KR101474414B1 - Timeline based conversational character message box and apparatus and message for displaying character message using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a timeline-based dialog box for sequentially displaying the number of transmitted and received text messages between first and second users in a timely manner, and a method for displaying text messages using the same. The first user moves the cursor on the time line using the left and right keys to search the date of the number and the outgoing text message, and the control unit displays the image of the first and second users and the corresponding text message according to the subject of the message Alternately displayed on the display unit in conjunction with the date. Accordingly, the present invention provides a timeline-based dialog character, so that the user can more conveniently view the text message by showing the message data of the inbox and the outbox as if they are conversing with time.

Dialogs, text messages, timelines

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timeline-based dialogue character, and a method and apparatus for displaying a text message using the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an initial screen of a dialogue character string according to the present invention. Fig.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conversation history screen of a conversation letter according to the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a character viewing area of a textual character in FIG. 3 according to the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an apparatus for displaying a text message using a timeline-based dialog character string in a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of displaying a text message using a timeline-based dialog character string in a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention.

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialogue character in the case where there is no text message exchanged between two users;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a reply is generated from a conversation letter box and a conversation letter box when there is a text message exchanged between two users.

8 illustrates sub-menus of a menu key, and shows an example of changing the background screen of the conversation history screen.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS FOR MAJOR PART OF DRAWINGS ********

100: key input unit 200: memory unit

300: display unit 400:

500:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to a timeline-based dialog character and an apparatus and method for displaying a text message using the same.

A mobile communication terminal (hereinafter abbreviated as a terminal) which has recently been introduced due to the remarkable development of mobile communication technology has various functions such as a message, a camera, a broadcast viewing, an MP 3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3) .

Among the above functions, the message function is a function of transmitting / receiving a short message, a middle message and a long message, and each received or transmitted message is stored in the inbox and outbox of the mobile communication terminal.

However, conventionally, since the received or transmitted text message is stored in the sent character box and the received character box, the user has to search every time and check what text message is exchanged with whom.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a timeline-based dialog character that can display numbers and origination messages in a timely manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for displaying a text message using a timeline-based dialog character.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal, including a time line-based dialog character, comprising: a line image in which a number of text messages and an origin date are displayed; And first and second areas for sequentially displaying numbers and outgoing text messages between the first and second users interlocked with the respective dates on the line image, according to a direction key input of the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for displaying a text message using a dialogue character in a mobile communication terminal, the apparatus comprising: a memory unit storing a number and an outgoing text message; A display unit for displaying number and outgoing text messages stored in the memory unit; And a controller for sequentially displaying the number and outgoing text messages on the first and second areas using a time line according to a direction key input by the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for displaying a text message using a dialogue character in a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising: selecting first and second users who have exchanged messages on an initial screen; Displaying a chat history screen when the second user is selected; And sequentially displaying the number and the outgoing text message exchanged by the first and second users in the first and second areas using the time line according to the direction key input of the first user on the conversation history screen.

Preferably, the time line is implemented as a horizontal line or a vertical line, and the reception and outgoing display of the text message are color-coded.

Preferably, the first and second areas are areas representing the subject of a text message, each of the third and fourth areas displaying an image of first and second users, respectively, , And a sixth area.

Preferably, the images of the first and second users are basically linked with the pictures registered in the phonebook or album, and can also be expressed as an avatar. If the image is an avatar, the avatar changes its expression in conjunction with the emoticons used in the text message.

Preferably, the area displaying the image of the user is enlarged when the first user views the message, and the fourth area is enlarged when viewing the message sent by the second user.

Preferably, the fifth and sixth regions are implemented as speech bubbles whose sizes are flexibly adjusted, and the size of text of a text message is adjusted according to the size of the speech bubble.

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

The present invention proposes a timeline-based dialogue character that sequentially displays the text messages stored in the received text boxes (hereinafter referred to as message receiving boxes) and the sent text boxes (hereinafter referred to as message transmitting boxes) according to the flow of time.

In addition, the present invention proposes an apparatus and method for displaying a text message using the proposed dialog character. Preferably, the dialog character is provided in a message menu separately from the message receiver and the transmitter of the mobile terminal.

Fig. 1 shows an example of an initial screen of a dialogue character string according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an initial screen for a dialog character is a screen for selecting a user (second user) to which a current terminal user (first user) has exchanged a text message (hereinafter referred to as a message) An area 10 for displaying an image of a second user who has exchanged a message, and an area 11 for enlarging and displaying the second user selected in the area 10 and the image of the first user.

Preferably, the second users are automatically sorted according to the most recent or frequency, and may be arranged differently according to the setting of the first user.

Preferably, the image of the second users can be moved using a direction key (e.g., a left and right key), and the image of the user where the cursor is positioned is displayed larger than the image of the other user (its size can be appropriately adjusted) . When the cursor is positioned on a particular user's image, the user's name is displayed in pop-up or balloon form.

Preferably, the images of the first and second users are basically linked with the photos registered in the phonebook or album, and may be replaced with avatars. If the image is an avatar, the avatar can be changed in conjunction with the emoticon used in the message. If there is no picture registered in the phone book or album, a default image may be displayed, and the default image may appear randomly.

If the menu key is selected in the dialog character box, a message is delivered, a picture is specified, a message is deleted, a message history is saved, a background setting is displayed in a pop-up window, Select.

When a specific user is selected using the confirmation key, a message exchanged with the specific user, that is, a conversation history is displayed depending on the presence or absence of the stored message. If there is no message exchanged with the selected user, a message "no message" is displayed on the screen, and the cursor is positioned in the selected area (area 10) so that another user can be selected. At this time, the selection region of another person is inactivated. On the other hand, if there is a message exchanged with the selected user, a conversation history screen, that is, a first calling or receiving message is displayed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a conversation history dialogue history screen according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the conversation history screen of the conversation character is located at the upper left of the screen, and includes an area 20 representing the terminal user (first user), a time line 20 indicating the number of text messages, And an area 40 located on the lower right side and displaying an image of a user selected in the initial screen (second user).

Preferably, the images of the first and second users are usually displayed as photographs, and in the case that the photographs are not registered, the avatars are displayed instead. That is, the images of the first and second users are basically interlocked with the photos registered in the phonebook or album. If the image is an avatar, the avatar can be changed in conjunction with the emoticon used in the message.

The areas (20) and (40) vary in size depending on the subject of the text message. For example, when the first user views the message sent by the user, the first area 20 becomes large. When the first user views the message sent by the second user, the second area 40 becomes large.

The time line 30 is a line image in which the number of text messages and the calling date interval are displayed, and the incoming and outgoing displays are color-coded (e.g., outgoing: white, incoming: red).

Preferably, the line image is implemented as a horizontal line or a vertical line image, which is a timeline representing the number of text messages and the time of transmission. In addition, it is shown when the reception and origination time cursors of the message are up, and the left direction represents the past and the right direction represents the current one.

Accordingly, when the first user moves the cursor left and right on the timeline using the left and right keys, the conversation history exchanged with the second user to the present in the time sequence is transmitted to the first and second regions 20 and 40 Alternately.

In the areas 20 and 40, there are character viewing areas 21 and 31 for displaying messages of the first user and the second user, respectively.

Fig. 3 shows a character viewing area of the dialog character.

As shown in FIG. 3, the text viewing area is implemented as a speech balloon. The size of the speech balloon can be flexibly adjusted, and the size of the text can be flexibly adjusted according to the size of the speech balloon. In other words, if the text size is small, the text is enlarged. If the number of characters is large, the text is automatically reduced so that the text can be displayed without scrolling.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for displaying a text message using a timeline-based dialog character according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the apparatus for displaying a text message using a dialog character according to the present invention includes a key input unit 100 having various function keys, a memory unit 200 for storing a number and an originating message, A display unit 300 for displaying a number and an outgoing message stored in the memory unit 200 and a display unit 300 for displaying a number and a time of the outgoing message in the memory unit 20 in response to a user's direction key And a radio unit 500 for transmitting and receiving a text message. The control unit 400 controls the display unit 30 to sequentially display the text message and the text message.

The key input unit 100 includes a menu key, an OK key and direction keys (left and right keys) and the like. The display unit 300 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a touch screen.

The operation of the dialogue character display apparatus of the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of displaying a text message using a timeline-based dialog character string according to the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a method of displaying a dialogue character when there is no text message exchanged between two users. FIG. 7 shows a method of displaying a dialog character when there is a text message exchanged between two users. Here, for convenience of description, the terminal user is referred to as a first user, and a user who has exchanged a text message with the first user is assumed to be a second user (Ellis).

5, the first user opens a message menu using a key provided in the key input unit 100 and selects a dialog character (S10, S11)

When the dialog character is selected, the controller 400 displays an initial screen of the dialogue character as shown in FIG. 1, and displays an initial screen of the dialogue character, such that the first user can select a user And displays one or more second users on the display unit 300. The number of second users stored in the memory unit 200 may be set by a first user in advance.

The first user moves the cursor using the direction key (e.g., the left and right keys) and selects a specific second user using the OK key (S12). At this time, the image of the user where the cursor is positioned is displayed larger than the image of the other user, and the name of the user is displayed in the form of a pop-up or a balloon.

If a second user is selected by the confirmation key, the control unit 400 searches the memory unit 200 for a text message sent and received by the user, and selectively displays the conversation history screen shown in FIG. 2 Display.

That is, if the selected first user and the number and the transmitted text message are not stored in the memory unit 200, the control unit 400 displays a message "no message" as shown in FIG. 6 And the cursor is positioned in the area 10 so that another person can be selected. At this time, the selection region of another person is inactivated.

On the other hand, when the selected first user and the number and the transmitted text message are stored in the memory unit 200, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 400 determines whether And displays a conversation history screen, for example, a text message sent by the first user.

Then, the controller 400 detects the input of the direction key, i.e., the left and right keys of the first user, and displays the number and the transmitted text message between the first and second users in the order of time (S13, S14 ).

At this time, the time line 30 indicates the number of activated messages and the time of the call, and the reception and outgoing displays are color-coded (e.g., outgoing: white, incoming: red). The message is displayed when the reception and origination time cursors are up, and the left direction indicates the past and the right direction indicates the current one.

The message between the first and second users is displayed in the balloons. Preferably, the size of the speech balloon is flexibly adjusted, and the size of the text is also flexibly adjusted according to the size of the speech balloon. In addition, the face of the sender / receiver of the message displayed on the conversation letter box according to the specific content (word or sentence) of the text is converted so as to match the word.

Accordingly, when the first user moves the cursor left and right on the timeline using the left and right keys, the conversation history exchanged with the second user to the present in the time sequence is transmitted to the first and second regions 20 and 40 Alternately. In other words, the present invention provides a timeline-based dialog character to show message data as if two users actually talk in one defined space.

Also, the first user (or the second user) receiving the text message can directly reply in the dialog character box. Figure 7 also shows an example of creating a reply from a dialog character according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the first user inputs a reply key on the text message screen sent by the second user (S15), the controller 400 switches to the reply screen. In the reply screen, the first user responds to the text message sent by the second user, "I want to see the barbell", about the movie "Check the timetable for watching the movie." And transmits it by pressing the transmission key (S16).

Then, the control unit 400 terminates the processes when the end key is input, and repeatedly performs the operations after the step S13 when the direction key is input again.

In addition, the user can change the background of the dialog character before or during the above-described search operations (S10 to S17). FIG. 7 shows submenus of the menu key, and shows an example of changing the background screen of the conversation history screen.

7, when the first user inputs a menu key on the conversation history screen, the control unit 400 displays a sub menu such as message delivery, picture designation, message deletion, conversation history storage, background setting, do. The first user can change the background screen and layout by selecting a background setting from among the submenus, and can save the conversation history of his / her own by selecting the saving of the conversation history.

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can view message data as if the two users actually talk in one predetermined space by providing a timeline-based dialog character.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the true scope of technical protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended claims.

Claims (24)

A method for displaying a character in a mobile communication terminal, Displaying an initial screen of a dialogue character including a plurality of second user images that have sent and received a message with a first user; Displaying a dialog history screen including first and second areas for distinguishing first and second user message information from a timeline having a cursor when a second user is selected in the initial screen; And When the cursor is moved left and right on the timeline by the direction key, the contents of the text message transmitted and received at the cursor position are displayed alternately in the first and second areas while displaying the type of the message and the transmission / reception time on the timeline The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the conversation history screen, When the time line is displayed as a horizontal line image in the center of the screen, the first and second areas are displayed on the upper and lower sides of the time line, respectively, and when the time line is implemented as a vertical line image, Wherein the time-line-based dialog character is displayed on the right-and-left side of the screen. The method of claim 1, Wherein the message is divided into a color and a send / receive message. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second regions And a fifth and a sixth area for displaying a creation message, and a fifth and a sixth area for displaying a creation message, wherein the third and fourth areas display an image of the first and second users, respectively, How to display characters. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the images of the first and second users are The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: displaying the text on a display screen of the mobile communication terminal; 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the images of the first and second users are Wherein the facial expressions are changed in conjunction with the emoticons used in the text message. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first user views the origination message, the first area becomes larger and the second area becomes smaller, and when the received message is viewed, the second area becomes larger and the first area becomes smaller Wherein the time-line-based dialog-character-letter display method of the mobile communication terminal comprises: 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fifth and sixth regions And the size of the speech balloon is adjustable. The method of claim 1, wherein the size of the speech balloon is adjustable. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the size of the text message is adjusted according to the size of the adjusted speech balloon. delete A mobile communication terminal, A memory unit for storing a number and an outgoing text message; A display unit for displaying an initial screen of a dialogue character including a plurality of second user images transmitting and receiving a character with a first user; When a second user is selected on the initial screen, a dialog history screen including first and second areas for distinguishing and displaying the first and second user's timeline and the message information of the first and second users is displayed, And a control unit for alternately displaying the contents of the text message transmitted and received at a time when the cursor is positioned on the first area and the second area while displaying the message type and the transmission / reception time on the timeline when the cursor is moved left and right on the timeline A text message display device using a dialogue character as a gimmick. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit When the timeline is displayed as a horizontal line image in the center of the screen, the first and second areas are displayed on the upper and lower sides of the timeline, respectively, and when the timeline is implemented as a vertical line image, And the second area displays a dialog history screen located on the left and right of the timeline. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second regions And a fifth and a sixth area for displaying the created message, respectively, and third and fourth areas for displaying images of the first and second users, respectively. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the images of the first and second users are A text message display device based on a timeline, characterized in that it is basically interlocked with a photo registered in a phonebook or an album and can also be expressed as an avatar. 15. The display device of claim 14, wherein when the image is an avatar, the avatar changes a facial expression in conjunction with an emoticon used in a text message. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit The size of the first and second areas is adjusted according to the type of the message at the time the cursor is positioned, and when the first user views the origination message, the first area is enlarged and the second area is relatively small, Wherein the first area is smaller and the second area is larger when the message is viewed. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fifth and sixth regions And the size of the speech balloon is adjustable. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

Images