KR20050014565A - Web character builder system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A web character builder system to offer a dynamic avatar is provided to overcome restriction of design with a dynamic and interactive system by using the SVG(Scalable Vector Graphic), and offer the dynamic avatar according to character and sense of each user, while enabling a client to create/modify a character. CONSTITUTION: The client(10) receives a correction value for character data from the user. A server(30) processes the correction value received from the client through the Internet. The server is equipped with a receiver(32), stores(36-44) for storing the character data and offering the stored character data, a web character engine(46), an XML(eXtensible Markup Language) parser(52) parsing an SVG document, and a transmitter(54) for transmitting the parsed SVG document to the client through the Internet. The web character engine corrects the character data stored in the store by receiving the correction value from the client, stores the corrected character data in the store, and makes the SVG document of the character data.

Description

Web character builder system {WEB CHARACTER BUILDER SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a web character builder system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a dynamic and interactive system using vector graphic SVG, an XML graphics standard, to overcome the limitations of design and to dynamically adjust the user's personality and emotion. A web character builder system capable of providing avatars.

Characters are characters appearing in novels, cartoons, plays, etc., and with the recent expansion of multimedia services, the use of animated characters is increasing. In particular, due to the explosive expansion of the Internet, the use of avatar characters as a means of replacing themselves on the Internet is increasing rapidly.

Avatar is currently the most important source of revenue for web board games and community sites. It is estimated to be about 200 billion won a year in Korea, and the market size is rapidly increasing.

However, the avatar market is currently supplying only images based on the creation of designers, and shows a technical limitation in that it cannot serve the user's "self alternation", which is the meaning of the avatar. In other words, the various needs of the user cannot be satisfied in expressing themselves on the Internet through the avatar. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

1A and 1B show a conventional character generation method disclosed in Korean Patent No. 381482 (Invention Name: Character Generation Method and Recording Medium thereof), FIG. 1A is a processing flow chart, and FIG. 1B is for character generation. A diagram showing a sample image.

1A and 1B, the character generation method of FIG. 1A and 1B is a character generation method applied to a character generation system, and provides a sample image to a user with respect to a component of a character previously stored according to a user's request. First step; A second step of synthesizing sample images of each character element selected by the user by parts to generate a character having a feature highlighting by parts; And a third step of changing the characteristic information of the image for the character component which is already synthesized as part of the character according to the user's request.

That is, in the conventional character generation method of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the user provides the sample images by the bitmap method, and allows the user to select the sample image that best suits his or her taste among the sample images. By simply combining these, an avatar is constructed and provided to the user.

Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-96412 (name of the invention: an apparatus for generating an avatar using the Internet and a method thereof) also provides a character generation method in the same manner.

However, the conventional character generation method has the following problems.

First, the character generated by the conventional character generation method has a problem in that it takes a long time to transmit and load because the file size of the image is increased due to the use of the image by the bitmap method.

In addition, this service is virtually impossible because it requires a huge amount of storage space corresponding to the number of users in order to allow users to design their own avatars beyond the simple combination of sample images. There was this.

In addition, when the image is enlarged or reduced, there is a problem in that a distortion phenomenon of the image may occur to provide a clear image.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a web character builder system that allows a client to create and modify a character through the Internet, SVG of the vector graphics method of XML graphics standard It is to provide a web character builder system that can overcome the limitations of design and provide a dynamic avatar according to the personality and emotion of each user by using a dynamic and interactive system.

That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a web character builder system that can satisfy various needs of individual users by allowing them to create their own various shapes according to the user's inclination. In particular, the interactive interface between the client and server will meet the various needs of the user.

In addition, the present invention is another object to build a web character builder system that shows a quick response through the reduction of the transmission and loading time.

In addition, the present invention has another object to enable various applications of the character by supporting the enlargement and reduction of the character image without deterioration of sharpness.

1A and 1B show a conventional character generation method disclosed in Korean Patent No. 381482 (Invention Name: Character Generation Method and Recording Medium thereof), FIG. 1A is a processing flow chart, and FIG. 1B is for character generation. A diagram showing a sample image.

2 is a system configuration diagram of the web character builder system of the present invention.

3A and 3B are job processing flowcharts of the web character builder system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing data processing of a web character engine of the web character builder system of FIG. 2.

5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a process of modifying a character by a user in the web character builder system of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5A is a view showing a conventional SVG image, and FIG. 5B is a diagram of the present invention. The figure shows the SVG image of the display.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: Client 14: ActiveX Control

30: server 32: receiving unit

34: Client Request Analyzer

36: user information store 38: class parts store

42: Character Part Store 44: Web Character Store

46: Web Character Engine 48: ActiveX Parser

52: XML parser 54: transmitter

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a client receiving a correction value for character data from a user and a server receiving and processing the correction value from the client through an internet network. Receiving unit for receiving the correction value from the client through the client, stores the character data, the store for providing the stored character data, receives the correction value, modify the character data provided from the store and store it in the store And a web character engine for creating an SVG document of the character data, an XML parser for parsing the SVG document, and a transmission unit for transmitting the parsed SVG document to the client through an internet network. Provide a system.

Preferably, the client has an ActiveX control, the server has an ActiveX parser, and the ActiveX parser receives an SVG document from the web character engine and corresponds to a true intersection point away from a Bezier curve. Generate an intersecting point on a Bezier curve to convert the SVG document so that the start point, the end point and the intersecting point of the Bezier curve can be displayed on a client, and the ActiveX control is configured to generate the starting point, the end point from the user. And receiving a correction value for the crossover point and transmitting the correction value to the reception unit through an internet network, and the ActiveX parser receives the correction value for the crossover point from the receiver and converts the correction value into a correction point for the actual crosspoint. Provided to the character engine.

Preferably, the store includes a user information store for storing user's personal information; A character part store for storing character data of a basic character and providing the character data of the basic character to the web character engine by a request from a client; A web character store for storing character data of a modified character modified by a client and providing the modified character's character data to the web character engine by a request from a client; And a class info store for storing a style sheet defining a color style used in the character part store and the web character store and providing the same to a web character engine.

Advantageously, said server comprises a client request analyzer, said client request analyzer extracts character data of said basic character from said character part store when said client requests to create a new character, said web character engine. If the client requests to modify the existing character, character data of the modified character is extracted from the web character store and provided to the web character engine.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a system configuration diagram of the web character builder system of the present invention.

In configuring the Web Character Builder system, the database chose MS SQL Server 2000, which can easily store XML formats. Therefore, MX is implemented using ASP and Windows 2000 Server which is the most accessible to SQL Server 2000.

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is not a format with fixed tags like HTML, but an extensible language that allows you to define your own tags. In other words, HTML has a limited number of tags, while XML allows you to define your own tags that are related to the content of the document, which can be used by other users.

XML is essentially a language for describing other languages, the meta language. XML is also based on the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) and is a language that can support simple and highly flexible text formats.

On the other hand, SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic), a graphic standard of XML, has embraced all the advantages of XML's openness, interoperability, etc. in vector graphics, and it has ad, e-commerce, process control, geographic information, and education. The development of technology is actively progressing around the field where graphics are widely used and dynamic and interactive interfaces are emphasized.

Since the SVG image of vector graphics is represented by a mathematical function relationship, the size of the file can be reduced, and the image quality can be maintained regardless of whether the image is larger or smaller.

As shown in Fig. 2, the web character builder system of the present invention has a client-server structure.

The client 10 should have an IE 5.0 or higher browser and an SVG viewer 12 installed. According to the embodiment, Adobe SVG viewer was used as SVG viewer 12. The controller that the user modifies also uses the ActiveX control 14 to allow the user to manipulate and process interactively.

Each part element (eg, Face, Hair, etc.) has a specific point that can be handled and the point information goes down from the server 30 to the ActiveX control 14 of the client 10.

The path of the SVG is composed of three points through the Bezier curve, the first point and the end point, and the intersection point formed between the points.

The user can change the position of the point and the shape of the line through the ActiveX control 14. The user can move the point up, down, left and right by dragging the point with the mouse, and through this, the shape of the line connecting the point can be modified. That is, the client 10 receives a correction value for the character data from the user through the ActiveX control 14.

Although it can be configured without any server influence by implementing it in the form of ActiveX control, it can be implemented by simply script handling of HTML due to the characteristics of SVG. However, it downloads photos of general users and puts them on the engine's base and manipulates the lines on them so that they can be accessed much like their own faces.

The server 30 includes a receiver 32, a store, a web character engine 46, an ActiveX parser 48, an XML parser 52, and a transmitter 52.

The receiving unit 32 receives the request and the correction value for the character data from the client 10 through the Internet network.

The store stores character data and provides the stored character data to the web character engine 46.

The store includes a user info store 36, a character part store 42, a web character store 44, and a class info store 38. To match the XML format, the data type of every point takes a string.

The user info store 36 stores personal information of the user 10. It also has information about whether the user has an existing character.

The character part store 42 stores the character data of the basic character and provides the character data of the basic character to the web character engine 46 by a request from the client 10. The basic character presented to the client 10 on the web is character data stored in the character part store 42, and this is where only the character data of the basic character is provided without modification or conversion.

The web character store 44 stores the character data of the modified character modified by the client 10 and provides the character data of the modified character to the web character engine 46 by a request from the client 10. Character data is databased by user.

The class info store 38 stores style sheets that define the color styles used in the character part store 42 and the web character store 44, and provide them to the web character engine 46.

Client request analyzer 34 analyzes the request of client 10 to select a store. That is, it is selected whether character data is extracted from the character part store 42 or character data is extracted from the web character store 44.

The User_ID of the logged-in user is stored in the session until the user finishes using it so that the user can select a store when implementing a character.

The web character engine 46 combines the correction value of the character data modified through the ActiveX control 14 with the character data provided from the store (character part store 42 or the web character store 44), thereby modifying the modified value. It serves to store the character data in the web character store 44.

The web character engine 46 obtains data values for three points of the modified Bezier curve format through the ActiveX control 14, checks that all the points form the desired shape as a whole, and then determines the consistency of each line. do.

For example, if the first point and the end point are attached, such as the shape of the face or the shape of the lips, the first thing to check is whether the point exactly meets the intersection. It also determines whether the angle of the intersection is a form that cannot be constructed at all.

Each point thus determined is stored in a desired position in the web character store 44.

In addition, the web character engine 46 performs a function of creating an SVG document of character data.

The ActiveX parser 48 performs a function of generating a virtual intersection point corresponding to the actual intersection point, or conversely, obtaining a real intersection point corresponding to the virtual intersection point.

That is, the ActiveX parser 48 generates a virtual intersection handled by the ActiveX control 14 and converts a correction value for the virtual intersection point modified by the ActiveX control 14 into a correction value for the actual intersection point. do.

The XML parser 52 parses the SVG document. According to an embodiment, the MS XML 4.0 parser was used as the XML parser 52.

The transmitter 52 transmits the parsed SVG document to the client 10 through the internet network.

3A and 3B are job processing flowcharts of the web character builder system of FIG. 2.

When a user logs in through a browser, the system asks the user to choose whether to create a new character or modify an existing one.

According to the selected result, when the client 10 requests to generate a new character, the client request analyzer 34 extracts the character data for the basic character from the character part store 42 and provides it to the web character engine 46. do. On the other hand, when the client 10 requests to modify the existing character, the client request analyzer 34 extracts the character data of the modified character from the web character store 44 and provides it to the web character engine 46.

The web character engine 46 converts the character data provided from the character part store 42 or the web character store 44 to create an SVG document using the template system provided by MS SQL Server 2000. MS SQL Server 2000 supports URL Query, Xpath Query, Template Query, etc.

The SVG document created in the web character engine 46 is delivered to the ActiveX parser 48.

The ActiveX parser 48 converts the SVG document, such as generating an empty intersection point. The advantages are as follows.

Data in SVG format is displayed as Bezier curves at the client 10. When the user wants to handle the intersection to change the shape of the curve, the actual intersection (actual intersection) is placed away from the Bezier curve.

As a result, it is not easy for a user to recognize and handle such a true intersection. Accordingly, the ActiveX parser 48 generates an intersecting point, which is one point on the Bezier curve corresponding to the actual crossing point, and converts the SVG document so that the starting point, the end point, and the intersecting point can be displayed on the client 10. This makes it easy to modify the curve by handling the user start point, end point, and the intersection point.

The ActiveX parser 48 converts the SVG document into an SVG document that can be controlled by the ActiveX control 14, and then parses it through the XML parser 52. The SVG document is transmitted to the client 10 via the transmitter 52. Is sent.

The client 10 displays the start point, the end point, and the virtual intersection point on the Bayer curve.

When the modification of the start point, the end point, the virtual intersection point and the color of the client 10 is completed, the ActiveX control 14 transmits the correction values for the starting point, the end point, the virtual intersection point and the color to the server 30.

In order for the ActiveX control 14 to recognize the completion of this modification, the user presses the send button or the save button. That is, after the user has made a number of preliminary corrections, the user decides to press the send button or the save button when it is determined that the design is intended. The correction value at that time is transmitted to the server 30.

The correction value is transmitted to the ActiveX parser 48 through the receiver 32. The ActiveX parser 48 obtains the correction value of the actual intersection corresponding to the correction value of the virtual intersection and delivers it to the web character engine 46.

The web character engine 46 combines the correction values of the actual intersections, stores the modified characters in the web character store 44, and creates an SVG document.

Subsequently, the above-described parsing of the ActiveX parser 48, parsing of the XML parser 52, transmission of the SVG document, and character display in the client 10 are followed.

4 is a diagram for describing data processing of the web character engine 46 of the web character builder system of FIG. 2.

Ⓐ, ⓑ

The Part_Character_Before file generates a corresponding part name (Face, Hair, etc.) and extracts Id, Class, and D from the User_ID and the character part store 42 from the user info store 36.

User_ID information is stored as Session information.

Ⓒ, ⓓ

When character data is modified using a UI (User Interface) implemented by the ActiveX control 14, the correction value is transmitted to the web character engine 46.

The web character engine 46 modifies the character data by combining the modification values and stores the modified character data in the web character store 44 through Part_Character_After.

5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a process of modifying a character by a user in the web character builder system of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5A is a view showing a conventional SVG image, and FIG. 5B is a diagram of the present invention. The figure shows the SVG image of the display.

For convenience of explanation, the starting point and the end point are divided by the circular point and the intersecting point by the x mark.

As shown, in the Bezier curve of FIG. 5A, the start point, end point, and real intersection point are not displayed, so it is not easy to control such points, and furthermore, the real intersection point is located away from the Bezier curve to control the Bezier curve. To make it more difficult.

In contrast, the Bezier curve of FIG. 5B enhances user convenience by allowing the user to clearly recognize a point that can be handled and to easily handle the point. 5B shows that the image can be modified very simply by dragging and dropping the intersection point from the original position to the correction position.

In addition, unlike the conventional SVG control application, by setting the optimal number of points necessary to represent a specific partial element in advance, and the ActiveX control 14 only handles the point, the ActiveX control 14 is absolutely The capacity of can be made small.

According to the above configuration, the present invention can overcome the limitations of the design and provide a dynamic avatar according to the personality and emotion of each user by using a dynamic and interactive system using SVG of the vector graphics method, which is an XML graphics standard. It works.

That is, the present invention can provide a web character builder system that can satisfy various needs of individual users, provide quick response through shortening of transmission and loading time, and support enlargement and reduction of character images without deterioration of sharpness. do.

Claims (4)

A client receiving a correction value for character data from a user and a server receiving and processing the correction value from the client through an internet network, wherein the server includes: Receiving unit for receiving the correction value from the client through an internet network, A store that stores character data and provides the stored character data; A web character engine that receives the correction value, modifies the character data provided from the store, stores it in the store, and creates an SVG document of the character data; An XML parser for parsing the SVG document, and And a transmitter for transmitting the parsed SVG document to the client through an internet network. The method of claim 1, The client has an ActiveX control, the server has an ActiveX parser, The ActiveX parser receives an SVG document from the web character engine and generates a virtual intersection point on the Bezier curve corresponding to the actual intersection point away from the Bezier curve, so that the start point, the end point, and the virtual intersection point of the Bezier curve are transmitted to the client. Convert the SVG document to be displayed, The ActiveX control receives correction values for the start point, the end point, and the virtual intersection from the user and transmits the correction values to the receiving unit through the Internet network. The ActiveX parser receives the correction value for the virtual intersection point from the receiver, converts the correction value for the actual intersection point, and provides it to the web character engine. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The store, A user info store for storing personal information of the user; A character part store for storing character data of a basic character and providing the character data of the basic character to the web character engine by a request from a client; A web character store for storing character data of a modified character modified by a client and providing the modified character's character data to the web character engine by a request from a client; And And a class info store for storing a style sheet defining a color style used in the character part store and the web character store and providing the same to a web character engine. The method of claim 3, wherein The server has a client request analyzer, the client request analyzer, When the client requests to create a new character, the character data of the basic character is extracted from the character part store and provided to the web character engine, And requesting the client to modify the existing character, extract the character data of the modified character from the web character store and provide the extracted character data to the web character engine.