KR20050003563A - Method of home portal service using avatar and virtual space item - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for offering a home portal service using avatars and virtual space items of family members is provided to offer a user with an interesting and familiar interface, and easily offer customized service to the user by linking a complex home networking interface with the simple item having an Internet portal function. CONSTITUTION: A virtual space shared with the avatars is fixed(213). Available services on the virtual space are fixed/classified into each avatar(215). Certifying user information of the connected avatar, the virtual space activating the service items that the corresponding avatar has an authority is offered to a background screen(216).

Description

Method of home portal service using avatar and virtual space item}

The present invention records a home portal service method capable of providing a home portal interface (home network service, personal portal service) through an avatar of family members in a home virtual space on a background of a terminal, and a program for realizing the method. The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium.

An example of the related art related to the avatar service is "Avatar virtual space page service method and system (Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-0096234, Nov. 7, 2001)" which implements a 3D virtual space page on a web server. In this case, when several people visit the avatar virtual space page at the same time, each visitor is displayed in the virtual space as a graphic virtual object called an avatar, and each visitor can see not only his avatar but also the avatar of another visitor. You can freely move around the space and communicate with other avatars by chatting, and also link existing HTML-style web pages to graphic objects in the virtual space, move avatars in front of the linked objects, or use the mouse to To launch the link page by clicking on the linked object It can work seamlessly with services. However, in this case, the avatar service through the 3D virtual space on the web server is possible only when the web server is connected.

In addition, as another example of the related art related to an avatar service operating on a desktop of a terminal, "Avatar generation method and apparatus of a terminal wallpaper and a community communication method and system using the same, and an avatar game method (Korean Patent Publication No. 2002-0073313) , September 23, 2002), where the avatar background service itself is communityized compared to the existing avatar community service. However, although the avatar is operated on the terminal desktop, it is limited to the chat service through the avatar.

On the other hand, as a related art related to home network services, there is a "home network access method and apparatus thereof using a home gateway and a home portal server (Korean Patent Publication No. 2002-0042305, published on June 5, 2002), where the user After accessing the home portal server from any external system, the user can remotely control various systems connected to the home network by accessing the home network using the collected public IP address of the home gateway.

On the other hand, as a related art related to personal portal service, "User interface with dynamic menu option configuration regarding user-based personalized portal service (Korean Patent Publication No. 2002-0019613, published on March 12, 2002)," There is a "personal portal website operating system and operation method (Korean Patent Publication No. 1000-0037242, published on July 5, 2000)" regarding a server-based personalized portal service.

In view of the above prior arts, the present invention provides a virtual space called home on the terminal desktop, and family members share this virtual space to provide home portal services (home network services, personal portal services) through their avatars. By relaying, it is possible to provide an easy and fun interface to the home portal service. In addition, it is possible to provide customized home portal services including home network services and personal portal services.Online payments can be made through representative pay avatars by managing payment information by connecting each avatar with actual user information. Therefore, service screening such as blocking harmful information is possible.

Therefore, in the current technical field, there is an urgent need for a method of providing an interface for a home portal service through a virtual space called home shared by family member avatars on a terminal desktop.

The present invention has been proposed to meet the above demands, and provides a home portal interface (home network service, personal portal service) through an avatar of family members in the background of a home virtual space on a terminal desktop. It is an object of the present invention to provide a service method and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing the method.

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a home portal service system to which the present invention is applied.

2 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an avatar setting process in a home portal service method according to the present invention;

3 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a virtual space item setting process in a home portal service method according to the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a home portal service process using an avatar background item according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawing

10: home network 20: main system

30: network 40: Internet

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a home portal service method using an avatar applied to a home portal service system, the method comprising: setting a virtual space that avatars can share; A second step of setting and classifying rights available for services in the virtual space for each avatar; And a third step of authenticating the user information of the connected avatar, and providing the terminal background with the virtual space in which the corresponding avatar has activated service items.

In addition, the present invention provides an item category on the terminal background when adding a service item, and checks whether the selected item is an item that needs to be connected to an information appliance that makes up the actual home network. If necessary, the method further comprises a fourth step of automatically searching for the user's home network and connecting the item with the home network.

In addition, the present invention provides an item category on the terminal background when the service item is added, and checks whether the selected item is an item that needs to be connected to a specific Internet site when selecting an item, And further comprising a fourth step of connecting the relevant internet site.

The present invention may further comprise a fifth step of executing a service associated with the selected service item in the virtual space.

On the other hand, the present invention provides a home portal service using an avatar and a virtual space item, a first function for setting a virtual space that avatars can share in a home portal service system having a processor; A second function of setting and classifying rights for services available in the virtual space for each avatar; And a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for authenticating user information of a connected avatar to provide a third function for providing a terminal space with a virtual space for activating service items for which the avatar has permission to use. to provide.

In addition, the present invention provides an item category on the terminal background when adding a service item, and checks whether the selected item is an item that needs to be connected to an information appliance that makes up the actual home network. If necessary, a computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon for further realizing a fourth function of automatically searching for a user's home network and connecting an item to the home network is provided.

In addition, the present invention provides an item category on the terminal background when the service item is added, and checks whether the selected item is an item that needs to be connected to a specific Internet site when selecting an item, A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for further realizing a fourth function of linking related Internet sites is provided.

The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for further realizing a fifth function of executing a service associated with a selected service item in the virtual space.

An object of the present invention is to provide a home virtual space for sharing by family member avatars on a background of a terminal, and to provide a home portal interface using an avatar and an item connected to a specific service provided in the virtual space.

To this end, the present invention provides an interface for a home portal service through a virtual space called home shared by family member avatars on a terminal desktop. In addition, by connecting real user information to avatars, payable representative avatars and minors who provide actual payments can provide online payment services through subordinate avatars associated with them, thereby limiting youth's use of unrestricted paid services and automatically harmful services. Provide service screening function for. In addition, the present invention provides a packaging service for linking graphic items provided in a virtual space with a web page in HTML format or with a function for controlling an object connected to an actual home network.

According to the present invention, by connecting a complex home networking interface and Internet portal function to a simple item, it provides a fun and familiar interface to the user, provides a personalized home portal service, regardless of the type of user terminal or communication environment It can provide a consistent avatar service.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a home portal service system to which the present invention is applied.

The main system 30 provides a virtual space called home on the terminal desktop, and the family members share this virtual space with their own avatars through the home network service (home network service, Personal portal services). At this time, by managing the payment information by connecting each avatar and the actual user information, it is possible to pay online via the representative pay avatar, and screening services such as blocking harmful information according to the user's information. That is, the serviceable authority may be given according to user information (for example, social security number) associated with each avatar. Therefore, each member of the family is authenticated based on user information (gender, age, etc.) associated with their avatar at the time of login, so that they can only select their own avatar and can use each service (home network service, personal portal service). You are authorized. For example, a user (eg, a child) using a subordinate avatar that is dependent on a parent avatar is automatically authenticated upon login, limiting the services available to him. This is to prevent a user (eg, a child) using a subordinate avatar from deliberately selecting a parent avatar and receiving a service that is outside of his / her authority range. To this end, service types according to avatar authorization should be distinguished, for example, services that can be used only by parent avatars, services that can replace parent avatars with representative pay avatars, and services without permission settings.

The main system 30 connected to the communication network 20 is an avatar management system for creating and managing an avatar according to a user's request, a customer management system for managing customer information, and a virtual space management system for sharing avatar wallpapers among specific users. , An item management system for creating an item connected to a specific service, a customer DB and an avatar DB for storing and managing customer information and avatar information of the customer, a content conversion system for reconstructing an avatar according to the characteristics of the terminal, and a web site connected to the item. SSO processing system for implementing Single Sign On (SSO), payment information management system connected to the avatar, Web server for providing various information related to the avatar to the user.

In addition, the user home network 10, which can be controlled through the home portal of the main system 30, includes an information terminal such as a home gateway, a computer, a laptop, a PDA, and a web pad connected to the home gateway, an AV terminal such as a TV, audio, a home theater, and a refrigerator. Information appliances for home control, such as air conditioners, heaters, web cameras, door phones, gas valves, and the like.

The home portal access through the communication network 20 of the main system 30 uses a secure channel such as a virtual private network (VPN) to protect user information.

2 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an avatar setting process in a home portal service method according to the present invention.

First, when a user who wants to use an avatar service using a home virtual space connects to the main system 30 through the communication network 20, a member authentication (ID / password or social security number) is attempted to confirm basic information of the user. (201,202). If it is not an existing member, the member is authenticated through the membership registration process (205) (206).

When the authentication process is performed (202), the existing member is checked whether the avatar is held (203), and if it is an existing user, the avatar and the virtual space are output on the user's terminal background screen (216).

However, if the user is a new member registration (205,206) in the above process, or if the existing member does not have an avatar and a virtual space (203), the basic avatar of the user is input (207) to generate a basic avatar ( 208). In this case, the basic user input procedure may be replaced with the procedure at the time of member registration.

When the basic avatar generation is completed (208), it is checked whether the user is a home portal service user for creating a virtual space that is the background of the avatar (209).

As a result of the check, in the case of the user of the home portal service, the user receives information on the related home portal (212), creates an avatar virtual space (213), and checks information on avatars sharing the virtual space.

As a result, if it is not the home portal service user, it is determined whether to participate as a shared avatar of the existing home portal or to create a new home portal (210), and when connecting to the existing home portal, the existing home portal related information is received. (212) After acquiring the representative avatar of the home portal, the shared avatar virtual space is completed (213), and if a new home portal needs to be created, information about the related home portal is input (212) to create the avatar virtual space. (213).

When the avatar virtual space is determined through the above process (213), the representative avatar is set (214), whether or not the avatar capable of payment function is set (215), and the avatar and the virtual space are output on the user's terminal background screen. (216).

When the avatar created in the existing home virtual space is added or the item is changed in the above process, the avatars sharing the virtual space are automatically notified and the changed appearances are applied in real time. Of course, the home virtual space may be provided separately into a space shared with the space unique to each avatar as needed.

The service that can be activated in the virtual space output on the user's terminal background may vary according to the authorization of the avatar. For example, a service available only to the parent avatar and the parent avatar as the representative paying avatar according to the service authority of the avatar. It can be classified as an alternative service, an entire service without permission, and the like. This means that each member of the family is authenticated based on the user information (or individually entered user information) associated with their avatar at the time of login, and grants each of the available (active) services (home network service, personal portal service). Receive.

FIG. 3 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a virtual space item setting process in a home portal service method according to the present invention. After generating a basic avatar and a virtual space according to the procedure of FIG. The process of adding a graphic item having a function to a user in the created virtual space is shown.

First, when a user selects an item category to add by clicking an icon displayed on the terminal desktop (301), graphic items corresponding to the selected category are output on the user's terminal screen (302).

When the user selects the desired item from the graphic items output in the above process (303), it is checked whether the selected item is an item that needs to be connected to the information appliance constituting the actual home network (304), and the connection with the information appliance. If necessary, the user's home network is automatically searched and the graphic item is connected to the home network (305).

In addition, if the user selects the desired item from the graphic items output in the above process (303) checks whether the selected item is an item that needs to be connected to a specific Internet site (306), The graphic item is associated with an associated internet site (307).

When the above process is completed, the graphic item is added and output to the home background of the user terminal (308).

In order to output the optimum avatar to the user's terminal environment in the process of outputting the home virtual space and avatar to the user terminal, the avatar and home virtual space suitable for the computer monitor environment are basically displayed in a small output window such as a PDA or a mobile phone. It must be modified to suit. Therefore, the content conversion system of the main system 30 automatically recognizes the terminal environment of the user and outputs the optimal graphic virtual space and avatar in various terminal environments.

In the above process, the connection between the graphic item and a specific internet site may be arbitrarily determined by the service provider when generating the graphic item. That is, the service provider may give the user the option of using the service by providing the same kind of item differently according to the connected Internet site information.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a home portal service process using an avatar background item according to an embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a procedure of using a video on demand (VOD) service through a TV graphic item displayed on a virtual screen.

First, a virtual space based on the avatar and the home displayed on the user's terminal background appears (401), when the user adjusts the avatar or selects and clicks the TV item using a mouse (402), the selected TV item A service list connected to the terminal is output (403).

At this time, if the user selects the VOD service among the outputted service list (404), it is searched whether the selected VOD service is a paid service (405), and if the paid service is a paid procedure (406-408), the user moves to the corresponding site. Or execute the service (409). On the other hand, in the case of a free service, it is automatically moved to the site or the service is executed (409).

In the above process 405, in the case of a paid service, the payment procedures 406 to 408 determine whether the payment is made through the representative pay avatar sharing the virtual space (406), and selects the pay through the representative pay avatar. After the actual confirmation of the representative pay avatar is obtained (407), the service is executed (409).

In addition, in step 405, direct payment may be performed through a conventional online payment procedure such as credit card payment, online deposit, ARS payment, mobile phone payment, according to a user's selection.

On the other hand, in the above process 409, if the member login is required when moving the site, the user is automatically logged in through the SSO (Single Sign On) processing system of the main system 30 with the user's consent, and the user information and payment Provide the site with the necessary information about the information.

In addition, in the above process (409), if the avatar background item is an item connected to the information appliance constituting the actual home network, the connected service is provided in the form of controlling the information appliance or confirming the status information. In addition, it is possible to provide a service that transforms the graphic of the background item, and outputs the information by checking the state of the corresponding information appliances at predetermined intervals as needed.

The method of the present invention as described above may be implemented as a program and stored in a computer-readable recording medium (CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.).

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be clear to those of ordinary knowledge.

The present invention as described above, by connecting a complex home networking interface and Internet portal functions to a simple item, it can provide a user-friendly interface and fun, it is easy to provide a personalized service to the user.

In addition, the present invention can provide a more convenient and personalized Internet service by linking a specific service to the current avatar-related items to simply decorate, and reconstructs the avatar and the background according to the type of the access terminal, which is optimal for the terminal. Displaying the Avatar service provides a consistent avatar service. By managing the payment information by connecting the avatar and the actual user information, the payment process is not only convenient, but also the screening of services such as blocking of harmful services can be performed if necessary. .

Claims (15)

In the home portal service method using an avatar applied to a home portal service system, Setting a virtual space that avatars can share; A second step of setting and classifying rights available for services in the virtual space for each avatar; And A third step of authenticating the user information of the connected avatar, and providing a virtual space on the background screen of the terminal to activate the service items that the avatar has permission to use. Home portal service method using an avatar and a virtual space item comprising a. The method of claim 1, When adding a service item, the item category is provided on the terminal background screen, and when the item is selected, it is checked whether the selected item is an item that needs to be connected to the information appliance that makes up the actual home network. 4th step to search your home network and connect your items and home network Home portal service method using the avatar and virtual space items further comprising. The method of claim 1, When adding a service item, the item category is provided on the terminal wallpaper, and when the item is selected, it is checked whether the selected item needs to be connected to a specific internet site. 4th step Home portal service method using the avatar and virtual space items further comprising. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A fifth step of executing a service associated with a selected service item in the virtual space; Home portal service method using the avatar and virtual space items further comprising. The method of claim 4, wherein When providing the virtual space to the terminal background screen in the third step, A home portal service method using an avatar and a virtual space item, characterized in that the modified and provided to suit the terminal environment or communication environment. The method of claim 4, wherein The user information authentication process of the avatar connected in the third step, When the user is logged in, the home portal service method using the avatar and the virtual space item, characterized in that the automatic authentication based on the user information associated with the avatar of the user. The method of claim 4, wherein Services available in the virtual space, Preferably, the home portal service method using an avatar and a virtual space item, characterized in that the personalized home portal service including a home network service and a personal portal service. The method of claim 7, wherein In the virtual space, When an avatar is added or an item is changed, other avatars who are sharing the virtual space are automatically notified and the changed appearance is applied in real time, and separated into a space shared with each avatar's own space as needed. Home portal service method using an avatar and a virtual space item, characterized in that. The method of claim 7, wherein During service execution in the fourth step, When a member login is required when moving a site, the home portal service method using an avatar and a virtual space item, which is automatically logged in through a single sign-on process. The method of claim 7, wherein During service execution in the fourth step, In the case of the paid service, if the payment is made through the representative pay avatar sharing the virtual space, and the payment is selected through the representative pay avatar, the service is executed after acquiring the actual confirmation of the selected representative pay avatar. A home portal service method using an avatar and a virtual space item. The method of claim 7, wherein During service execution in the fourth step, If the avatar wallpaper item is an item connected to an information appliance constituting the actual home network, the service is provided in the form of controlling the information appliance or checking the status information, and if necessary, displays the state of the information appliance at a predetermined cycle. Home portal service method using an avatar and a virtual space item, characterized in that providing a service that can be transformed and output the graphics of the background item to check. In the home portal service system having a processor for a home portal service using an avatar and a virtual space item, A first function of setting a virtual space that avatars can share; A second function of setting and classifying rights for services available in the virtual space for each avatar; And A third function of authenticating user information of a connected avatar and providing a virtual space on a background screen of a terminal to activate service items to which the avatar has permission to use; A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing this. The method of claim 12, When adding a service item, the item category is provided on the terminal background screen, and when the item is selected, it is checked whether the selected item is an item that needs to be connected to the information appliance that makes up the actual home network. Fourth feature to connect your home network with items by searching your home network A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for further realization. The method of claim 12, When adding a service item, the item category is provided on the terminal wallpaper, and when the item is selected, it is checked whether the selected item needs to be connected to a specific internet site. 4th function to A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for further realization. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, A fifth function of executing a service associated with a selected service item in the virtual space; A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for further realization.