; And Means (35) for updating the virtual pixel region using the received second information object Apparatus for providing an electronic information service comprising a. The method of claim 1, And the virtual pixel area includes a location coding pattern. The method of claim 1, And means for generating the first information object adds a location coding pattern to the first information object. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The means for generating the first information object includes means 23 for receiving a request from the first user in connection with the transmission of the partial area of the virtual area, wherein the partial area is inserted into the first information object. Apparatus for providing an electronic information service, characterized in that. The method of claim 4, wherein And the virtual area includes a background image. The method of claim 4, wherein And the means for generating the first information object adds a background image to the first information object (27). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And the virtual pixel area is composed of a plurality of graphic files. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And the means for generating the first information object adds an information image to the first information object (29). The method of claim 8, And the information image is selected based on a user parameter specified for the first user available to the computer system. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And means (37) for notifying a second user when the partial region of the pixel region has been updated. A method of providing electronic information services in a computer system connected to a network, A plurality of users can write information to and read information from the electronic information service in the computer system via the network, Generating (25) a first information object comprising a partial area of a virtual pixel area that includes information recorded by a user of some of the plurality of users; Transmitting (31) the first information object to a first user of the plurality of users via the network; Receiving (33) a second information object from the first user corresponding to at least a portion of the partial region of the virtual pixel region; And Updating (35) the virtual pixel region using the received second information object; Method of providing an electronic information service comprising a. An apparatus for providing an electronic information service in which a user can send a message to an electronic information service and read a message from the electronic information service through a network connected to the computer system, The information service includes a virtual area composed of a pixel matrix that is at least two-dimensional, The device, Means (43) for receiving a message from a user; Means (45) for receiving a location indication associated with the message from the user; And Means for locating the message at the location determined by the location indication on the virtual area Apparatus for providing an electronic information service comprising a. The method of claim 12, And the device comprises means for removing the message after a predetermined period of time. A method of providing an electronic information service in which a user can send a message to an electronic information service and read a message from the electronic information service through a network connected to the computer system, the method comprising: The information service includes a virtual area composed of a pixel matrix that is at least two-dimensional, The method, Receiving 43 a message from a user; Receiving (45) a location indication associated with the message from the user; And Placing the message in the location determined by the location indication on the virtual area (47) Method of providing an electronic information service comprising a.

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