KR20040048367A - Method for Providing Data Communication Service in Computer Network by using User-Defined Emoticon Image and Computer-Readable Storage Medium for storing Application Program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for offering a data transfer service on a computer network using a user defined emoticon image and a computer-readable recording medium recording an application program for realizing the same are provided to freely generate/use the user defined emoticon during various kinds of data transfer services. CONSTITUTION: A data transfer application program captures an image of a display screen in a capture area selected by a user and stores the captured image in a storage of a user computer system as the user defined emoticon image(S256). The stored user defined emoticon image is displayed on a server or the computer system of an appointed part by transferring only the user defined emoticon image or together with the text/image data selected from the user.

Description

Method for Providing Data Communication Service in Computer Network by using User-Defined Emoticon Image and Computer -Readable Storage Medium for storing Application Program therefor}

The present invention relates to a method for providing a data transmission service using a user-defined emoticon image, and a recording medium storing a data transmission application therefor, and more particularly, to chat, mail, messenger service, card sending, advertisement, bulletin board, and the like. The present invention relates to a service providing method for capturing and storing an image arbitrarily selected by a user in a data transmission service, and using the same as an emoticon.

Recently, as the use of the Internet is rapidly spreading, most computer users, such as students and office workers, are using various services on the Internet such as mail, web surfing, and chatting.

Among them, various data transmission services called "chatting" or "internet conversation", "mail", "send card", "messenger service", "use bulletin board", "internet advertisement", etc. are also widely used.

In particular, the chat service refers to a service in which a large number of users connected to the chat server communicate with each other by using a chat program implemented with a chat server and a common gateway interface (CGI), and the like. Refers to a service that transmits digital data such as text and images determined by the caller to the counterpart's computer system through a mail server or a messenger server.

In detail, focusing on the chat service, the user connects to the chat server through a web browser or by running a separate chat program installed on the client computer. Next, after selecting a counterpart to chat by opening a chat room or designating a specific user, a desired text message is inputted into a text input window, and the text is transmitted to the selected chat counterpart's computer system to display the message.

This chat service may be performed using a so-called "Messenger" program. The messenger program refers to software that is always connected to the messenger server to receive limited services such as sending and receiving messages with others. The messenger screen is composed of small windows so as not to disturb the desktop or the currently working screen. Occupies a part. This messenger is a software that allows two users to send a small amount of text data in real time. An e-mail system, where the receiver frequently checks the mailbox, and the people who need to talk to the server at the same time should be connected to a specific server. It can be seen as intermediate between chats.

On the other hand, mail, chat (chat), messenger, card sending, etc. can only send and receive text messages entered by the user, and advertising or bulletin board services can only use the data, such as text input by the user and / or images provided by the system It was difficult to express their emotions, etc. Of course, by inserting an image in an e-mail or the like to display itself or express emotions, it is limited in that it can use only a predetermined image provided by a service provider.

In order to overcome this problem, a special character combination "emoticon" for expressing emotion is mainly used in data transmission services such as initial chat, mail, message, and messenger. Emoticons can be found in the smiley used by the network users of the UNIX system, and various expressions have been developed mainly in the chat users in Korea. Table 1 shows some of the most commonly used emojis in chat and the emoticons most often used on the Internet.

<Table 1> Examples of emoticons

Emoticon meaning emoticon meaning :-) Basic laughter ^ _ ^ laugh :-D yak ^ o ^ yak :-() surprised T.T Crying (tear) :-( or ;-( aggro -o- Doze (yawn)

These text emoticons have evolved due to text-oriented communication, but the text emoticons have a limited state of emotion that can be expressed, and when the other person is not familiar with the emoticons, the emoticons cannot exhibit the function of emoticons.

Recently, image emoticons have been used in accordance with the needs of users that it is difficult to express their emotions only with text emoticons. In other words, the widely used operating system, Microsoft's Windows operating system is a graphical interface operating system, which theoretically does not require the use of pictograms, and more intuitively and emotionally expresses the emotion of the speaker using pictures (images). The use of image emoticons is widespread because of this possibility.

In other words, by adding appropriate image emoticons in addition to image data such as text-based messages or cards delivered to the other party, it enables proper expression of emotion expressions and doubles the interest in chat, mail, messenger, bulletin board, and advertisement service. You can.

The sun in which these image emoticons are used is largely divided into two. First, the user selects one of various emoticon images possessed by a chat server, a mail server, a messenger, a card transmission server, or a program and transmits the text message and the emoticon image to the counterpart's computer screen by sending the text along with the text to the counterpart or the service providing server. The first way is to display together.

In the second method, a message inputted as text is analyzed to analyze the emotion of the corresponding chat subject, and then automatically extracts an image emoticon corresponding to the chat subject and transmits it to the counterpart. According to this second form, simply find a pictogram representing emotion (such as :-) in the input text and convert the pictogram to an image corresponding to it, or use onomatopoeia, synonyms, Recognition of emotions using sentence symbols, such as question marks, and the like, may be implemented in a manner of controlling a facial expression, motion, and the like.

However, when using these two methods, the user can only use an image or a character initially created by the service providing system administrator as an emoticon, but cannot use his own emoticon.

However, young netizens who are the main users of chat, mail, etc. prefer their own unique expressions, so it is difficult to satisfy the demand with emoticons that are limited to this limited choice.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, by allowing users to create and use their own emoticons during data transmission services such as chat, mail, messenger, note, card sending, bulletin board registration, advertising, overcome the limitations of expression To increase the interest of the service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to overcome such drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for providing a data transmission service that can freely create and use a user-defined emoticon during various data transmission services, and a recording medium on which a data transmission application program is recorded. It is.

Another object of the present invention is to convert a portion of a certain size of the current computer monitor screen to a user-defined emoticon image during the data transmission service, and to store the user-defined emoticon image to the service providing server or the other computer system according to the user's selection The present invention provides a recording medium on which a data transmission service that can be transmitted and an application program for data transmission for implementing the same are recorded.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a data transmission service providing method and an application program for recording and displaying an image area to be selected in the process of selecting a user-defined emoticon image.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire system for performing a data transmission service according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a general chat process and a function of an application program according to the present invention among data transmission services according to the present invention. FIG. 2A illustrates a general chat process using image emoticons, and FIG. 2B illustrates a user according to the present invention. Shows the process of creating a custom emoticon.

3 illustrates an example of a user interface screen during a chat service among data services according to the present invention.

3A is an initial screen for executing a chat program (messenger program) according to the present invention;

3b is a chat screen,

3c is a general emoticon output screen,

3d shows a custom emoticon (my emoticon) output screen;

3E is a chat screen including a screen magnification window and a capture area;

3f is an output screen in a state where a desired emoticon is selected,

Figure 3g is a my emoticon output screen containing the selected custom emoticon,

3H is a chat screen in a chat process using a user-defined emoticon.

In order to achieve the above object, the data transmission service providing method using a user-defined emoticon according to the present invention is installed on one or more of the server and one or more user computer systems connected through a computer network to provide a general data transmission service A method using a data transfer application, wherein the data transfer application captures an image of a computer display screen within a capture area of a particular size selected by a user, and converts the captured image into a user-defined emoticon image of the user computer system. Creating a user-defined emoticon to store in the storage space, and according to the user's selection, the user input or select the stored user-defined emoticon image with the text data or image data or the user The sole of the emoticon is configured to include a transmission step of displaying the transmitted to the server or the other of the computer systems that are specified.

The above-described capture area can be moved to any position on the computer display screen according to the user's selection, and the application program can continuously enlarge and display an image of the computer display screen included in the moving capture area through the enlarged window. have.

The server is one of a mail server, a chat server, a card transmission server, a messenger server, a bulletin board service providing server, an advertisement service providing server, and the text data or image data is mail, a card, a note, a text for chatting, a post data, an advertisement. One of the data. That is, services to which the present invention can be applied include a mail transmission service, a messenger service including a message transmission, a chat service, a card sending service, a bulletin board service, an advertisement service, and the like. However, it is not limited to such a service, and as long as it is a service capable of transmitting data to a service providing server or a counterpart computer system through a computer network, there is no limitation in the kind thereof.

In addition, the data transmission application program may adjust the size of the capture area or the enlarged window according to a user's command.

Specifically, the user-defined emoticon generation step may include a first step in which the data transmission application determines whether a first mouse event for selecting a user-defined emoticon item has occurred from a menu of a service-provided webpage, and operates a mouse event handler to determine a specific emoticon. Storing the image in the capture area as a user-defined emoticon image at the time when the first mouse event ends and the second mouse event for image capturing is executed; In a third step, the first mouse event is a state where the mouse pointer is positioned on the user-defined emoticon creation item and the left mouse button is clicked, and the second mouse event is a state where the left mouse button click is released. You can decide.

In addition, according to a user's selection, the user-defined emoticon image may be used as an avatar or a character representing the user.

In addition to the service providing method, the present invention includes a recording medium recording a data transmission application program used to provide a service. The recording medium is a database of a personal computer or a server storing a program, in addition to a portable storage means such as a CD or a diskette. It should be interpreted to include a fixed recording medium such as

The function of the data transmission application as described above is preferably performed by a program installed in the user's computer system, but in some cases by a program installed in the service providing server and transmitted to the user computer system at the time of service provision It may also be performed.

Hereinafter, a method of providing a data transmission service using a user-defined emoticon and an application program therefor will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire system for performing a data transmission service according to the present invention.

The whole system is largely provided with one or more user computer terminals 10, 10 'capable of using the data transmission application 11 having a user-defined emoticon generating function according to the present invention, and a server program 21 of necessary functions. A service providing server 22 and a computer network 30 connecting the server and the computer terminal.

As long as the user computer terminals 10 and 10 'can transmit and receive data using wired or wireless Internet, computer communication, etc., there is no limitation in the type thereof, as well as the computer system 10 such as a general personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, etc. , A mobile communication terminal 10 'such as a cellular phone, a personal communication system (PCS), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld PC, or the like.

The data transmission application 11 according to the present invention has a function that can generate and use a user-defined emoticon image in addition to the general function, and its detailed configuration and function will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

The server program 21 refers to various programs provided on the service providing server 20 side. For example, the chat service is executed when the user connects to the chat server through a web browser. It may be implemented as a program, an ASP (Active Server Page) program, or may be implemented as a messenger type program installed in a user computer terminal. The IRC communication protocol used in such Internet Relay Chatting (IRC) is defined in RFC-1459.

The service providing server 20 performs two operations of accepting a client's connection request and broadcasting data such as text messages, mails, card images, posts, advertisements, etc. sent by a specific client to all the designated counterpart clients. Means a server program. To this end, the server program is implemented with a socket for waiting for a connection request and a socket for exchanging messages with each client using a service.

The service providing server 20, such as a mail server, a chat server, a messenger server, a card transmission server, a bulletin board server, an advertisement server, and the like, may be implemented in the form of a web server. Computer system and computer software installed therefor that are connected to a number of unspecified clients and / or other servers through the same open computer network, and which receive and perform the work request of the client or other web server and provide the work result thereof. It means (web server program). However, in addition to the above-described web server program, it should be understood as a broad concept including a series of application programs running on the web server and in some cases various databases built therein.

This service providing server (web server) is a web server program that is provided in various ways according to operating systems such as DOS, Windows, Linux, UNIX, Macintosh, etc. in general server hardware. It may be implemented by using, and representative examples may be a website (Website) used in the Windows environment, Internet Information Server (IIS) and CERN, NCSA, APPACH used in the Unix environment.

In addition, the service providing server is linked to the user database that stores information about the user, it is preferable that the user can be identified and authenticated.

Since the server program 21 is currently implemented in various forms and used, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The computer network 30 may be a closed network such as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) as a network connecting a server and a user computer terminal, but may be an open type such as the Internet. desirable. The Internet has many services in the TCP / IP protocol and its upper layers: HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Telnet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Domain Name System (DNS), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), and SNMP ( The global open computer network architecture that provides the Simple Network Management Protocol (NFS), Network File Service (NFS), and Network Information Service (NIS).

Data transmission application 11 used in the present invention is installed on the server side or the client side, a function that can be used to store an image of any area of the screen output on the computer monitor as an emoticon according to the user's selection By having a, it can be implemented through any language such as C, C ++, Java, Visual Basic, Visual C. The function of such a data transmission application will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The following describes a general process of a data transmission service to which the present invention can be applied, a process of generating a user-defined emoticon according to the present invention, and a user interface screen in the process. Explain. However, the following description may be applied to the same principle to other data transmission services such as a mail service, a card transmission service, a messenger service, a bulletin board service, and an advertisement service.

In addition, FIG. 1 illustrates a server / client type data transmission, but is not limited thereto. The present invention may be performed by a peer-to-peer (P2P) method, which is a direct communication method between user computers without server intervention. May be In other words, the data transmission application program is installed on the user's computer and the necessary data can be transferred directly to the desired counterpart computer system by designating the IP address of the counterpart computer system.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a general chat process and a function of a data transmission application (specifically, a chat application) according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is a general chat process using image emoticons, and FIG. 2B is a present invention. Shows the process of creating a custom emoticon.

Looking at the chat process, first the user executes a chat application to connect to the chat server, and then designate a chat counterpart (S210). Thereafter, the input text message is transmitted to the chat server to be transmitted to the counterpart computer system (S211, S214), and the text message transmitted from the chat server is displayed (S216). At this time, a conventional image emoticon service can be used. That is, the user selects the general emoticon item of FIG. 3 and selects one of several general emoticon images already prepared by the system administrator (S212) and transmits the text message to the chat server along with the text message (S213), or receives the general emoticon received from the chat server. An emoticon image and a text message may be displayed (S215 and S216).

The chat application always monitors whether a "custom emoticon menu" (corresponding to "my emoji" in FIG. 3; hereinafter referred to as "my emoji menu") is selected by the user during the chat process. When the My Emoji menu is selected, the chat application displays a custom emoticon image that the user has created and saved so far. The user can select a desired custom emoticon image and use the same method as a general emoticon image.

When the user selects the "create custom emoticon menu (icon)", the chat application creates a capture area of a predetermined size and allows the capture area to be freely moved on the computer display screen according to the user's mouse movement and keyboard operation. . During this process, it is desirable to provide a separate screen magnification window and to enlarge and display an image included in the current capture area. By providing a magnification window, you can precisely adjust the size and position of the desired image.

When an image capture event is performed from the user, the image included in the capture area at this point is stored as a user-defined emoticon image. The image storage format is not limited, and file formats such as bitmap (BMP), JPG, TIFF, GIF, and PIC may be used. The storage space is preferably storage means (hard disk, etc.) of the user computer terminal, but is not limited thereto.

Figure 2b is a flow chart for the process of creating and storing such a user-defined emoticon.

First, a user selects a user-defined emoticon menu (My emoticon menu) from a menu of a data transmission program, that is, a chat application (S250). When selecting a user-defined emoticon that is stored in advance to make it available for chat (S251, S252). Using the emoticon for chatting means sending the selected emoticon along with the text message to the chat server so that the emoticon is output to the computer system of the chatting counterpart. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 below.

When the user selects the "custom emoticon generation menu" (S253), that is, when the first mouse event occurs, the mouse handler of the data transmission application is operated to capture a capture area (320 of FIG. 3). ) And a screen magnification window 310 (in FIG. 3) for enlarging and displaying an image in the capture area (S254). This capture area is located at the mouse cursor (or pointer) portion and can move freely along the mouse cursor. When the first mouse event ends and the second mouse event occurs (S255), the application program stores an image in the capture area at that point (S256). At this time, the stored image is a user-defined emoticon image, stored in the user's computer hard disk, and displays the image on the user-defined emoticon output window (S256).

Mouse handler is an abbreviation of mouse event handler and refers to a module programmed to perform a specific function by calling a specific function when various events or events related to a mouse occur.

This custom emoticon generation process will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

Custom emoticons created and saved in this way can be used in the same way as general emoticons. If the user selects the "My emoticons" menu with or without entering a text message, several custom emoticon images created and saved in the meantime Is output and the user selects one of them. The selected custom emoticon image is displayed in the text input window of the chat screen, and when the "Send" or "Send" button is pressed or "Enter" is pressed, the corresponding emoticon image and the text message are transmitted to the chat server. In addition, the user-defined emoticon image transmitted from the counterpart is displayed on the chat screen of the user's computer terminal in the same manner as the general emoticon.

Of course, the generated custom emoticon image may be deleted according to a user's selection.

If the service according to the present invention is a mail service, the user selects a "write mail" menu, enters mail contents, and then creates / stores a user-defined emoticon in the same process as above, and adds them to the mail contents to the mail server. Can transmit

Figure 3 shows an example of the user interface screen during the chat service of the data transmission service according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the chat program is described as being implemented in the form of a messenger.

FIG. 3A illustrates an initial screen for executing a chat program (messenger program) according to the present invention, and includes a menu bar at the top of the window and a main window for outputting a user list registered as a friend among other users. You can register as a friend by selecting "Add friend menu" and entering another user's ID. On the other hand, when both users who are set as friends with each other are logged in, it is possible to perform a chat service, when selecting "chat" or "send a message", a chat screen as shown in Figure 3b is displayed.

The chat window shown in FIG. 3B has a message output window (upper window) 301 for outputting a message received from the other party and a message transmitted by the user in an interactive form, and a text input window for inputting a text message to be transmitted (bottom). 302), which includes a "font" menu for changing fonts and an "emoticon" menu for enabling image emoticons.

When selecting the "Emoji menu", an emoticon display window is additionally generated as shown in FIG. 3C, and the emoticon display window is composed of two detailed windows, "general emoticon" and "my emoticon". Here, "My emoticon" corresponds to the user-defined emoticon menu according to the present invention.

The "general emoticon window" shows various general emoticon images that the system administrator has already created and stored (FIG. 3C). In addition, each of the general emoticons is provided with a corresponding text may have a function for automatically converting the input text into an emoticon. For example, the text "(L)" is matched with a heart-shaped general emoticon, so that when the user enters "(L)" in the text input window, it automatically converts to a heart-shaped emoticon.

The "My Emoticon Window" displays various emoticon images generated by the user and stored therein (FIG. 3D).

Among the various images in the "My emoticon window", the "…" image represents a menu for creating a custom emoticon image. When the user moves the mouse cursor over the "…" image and presses the left mouse button, the user-defined emoticon generation function is activated.

When the left button of the mouse is pressed while the mouse cursor is placed on the "..." image, as shown in FIG. 3E, a small rectangle representing the enlarged window 310 and the image capture area 320 is generated. The image capture area 320 moves along the cursor of the mouse and may move to any position of the screen currently displayed on the computer monitor. Therefore, the above-described first mouse event for selecting a user-defined emoticon generation item corresponds to a state in which the left mouse button is clicked while the mouse cursor is positioned on the “…” image.

While the first mouse event (left button click) continues, the capture area 320 is free to move along the mouse cursor, while an enlarged image of the image contained within the capture area is enlarged while the capture area 320 is moved. It is displayed continuously in the window (Fig. 3f). The reason for providing the enlarged window is to enlarge and display the image included in the capture area to accurately capture the image by accurately adjusting the size and position of the desired emoticon image.

The size of the screen magnification window 310 may be arbitrarily adjusted for convenience. In addition, it is preferable that the size of the capture area 320 is also adjustable. However, since the size of the image is limited due to the nature of the emoticon, the capture area is preferably displayed as a rectangle having a size of about 1 cm × cm. It is desirable to put restrictions.

As shown in FIG. 3F, when the user releases the left mouse button click (second mouse event) while accurately positioning the capture area 320 on the image to be made as an emoticon, the screen enlarged window 310 is shown in FIG. 3G. And the capture area 320 disappears, and the selected emoticon image 330 is additionally displayed in the my emoticon window. The selected emoticon image 330 is stored in the hard disk of the user computer in the form of a suitable image file.

The user-created emoticon image generated and stored in this way may be used in the same manner as a general emoticon when chatting. FIG. 3H illustrates such a usage method. In a state in which the text “Gostop” is input into the text input window 302, the user clicks on the “My emoticon menu” to select the desired image. Then, "Gostop <image>" is displayed in the text input window 302, and then an additional message "Hangame?" Is input. Then, the text input window is displayed as "GoStop <Emoticon> Hangame?", And if you click the "Send" button or enter "Enter" in the state, the message is delivered to the chat server and the message output window (301) is displayed. The same is shown for).

In the message output window 301 of FIG. 3H, a message from the other party, "Foca <emoticon> is also a game?" Is output. The other party also transmits a user-defined emoticon in the form of a card using the function according to the present invention. Able to know.

In the above description, the user-created user-defined emoticon is used as a means for expressing emotion. However, the user-defined emoticon is not necessarily used for such a purpose. For example, it is also possible to use the user-defined emoticon according to the present invention as an "avatar" representing user identification.

The above description is merely illustrative of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may various modifications without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to limit the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the spirit and scope of the present invention are not limited by these embodiments. It is intended that the scope of the invention be interpreted by the following claims, and that all descriptions within the scope equivalent thereto shall be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, the user arbitrarily generates an emoticon image and uses it for various data transmission services such as a chat service, a mail service, a card transmission service, a messenger service, a bulletin board service, an advertisement service, and uses only existing text emoticons. Compared to the method of using only limited general image emoticons produced by the system administrator, the user can not only express the emotions of the user, but also increase the interest in the service.

In addition, the desired image can be emoticonized on any screen displayed on the computer monitor, and the emoticonization process is convenient by using a mouse.

As a result, by satisfying the needs of netizens who want a variety of expressions can contribute to the activation of various data transmission services, moreover, the Internet or computer communication.

Claims (1)

A method using a data transmission application installed on at least one of a server and one or more user computer systems connected through a computer network to provide a general data transmission service, The data transfer application captures an image of a computer display screen within a capture area of a particular size selected by the user, and generates a custom emoticon that stores the captured image as a corresponding custom emoticon image in a storage space of the user's computer system. step; And, A transmission step of transmitting the stored user-defined emoticon image together with the text data or image data input or selected by the user, or by transmitting the user-defined emoticon to the server or the computer system of the designated counterpart alone; Recording medium in which a program implemented with a function including the stored.