KR20040051921A - Mobile communication system and method for offering the avatar service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A mobile communication system for providing avatar service and a method therefor are provided to allow a user to transmit avatar dynamically expressing his/her feeling to the other party. CONSTITUTION: An caller terminal(110) and a callee terminal(112) have specific numbers. The mobile terminals(110,112) read an HTML(Hypertext Markup Language) document and communicate with an Internet server(102) and an avatar information management server(100) by using HTTP(Hypertext Transfer Protocol). The mobile terminals(110,112) set an avatar type, facial expression, emotional feeling, and behavior desired by a user by connecting to the avatar information management server(100) through an Internet network(104) in order to set avatar service.

Description

Mobile communication system and method for providing avatar service {MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OFFERING THE AVATAR SERVICE}

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system and method for providing an avatar service, and more particularly, to a mobile communication system and method for providing an avatar service that allows a user of a terminal to express itself more specifically during communication between terminals.

With the development of communication technology and the spread of personal computers, most users use at least one terminal. Such a terminal is a device for communication between users, such as a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone, a personal computer (PC), or a personal digital assistant (PDA). In particular, the mobile communication terminal has various additional functions for the user's convenience. Recently, an avatar that can view the avatar image of the other party when receiving an e-mail and chatting by connecting to the Internet from a PC. The service function is being added. Unlike simple character characters, such avatars are concrete and expressive means of maximizing self-satisfaction by exaggerating, distorting, and reducing the appearance that they are not satisfied with in cyberspace. In other words, it is another means of expression that exists in cyberspace.

Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-43522 discloses a method of generating and using a 3D avatar in a mobile phone. Referring to Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-43522, there is disclosed a technique of selecting a design such as his / her own image, body shape information, and style, generating his own avatar, transmitting it to a remote site, or using it as a wallpaper. This makes it possible to effectively inform others by means of a unique avatar representing the mobile phone user himself. However, according to Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-43522, since it provides a static avatar to others, it is difficult to feel the liveliness. On the other hand, Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-34987 discloses a method of using a dynamic character interlocking with letters in an e-mail or a conversation on the Internet. Referring to Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-34987, a technique using a dynamic character that operates in conjunction with a text or paragraph is disclosed. In order to use the dynamic character as described above, the user sets a character and a character corresponding thereto in advance, and uses the character and the dynamic character defined by the user in a conversation using a real-time character such as e-mail or chatting. Accordingly, a dynamic character operating in conjunction with a text or paragraph content can express liveliness in an e-mail or a real-time conversation. However, the dynamic character is linked to the contents of the text or paragraph in an e-mail or real-time conversation, but has nothing to do with the voice call.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication system and method for providing an avatar service that enables a terminal user to provide an avatar which dynamically expresses his or her emotional state during a call between terminals.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mobile communication system and method for providing an avatar service that can be provided to a call counterpart by dynamically changing the facial expression or body motion of an avatar according to a change in a user's voice during a call between terminals. .

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a mobile communication system for providing an avatar service according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a block diagram of an avatar information management server according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a diagram illustrating an avatar information format stored in an avatar information management server according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing an avatar service during communication between terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for providing an avatar service with a short message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to the above object, the present invention provides a mobile communication system for providing an avatar service to a terminal having a wireless Internet access function, the terminal user is connected to the terminal through the Internet, the terminal user during a call between the terminals It is composed of an avatar information management server that dynamically changes the avatar according to the voice change and provides the avatar service in real time.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for providing an avatar service through the Internet to a terminal having a wireless Internet access function, the terminal user of his basic voice for a dynamic avatar service to dynamically change his feelings during a call Providing information to an avatar information management server; and providing avatar information changed according to a voice change of a user of the terminal when the terminal requests the dynamic avatar service. Is done.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same elements in the figures are represented by the same numerals wherever possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mobile communication system for providing an avatar service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 1, a mobile communication system for providing an avatar service includes a calling terminal 110, a mobile communication terminal such as a called terminal 112, a base station 108, and a gateway 106. ), An internet network 104, an avatar information management server 100, and an internet server 102.

The calling terminal 110 and the called terminal 112 have a unique number (phone number) and are a mobile communication subscriber, that is, a terminal device carried by a user. The mobile communication terminals 110 and 112 may read a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document, which is a standard document of the web, and may use an Internet server 102 and an avatar information management server (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) using HTTP. 100). According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the mobile communication terminals 110 and 112 including the calling party terminal 110 and the called party terminal 112 may use the avatar information management server 100 through the Internet network 104 to set an avatar service. You can set your preferred avatar type, facial expression, emotional, and behavior.

The configuration and operation of the calling terminal 100 and a mobile communication terminal such as the called terminal 102 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. The controller 200 controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal, and performs an operation of setting the avatar service and controlling the display of the avatar of the received counterpart according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless unit 202 controls transmission and reception of voice data and control data under the control of the controller 200. The voice processing unit 204 converts the audio data received from the wireless unit 202 into an audible sound through a speaker (SPK) under the control of the control unit 200, and outputs the audio signal received from the microphone (MIC). The data is output to the wireless unit 202. In addition, the voice processing unit 204 converts the incoming signal received by the wireless unit 202 into an audible sound under the control of the control unit 200 and outputs it as a ring tone through the speaker. The key input unit 210 is an apparatus for interfacing with a user and includes various function keys and a plurality of keys for call or text input, and outputs key input data corresponding to a key pressed by the user to the controller 200. do. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user may input contents for setting the avatar service using the numeric keys and the function keys of the key input unit 200. The memory 206 includes a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a voice memory, and the like for storing a plurality of program data necessary for controlling terminal operation. That is, the memory 12 includes an operating system (OS) for controlling the basic structure of the entire mobile communication terminal, an application program, an application program interface (AIP) for supporting the driving of the application program, and data input and output through a network. The protocol is stored. In addition, the memory 12 stores data generated when setting an avatar service or displaying a received avatar according to a user's request according to an embodiment of the present invention. The display unit 208 may be formed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and outputs various display data generated in the terminal. The user may check a state in which the facial expression or gesture of the avatar is continuously changed according to the avatar information set by the counterpart according to the embodiment of the present invention through the display unit 208.

Meanwhile, the base station 108 is a wireless station, which is responsible for communication between the mobile communication terminals 110 and 112, and transmits a radio signal to the mobile communication terminals 110 and 112 or receives a radio signal from the terminals 110 and 112 in a wireless communication section. It is a device that can. The gateway 106 is connected to the base station 108 and the Internet network 104, and generally serves as an entrance to another communication network. The gateway 106 interconnects two or more different types or the same types of communication networks to interconnect information between the communication networks. It is a device that can send and receive. That is, a protocol converts a protocol between a plurality of different communication networks so that information can be exchanged. In an embodiment of the present invention, the gateway 40 preferably uses a wireless application protocol (WAP). WAP is a specification of communication protocols for standardizing how wireless devices, such as mobile terminals 110 and 112, can be used for Internet access, such as email, web newsgroups, and the like. The mobile communication terminals 110 and 112 may be connected to the avatar information management server 100 connected to the Internet network 104 through the gateway 106 using the WAP. Internet network 104 refers to a computer communication network that can connect the world using the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) protocol. The Internet server 102 refers to companies that provide Internet access services, website construction and web hosting services to individuals or companies. The mobile communication terminals 110 and 112 may be provided with various web services by accessing the internet server 102 through the internet network 104.

The avatar information management server 100 may be connected to terminals such as the calling terminal 110 and the called terminal 112 and manages avatar information, user information, and terminal information set by the user. In addition, an avatar service is provided to the mobile communication terminals 110 and 112. That is, when the calling terminal 100 communicates using the avatar service at the request of the user, the avatar information management server 100 provides the avatar information set by the calling party to the receiving terminal 200.

The configuration and operation of the avatar information management server 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. The avatar information management server 100 may include a user information database 302, an avatar information database, a terminal platform information database 310, a facial expression and emotion and behavior information database 314, and multi-cast in real time. It is configured to include a database such as a database 316. In addition, the input / output interface control unit 320 together with the user manager 304, the avatar manager 308, the terminal platform information manager 312, the avatar setting information manager 315, and the real-time multi-cast manager 318. It is configured to include. The database stored in the avatar information management server is described below with reference to Table 1.

Terminal B Terminal A User information Yujin Kim Lee Hwa-sun Avatar information princess carrier woman Terminal platform information SPH-1000 iPaq Facial Expression Information - talk Emotional Information Pleasure AUTO Behavior information Dance - Real time multicast 15 frame / sec 15 frame / sec

The user information database 302 stores information about a user such as a user name, a user ID, a user telephone number. The information on the user stored in the user information database 302 may be changed through a user registration procedure. The avatar information database 306 is information representing a basic avatar type. Referring to the avatar information of Table 1, the terminal A sets the avatar type to 'princess'. In addition, the terminal B sets the avatar type to 'carrier woman'. That is, the avatar information here refers to a basic type of avatar. The terminal platform information database 306 stores information about a terminal such as an OS and a model of a user registered terminal. This is to provide an avatar service without user action by automatically responding to the appropriate format by referring to the terminal information stored in the terminal platform information database in the compatibility problem between terminal platform models.

The facial expression, emotion, and behavior information database 314 also stores data for the user to indicate, through an avatar, emotional changes related to facial expressions or conversation content during communication. This will be described taking the case of the terminal A of Table 1 as an example. The user of the terminal A, Kim Yujin, did not set the facial expression information, set the emotion information to 'pleasure' and the behavior information to 'dance'. In other words, assuming communication between the terminal A and the terminal B and the avatar service are set up with each other, an avatar performing a pleasant dance set by the terminal A is displayed on the screen of the terminal B until the communication is completed or the avatar information is changed. In addition, the user 'Ewha Sun' of the terminal B set the facial expression information to 'talk' and the emotion information to 'AUTO'. Here, the setting of 'AUTO' in the emotion information refers to automatically changing emotions such as sadness, anger and joy according to the voice of the user and displaying them on the screen of the counterpart terminal. For example, since the user's voice changes in frequency pattern according to the emotion, the user's basic voice is input and stored at the time of initial avatar service setting, and when the user sets the emotion information as 'AUTO', The emotion of the avatar is automatically changed and displayed according to the change of the frequency pattern. The real-time multi-transmission database 316 stores data for performing multi-service for the multi-accessor in real time with the avatar data.

Meanwhile, the input / output interface controller 320 performs an interface function between the mobile communication terminals 110 and 112 and the database and the management unit through the Internet network 104. That is, when the avatar service request data is transmitted from the calling terminal 110, the input / output interface controller 320 inputs the data into the management units through the CGI (Common Gateway Interface) and outputs the avatar data as HTML data from the management units. The data is transmitted to the called terminal 112 through the Internet network 104.

4 is a diagram for describing an avatar setting information format of the avatar information management server 100 in a mobile communication system for providing an avatar service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The terminal 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be, for example, a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a personal computer (PC) capable of accessing the Internet. The terminal 100 and the avatar information management server 100 may be connected through a wired or wireless network such as the internet network 104, and provide an avatar service based on the avatar setting information management format as shown at 400 in FIG. 4. do. As shown in 400 of FIG. 4, the avatar setting information management format includes user ID " Janet ", 'user information' such as a telephone number " 016.490.2222 " and 'terminal information' such as the terminal platform information " SPH-1100 " Data format information such as 'avatar setting information' including avatar type, facial expression, emotion, and behavior information may be included.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing an avatar service during communication between terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the calling terminal 110 and the called terminal 112 will be described assuming that a call is established and in a call. Hereinafter, it will be described on the assumption that the calling terminal and the called terminal have set and registered respective avatar information in the avatar information management server 100.

First, when a call is established between the calling terminal 110 and the called terminal 112 in step 500, the calling terminal 110 and the called terminal are connected to the avatar information management server 100 to use the avatar service. Make a connection. In step 502, the avatar information management server 100 examines terminal platform information of a calling terminal and a called terminal and transmits avatar information set according to platform information of each terminal. That is, in step 504, the avatar information management server 100 transmits the avatar information set by the called terminal 112 to the calling terminal 110. In step 506, the avatar information management server 100 transmits the called terminal ( 112, the avatar information set by the calling terminal 110 is transmitted. If the calling terminal 110 and the called terminal 512 change the avatar information in steps 508 and 512, respectively, in step 510 and 514, the avatar information management server 100 displays the avatar information changed in the terminal. Receive.

In step 516, the avatar information management server 100 changes and stores the avatar information received in steps 510 and 514 in a database corresponding to each terminal. At this time, the corresponding database is stored as the changed avatar information only for the terminal that has transmitted the information for changing the avatar information. When the calling party terminal 110 changes the avatar information, the avatar information management server 100 transmits the changed avatar information of the calling party terminal 110 to the called party terminal 112. In addition, when the called terminal 112 changes the avatar information, the avatar information management server 100 transmits the changed avatar information of the called terminal 112 to the calling terminal 110. At this time, if the calling terminal 110 or the called terminal 112 changes the emotion of the avatar to 'AUTO', the avatar information management server 100 stores it. Then, upon initial avatar service setting, the emotion of the avatar is automatically changed according to the change of the frequency pattern of the voice input by the user based on the basic voice of the user and transmitted to the counterpart terminal. In step 522, the avatar information management server checks whether the call between the calling terminal 110 and the called terminal 112 has been released. If the call is completed, the avatar information management server proceeds to step 526 and ends providing the avatar information service. On the other hand, if the calling terminal 110 and the called terminal 112 is in a call, the mode continues to provide an avatar service.

Next, an avatar service linked to a text will be described with reference to FIG. 6, which is a process flow for transmitting a short message and providing an avatar service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

When the calling terminal 110 transmits the short message to the called terminal 112 in step 600, and confirms the short message by the user of the called terminal 112 in step 602, the called terminal 112 determines avatar information. Informs the management server 100 that the short message has been confirmed. If the avatar information management server 100 finds that the called terminal 112 confirms the short message, the avatar information management server 100 checks the avatar information set by the calling terminal 110 in step 606 and proceeds to step 608 to return to the called terminal. The avatar information is transmitted. When the user of the called terminal 112 confirms the short message, the called terminal 112 transmits a message indicating that the short message check is completed to the avatar information management server 100. Upon receiving this, the avatar information management server 100 ends the avatar service provided to the called terminal.

In the above description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment of the present invention, while providing the avatar service during the call between the mobile communication terminals and providing the avatar information at the time of transmitting the short message, the device supporting the avatar service such as a PC and a PDA is described above. It can provide an avatar service such as. The scope of the invention should not be defined by the described embodiments, but should be determined by the equivalents of the claims and the claims.

As described above, in the present invention, the terminal user stores his basic voice in the avatar information management server to provide a dynamic avatar service to the counterpart, which can continuously change the facial expression or gesture of the avatar according to his emotion during the call. can do. Therefore, the user and the other party provided with the avatar service can communicate more effectively. In addition, the service provider providing the avatar service can secure the revenue according to the service fee for providing the avatar service to the user, and the mobile service provider increases the time the user uses the wireless service by providing the avatar service and marketing channel. Revenue can be secured.

Claims (6)

In the mobile communication system for providing an avatar service through the Internet to a terminal having a wireless Internet access function, Connected to the terminal through the Internet, receiving dynamic avatar information provided by the terminal user and basic voice information of the user, setting a dynamic avatar, and then communicating with each user of the terminals An avatar information management server for changing the avatar to correspond to the dynamic avatar information set by the mobile terminal and providing the avatar information to a call counterpart terminal in real time; And a terminal for transmitting the dynamic avatar information for representing the user to the avatar information management server to set the avatar service by the user, and for receiving and displaying the dynamic avatar information transmitted from the avatar information management server. Mobile communication system for information transmission between the terminal characterized in that. The method of claim 1, wherein the avatar information management server, During the inter-terminal call, the avatar is dynamically changed according to the voice change input by each user based on the basic voice set by the user in advance and provided to the call counterpart terminal in real time. Mobile communication system for information transmission between terminals. The method of claim 1, wherein the avatar information management server, An input / output interface control unit for inputting and outputting information data of a predetermined data format from the terminal; A database storing user information corresponding to the terminal, terminal platform information, avatar type including avatar type, facial expression, emotion and behavior information, and real-time multi-transmission information; And a manager for dynamically changing the avatar information according to the voice change of the terminal user during the inter-terminal call stored in the database and outputting the avatar information to the input / output interface controller. The method of claim 3, wherein the database, Information about you, such as your name, user ID, and your phone number; Terminal platform information such as OS and model of a user registered terminal, Avatar type information indicating a basic avatar type, Facial expressions, emotions and behaviors of the avatar, A system for providing an avatar service, characterized by storing real-time multi-transmission information for performing multi-service for a multi-accessor in real time with avatar data. In the method for providing an avatar service through the Internet to a terminal having a wireless Internet access function, Setting, by the terminal user, his basic voice information to an avatar information management server for a dynamic avatar service that dynamically changes his emotion during a call; When the terminal requests the dynamic avatar service by the avatar information management server, providing the avatar information changed according to a voice change of a terminal user to a counterpart terminal in a call. . The method of claim 5, The dynamic avatar service is a method for providing an avatar service, characterized in that the service that can automatically change and set the emotion, such as anger, pleasure, joy according to the user's voice.