WO2005116856A1

WO2005116856A1 - Method for building home page using web page templet

Info

Publication number: WO2005116856A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/003140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Han-Ju Kim
Original assignee: Tnaru Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-05-29
Filing date: 2004-12-01
Publication date: 2005-12-08

Abstract

Disclosed is a homepage manufacturing method for supporting a user to download homepage templets in his/her own PC, edit content items and construct a desired homepage. This method includes allowing a homepage provision service to store a packaged Web-page templet in a Web-page templet database (DB); performing a log-in process of a client terminal accessing a homepage of the homepage provision server; providing a specific Web-page templet selected by the client terminal; automatically installing a Web-page templet downloaded in the client terminal; and allowing the client terminal to load a homepage of the Web-page templet, and reflecting a specific content item edited on an edit page in a main page and a sub-page. Therefore, not only expert users but also a general user unaccustomed to homepage construction language can easily construct a desired homepage by assembling functions and designs of content items contained in the Web-page templets.

Description

METHOD FOR BUILDING HOME PAGE USING WEB PAGE TEMPLET

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a homepage using a

Web-page templet, and more particularly to a homepage manufacturing method capable

of providing a user with Web-page templets classified according to unique functions and

designs of individual service categories, and allowing the user to edit a desired

homepage using the downloaded Web-page templets, such that the user can construct

the desired homepage in his or her client terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a homepage is indicative of a Webpage displayed on a monitor when

a Web-browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Communicator is

executed. With the increasing number of Internet users, general users prefer to construct unique homepages on the Internet, such that they are able to introduce themselves to a plurality of other Internet users.

In order to construct the above-mentioned homepage, a tool for constructing the

homepage and a storage unit for storing information of the homepage are required. A

variety of homepage construction software programs, for example, Namo Web Editor

manufactured by Namo Interactive, Inc., Microsoft FrontPage, and Macromedia

Dreamweaver, etc., have been well known in the art. However, the above-mentioned conventional homepage construction software programs have been designed for only a small number of developers. More particularly, the above-mentioned conventional homepage construction software

programs have been developed for only a small number of software experts accustomed

to content design or HTML syntax, such that general users have difficulty in

constructing their desired homepages. In the meantime, PC communication companies or IP companies provide their

subscribers with a storage space capable of storing homepage contents. The PC

communication companies and the IP companies allow their subscribers to use both a

unique storage space and a search-engine registration service free of charge, and allow

other users unaccustomed to HTML language to easily construct their homepages using

mouse-clicking actions, such that most Internet users can easily construct unique homepages on the Internet.

However, in order to construct the above-mentioned homepages provided from

the PC communication companies or the IP companies, a user must establish his or her

homepage in a dedicated server managed by one of the above-mentioned companies, and must use a homepage interface unconditionally supplied from a corresponding

company to all users. Therefore, the conventional homepage construction method

cannot sufficiently satisfy a variety of expectations of users who desire to construct unique homepages in their client terminals according to users' personality and use

purposes.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a homepage construction method capable of providing a user who desires to construct a unique homepage in his or her

client terminal with Web-page templets having unique functions and designs of

individual service categories, and allowing the user to easily edit a desired homepage on

a user-friendly editing interface using the Web-page templets. It is another object of the present invention to provide a homepage construction

method for providing a user with a Web-server engine program, which can

automatically diagnose user client terminal environments, and can act as a Web-site

without performing a complicated environment setup process, such that a user, who is unaccustomed to homepage construction and has no knowledge associated with the

homepage construction, can easily construct a desired Web-site in his or her client

terminal without any difficulty.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a method

for providing a Web-page templet having a unique function and design according to

individual service categories over a network, and constructing a homepage using the

Web-page templet, comprising the steps of: a) allowing a homepage provision service to

store a packaged Web-page templet in a Web-page templet database (DB); b)

performing a log-in process of a client terminal accessing a homepage of the homepage

provision server; c) providing a specific Web-page templet selected by the client terminal; d) automatically installing a Web-page templet downloaded in the client

terminal; and e) allowing the client terminal to load a homepage of the Web-page

templet, and reflecting a specific content item edited on an edit page in a main page and a sub-page. In one aspect of the invention, the Web-page templet includes: a main page acting as an initial image when a user gains access to a Web-site over the network; a

plurality of sub-pages linked to content items of the main page; a plurality of content

items contained in the main page and the sub-pages; and an edit page including a variety

of interfaces capable of allowing an administrator to edit the content items, wherein, if

the administrator edits a specific content item on the edit page and stores the edited

content item, the edited content item is automatically reflected in either the main page or

the sub-pages containing the content items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present

invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken

in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a homepage construction system in

accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for constructing a homepage in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a Web-page templet in accordance with a

preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a homepage provision server in accordance

with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a settlement function for use in a homepage

construction system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 exemplarily shows a main page of a Web-page templet in accordance

with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7a to 7e exemplarily show edit pages of a Web-page templet in

accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 exemplarily shows a homepage edited by a user in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail

with reference to the annexed drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a homepage construction system 1 in

accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the homepage construction system 1 according to the

present invention includes a homepage provision server 2 and a client terminal 3. The

homepage provision server 2 and the client terminal 3 are interconnected over a wired or wireless network such as the Internet network.

A Web-server is constructed in the homepage provision server 2. The

homepage provision server 2 transmits a list of Web-page templets classified according

to homepage functions and homepage designs to the client terminal 3 of a user who

gains access to a homepage of the Web-server, receives a download request of a specific Web-page templet from the user, and provides the user with the requested Web-page

templet free of charge or for a charge.

The client terminal 3 is indicative of a Personal Information Communication Terminal including a desktop- or notebook computer in which the user wishes to build

his or her Web-site. The user gains access to the homepage provision server 2, selects

a Web-page templet suitable for type information of a desired homepage, and transmits

a request for downloading the selected Web-page templet to the homepage provision server 2.

Preferably, the homepage provision server 2 according to the present invention

determines or diagnoses whether Web-server drive solution such as Web-server engine

program (e.g., IIS or Apache) has already been installed in the client terminal 3 in order

to operate the client terminal 3 as a Web-server in P2P environments. If it is

determined that the above-mentioned Web-server solution has not been installed in the

client terminal, the homepage provision server 2 provides a user with a Web-server

engine program based on the HTTP standard, which has been manufactured by the

homepage provision server 2 itself to perform a homepage provision service of the present invention, such that the Web-server engine program can be automatically

installed according to a specific command entered by the user. As a result, even a

general user having no knowledge associated with Web-site construction receives the Web-server engine program optimized for his or her client terminal 3 from the

homepage provision server 2, and can easily install the received Web-server engine

program in the client terminal 3. The Web-page templet according to the present invention not only transmits a

Web-page to the client terminal 3, but also includes a predetermined installation program, such that it can be automatically added to a Web-service solution (e.g., Windows control panel, Windows management instrumentation, and Internet service administrator information) of the client terminal 3 upon receiving an installation

command from the user. Therefore, if the user downloads a packaged Web-page templet installation program from the homepage provision server 2, and installs the

downloaded Web-page templet installation program, the Web-page templet is

automatically registered as a Web-page of the client terminal 3.

Particularly, the above-mentioned Web-server engine program and the

above-mentioned automatic installation of the Web-page templet can allow even a

beginner user to quickly and easily construct Web-site environments in his or her client

terminal 3 upon receiving a user-friendly interface command of the installed program. FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for constructing a homepage in

accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

An administrator of the homepage provision server 2 stores a packaged

Web-page templet, classified according to unique functions and designs of individual

download service categories, in a Web-page templet database (DB) 211 at the step S10 (also called a templet DB storage step S 10).

Referring to FIG. 3, the Web-page templet 4 provided from the homepage provision server 2 includes a main page 41, a sub-page 42, and an edit page 43.

The main page 41 is indicative of an initial Web-image provided from a specific

Web-site to which the user firstly gains access after the specific Web-site is constructed

in the user client terminal 3. Some content items contained in the main page 41 are

linked to a plurality of sub-pages 42. If the user of the client terminal 3 receives the Web-page templet 4 from the

homepage provision server 2 and a homepage composed of content items of the received Web-page templet is installed, the edit page 43 is adapted to edit the content items and content construction.

The edit page 43 provides the user with an edit interface associated with user-editable content items, and changes content construction of the main page 41 and

the sub-page 42 using data established by the user.

For example, if the user changes a background image and a letter size of a

specific content item, the user designates a path of the background image and the size of

a desired font and letter using an edit interface of the edit page 43. If the user clicks a

storage button, data changed by the user is reflected in an HTML document of

corresponding contents in such a way that the HTML document can be edited by the

user. Therefore, a user having no knowledge associated with HTML language can

easily change content construction and design using an interface of the edit page 43, and

a detailed description thereof will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to

8. As shown in FIG. 2, the homepage provision server 2 provides the user with a

log-in image via a homepage when the client terminal 3 gains access to the homepage provision server 2 at the step S20. If necessary, the homepage provision server 2

allows not only member users but also non-member users to view the log-in image. The homepage provision server 2 stores member-user information in a user DB. Input data entered by the user who views the log-in image is authenticated by a member

authentication process. In this case, if the homepage provision server 2 determines that

the above-mentioned input data entered by the user is indicative of a valid user, it allows

the valid user to access the homepage, and then a list of Web-page templets of the homepage provision server is applied to the client terminal 3.

The homepage provision server 2 provides the user with a download service free

of charge or for a charge at the step S30. If the download service is supplied to the

user for a charge, the homepage provision server 2 performs authentication and

settlement services for a settlement means of the user. If the user settlement means is

indicative of valid settlement information, the homepage provision server 2 queries the

Web-page templet DB 21 1 for a user-purchased Web-page templet, and transmits the

user-purchased Web-page templet to the client terminal 3. Preferably, the homepage provision server 2 determines whether the client

terminal 3 includes a Web-server solution (e.g., IIS or Apache) acting as a Web-server.

If it is determined that the Web-server solution is not installed in the client terminal 3,

the homepage provision server 2 may transmit a unique Web-server engine program

having been manufactured for the inventive service to the client terminal 3 according to

the HTTP standard as necessary. The client terminal 3 automatically installs the downloaded Web-page templet in

the form of an installer at the step S40, and at the same time the downloaded Web-page

templet is automatically added to prior homepage registration information of the client

terminal 3. The user loads a local homepage on a Web-browser 31 at the step S50, and edits

a setup value associated with a specific content item contained in a Web-page using the

edit page 43, such that a unique Web-page of the user can be constructed at the step

S50.

In this case, the homepage provision server 2 allows the user to receive homepage environment setup information in the client terminal via the edit page, and

allows the user to store the received homepage environment setup information in the

homepage information DB. Therefore, the homepage provision server 2 queries the

homepage information DB for a homepage environment of a current user, and

determines which one of content items is contained in the homepage, such that it can

provide the user with a service specialized for the homepage construction environment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the homepage provision server 2 in

accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4,

the homepage provision server 2 for use in the homepage construction system 1 includes

a Web-page templet management unit 21, a Web-page templet DB 211, a client

environment diagnosis unit 22, and a homepage information DB 23.

The user executes the Web-browser 31 in the client terminal 3, gains access to a

homepage of the homepage provision server 2, and registers as a member in the

homepage provision server 2. Subsequently, the user enters a unique ID and password

for member authentication, and logs in as a member of the homepage provision server 2.

The Web-page templet management unit 21 queries a Web-page templet DB for

a list of the Web-page templets, and provides the user with the list of the Web-page templets. The user selects a user-preference Web-page templet, and transmits a request

for downloading the selected Web-page templet to the homepage provision server 2 as

the step © in FIG. 4.

The homepage provision server 2 queries the user for diagnosis information

diagnosing whether the Web-server engine program is installed in the client terminal 3.

If a Web-site has already been installed in the client terminal 3, the user may omit the above-mentioned diagnosis process as necessary.

The client environment diagnosis unit 22 transmits an execution code such as

ActiveX to the client terminal 3, such that it diagnoses whether the Web-server engine

program is installed in the client terminal 3 at the step © in FIG. 4. Therefore,

information indicative of the diagnosis result and client information such as OS-version information capable of allowing the client terminal 3 to act as a Web-server are

collected. According to the diagnosis result, the client environment diagnosis unit 22

provides a Web-server engine program suitable for a user's Web-server environment at

the step © in FIG. 4. The Web-page templet management unit 211 extracts a user-selected Web-page templet from the Web-page templet DB 211, and transmits the extracted Web-page

templet to the client terminal 3 at the step © in FIG. 4. The user installs the

Web-server engine program or the Web-page templet in the client terminal 3 according

to information messages of the automatic installation program. It should be noted that a method for installing the Web-server engine program and the Web-page templet is not limited to the above-mentioned method shown in FIGS.

2 to 4 and can also be modified in various ways as necessary. For example, upon

receiving a download request from the user, a predetermined installation program in

which the Web-server engine program and the Web-page templet are packaged is transmitted to the user client terminal. The installation program diagnosis the

environment of the client terminal 3, and recommends a Web-server engine program

suitable for the diagnosed client terminal environment to the user, such that the user can directly establish and install desired environment information. The Web-page templets downloaded in the client terminal 3 are automatically

installed by a predetermined installer program, and the installed Web-page templet is

automatically added to prior Web-service solution (i.e., Internet service administrator information) of the client terminal. If the Web-page templet is installed in the client terminal 3, a homepage is

constructed by content construction of the installed Web-page templet. The user loads

his or her local homepage to execute the Web-browser 31 at the step © in FIG. 4.

The user may correct, add, and delete content items of the Web-page templet via

the edit page 43 of the homepage. Therefore, the user can freely design a specific Web-page according to his or her taste and preference. If the user edits/stores a

specific content and a design thereof using an interface displayed on the edit page 43,

the edited data is reflected in a source code such as an HTML document of either the

main page 41 to which the specific content belongs or the sub-page 42. The environment setup information of the user-edited local homepage is transmitted to the

homepage provision server 2, such that it can be stored in the homepage information DB 23.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a settlement function for use in the

homepage construction system 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the homepage provision server 2 provides a

user with a list of Web-page templets, such that the user can select a specific Web-page

templet at the step © in FIG. 5. The client terminal 3 selects a specific Web-page

templet suitable for purposes of a homepage to be constructed, performs a settlement

process, and transmits a download request at the step © in FIG. 5. The homepage provision server 2 further includes a settlement information DB

(not shown), such that it stores settlement information associated with the purchase of a

specific Web-page templet in the settlement information DB. A variety of settlement means can be used to purchase the specific Web-page templet, for example, a credit card,

a gift card, electronic money, and a transfer account, etc.

The homepage provision server 2 authenticates user settlement information. If

the user settlement information is determined to be valid settlement information, the

homepage provision server 2 transmits a specific Web-page templet to the client

terminal 3. Exemplary homepages editable by a user according to a preferred embodiment of

the present invention are shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. FIG. 6 exemplarily shows a main page of a Web-page templet in accordance

with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, a user

downloads a Web-page templet from the homepage provision server 2, executes a

Web-browser 31, and loads a main page 41. The image shown in FIG. 6 shows a

construction of an initial content image displayed when the Web-page templet is

received in the client terminal. The Web-page templet may include a plurality of menu items 101, for example,

a message-box menu, a Web-hard menu, a bulletin menu, a profile menu, a friend

agreement menu, and a multi-album menu, etc., but it should be noted that the above-mentioned menu items 101 are not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and

are applicable to other examples as necessary. A site management menu 102 is located at the last part of the menu item. If a user logs in as a Web-server administrator, and selects the site management menu 102, the edit page 43 is displayed on a screen.

The edit page 43 according to the present invention includes a site-information

management edit unit for editing Web-site-associated content including site information, bookmark information, and self-introduction information; a menu management edit unit

for indicating whether menu-associated contents including a message-box menu, a

Web-hard menu, a bulletin menu, a profile menu, a friend agreement menu, and a

multi-album menu are used, and editing data of the above-mentioned menu-associated

contents; a design management edit unit for editing contents associated with a main

page design including skin management and main-room management; and an

administration management edit unit for containing administration-associated contents having event management. The above-mentioned edit page construction is classified

according to content characteristics, but it is not always limited to the above-mentioned

examples.

FIGS. 7a to 7e exemplarily show edit interfaces capable of allowing the user to

change content item setup information using the edit page 43. Referring to FIG. 7a, tree-structured content items capable of being changed by the user are located at the left

side of the edit page 43. The user edits the main page 41 or the sub-page 42 using the

above-mentioned content items. For example, if the user selects a mini-site

information management menu, the image of FIG. 7a is displayed. FIG. 7a shows an edit interface of a content item contained in the

site-information management edit unit when the user clicks the site information menu

contained in the left-side tree. The user enters Windows title information of the Web-browser on the site information field shown in FIG. 7a. Also, the user enters his or her picture and introduction messages in the self-introduction field shown in FIG. 7a. In this manner, if the user changes a content setup value to another setup value

using the edit interface, and clicks the "Save" button in FIG. 7a, the changed setup value

is reflected in an HTML document and source code of corresponding contents, such that

the user can construct his or her homepage.

FIG. 7b shows an edit interface of a content item contained in the menu

management edit unit when the user clicks the menu management menu contained in the

left-side tree. The menu management field shown in FIG. 7b shows a construction of

contents of the menu item 101 contained in the main page 41 shown in FIG. 6. The

user can select the use or disuse item 103 and the management item 104 in individual

menu items, and can freely edit the selected item. The use or disuse item 103 is

adapted to indicate the use or disuse state of corresponding content. If the user selects

a specific management item from among a plurality of management items shown in FIG.

7b, data registration, data correction, and data deletion can be executed in a corresponding folder associated with the selected management item.

FIG. 7c shows an edit interface of a content item contained in the design

management edit unit when the user clicks the skin management menu contained in the

left-side tree. The user can establish a background image of the main page 41 shown in FIG. 6 using the skin management item. FIG. 7d shows an edit interface of a content item contained in the main-room

management edit unit when the user clicks the main-room management menu contained in the left-side tree. The user can change a main-room image registered in the center part of the main page 41 shown in FIG. 6 using the main-room management item. FIG. 7e shows an edit interface of a content item contained in the administration

management edit unit when the user clicks the event management menu contained in the

left-side tree. The user can edit event information contained in the sub-page 42 using

the event management item. FIG. 8 exemplarily shows a homepage edited by a user in accordance with a

preferred embodiment of the present invention. If the user changes a content item

contained in the interface image composed of the edit pages 43 shown in FIGS. 7a to 7e to another item according to his or her preference, and clicks a storage menu for storing

the changed item, the changed information is automatically reflected in the main page

41 or the sub-page 42.

In conclusion, the homepage construction method using Web-page templets

according to the present invention can be implemented as described above.

The present invention has been described in detail. However, it should be

understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating

preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As apparent from the above description, the above-mentioned homepage

construction method according to the present invention controls a homepage provision server to transmit packaged Web-page templets suitable for a variety of user purposes to a client terminal, and controls the client terminal to correct/edit content items of the received Web-page templets, resulting in the implementation of a unique Web-page of the user.

Therefore, not only expert users but also a general user unaccustomed to

homepage construction language can easily construct a desired homepage by assembling

functions and designs of content items contained in the Web-page templets.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing a Web-page templet having a unique function

and design according to individual service categories over a network, and constructing a

homepage using the Web-page templet, comprising the steps of: a) allowing a homepage provision service to store a packaged Web-page templet

in a Web-page templet database (DB); b) performing a log-in process of a client terminal accessing a homepage of the homepage provision server; c) providing a specific Web-page templet selected by the client terminal; d) automatically installing a Web-page templet downloaded in the client

terminal; and e) allowing the client terminal to load a homepage of the Web-page templet, and

reflecting a specific content item edited on an edit page in a main page and a sub-page.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Web-page templet

includes: a main page acting as an initial image when a user gains access to a Web-site

over the network; a plurality of sub-pages linked to content items of the main page; a plurality of content items contained in the main page and the sub-pages; and an edit page including a variety of interfaces capable of allowing an administrator to edit the content items, wherein, if the administrator edits a specific content item on the edit page and

stores the edited content item, the edited content item is automatically reflected in either

the main page or the sub-pages containing the content items.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step a) includes the step

of: storing a plurality of packaged and classified Web-page templets in the

Web-page templet DB, wherein the packaged Web-page templets include:

Web-site-associated contents including site information, bookmark

information, and self-introduction information, menu-associated contents including a message-box menu, a Web-hard menu,

a bulletin menu, a profile menu, a friend agreement menu, and a multi-album menu, and main-page-design-associated contents including skin management and

main-room management.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step b) includes the steps

of: b-1) allowing the homepage provision server to register a user of the client terminal as a member, and storing user information in a user information database (DB); b-2) allowing the homepage provision server to receive an access request from

the client terminal, and performing a log-in authentication process of the client terminal

using a user ID and password; and b-3) providing the log-in authenticated client terminal with a list of Web-page

templets.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step c) includes the steps

of: allowing the homepage provision server to diagnose whether a Web-server

engine program capable of allowing the client terminal as a Web-server is installed; and if the Web-server engine program is not installed, packaging the Web-server

engine program based on HTTP standard and a user-selected Web-page templet, and transmitting the packaged result.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step c) includes the step

of: allowing the homepage provision server to receive settlement information from

the client terminal, and transmitting the Web-page templet for a charge.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step d) includes the steps

of: downloading the Web-page templet or a Web-server engine program from the

homepage provision server in the form of an installer, and installing the downloaded

Web-page templet or the Web-server engine program; and automatically adding the installed Web-page templet to a prior Web-service solution of the client terminal.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step e) includes the step

of: allowing the homepage provision server to receive user-homepage environment

setup information from the client terminal via the edit page, and storing the received

environment setup information in a homepage information database (DB).