KR20130117021A - Method for searching content of message and an electronic device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A message content search method and an electronic device thereof are provided to allow a user to check the contents of continuously accumulated messages by date. CONSTITUTION: A memory (120) stores sending and receiving messages. A touch screen (180) outputs a message screen which comprises a plurality of message histories. A processor (111) retrieves a message history by a search device which is selected by a user. The processor outputs the retrieved message history. If a request for retrieving a message is detected while the message screen is being displayed, the processor outputs a search device list. [Reference numerals] (111) Processor; (112) Memory interface; (113) Periphery device interface; (121) Operating system module; (122) Communication module; (123) Graphic module; (124) User interface module; (125) CODEC module; (126) Camera module; (127) Search module; (128) Application; (130) First wireless communication sub system; (131) Second wireless communication sub system; (140) Motion sensor; (141) Light sensor; (142) Camera system; (150) Audio sub system; (160) External port; (171) Touch screen controller; (172) Extra input controller; (180) Touch screen; (190) Extra input/ control devices

Description

METHOD FOR SEARCHING CONTENT OF MESSAGE AND AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE THEREOF}

The present invention relates to message retrieval of an electronic device, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for quickly retrieving the contents of an interactive message and moving a message screen to a retrieved location.

Recently, electronic devices such as portable terminals are indispensable for modern people regardless of gender, age, and age, and service providers and terminal manufacturers are competitively developing products (or services) to differentiate themselves from other companies.

For example, the portable terminal has developed into a multimedia device capable of a phone book, a game, a short message, an e-mail, a wake-up call, an MP3, a schedule management function, a multimedia message, and a wireless Internet service to provide various services.

Among the functions of the portable terminal, the short message function is used by many users because of the advantage that it is relatively inexpensive compared to voice calls.

Recently, a multimedia message service (MMS) has been provided, which combines the advantages of a short message service and an e-mail service.

A multimedia message is a message service that allows text and music, images, videos, link information, etc. to be composed and transmitted in a complex manner. The user can transmit wireless postcards, pictures, videos, video card maps, business cards, etc. through the multimedia messages. have.

In addition, the portable terminal provides an instant message function so that users can send and receive messages through a chat window.

Conventional portable terminals store and manage separate transmission and reception messages, but recently, the transmission and reception messages are stored in an interactive message format stored in chronological order for each user.

However, the interactive message accumulates and stores messages exchanged with the counterpart user, and thus, in order to check the contents of the message previously transmitted and received by the user of the portable terminal, a process of searching for the previous message based on the latest message should be performed.

In general, a portable terminal searches for a message content while changing a message content of a chat window through a scrolling operation, and a user needs to repeat the scrolling operation until searching for a desired message.

For this reason, as the message written a long time ago, the scroll operation that needs to be repeated increases, which causes inconvenience in retrieving the message.

In order to solve the above problems, there is a need for an apparatus and method for quickly and accurately searching for transmission and reception messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention was derived to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for confirming the contents of messages continuously accumulated in an electronic device by date.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for confirming message contents using keywords included in a message accumulated continuously in an electronic device.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for providing a UI for selecting a search means among interactive message functions in an electronic device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, an apparatus for retrieving message contents in an electronic device includes a memory for storing transmission and reception messages, a display for outputting a message screen composed of a plurality of message histories, and a user. And a processor unit for retrieving the message history with the retrieval means selected by the retrieval unit, and for outputting the retrieved message history.

According to a second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, a method for retrieving message content in an electronic device includes the steps of outputting a message screen composed of a plurality of message histories, and message retrieval by search means selected by the user. And a process of outputting the found message history.

According to a third aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, an electronic device for retrieving message content includes one or more processors, a memory, and one stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. An electronic device including the above module, wherein the module outputs a message screen composed of a plurality of message histories, retrieves the message history by the search means selected by the user, and outputs the retrieved message history.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, a computer-readable storage medium, when executed by an electronic device, outputs a message screen composed of a plurality of message histories, and displays the message history with search means selected by the user. And storing one or more programs including instructions for outputting the retrieved message history.

As described above, the present invention is to use a date, a keyword, and the like as a search means in the message history, and can easily search for a message having a specific content in a continuously accumulated transmission / reception message.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic device according to the present invention;
2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of retrieving a message history in an electronic device according to the present invention;
3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching for a message history in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of retrieving a message history in an electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
5 is a diagram illustrating a process of searching for a message history in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
6 is a view showing an example of a search means used in the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a diagram illustrating a process of retrieving a message history by a date retrieval unit in an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
8 is a diagram illustrating a process of retrieving a message history by a date retrieval unit in another electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process of searching a message history by keyword search means in another electronic device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a diagram for a process of searching for a message history by keyword search means in another electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

In the following description, an apparatus and method for quickly searching contents of a continuously accumulated message using an electronic device according to the present invention will be described. In addition, the message defined in the following description is an interactive message that continuously accumulates and stores messages transmitted and received for each user, and the message history means each message constituting the interactive message.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device may be a portable terminal, a mobile phone, a media player, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, or a PDA. It may be a device such as (Personal Digital Assistant). It may also be any electronic device including a device that combines two or more of these devices.

The electronic device 100 may include a memory 120, a processor unit 110, a first wireless communication subsystem 130, a second wireless communication subsystem 131, a sensing unit 140, and 141. ), Camera system 142, external port 160, audio subsystem 150, speaker 151, microphone 152, input / output (IO) system 170, touchscreen 180 and others An input or control device 190. The memory 120 and the external port 160 may be used in plurality.

The processor unit 110 may include a memory interface 112, one or more processors 111, and a peripheral interface 113. In some cases, the entire processor unit 110 may be referred to as a processor. Memory interface 112, one or more processors 111, and / or peripherals interface 113 may be separate components or integrated into one or more integrated circuits.

The processor 111 executes various software programs to perform various functions for the electronic device 100, and also performs processing and control for voice communication and data communication. In addition to these conventional functions, the processor 111 may also execute a specific software module (instruction set) stored in the memory 120 to perform various specific functions corresponding to the module. That is, the processor 111 performs a method according to an embodiment of the present invention in cooperation with software modules stored in the memory 120.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the processor 111 processes the search module 127 stored in the memory 120 to process the message history.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the processor 111 checks the search means for the message history, and processes to search the message history corresponding to the confirmed search means.

In this case, the processor 111 may search the message history by combining a search means such as a date, a keyword, a message type, or two or more search means. In addition, the processor 111 may search a message history related to a specific user by using a search means for the user in a message attended by a plurality of users.

Various components of the electronic device 100 may be coupled by one or more communication buses (not shown) or stream lines (not shown).

The external port 160 is used to directly connect the electronic device 100 to another electronic device or indirectly to another electronic device through a network (eg, the Internet, an intranet, a wireless LAN, etc.). The external port 160 is, for example, but not limited to these, refers to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port or a FIREWIRE port.

The motion sensor 140 and the light sensor 141 may be coupled to the peripheral interface 113 to enable movement detection and light detection from the outside of the electronic device, respectively. In addition, other sensors, such as a positioning system, temperature sensor or biometric sensor, may be connected to the peripheral interface 113 to perform related functions.

The camera system 142 may be combined with an imaging device such as a Charged Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) to perform camera functions such as photo and video clip recording.

In addition, the electronic device 100 performs a communication function through one or more wireless communication subsystems 130 and 131. The wireless communication subsystems 130, 131 may include radio frequency receivers and transceivers and / or optical (eg, infrared) receivers and transceivers. The first wireless communication subsystem 130 and the second wireless communication subsystem 131 may be classified according to a communication network with which the electronic device 100 communicates. For example, the communication network may include, but is not limited to, a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, an Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a W- A communication subsystem designed to operate over a plurality of access networks, a long term evolution (LTE) network, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) network, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a WiMax network, .

Audio subsystem 150 may be coupled to speaker 151 and microphone 152 to be responsible for the input and output of audio streams such as speech recognition, speech replication, digital recording, and telephony functions. That is, the audio subsystem 150 communicates with the user through the speaker 151 and the microphone 152. The audio subsystem 150 receives the data stream through the peripheral interface 113 of the processor unit 110 and converts the received data stream into an electrical stream. The converted electric stream is delivered to the speaker 151. The speaker converts the electric stream into a sound wave that can be heard by a person and outputs it. The microphone 152 converts sound waves transmitted from a person or other sound sources into an electric stream. Audio subsystem 150 receives the converted electrical stream from microphone 152. The audio subsystem 150 converts the received electrical stream into an audio data stream and transmits the converted audio data stream to the peripheral interface 113. The audio subsystem 150 may include attachable and detachable ear phones, headphones or a head set.

Input / output (I / O) subsystem 170 may include a touch screen controller 171 and / or other input controller 172. The touch screen controller 171 may be coupled to the touch screen 180. Touch screen 180 and touch screen controller 171 include, but are not limited to, capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies for determining one or more contact points with touch screen 180, as well as others. Any multi-touch sensing technique, including proximity sensor arrangements or other elements, can be used to detect contact and movement or disruption thereof. The guitar input controller 172 can be coupled to the guitar input / control devices 190. Other input / control devices 190 may include one or more up / down buttons for volume control. The button may also be a pointer device such as a push button or rocker button, rocker switch, thumb-wheel, dial, stick, and / or stylus. And so on.

The touch screen 180 provides an input / output interface between the electronic device 100 and the user. That is, the touch screen 180 transmits a user's touch input to the electronic device 100. Also, it is a medium that shows the output from the electronic device 100 to the user. That is, the touch screen 180 shows a visual output to the user. This visual output appears in the form of text, graphics, video, and combinations thereof.

The touch screen 180 may use various displays. For example, but not limited to, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Light Emitting Diode (LED), Light emitting Polymer Display (LPD), Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED), 3 3D display or FLED (Flexible LED) can be used. In addition, the touch screen 180 according to the present invention outputs a message composed of a plurality of histories, and a message history searched by a searching means.

Memory 120 may be coupled to memory interface 112. Memory 120 may include fast random access memory and / or nonvolatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, and / or flash memory (eg, NAND, NOR).

The memory 120 stores software. Such software may also be referred to as software modules, modules, programs, and the like. The software components are operating system software module 121, communication software module 122, graphics software module 123, user interface software module 124, CODEC software module 125, camera software module 126. ), Search software module 127, one or more application modules 128, and the like. A module, which is a software component, can also be expressed as a set of instructions, so a module is sometimes referred to as an instruction set. Modules can also be expressed as programs.

Throughout this specification, one or more modules including instructions for performing various methods of the present invention may be stored in the memory 120.

Operating system software module 121 (e.g., a built-in operating system such as WINDOWS, LINUX, Darwin, RTXC, UNIX, OS X, or VxWorks) provides several ways to control general system operation. Contains software components. Control of such general system operations refers to, for example, memory management and control, storage hardware (device) control and management, power control and management, and the like. These operating system software also facilitates communication between various hardware (devices) and software components (modules).

The communication software module 121 may enable communication with other electronic devices such as computers, servers, and / or portable terminals through the wireless communication subsystems 130, 131 or external ports 160.

The graphics software module 123 includes various software components for providing and displaying graphics on the touch screen 180. The term graphics refers to text, a web page, an icon, a digital image, video, animation, and the like.

User interface software module 124 includes various software components related to the user interface. How the state of the user interface changes, and under what conditions the change of the user interface state occurs.

Codec software module 125 may include software components related to the encoding and decoding of video files. Codec software module 125 may include a video stream module, such as an MPEG module and / or an H.264 module. In addition, the codec module 125 may include a codec module for various audio files such as AAA, AMR, and WMA.

Camera software module 126 includes camera-related software components that enable camera-related processes and functions.

The retrieval software module 127 analyzes the history of the interactive message, and classifies and outputs the history according to the retrieval means selected by the user.

The application software module 128 includes a browser, email, instant message, word processing, keyboard emulation, address book, touch list. ), Widgets, digital rights management (DRM), voice recognition, voice replication, position determining function, location based service, and the like. The memory 210 may include additional modules (instructions) in addition to the modules described above. Alternatively, some modules (commands) may not be used as needed.

In addition, various functions of the electronic device 100 according to the present invention, as mentioned above and below, may include one or more stream processing and / or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). May be implemented in hardware and / or software and / or combinations thereof.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of retrieving a message history in an electronic device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a message refers to an interactive message in which messages transmitted and received are continuously accumulated and stored for a predetermined time, and a message history search refers to a process of searching a message history corresponding to a specific date and keyword in the entire message history. . For example, the message history search refers to searching for a transmitted / received message including a specific word or a message transmitted / received by a year, month, or day selected by the user on a message screen in which the contents of the transmitted / received message are stored.

First, the electronic device proceeds to step 201 to check whether the message history is retrieved.

If the message history is not retrieved in step 201, the electronic device proceeds to step 213 to perform a corresponding function (eg, standby mode).

In operation 201, when determining that the message history is to be searched, the electronic device proceeds to step 203 and outputs a message searching means.

Here, the message retrieval means may classify the history included in the output message screen. For example, step 203 may be a process of outputting a menu for selecting a date and a menu for receiving a keyword.

In step 205, the electronic device selects a search means for message history search, and then proceeds to step 207 to determine whether a single search means is selected. Here, the electronic device may increase the accuracy of message history retrieval using a plurality of retrieval means.

If a single search means is selected in step 207, the electronic device proceeds to step 209 to search for a message history corresponding to the search means, and then proceeds to step 211 to output the searched message history. For example, when a search means corresponding to a date is selected, the electronic device outputs information on a message or data transmitted / received on a desired date from a message history stored for a predetermined period of time. At this time, the electronic device outputs the first history of the date selected by the user when searching for the message history so that the contents of the message of the corresponding date can be checked from the beginning.

In addition, the electronic device outputs information on the message or data including the keyword selected by the user in the message history stored for a certain period of time.

In operation 207, when the plurality of search means is selected, the electronic device proceeds to step 215 to check the calculation method for the search means. In step 217, the electronic device searches for and outputs a message history corresponding to the search means and the calculation method. do.

Here, the calculation method for the search means is to quickly and accurately find the search results desired by the user, the search results including the search means, the search results excluding the search means, search results similar to the search means according to the calculation method Etc. can be obtained.

The electronic device which has searched the message history corresponding to the searching means as described above ends the present algorithm.

In FIG. 2, a process of searching a message history using a search means for a date and a keyword has been described. However, the electronic device according to the present invention uses a search means for a user in a message attended by a plurality of users. You can retrieve the message history related to.

In addition, the electronic device according to the present invention may retrieve the message history using the message type. For example, the electronic device may classify and transmit information on the transmission message and the reception message, and may output only the attached data.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching a message history in an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic device first outputs a message history in step 301. Here, the message history means each message constituting the interactive message.

In operation 303, the electronic device determines whether an input for selecting a date is detected. Here, the input for selecting a date is a user's input for searching a message history associated with a specific date. For example, the input may be performed by selecting a specific area of a currently output screen and dragging it in a predetermined direction. In another embodiment, the input for selecting a date may be an input for a function key attached to an external device or a soft key output on an output screen.

If the electronic device does not detect an input for selecting a date in step 303, the electronic device repeats the process of step 301.

In operation 303, when detecting an input for selecting a date, the electronic device proceeds to step 305 to output a searchable date. In step 307, the electronic device selects a date to be used as a search means. Here, the searchable date is a search range of the message history, and the electronic device may provide a date of a predetermined period based on the date of the currently output message history. In addition, in order to increase the accuracy of the search result, the electronic device may check a date in which the message history exists for a certain period of time, and provide the user with information on a date corresponding to the confirmed history. In other words, the electronic device processes the message history to be distinguished and outputs information on a date that does not exist.

In step 309, the electronic device searches for a history corresponding to the date selected in step 307, and proceeds to step 311 to output the searched history.

At this time, since the message history is accumulated in the order of date and time, the electronic device may output the first history of the corresponding date on the screen.

The electronic device then terminates this algorithm.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of retrieving a message history in an electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, the message history refers to each message constituting the interactive message. In step 401, the electronic device outputs a message history included in the interactive message screen, and then proceeds to step 403. Make sure you sense the input for selection. Here, the input for selecting a keyword is input by a user to search for a message history associated with the keyword. For example, the input may be performed by selecting a specific region of a currently output screen and dragging it in a predetermined direction. In another embodiment, the input for selecting a keyword may be an input for a function key attached to the outside of the electronic device or a soft key output on an output screen.

In step 405, the electronic device analyzes the keyword included in the message history. In step 407, the electronic device outputs a keyword list. In this case, the electronic device may classify only the frequently stored keywords and list them. For example, the electronic device may use a word, a sentence, etc. included in the message as a keyword. At this time, the electronic device may check the number of times of storing each keyword and provide the user with a list of the higher rank keywords with the highest number of times of storage.

In operation 409, the electronic device selects a keyword to be used as a search means. In operation 411, the electronic device searches for a history corresponding to the keyword.

In step 409 and step 411, the user selects a desired keyword among the keywords provided by the electronic device. However, the electronic device according to the present invention may directly input a keyword from the user and then search for a history corresponding to the input keyword. .

In operation 413, the electronic device processes the searched history to output the searched history, and then ends the present algorithm.

In addition, the electronic device according to the present invention may search the message history by receiving the keyword directly from the user regardless of the process of analyzing the keyword included in the message history.

5 is a diagram illustrating a process of searching for a message history in an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, the electronic device first outputs a message history 501 as shown in a screen shown by reference numeral (a).

Here, the message history means each message constituting the interactive message. The electronic device divides a message into users and provides an interactive message function for managing messages transmitted and received for each user. In this case, messages transmitted and received with the user are continuously stored, and each transmission message 503 and the reception message 505 are defined as message history. In addition, each message history is accumulated and stored in chronological order, and includes generated date and time information. As shown in the figure, the transmission message and the reception message may be distinguished by being displayed in different forms.

Then, when the electronic device detects a user's input 511 to output the search means as shown by reference numeral b, the electronic device outputs a search means list as shown by reference numeral c.

Reference numeral (b) shows that the user inputs the user's input for selecting the date of the history to output the search means. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the search means outputs the drag in a specific direction after the touch input. Can be used as input to

In addition, the input for outputting the search means may be implemented through a function key attached to the outside of the electronic device or a soft key output on the output screen.

In addition, the search means shown in reference (c) is a method for classifying the history included in the output message screen, the electronic device to the date desired by the user in the history continuously generated using the "date" search means Identify the generated history.

In addition, the electronic device may distinguish the history including the specific keyword from the continuously generated history by using the “keyword” search means.

In addition, the storage device may change the screen of the currently output message history screen in units of pages by using a "page" search means.

In addition, the electronic device may select a plurality of search means to search the history of the message. In this case, the electronic device may select a calculation method for the search means to distinguish a history including the search means or a history not including the search means.

Although not shown in reference numeral (c), the electronic device according to the present invention may separately output a history of a transmission message, a history of a received message, or a history of attached data by using a message type.

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search unit used in an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, as described above, the electronic device may search the message history by the date retrieving means 600 based on the year, month, and day.

First, when the electronic device detects a user input for the item "Year", the electronic device outputs a sub item 601 for a year in which the message history search is possible.

In this case, the electronic device may determine a search range based on the year in which the currently output history is generated and output a sub-item for the searchable range.

In addition, when the electronic device detects a user input for the item "Month", the electronic device outputs a sub-item 603 for the month for which the message history search is possible.

In this case, the electronic device may determine the search range based on the month in which the currently output history is generated, and output a sub-item for the searchable range.

In addition, when the electronic device detects a user input for the “Date” item, the electronic device outputs a sub-item 605 for a date for which the message history search is possible.

In this case, the electronic device may provide a sub-item 605 for a date in which the message history exists based on the date on which the currently output history is generated.

When the message history is searched by the date search means as described above, a calendar for selecting a date to search may be output so that the user can select a desired date.

In addition, when the message history is searched by the keyword search means, the electronic device analyzes words and sentences included in the message history.

Thereafter, the electronic device obtains a keyword that satisfies a predetermined criterion in the message history, and outputs a sub item 607 corresponding thereto. Here, the predetermined criterion may be a keyword sorting method, a keyword analyzing method, or the like, and an example of the keyword sorting method may be priority sorting. In addition, the keyword analysis method may be the keyword TOP5 most included.

The keyword search means as described above may be executed in parallel with the date search means. That is, the electronic device may select a date for retrieving the message history and then analyze the keywords included in the history generated on the selected day.

In addition, the electronic device may output a sub item 609 for changing the output screen in units of pages. This is to solve the problem of the conventional history retrieval process, and to set the history retrieval unit in units of pages to retrieve the output screen in units of pages.

In addition, the electronic device supports a plurality of search means as described above, and can quickly and accurately analyze the history desired by the user in an operation method for the search means.

For example, the electronic device may search for a history including all of a plurality of search means and search for a history including at least one of the plurality of search means according to a calculation method.

7 is a diagram illustrating a process of retrieving a message history by a date retrieval unit in an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7, the electronic device outputs an interactive message screen to search for a message history generated in a specific month by date search means. In this case, the interactive message output to the electronic device includes a plurality of transmission and reception messages, and each transmission and reception message is defined as a message history.

In addition, the message history is stored continuously in chronological order, and each history includes creation date and time information. For example, history created on the same date is stored in the same area in chronological order.

If the user touches 701 date information of the history as shown by reference numeral a, the electronic device outputs information about the searchable month as shown by reference numeral b. In the illustrated screen, searchable section information is output as in November, December, and January, but the searchable section may be adjusted by the user.

If the user selects 705 the date information output as shown by reference numeral b, the electronic device distinguishes and outputs a history corresponding to the selected date. For example, the electronic device may output 707 a history starting for the first time in a month selected by the user as shown by reference numeral c. That is, when the user selects a date corresponding to January, the electronic device outputs information on the history generated on January 1. If the history generated on January 1 does not exist, information on the history generated on January 2 may be output.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for a process of retrieving a message history by a date retrieval unit in another electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8, the electronic device outputs an interactive message screen to search for a message history generated on a specific date by date search means. In this case, the interactive message output to the electronic device includes a plurality of transmission and reception messages, and each transmission and reception message is defined as a message history.

In addition, the message history is stored continuously in chronological order, and each history includes creation date and time information. For example, history created on the same date is stored in the same area in chronological order.

If the user touches 801 date information of the history as shown by reference numeral a, the electronic device outputs 803 information on a searchable date (date) as shown by reference numeral b.

In this case, the electronic device outputs information on the existence of the history based on the month in which the currently output history is generated. For example, assuming that a history is generated on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th days in January, the electronic device outputs information on 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th days except 2 days. . In this case, the information on the searchable work may be a sub-item for the first search result for the history search.

If the user selects 805 output date information as shown by reference numeral c, the electronic device distinguishes and outputs a history corresponding to the selected date 807. As an example, if the user selects a date corresponding to January 3, the electronic device may output a history starting for the first time on January 3 as shown by reference numeral d.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for a process of searching for a message history by keyword search means in another electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the electronic device outputs an interactive message screen to search for a message history including a specific keyword. In this case, the interactive message output to the electronic device includes a plurality of transmission and reception messages, and each transmission and reception message is defined as a message history.

In addition, the message history is stored continuously, and each history contains creation date and time information. For example, history created on the same date is stored in the same area in chronological order.

When the user touches 901 date information of the history as shown by reference numeral a, the electronic device outputs information about a searchable keyword as shown by reference numeral b. In this case, the information on the keyword may be directly analyzed by the electronic device or the message server.

In addition, the keyword may be a keyword having a high number of times of storage for a specific period of time, and may be a keyword directly input by the user.

If the user selects the keyword information output as shown by reference numeral (b), the electronic device checks the history including the selected keyword and processes it to output (907) like reference numeral (c).

The message history search using the keyword as described above may be used together with the date search means.

This is illustrated in FIG. 10. The electronic device checks the date for retrieving the message history as indicated by reference numeral 1001 and then analyzes the keyword existing in the history generated on the date.

Thereafter, the electronic device outputs information about a searchable keyword, such as reference numeral b, 1003, and outputs a history including a keyword selected by the user, such as reference numeral c, 1005. At this time, the search range of the history including the keyword becomes the date selected by the reference numeral (a), and the history associated with the keyword is searched in the history generated on the date.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is capable of various modifications within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the scope of the following claims, but also by the equivalents of the claims.

100: processor unit 120: memory 127: search module

Claims (16)

A device for retrieving message content from an electronic device, the device comprising:
A memory for storing transmission and reception messages,
A display for outputting a message screen composed of a plurality of message histories,
And a processor for retrieving the message history by the retrieval means selected by the user and processing to output the retrieved message history.
The method of claim 1,
The processor,
And detecting a message search request in a state of outputting a message screen, and outputting a list of search means.
The method of claim 1,
Search means,
And at least one of a date search, a keyword search, a message type search, and a user search.
The method of claim 1,
The processor,
Apparatus for retrieving message history using at least one or more retrieval means.
The method of claim 1,
The processor,
Process to output the sub-items of the search means selected by the user,
Sub-items,
And a first search result for the history corresponding to the search means.
In the method for retrieving the message content in the electronic device,
Outputting a message screen composed of a plurality of message histories,
Retrieving the message history by a search means selected by the user;
Outputting the retrieved message history.
The method according to claim 6,
The process of retrieving the message history is
And detecting a message search request while outputting a message screen.
The method according to claim 6,
Search means,
A method comprising at least one of date search, keyword search, message type search, and user search.
The method according to claim 6,
The process of retrieving the message history is
And retrieving the message history using at least one or more retrieval means.
The method according to claim 6,
The process of retrieving the message history is
Outputting a sub-item of the search means selected by the user,
Sub-items,
And a first search result for a history corresponding to the search means.
An electronic device for retrieving message content,
At least one processor,
A memory,
An electronic device comprising one or more modules stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors.
The module,
Output a message screen consisting of multiple message histories,
Retrieve the message history by the search means selected by the user,
And output the retrieved message history.
12. The method of claim 11,
The module,
And detecting a message search request while outputting a message screen, and outputting a list of search means.
12. The method of claim 11,
Search means,
An electronic device comprising at least one of a date search, a keyword search, a message type search, and a user search.
12. The method of claim 11,
The module,
And retrieve the message history using at least one or more search means.
12. The method of claim 11,
The module,
Output sub-items of the search means selected by the user,
Sub-items,
And a first search result for a history corresponding to the search means.
A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon one or more programs comprising instructions which, when executed by an electronic device, cause the device to perform the method of claim 6.

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