WO2009044946A1

WO2009044946A1 - Mobile short message display method by transforming outward shape

Info

Publication number: WO2009044946A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/004859
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dong-Heon Lee; Sang-Woo Lee; Se-Hyuk Song
Original assignee: Polidigm Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-05
Filing date: 2007-10-05
Publication date: 2009-04-09
Also published as: JP2010519564A

Abstract

Provided is a short message display method, which is applied to a mobile corrminication terminal, comprises the steps of: receiving a short message from a message center; recognizing a dot matrix character table including dot matrix characters which briefly represent the shape of ASCII characters by displaying a specific character on a plurality of one-byte character display spaces which form a character matrix composed of a plurality of horizontal one-byte character display spaces and a plurality of vertical one-byte character display spaces; and transforming the outer shape of the short message by displaying ASCII characters, included in the short message, as corresponding dot matrix characters of the dot matrix character table such that the dot matrix characters are arranged in a line.

Description

MOBILE SHORT MESSAGE DISPLAY METHOD BY TRANSFORMING OUTWARD SHAPE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a mobile short message display method by transforming an outward shape, which transforms the outer shape of a short message into various shapes, not a uniform rectangular shape, when the short message is displayed to a receiver. The short message display method can prevent a quality reduction in short-message service caused by the simple outer shape of a short message and can maximize user's satisfaction. Background Art

[2] Recently, a text-message service has formed the largest portion in the mobile data cαnmnication market. In Korea, however, various additional services of the text- message service are not provided, compared with the WAP data market. As for representative additional services of the text-message service which are currently provided, there are provided an information providing service of weather, sports, securities and so on, a purchase and transmission service of the entire message decorated in a web- to-phone service based on the Internet web, a creation and transmission service of general messages, a emoticon addition decoration service based on a phone-to-phone scheme.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[3] Among them, the services which are not based on the phone-to-phone scheme occupy only a small portion of the entire market, because they are not aimed at the message transmission between persons which occupy most of transmitted messages. On the contrary, the emoticon addition decoration service based on a phone-to-phone scheme has a high development possibility, because it is based on the message transmission scheme between persons. However, except for a case of decoration by word recognition, there are difficulties in attracting continuous attention of users, because of the monotonousness of the emoticon addition decoration.

[4] GSM mobile phones, manufactured by a plurality of makers, do not use the same standard of character set. Therefore, emoticons should be created using only characters which are commonly recognized. Accordingly, the possibility of change in the emoticons is limited, so that the service quality thereof is inevitably degraded. In a case of the decoration by word recognition, when words are accurately recognized, users can be satisfied with that. However, when words are wrongly recognized, it may cause users' dissatisfaction. In the GSM scheme, there are difficulties in accurately recognizing words.

[5] When character sets supported by mobile terminals are different from, the following problems occur.

[6] Most mobile phones manufactured in Korea support 'KSC5601-1987' (which is a character set). However, the situation differs in other countries. R>r example, in China which adopts the GSM scheme, the concept of emoticon is not widely recognized, and the emoticons are not widely used on the web, compared with in Korea. Therefore, although 'Ganja'-font Chinese characters corresponding to a text message are well transmitted, characters representing an outline are supported by some mobile terminals, but are not supported by the other mobile terminals. Such terminals are used together in China.

[7] That is, when mobile terminals support different character sets, the intersection of the character sets supported by the respective mobile terminals can display only limited characters. Therefore, the emoticon contents are limited, thereby degrading a service quality. Technical Solution

[8] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a mobile short message display method by transforming an outward shape, which transforms the outer shape of a short message into various shapes, not a uniform rectangular shape, when the short message is displayed to a receiver. The short message display method can prevent a quality reduction in short-message service caused by the simple outer shape of a short message and can maximize user's satisfaction.

[9] Another advantage of the invention is that it provides a mobile short message display method which can be applied when a basic local language is supported even though character sets of terminals are not identical to each other, because special characters do not need to be frequently utilized.

[10] According to an aspect of the invention, a short message display method, which is applied to a mobile cαπninication terminal, comprises the steps of: receiving a short message from a message center; recognizing a dot matrix character table including dot matrix characters which briefly represent the shape of ASCII characters by displaying a specific character on a plurality of one-byte character display spaces which form a character matrix composed of a plurality of horizontal one-byte character display spaces and a plurality of vertical one-byte character display spaces; and transforming the outer shape of the short message by displaying ASCII characters, included in the short message, as corresponding dot matrix characters of the dot matrix character table such that the dot matrix characters are arranged in a line.

[11] According to another aspect of the invention, a short message display method, which is applied to a mobile comtmnication terminal, comprises the steps of: receiving a short message from a message center; recognizing a large-character table including various kinds of large characters, each of which is displayed as one large character shape represented by forming an outline by the character unit of one byte; selecting an optimal large character by checking the length of the input short message and searching for a large character having an outline length suitable for representing the short message; and transforming the outer shape of the short message such that the short message is displayed along the outline of the selected large character.

[12] According to a further aspect of the invention, a short message display method, which is applied to a mobile communication terminal, comprises the steps of: receiving a short message from a message center; recognizing a character string figure table including various character string figures, each of which has a specific outer shape obtained by disposing character strings having various lengths in the left and right and vertical and horizontal directions; dividing the input short message into words, and sequentially recognizing the lengths of the divided words; selecting an optimal character string figure by comparing the lengths of the divided words with the lengths of corresponding character strings so as to search for a character string figure in which all the words of the short message can be displayed in the respective character strings without being cut; and transforming the outer shape of the short message by inserting a specific character into the middle position of the short message such that the short message is displayed in the form of the selected character string figure.

[13] According to a still further aspect of the invention, a short message display method, which is applied to a mobile communication terminal, comprises the steps of: receiving a short message from a message center; and re-arranging characters included in the short message and inserting blank characters such that the short message is vertically displayed and the blank characters are displayed between lines, thereby transforming the outer shape of the short message. Advantageous Effects

[14] According to the present invention, when a short message is displayed to a receiver, the outer shape of the short message is transformed into various shapes, not a uniform rectangular shape. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a quality reduction in short- message service caused by the simple outer shape of a short message and to maximize user's satisfaction.

[15] Further, the mobile short message display method can be applied when a basic local language is supported even though character sets of terminals are not identical to each other, because special characters do not need to be frequently utilized. Brief Description of the Drawings

[16] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a mobile network for implementing the present invention.

[17] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a mobile coπminication terminal to which the invention is applied.

[18] FIG. 3 is a flow chart sequentially showing a short message display method according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[19] FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a screen where a short message is transformed into a message composed of dot matrix characters so as to be displayed through a GSM mobile communication terminal which can display 160 bytes of characters, according to the first embodiment of the invention.

[20] FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the alphabet characters represented as dot matrix characters.

[21] FIG. 5 is a flow chart sequentially showing a short message display method according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[22] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen where a short message is displayed along the outline of a large character 'M' according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[23] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where the positions of characters composing a short message are arranged as numbers along a large character 'Z' according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[24] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a short message display method according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[25] FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a character string figure which is formed in a lozenge shape and is composed of character strings with a length of 3, 8, 10, 8, and 3, respectively. [26] FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a character string figure which is formed in a heart shape and is composed of character strings with a length of 3, 3, 10, 8, and 6, respectively.

[27] FIGS. 1OA to 1OC are diagrams showing a process of selecting a character string figure, which is suitable for representing the short message provided in the third embodiment of the invention.

[28] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a short message display method according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[29] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen where a short message is displayed in the vertical direction according to the fourth embodiment of the invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[30] Hereinafter, a short message display method by transforming an outward shape according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[31] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a mobile network for implementing the invention.

[32] The mobile network is composed of a sender terminal 10, a receiver terminal 20, an

SMS (Short Message Service) GAV (Gateway) 30, an SMS center 40, a service server 50, an MMS (Multimedia Message Service) center 60, and an MMS reception terminal 70. More specifically, when a short message transmitted from the sender terminal 10 is input to the service server 50 through the SMS center 40 or the MMS center 60, the service server 50 transforms the outer shape of the short message such that the short message is displayed in a form processed depending on a provided condition. Then, the service server 50 transmits the short message to the receiver terminal 20, and the receiver terminal 20 displays the short message, of which the outer shape is transformed, to a user.

[33] As described above, the short message display method according to the invention may be performed by the service server 50, but may be performed in the receiver terminal 20, the MMS reception terminal 70, or the sender terminal 10.

[34] When the short message display method is performed in the sender terminal 10, the sender terminal 10 selects an outer-shape transformation type which fits into the length (the number of bytes) of a short message to be transmitted by a user of the sender terminal 10, before the short message is transmitted. Then, the sender terminal 10 transforms the outer shape of the short message in accordance with the type, and directly transmits the result of the outer-shape transformation to the receiver terminal 20 or the MMS reception terminal 70. In this case, the user of the sender terminal 10 can transform the short message, which is to be transmitted, through the sender terminal 10 by using a WIZWIG editing scheme until he/she is satisfied with the outer shape of the short message.

[35] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a mobile corrminication terminal to which the invention is applied.

[36] In the invention, an example will be described in which the invention is applied to the receiver terminal 20 of FIG. 1. The receiver terminal 20 includes a duplexer 21 , a transmitting unit 22, a receiving unit 23, a control unit 24, a memory 25, and a display unit 26.

[37] The duplexer 21 serves to separate transmitted and received signals while communicating with a base station through an antenna. The transmitting unit 22 serves to output a wireless signal to the duplexer 21. The receiving unit 23 serves to output a wireless signal, input from the duplexer 21, to the control unit 24.

[38] The control unit 24 controls the overall operations of the mobile communication terminal. When a short message is input from the receiving unit 23, the control unit 24 detects the length (the number of bytes) of the short message and selects from the memory 25 an outer-shape transformation type which fits into the detected length. Then, in accordance with the selected outer-shape transformation type, the control section 24 transforms the short message to output to the display unit 26.

[39] The memory 25 stores a predetermined program which controls the overall operations of the terminal 20, and the display unit 26 displays to a user the short message of which the outer shape is transformed by the control unit 24.

[40] FIG. 3 is a flow chart sequentially showing a short message display method according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[41] Erst, a short message is received from the message center (step Sl 1). At this time, a subject receiving the short message may be the service server. However, when the short-message transformation is performed in a terminal, the receiver terminal may be a subject receiving the short message.

[42] Next, a dot matrix character table is recognized, including dot matrix characters which briefly represent the shape of ASCII characters (step S 12). The dot matrix character indicates a character shape which is obtained by displaying a specific character in several one-byte character display spaces, which form a character matrix (NxM character matrix) composed of a plurality of horizontal one-byte character display spaces and a plurality of vertical one-byte character display spaces. [43] Strictly speaking, when a general character is displayed, a combination of a plurality of pixels displays the character. Therefore, the character may be considered as a dot matrix character. However, the dot matrix character described in the present invention is displayed as one character shape on a space where several characters can be displayed, while a one-byte character display region is treated as one pixel.

[44] In this case, when dot matrix characters are displayed on a screen, there is a limit in length, compared with when a short message is displayed on a screen as it is. lor example, when one dot matrix character is constructed by a 4x4 character matrix, a space where 16 one-byte characters can be displayed is used for displaying one character shape. Further, to insert a blank between dot matrix characters, a 4x5 character matrix space of 20 bytes is required. Therefore, only 1/20 of the length of a short message, which can be originally displayed, can be displayed as dot matrix characters. However, since a blank is not necessary at the end of each line, a message having a length corresponding to 1/18 or 1/19 of the length of a short message, which can be originally displayed, can be displayed as dot matrix characters.

[45] Therefore, the short message display method according to the invention may further include the step of checking the length of an input short message, comparing the number of bytes, occupied by dot matrix characters when the short message is displayed as the dot matrix characters, with the number of bytes which can be displayed by the mobile corrminication terminal, and judging whether or not the input short message is suitable for being displayed as dot matrix characters.

[46] The number of bytes which can be displayed differs depending on mobile communication schemes. Rr example, in a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) scheme, total 80 bytes can be used for displaying characters. In a GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) scheme, total 160 bytes can be used for displaying characters. Therefore, when a character matrix is composed of five horizontal one-byte character display spaces and four vertical one-byte character display spaces such that a 20-byte dot matrix character composed of total 20 character display spaces is displayed, four dot matrix characters can be displayed in the CDMA scheme, and eight dot matrix characters can be displayed in the GSM scheme. That is, it can be found that the length of a short message, which can be displayed, is extremely limited.

[47] Next, the respective ASCII characters included in the short message are displayed as corresponding dot matrix characters of the dot matrix table so as to transform the outer shape of the short message such that the dot matrix characters are displayed in a line (step S 13). [48] At this time, when an emoticon character is already included in the short message, it can be judged that a user does not want the outer-shape transformation of the short message. In this case, the short message display method may further include the step of checking whether or not an emoticon character is included in the input short message, and displaying the short message without transforming the outer shape of the short message when an emoticon character is included.

[49] FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a screen where a short message is transformed into a message composed of dot matrix characters so as to be displayed through a GSM mobile cαπrunication terminal which can display 160 bytes of characters, according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the alphabet characters represented as dot matrix characters.

[50] FIG. 4A shows an example of a GSM mobile cαrminication terminal of which the screen has a space composed of 20 bytes in the horizontal direction and eight lines in the vertical direction. On the screen, dot matrix characters are displayed, each of which is composed of three characters in the horizontal direction and four characters in the vertical direction on the basis of one-byte character. That is, total 10 dot matrix characters (five in the horizontal direction and two in the vertical direction) can be displayed on the screen.

[51] An input short message saying 'I LOVE YOU' is composed of total eight characters and two blanks. In FIG. 4A, however, the blanks are ignored, and total eight characters are transformed into dot matrix characters so as to be displayed on the screen.

[52] However, there is a limit in representing all the alphabet characters by a 3x4 character matrix. Therefore, the character matrix needs to be extended into 3x5, 4x5, and 5x5 character matrixes such that the character matrixes are used together. FIG. 4B shows the alphabet characters represented by extending the size of dot matrix characters.

[53] FIG. 4B is a diagram in which 26 alphabet characters are represented as dot matrix characters, each of which is constructed by the 3x5, 4x5, or 5x5 character matrix. When alphabet characters are transformed into dot matrix characters with a 4x4 character matrix, some alphabet characters cannot be represented, and the readability of some other alphabet characters is degraded. Therefore, the number of bytes composing a dot matrix character is partially extended in such a manner that dot matrix characters representing the respective alphabet characters are used together. Then, all the alphabet characters can be displayed as dot matrix characters, and the readability of the dot matrix characters can be enhanced. [54] As such, when dot matrix characters having a different size are used together, the number of bytes of a message displayed as dot matrix characters cannot be uniformly calculated. Therefore, it is checked through the ad-hoc whether or not a short message transformed into a message composed of dot matrix characters exceeds the maximum capacity for transmitting characters.

[55] FIG. 5 is a flow chart sequentially showing a short message display method according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[56] Hrst, a short message is received from a message center (step S21).

[57] Then, a large-character table is recognized, which includes various kinds of large characters (step S22). The large character indicates one large character shape, such as A, B, C or the like, which is represented by forming an outline by the character unit of one byte. FIGS. 6 and 7 show specific examples of the large characters.

[58] Then, the length of an input short message is checked, and a large character having an outline length suitable for expressing the input short message is searched for so as to select an optimal large character (step S23).

[59] Step S23 is performed to select a case where the outline of a large character can be satisfactorily represented while the short message is not cut, because the outline lengths of large characters differ from each other depending on the kinds of large characters.

[60] At this time, a symbolical keyword is granted to each large character in the large character table so as to be helpful when an optimal large character is selected. Then, a large character coinciding with the contents of the corresponding short message can be selected.

[61] That is, words included in the input short message are analyzed so as to detect a keyword, and a keyword corresponding to the keyword detected from the short message is searched for from the keywords stored in the large-character table. Then, a large character coinciding with the contents of the short message is selected by selecting a large character corresponding to the searched keyword.

[62] finally, the outer shape of the short message is transformed in such a manner that the short message is displayed along the outline of the selected large character (step S24). Then, the transformed short message is displayed as a large character on a receiver terminal.

[63] At this time, when an emoticon character is already included in the short message, it can be judged that a user does not want the outer-shape transformation of the short message. In this case, the short message display method may further include the step of checking whether or not an emoticon character is included in the input short message, and displaying the short message without transforming the outer shape of the short message when an emoticon character is included.

[64] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen where a short message is displayed along the outline of a large character 'M' according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[65] The input short message says 'I LOVE YOU SO MUCH¹, and the large character to be displayed has the shape of a character 'M'. The exemplified large character is displayed on a character matrix space composed of five horizontal characters and six vertical characters, but a character matrix space may be previously set in various manners.

[66] The input short message begins from the left lower end of the large character M so as to be disposed along the outline of the large character, and ends at the right lower end thereof.

[67] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where the positions of characters composing a short message are arranged as numbers along a large character ¹Z' according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[68] The large character exemplified in FIG. 7 is also displayed on a character matrix space composed of five horizontal characters and six vertical characters. At this time, to transform the outer shape of an input short message saying ¹I am sorry too' such that the short message is displayed as the outline of the large character, the following process is performed.

[69] Erst, the screen of a mobile cαrminication terminal is divided into one-byte character regions such that the character regions are numbered in an order where they are displayed on the screen. In FIG. 7, total 30 character regions are numbered from the left upper end to the right lower end.

[70]

[71] *Then, the outline-display order of the large character stored in the large-character table is recognized. Further, the serial numbers of the divided regions corresponding to character display spaces composing the outline of the selected large character are arranged in a row in accordance with the outline-display order of the large character. In the exemplified large character 'Z', the serial numbers are arranged in an order of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 27, 28, 29, and 30. Further, the short message is displayed in this order.

[72] Next, one-byte characters composing the short message are associated with the serial numbers arranged in the order one by one. [73] finally, the one-byte characters are disposed in the divided regions corresponding to the arranged serial numbers, and the other divided regions which do not belong to the serial numbers are left with blanks. Then, a short message displayed along the outline of the large character 'Z' is generated.

[74] More specifically, the characters composing the short message are re-arranged in relations of 1->T, 2->' ', 3->'a', 4->'m\ 5->' ', 9->'s', 13->'o' and so on, and the other regions where the short message is not displayed are left with blanks such that the short message is transformed. When the transformed short message is displayed on a receiver terminal, it is displayed in the form of the outline of the large character.

[75] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a short message display method according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[76] first, a short message is received from a message center (step S31).

[77] Then, a character string figure table is recognized, which includes various kinds of character string figures (step S32). The character string figure means a figure with a specific outer shape which is obtained by disposing character strings having various lengths in the left and right and vertical and horizontal directions. Specific outer shapes are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively.

[78] Next, the input short message is divided into words, and the lengths of the divided words are sequentially recognized (step S33). For example, when a short message saying 'I love you' is input, the short message is divided into three words of I, love, and you, and the lengths of the words are recognized as 1, 4, and 3, respectively.

[79] Subsequently, the lengths of the respective words are compared with the lengths of corresponding character strings. Then, a character string figure, in which all the words of the short message can be displayed in character strings without being cut, is searched for so as to select an optimal character string figure (step S34).

[80] finally, the outer shape of the short message is transformed by inserting a specific character into the middle position of the short message such that the short message is displayed in the form of the selected character string figure (step S35).

[81] At this time, when an emoticon character is already included in the short message, it can be judged that a user does not want the outer-shape transformation of the short message. In this case, the short message display method may further include the step of checking whether or not an emoticon character is included in the input short message, and displaying the short message without transforming the outer shape of the short message when an emoticon character is included.

[82] The above-described method for representing a short message in the form of character string figure will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

[83] FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a character string figure which is formed in a lozenge shape and is composed of character strings with a length of 3, 8, 10, 8, and 3, respectively. FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a character string figure which is formed in a heart shape and is composed of character strings with a length of 3, 3, 10, 8, and 6, respectively.

[84] In this case, a representative keyword can be previously set in each character string figure such that a character string figure suitable for the contents of a short message is selected.

[85] To implement this, the words included in the input short message are analyzed to detect a keyword, and representative keywords granted to the respective character string figures of the character string figure table are recognized. Then, among the recognized representative keywords, a representative keyword corresponding to the keyword detected frcm the short message is searched for so as to select a character string figure corresponding to the representative keyword. Then, a character string figure coinciding with the contents of the short message can be selected.

[86] For example, a representative keyword such as 'love' may be granted to the heart- shaped character string figure of FIG. 9B. Then, when a word corresponding to 'love' is included in the contents of a short message, the heart-shaped character string figure can be selected.

[87] On the contrary, an avoidance keyword may be set in a character string figure. In this case, when a keyword detected frαn a short message corresponds to an avoidance keyword, a character string figure having the avoidance keyword is not selected.

[88] FIGS. 1OA to 1OC are diagrams showing a process of selecting a character string figure, which is suitable for representing the short message provided in the third embodiment of the invention.

[89] The input short message saying 'I love you' is composed of three words of I, love, and you, and the lengths of the words are 1, 4, and 3, respectively. Further, the total length of the sentence including blanks is 10.

[90] The process of selecting a character string figure, which is suitable for representing the short message, is performed as follows.

[91] Erst, a character string figure shown in FIG. 1OA is examined. In this case, the lengths of T and 'love' are equal to and smaller than those of corresponding character strings, respectively, and thus the words can be displayed. However, 'you' should be displayed as three characters. Accordingly, when 'you' is displayed in a character string space where one character can be displayed, two characters are cut. Therefore, the character string figure of FIG. 1OA is not suitable for displaying the input short message.

[92] In FIG. 1OB, T and 'you' can be displayed without being cut. However, since only three characters can be displayed in a character string space corresponding to 'love', one character is cut. Therefore, the character string figure of FIG. 1OB is not suitable for displaying the input short message, either.

[93] FIG. 1OC shows a character string figure composed of character strings having lengths of 1, 5, and 7, respectively. In this case, all the words having lengths of 1, 4, and 3, respectively, can be displayed. Therefore, it can be found that the character string figure of FIG. 1OC is suitable for displaying the input short message.

[94] At this time, when a character string figure suitable for displaying a short message is selected, a word composing the short message may be inevitably divided. Further, to select a character string figure coinciding with the contents of a short message, a word composing the short message may be inevitably divided. In this case, a hyphen (-) is inserted into the divided position of the word, thereby indicating that the word continues into the next character string.

[95] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a short message display method according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[96] Erst, a short message is received from a message center (step S41).

[97] Further, characters composing the short message are re-arranged and blank characters are inserted in such a manner that the short message is vertically displayed and a blank character is displayed between lines, thereby transforming the outer shape of the short message (step S42).

[98] The reason why the transformation is performed in such a manner that a blank character is displayed between lines is that when the blank character is not inserted, the readability of the short message displayed along the lines is degraded.

[99] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen where the short message is displayed in the vertical direction according to the fourth embodiment of the invention.

[100] The outer shape of the input short message saying 'I understand you' is transformed in such a manner that the short message is vertically displayed on a receiver terminal. Further, vertical lines are spaced with a blank interposed therebetween, which makes it possible to increase the readability of the short message.

[101] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary em- bodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

[1] A short message display method which is applied to a mobile comrunication terminal, the short message display method comprising the steps of: receiving a short message from a message center; recognizing a dot matrix character table including dot matrix characters which briefly represent the shape of ASCII characters by displaying a specific character on a plurality of one-byte character display spaces which form a character matrix composed of a plurality of horizontal one-byte character display spaces and a plurality of vertical one-byte character display spaces; and transforming the outer shape of the short message by displaying ASCII characters, included in the short message, as corresponding dot matrix characters of the dot matrix character table such that the dot matrix characters are arranged in a line.

[2] The short message display method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: checking the length of the input short message; comparing the number of bytes occupied by the dot matrix characters, when the short message is displayed as the dot matrix characters, with the number of bytes which can be displayed by the mobile comninication terminal; and judging whether or not the input short message is suitable for being displayed as dot matrix characters.

[3] The short message display method according to claim 2, wherein in the recognizing of the dot matrix character table, the dot matrix character table includes 16-byte dot matrix characters, each of which is composed of 16 character display spaces forming a character matrix composed of four horizontal one-byte character display spaces and four vertical one-byte character display spaces.

[4] The short message display method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising the step of: checking whether or not an emoticon character is included in the input short message, and displaying the short message without transforming the outer shape of the short message when an emoticon character is included.

[5] A short message display method which is applied to a mobile comninication terminal, the short message display method comprising the steps of: receiving a short message from a message center; recognizing a large-character table including various kinds of large characters, each of which is displayed as one large character shape represented by forming an outline by the character unit of one byte; selecting an optimal large character by checking the length of the input short message and searching for a large character having an outline length suitable for representing the short message; and transforming the outer shape of the short message such that the short message is displayed along the outline of the selected large character.

[6] The short message display method according to claim 5, wherein the selecting of the optimal large character includes the steps of: detecting a keyword by analyzing words included in the input short message; searching for a keyword corresponding to the keyword detected from the short message, among keywords stored in the large-character table; and selecting a large character corresponding to the searched keyword.

[7] The short message display method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the transforming of the outer shape of the short message includes the steps of: dividing a screen of the mobile commnication terminal into one-byte character regions such that the character regions are numbered in an order where the character regions are displayed on the screen; recognizing an outline-display order of each large character stored in the large- character table; arranging the serial numbers of the divided regions, corresponding to character display spaces composing the outline of the selected large character, in the outline-display order of the large character; associating one-byte characters composing the short message with the arranged serial numbers one by one; and generating a short message such that the one-byte characters are disposed in the divided regions of the arranged serial numbers, respectively, and the other divided regions which do not belong to the arranged serial numbers are left with blanks.

[8] The short message display method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of: checking whether or not an emoticon character is included in the input short message, and displaying the short message without transforming the outer shape of the short message when an emoticon character is included.

[9] A short message display method which is applied to a mobile conminication terminal, the short message display method comprising the steps of: receiving a short message from a message center; recognizing a character string figure table including various character string figures, each of which has a specific outer shape obtained by disposing character strings having various lengths in the left and right and vertical and horizontal directions; dividing the input short message into words, and sequentially recognizing the lengths of the divided words; selecting an optimal character string figure by comparing the lengths of the divided words with the lengths of corresponding character strings so as to search for a character string figure in which all the words of the short message can be displayed in the respective character strings without being cut; and transforming the outer shape of the short message by inserting a specific character into the middle position of the short message such that the short message is displayed in the form of the selected character string figure.

[10] The short message display method according to claim 9, wherein the selecting of the optimal character string figure includes the steps of: detecting a keyword by analyzing words included in the input short message; recognizing representative keywords granted to the respective character string figures of the character string figure table; searching for a representative keyword corresponding to the keyword detected from the short message, among the representative keywords; and selecting a character string figure corresponding to the searched representative keyword.

[11] The short message display method according to claim 10, wherein the selecting of the optimal character string figure further includes the step of recognizing an avoidance keyword granted to each character string figure of the character string figure table, and selecting an optimal character string figure from the character string figures excluding a character string figure of which the avoidance keyword is the keyword detected from the short message.

[12] The short message display method according to any one of claims 9 to 11 further comprising the step of: checking whether or not an emoticon character is included in the input short message, and displaying the short message without transforming the outer shape of the short message when an emoticon character is included.

[13] A short message display method which is applied to a mobile ccrrminication terminal, the short message display method comprising the steps of: receiving a short message from a message center; and re-arranging characters included in the short message and inserting blank characters such that the short message is vertically displayed and the blank characters are displayed between lines, thereby transforming the outer shape of the short message.

[14] The short message display method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of: checking whether or not an emoticon character is included in the input short message, and displaying the short message without transforming the outer shape of the short message when an emoticon character is included.