KR20020026704A - method for E-mail service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An e-mail service method is provided to transmit the configuration information of multimedia presentation including a message through an e-mail. CONSTITUTION: The method comprises steps of a sender configuring a message presentation by using a multimedia presentation editing device provided from a service provider(S10), a server storing the configuration information of multimedia presentation in a database server after the data conversion by an application program(S21), the server receiving an intrinsic index when the configuration information is stored in the database server and generating a recovering information(web link) including the value added and web link information by using the index of configuration information(S22,S23), the server transmitting the web link information being included to an e-mail to a receiver(S30), and the receiver driving a web browser by using the received web link information and playing back and confirming the corresponding message presentation through the intrinsic index(S40).

Description

Method for E-mail service

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to internet services, and more particularly, to a method for multimedia e-mail service.

The means for exchanging information between people apart from each other has been a continuous development from a long time ago to the present, and with the development of economics and science, it has gradually overcome the time and space constraints.

In recent years, the Internet is spreading rapidly, and the whole world is formed as a communication network environment, and through this communication network environment, information is exchanged with each other through electronic mail, that is, electronic mail.

For the transmission of e-mail, the Simple Mail Transmission Protocol (SMTP), a higher protocol of Transmission Control / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), is used as a communication protocol.

According to the SMTP, the header of a mail body is appended with a header consisting of a date (data), a mail sender name (from), an address (to), a subject, or a carbon copy.

In addition, the Internet's e-mail system is based on Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME), an extension format that can handle multimedia such as video and voice, even though it is based on text (character information, character codes). It is defined.

Such an e-mail service is classified into a general e-mail service of a client / server method and a web mail service based on a transmission / reception processing, processing, and preservation processing method of a user message.

The first method, the general e-mail service method, is a client / server method using SMTP / POP (Post Office Protocol), a mail client for creating, sending and receiving a message, and a mail for relaying a message. This is a typical mail service that consists of a mail server.

Commonly speaking is an e-mail service, one of which is sending / receiving and managing e-mail using mail client software such as Microsoft's “Outlook”.

In this case, all messages transmitted / received are created, stored and managed on the client side, and the service provider server is responsible for temporary (scheduled period) storage and transmission and reception of e-mail messages.

The message data transmitted at the time of transmission is then moved directly to the receiving side.

Such a general e-mail service must separately use software that performs a function of a mail client, and a user must set up a network for e-mail transmission / reception in order to operate this software.

As a result, users should use the mail client software according to the use of their e-mail account for sending and receiving e-mail. Therefore, if multiple PCs are used for sending and receiving e-mail, the mail client software should be installed on all PCs. Hassle to perform setting work.

The second method, webmail service, is an e-mail service method through a web service.

This method is applied to the e-mail service of the operation method of the general website, it can be referred to as an e-mail service functionally, but the configuration is the same as the general website.

For example, a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape acts as a mail client, while web servers and database servers act as mail servers.

In this webmail service, all messages sent / received are created and managed on the client side, and the service provider server is responsible for storing and transmitting / receiving e-mail messages.

At this time, since the e-mail message data is configured in a centralized format that is stored and managed around the service provider, there is no direct movement of data in message transmission / reception.

However, when an e-mail sent using a web mail service is received through a general e-mail service, direct data movement occurs.

In addition, the software that performs the functions of the mail client uses a web browser, and the user does not need to configure the network for managing the e-mail.

Users only need to know their IDs (usually e-mail addresses) and passwords to perform e-mail transmission and reception and management.

As a result, e-mail sending / receiving can be performed from any PC as long as a web browser is installed without installing the mail client software.

Comparing the general e-mail service and the web mail service method is shown in Table 1 below.

General email service Webmail service User (Client) Using mail client software (ID / password use, various network settings required) Using a web browser (only available with ID / password) Service Provider (Server) Use mail server Web server, database server use Write a message Created on the user (client) side Save message Save to user side Store on server side Message management Management on the user (client) side

In addition, there is a web content mail service method as an e-mail service used for distributing web content by means of a general e-mail service and a web mail service.

This is most webmail services using names such as electronic cards, music letters, video letters, and animated letters, and is an e-mail service method that utilizes web contents in a business dimension.

In other words, it combines the content planning aspect with the web mail service, and is a typical operation method of delivering the web content as the object of sending / receiving the web mail service as a means of sending and receiving electronic mail.

However, the electronic mail service method according to the related art described above has the following problems.

First, both general e-mail service method and web mail service method are sent / received only according to the tools provided by the service provider (server) side. do.

Second, in recent years, e-cards and animation letters of specific subjects and comics have been used as web content mail services, but since they are provided in a completed form, there is a limit to spreading the characteristics of their personalities and events to the fullest.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and as a form of the web content mail service method, a multimedia presentation including a message that a sender user wants to deliver to a receiver user is created directly. It is an object of the present invention to provide an e-mail service method capable of more impressive communication by delivering a configuration information of a finally configured presentation through an e-mail.

1 is a schematic diagram of an e-mail service according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating an e-mail service method according to the present invention.

3 illustrates the creation and processing of a GIG mail message presentation in accordance with the present invention.

4 illustrates playback of a received GIG mail message presentation in accordance with the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10 service provider (server) 11 control unit

12: GIG Mail Creator13: GIG Mail Viewer

14: Database Server 20: User

A feature of the e-mail service according to the present invention for achieving the above object is the step of creating a message presentation using the multimedia presentation creation tool provided by the sender user from the service provider side, Converting the configuration information of the message presentation by an application program and storing the data in a database server, receiving a unique index when the data is stored in the database server, and using the configuration information index of the issued message presentation. Generating reconstruction information (web link) included in the web link information, including the web link information in an e-mail, and delivering the received information to a receiving user, and using the delivered web link information in a web browser. browser) and the mesh through the unique index. And reproducing and confirming the presentation.

The method further includes a seventh step of repeating the process when the receiving user requests a reply after confirming the reproduction of the corresponding message presentation.

In this case, the message presentation is made interactively using a writing tool that provides a list of presentation background elements and decoration elements such as video / flash animation, music, and clip art classified by subject. There is another feature.

And the creation of the multimedia presentation is a GIG mail producer application developed using an application called "Director" of "Macromedia", the playback of the multimedia presentation is called "Director" of "Micromedia" Another feature is that it is played using a GIG mail viewer application developed using the application.

The web link information is formed by combining location information (URL) on the Internet and a query string including a unique index for playing a message presentation using a web browser. have.

The information transmitted to the receiving side user is provided with only the configuration information necessary for reproducing the message presentation as the content of the electronic mail.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

A preferred embodiment of the e-mail service method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic diagram of an e-mail service according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a service provider (server) 10 first includes a multimedia message including a message to a sender user 20 through a web browser. The GIG Mail Producer application 12 provides procedures and forms for creating a presentation.

This procedure and form consists of a web service format and is automated by the operation of the GIG mail producer application 12.

The sending user 20 then creates a message presentation containing the message he wishes to deliver according to the procedure and form provided by the GIG mail producer application 12 in the service provider.

In addition, the completed sending user 20 requests that the message presentation be transmitted to the receiving user 20 according to a procedure provided by the service provider 10.

The service provider 10 then stores the main components of the message presentation created by the sending user 20 in the database server 14, and the message created to the receiving user 20 designated by the sending user 20. The configuration information necessary for playing the presentation is included in the e-mail and delivered.

The receiving user 20 then accesses the message presentation through the configuration information of the message presentation delivered from the sending user 20 and reproduces the contents through the GIG mail viewer program 13.

At this time, the message presentation is an electronic document (E-Document) expressed using a variety of communication contents, which is when the subject of the e-mail, that is, the GIG mail service according to the present invention is the sender / receiver side user, It is a term arbitrarily defined to refer to the object of.

In addition, since the object of the GIG mail service may be referred to as "message presentation", the content of the present specification uses "GIG mail" and "message presentation" as synonyms.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the operation of the electronic mail service method performed between the service provider, the sender user, and the receiver user configured as described above will be described in detail as follows.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an electronic mail service method according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, first, a transmitting user creates a message presentation using a multimedia presentation writing tool provided from a service provider (S10).

That is, the process of selecting and selecting various media for message decoration from the library list classified by themes for the presentation background elements provided from the service provider, such as video / flash animation, music, and clip art, and directly inputting his own message. This completes the presentation.

At this time, the tool for creating a multimedia presentation uses an application program developed using an application program called "Director" of "Macromedia".

This application is called the GIG mail producer, and a detailed description will be given later.

The configuration of the message presentation created by the sender user is stored in a record form in the database server on the service provider side through data conversion by the GIG mail producer program (S21).

The record form refers to a bundle of data that can be accessed by a unique index as a data storage unit in a database system.

Therefore, to access this record, you must use a unique index, which is called a key record.

When the configuration information of the message presentation is stored in the database server, a unique index is issued to the key record, and the configuration information index of the issued message presentation is restored information for reconstructing the message presentation (web link). ) Is included as a query string when generating.

The GIG mail producer generates web link information so that a receiving user can reconstruct and play back the configuration information of the message presentation stored in the database server of the service provider. Prepare (S23).

This web link information is included in the e-mail and delivered.

Here, the web link information refers to a combination of location information (URL) and additional information (query string) on the Internet for playing a message presentation using a web browser.

The location information (URL) on the Internet is an entry path to a web service for reproducing a message presentation, and indicates a web page address on the internet for reproducing a message presentation.

Further, the query string is a configuration information index of the message presentation, and functions as a password or a key for accessing the message presentation configuration information, which the user of the sending side creates and stores in the database server on the service provider side.

For example, the weblink information generated by the GIG mail producer is

If it looks like "http://www.letsgig.com/gig_mail_player.asp?db_id=20353458", the "http://www.letsgig.com/gig_mail_player.asp" shown earlier indicates the location information (URL) on the Internet. "Db_id = 20353458" shown later represents additional information (query string).

At this time, a variety of advertisement / promotional message content together with the generated restoration information (web link) can be generated separately and included in the e-mail and delivered, which is dynamically provided by the web service of the service provider (S25).

In addition, the configuration information for the message presentation stored in the database server of the service provider side is stored / managed by the service provider for a certain period of time, the contents stored in the database server when the sending / receiving user is registered as an online member Can be managed by the sending / receiving user.

Next, the service provider includes a web link and additional message information for reproducing the message presentation prepared by the sender user in the e-mail and delivers the message to the receiver user (S30).

In this case, the contents delivered from the service provider side to the receiver user are not delivered with the message presentation data itself prepared by the sender user, but only the configuration information necessary for reproducing the message presentation is transmitted as the contents of the electronic mail.

As such, the receiving user receives an e-mail including a web link and additional message information for reproducing the message presentation. In this case, the receiving user receives the e-mail by various methods selected by the receiving user.

That is, the e-mail can be received by any method such as a general e-mail service, a web mail service, or a GIG mail member service.

The receiving user executes the web link included in the e-mail when the e-mail is received (S40).

Execution of the web link causes a web browser to be run, and contents can be checked through a web page for reproducing the message presentation.

At this time, the web page for playing the message presentation includes a playback tool of the message presentation.

This message presentation playback tool is an application program developed using an application called "Director" of "Macromedia" as well as a tool for creating a message presentation.

This application is called the GIG mail viewer, and a detailed description will be given later.

In this way, the receiving user reproduces and confirms the message presentation created by the sending user through the GIG mail viewer application program, and then determines whether to reply to the sending user (S50), and selects the reply. You will be returned to the initial service process to cycle the service.

In addition, if the receiving user is registered as an online member of the GIG mail service, it is possible to manage the received message presentations.

This section describes in detail the applications, GIG mail producers, and GIG mail viewers used to create and play the message presentations described above.

First, the software characteristics of the GIG mail producer and GIG mail viewer are shown in Table 2.

Name GIG Mail Producer / GIG Mail Viewer Usage -GIG Mail Producer: Message Presentation Creator for GIG Mail Service-GIG Mail Viewer: Message Presentation Replay Tool for GIG Mail Service Operating environment Works in a Web browser with the Shockwave Director plug-in installed, regardless of the operating system Program type and specification Shockwave Director File (DCR) Development Tools and Languages Lingo Script, Director of Macromedia and Script Language

A process of creating and playing a message presentation using a GIG mail producer and a GIG mail viewer will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a diagram illustrating the creation and processing of a GIG mail message presentation in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, the sending user plays and confirms the contents from a moving picture / flash animation list and a music list provided from a service provider and selects a background element.

At this time, the background element determines the theme of the overall background, and determines the main impression on the message presentation, and the media such as video / flash animation and music play this role.

Next, the sender user selects a decorative element by playing and checking the contents from a clip art list provided from a service provider and a text animation type list for animation effect of a message inputted by the user.

At this time, the decorative element is to give various decorations and effects in consideration of the user's preference on the background element, and includes an animation effect on the input user message text information in the decorative element.

The sender user then inputs the sender / recipient's e-mail address, message subject, message content, etc. according to the document preparation form provided by the service provider.

The selection and input made by the sender in the above process are then displayed on the message presentation production tool simultaneously with the selection input.

And the contents that can not be checked in the creation mode can be checked through the preview function.

At this time, the production of the message presentation is interactive from the list of presentation background elements and decoration elements such as video / flash animation, music, clip art, etc. classified by themes.

In this way, the sending user completes the preparation of the message presentation through selection and input of a background element, a decoration element, and the like, and when the preparation of the message presentation is completed, the GIG mail producer is notified of the completion of the message presentation.

The GIG mail producer then performs internal data processing.

In this internal data processing, first, the configuration information of the finally generated message presentation is stored in a database server provided from a service provider.

The database server then assigns a unique DB key number and sends it back to the GIG mail producer.

The serial number at this time is a unique index to the message presentation configuration information prepared by the sender user.

The GIG mail producer delivers a unique index of the message presentation received from the database server to the web program for GIG mail transmission.

Then, the web program in charge of the e-mail transmission function generates the web link information and additional message information (advertisement / promotional message) for reproducing the message presentation using the index delivered from the GIG mail producer.

The web link information and the additional message information are included in the electronic mail and delivered to the receiving user.

Through the above process, the GIG mail producer creates and processes a message presentation, and then transmits the information of the created message presentation to the receiving user.

The receiving user then plays the received message presentation.

At this time, the message presentation reproduction process by the GIG mail viewer is a reverse of the message presentation creation process by the GIG mail producer, which will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 is a diagram illustrating playback of a received message presentation in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 4, the receiving user who has received the e-mail executes web link information included in the e-mail to drive the web browser.

As an example of the web link information at this time, it can be represented in the following format.

"http://www.legsgig.com/igi_mail/gig_mail_player.asp?db_id=20353458"

Where "http://www.legsgig.com/igi_mail/gig_mail_player.asp" is the webpage address (URL) of the GIG mail service for playing the message presentation, and "db_id = 20353458" is the A query string whose content is a unique index.

That is, the additional information is key record information for requesting data from the database server.

As such, when the web browser is driven, the web page including the GIG mail viewer is displayed by referring to the web page address (URL) of the GIG mail service, and the query string is the GIG mail viewer included in the web page. Is passed to.

Subsequently, the GIG mail viewer receives the configuration information on the message presentation prepared by the sender user from the service provider's database server by using the delivered additional information.

And the GIG mail viewer reconstructs the message presentation using the message presentation configuration information data received from the database server.

By using the reconstructed message presentation configuration information, various media data distributed and existing in the network are received and arranged in the visual / audible region of the GIG mail viewer to start playback.

At this time, the user message text information is animated with the specified text animation effect type.

In addition, video or flash animations with a relatively large amount of data transmitted are transmitted and played in real time from the VOD server and the web server, respectively.

At this time, the GIG mail producer and the GIG mail viewer share the same key record information, and thus use the same theme list when creating and playing the message presentation.

The theme list has the same meaning as a message presentation theme, and refers to a presentation background element provided by a sender user from a service provider for message presentation. The list of video / flash animations, music, clipart, etc. by theme It means consisting of.

In this way, since the creation and reproduction are performed only by the configuration information for the message presentation, the contents created by the transmitting user and the contents reproduced by the receiving user are the same.

When all the above steps are completed, the receiving end user decides whether or not to reply to the transmitting end user, and when selecting the reply function, the receiving user returns to the initial process of the GIG mail service and cycles the service.

Other services that can be added additionally are as follows.

First of all, as a user file upload service, a message presentation composed from a message presentation theme has its configuration area limited to various media provided from the service provider side. By providing a function of uploading a medium to a server of a service provider side, it is possible to create a message presentation with more freedom.

In principle, if the file format of the medium to be uploaded matches the criteria of the service provider, it is possible to upload all media such as video / flash animation, music, and clip art.

As an example, a message presentation is created by using a data file in which a sending user scans his photographic image.

Secondly, as a service using real-time voice recording data, a message presentation is created by using the voice signal network of the sending user and recording the same through the voice signal network.

This can be achieved through the use of a technical partnership or related solution with an external technology holding company that currently has voice information processing technology over the network, which enables the recording of voice over the network in real time.

Therefore, use this to create a message presentation.

Finally, as a service using free drawing, a free drawing tool is added to the multimedia presentation writing tool described above to create a graphic image by a sender's user's manual work, and use it to create a message presentation. .

As described above, the e-mail service method according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, users (clients) do not have to manage and set up network and mail client software for e-mail transmission / reception, and even install and configure separate mail client software even if they have multiple PCs. There is no need to do.

Second, since the sender creates his own message presentation, it can be used for the styles of young users with a strong personality and users with special events, and even animations can be used to create a wider message presentation. Can be.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (11)

A first step in which a sending user creates a message presentation using a multimedia presentation creating tool provided from a service provider side; A second step of converting the configuration information of the created message presentation by an application program and storing the data in a database server; A third step of obtaining a unique index when storing in the database server and generating reconstruction information (web link) included in additional information and web link information using the configuration information index of the issued message presentation; A fifth step of including the web link information in an e-mail and transmitting the same to a receiving user; And a sixth step of driving a web browser using the transmitted web link information, and reproducing and confirming a corresponding message presentation through the unique index. The method of claim 1, And after the sixth step, a seventh step of repeating the process if the receiving user requests a reply. The method of claim 1, wherein the fifth step E-mail service method, characterized in that for transmitting the contents of the various advertising / promotional message further including in the e-mail. The method of claim 1, wherein the first step E-mail service method characterized in that it is interactive by using a composition tool consisting of a list of the presentation background elements and decoration elements such as video / flash animation, music, clip art, etc. classified by themes. The method of claim 1, The first and sixth steps are an e-mail service using a GIG mail producer and a GIG mail viewer application developed using an application called "Director" of "Micromedia". Way. The method of claim 1, wherein the second step An e-mail service method characterized by being stored in a record form accessible by a unique index. The method of claim 1, wherein the web link information is An e-mail service method comprising a combination of location information (URL) and additional information (query string) including a unique index on the Internet for playing a message presentation using a web browser. The method of claim 1, The information delivered to the receiving user is an e-mail service method, characterized in that only the configuration information necessary to reproduce the message presentation is delivered as the content of the e-mail. The method of claim 1, The multimedia presentation writing tool uploads various media existing on a PC of a transmitting user to a server of a service provider to create a message presentation. The method of claim 1, The multimedia presentation creation tool is an e-mail service method, characterized in that a message presentation is created using the recorded data through the sender's voice signal network. The method of claim 1, The multimedia presentation creation tool is an electronic mail service method, characterized in that by adding a free drawing tool to create a graphic image by the user of the sending user by hand, and using this to create a message presentation.