KR20050015954A - community system through network and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a community system and a method thereof via a network.

In the present invention, a specific community relationship is formed between users. Specifically, at the request of the first user, a plurality of second users are registered as interests to form a community relationship between the first user and the second user. Next, the activity of the second users through the network is monitored, and the monitored second user's activity information is provided to the first users who registered the second user as an interest.

According to the present invention, a community relationship such as a star, a fan, a buddy, and a link is formed between users through a network, and activity information is provided between the users who have formed a relationship, thereby maintaining a continuous relationship between the users. have. In addition, it is possible to induce users to continue to use the community service.

Description

Community system through network and method thereof

The present invention relates to a community system and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a community system and a method through a network such as the Internet.

Recently, with the rapid increase of the Internet, electronic commerce for the whole world is being made through the same medium of the Internet, and the communication function between users is gradually developed, and various forms of communication are being made through the Internet. .

In addition to e-mail or file transfer, which is the most basic form of communication using the Internet, an Internet phone is used instead of a landline phone, and a short message can be transmitted to a mobile phone using the Internet. In addition, it is also possible to have a multi-party chat using the Internet, and in the case of a chat, not only using text but also a voice chat or a video chat through the Internet.

However, conventional systems that provide communication between multiple users, including chat, provide services based on one-time relationships between strangers, which makes it difficult to form a continuous community among users.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a community system and a method for maintaining a continuous relationship between users through a network.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a community system through a network is a community system that forms a community among a plurality of users through a network, and at least one second user is requested by a first user. A relationship forming unit that registers as an interest and forms a first community relationship between the first user and the second user; A registration database storing information of second users who have formed the first community relationship for each first user; And an activity monitoring unit for monitoring the activity through the network of the second users.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a community method through a network is a community method of a system for forming a community among a plurality of users through a network, the method comprising: a) interested in at least one second user at the request of the first user; Registering to form a community relationship between the first user and the second user; b) monitoring the activity over the network of the second users; And c) providing the activity information of the second users to the first users who registered the second user as an interest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

In a community system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a predetermined relationship is formed between users. User A can register User B as an interest, at which time User B is called Star of User A and User A is called Fan of User B. Thus, a relationship between a star and a fan (first community relationship) is formed between users. This relationship is formed by a star registration that registers another user as an interest at the request of the user.

In particular, in an embodiment of the present invention, in order to activate a community between users while maintaining a relationship between a star and a fan, content is provided between users having a relationship between a star and a fan. That is, users (users who are registered as stars) access the community system to check the activity and provide the information to other users (users who are registered as fans). Therefore, users registered as fans can easily know the status of users registered as a star in the system without additional access or request process, and thus selectively connect to the system and communicate with the star users who are currently active in the system. can do.

In addition, in order to monitor the activity of the user registered as a star and to maintain information provision, a certain price (eg, points) is paid between the star and the user registered as a fan. In addition, the content of the user registered as a star is pushed to the user registered as a fan, through which users can quickly and conveniently receive the desired content. As a result, distribution of content can be promoted. Such content is distributed among users based on the currency value of "points". The point is to reduce the objection to the charging of content distribution and to encourage the transaction between users and the active participation of the service. Here, the content represents what is provided according to all activities occurring between users, and includes intangible content such as star registration and broadcasting as well as content of a type such as a specific file or a picture. The content also includes information such as messages indicating what activities the user is doing over the network.

Meanwhile, in an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the relationship between the star and the fan, the relationship between the buddy and the link (second community relationship) may be established. A buddy relationship is a relationship in which permission is assumed between users, and may be referred to as a "friend relationship". Links represent a network of connections that form a consensus between users with whom these friendships are established. For example, if Hong Gil-dong and Sung Chun-hyang are friends, Lee Mong-ryong and Hong Chun-dong are friends, Lee Mong-ryong and Sung Chun-hyang are related to Hong Gil-dong.

In FIG. 1, in a community system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a star, a fan, and a buddy and a link relationship are illustrated, which are formed around a specific user, and a content distribution process performed within each relationship is illustrated.

Next, a structure of a community system according to an embodiment of the present invention for providing a community through a network between users based on such a relationship will be described.

2 illustrates a structure of a community system through a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, a community system (hereinafter, referred to as a community system 100) through a network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes all networks of various forms such as the network 200, a telephone network, the Internet, and a wireless communication network. It is connected to the plurality of user terminals 300 through the (including).

The user terminal 300 is a communication device that can be connected to the community system 100 through the network 200. For example, various communication devices such as a wired telephone, a mobile communication terminal, a computer, and a TV with Internet access may be used. have. Therefore, the user can access the community system 100 conveniently and quickly using PC communication, the Internet, the wireless Internet, a telephone network, and the like.

The system 100 connected to the user terminal 300 and providing a community service among a plurality of users includes a database server 10, a processing server 20, a mail server 30, a messenger server 40, and an interface. Server 50.

The database server 10 includes a user database 11, a registration database 12, a database of interest 13, a point database 14 and an activity information database 15.

The user database 11 stores information on users who can receive community services through the community system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, passwords for logins, social security numbers, names, postal addresses, e-mail addresses, contacts (such as mobile phone numbers or landline numbers) in response to identifiers (user IDs) assigned to users. User information is stored.

The registration database 12 stores information (ID, mail address, etc.) about other users who have formed a specific relationship for each user according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, information of other users registered as a star by the user in correspondence to the user ID, information of other users that the user has allowed for a buddy relationship, and information of other users forming a link relationship with the user may be stored. .

The database 13 of interest stores information about users registered as stars by other users. For example, in response to a user ID registered as a star, the number of fans indicating the activity and popularity of the user, whether a celebrity is registered, and fan club information are stored. Here, the entertainer represents users whose star number is greater than or equal to the set among the star registered users and the ranking falls within the set order.

The point database 14 stores point information for every user. For example, the point charging information, the point usage information, and the total usable point information are stored in correspondence with the account assigned to each user ID.

The point charging information includes the point charging date, the filling liquid, and the charging path indicating the path through which the point is charged. In the embodiment of the present invention, each user is given a basic point upon registration as a member who can receive community service according to an embodiment of the present invention, and then through B2C activities (for example, purchasing certain items). The predetermined point can be charged. In addition, users registered as a star may be charged a predetermined point every time content is distributed, and may also be charged periodically from a fan.

The point usage information indicates a history of using points charged for each user, and includes a use date, an amount of use, and an object of use. In an embodiment of the present invention, each user may be provided with a specific service using points, and users who become fans periodically pay a certain point to a star user registered as an interest. The object of use includes information indicating where the points are used in this way.

The activity information database 15 stores activity information of users registered as stars. For example, activity information of a star user is stored for each time zone corresponding to a user ID registered as a star. Activity information indicates a user's login and logout, activity through the user's first service, and activity through the user's second service. Here, the first and second services are community services provided through the community system according to the embodiment of the present invention and include all activities for forming a community among users. For example, the first service is a broadcast service in which a user, such as a music broadcast, a star broadcast, or a special broadcast, provides his or her content to another user through a broadcast, and talks, meetings, video chats, karaoke, and video rooms. Chat services that provide direct communication, such as chat between them.

In addition, the second service is a service that induces users to generate content, exposes and distributes the generated content, and provides a space (aka stage). You will be given the opportunity to be. Services provided to users in an embodiment of the present invention are not limited to those described above.

The processing server 20 that provides community services between users based on the information stored in the database server 10 includes a user register 21, a relationship forming unit 22, an activity monitoring unit 23, and a content processing unit 24. And a point processor 25.

The user register 21 performs member registration of a plurality of users, and authenticates users who access based on the information stored in the user database 11.

The relationship forming unit 22 includes a first relationship forming unit 22a for forming a star and fan relationship between users, and a second relationship forming unit 22b for forming a buddy relationship between users, and forming each relationship. The units 22a and 22b store and manage the formed relationship information in the registration database 12.

The activity monitoring unit 23 monitors an activity on a network of users registered as a star and notifies the content processing unit 24 at the time of the star user's activity so that the activity information of users registered as a star is registered as a fan. To be made available to the public. In addition, the activity status of users registered as stars is recorded in the activity information database 15.

The content processor 24 provides content to users, and controls and processes the distribution of the content. Specifically, the activity information of the users registered as a star is provided to the users registered as fans. Such activity information may be provided in real time or at the request of a user registered as a fan. In addition, the content processor 24 adds content to copy content of another user to the storage-type personal media community at the request of users. Here, the storage-type personal media community is referred to as "blog" for convenience of explanation for storing content (especially media content) for each user.

The point processor 25 performs overall operations related to point charging and use. Specifically, the charging unit 25a for performing point charging, a transfer unit 25b for providing one user's points to another user according to a user's request or a set relationship, and a payment unit 25c for performing payment using points do. In addition to payment using points, the payment unit 25c also performs payment using other payment means such as credit card or cash.

On the other hand, the mail server 30 performs the mail transmission and reception with the user terminal 300, the messenger server 40 provides a messenger service between the user terminals (300).

In addition, the interface server 50 allows a plurality of terminals 300 to be connected through the network 200, in particular, the Internet or the wireless Internet, and to match various information provided through the processing server 20 in accordance with a communication standard. Provides a conversion process to a plurality of terminals 300, or receives the information transmitted from the terminal 300 through the network 200 to provide to the processing server 20, and with a web server or other system A database interworking device (CGI) for transmitting and receiving information may be included.

In the embodiment of the present invention, although each component of the processing server 20 is shown to operate in the processing server, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be implemented as an independent server to process corresponding functions. It is not limited to being classified as described above.

Next, the operation of the community system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described based on such a structure.

First, a process of performing star registration according to requests of users registered as members who can receive community service will be described.

In FIG. 3, a star registration process is sequentially shown in an operation process of a community system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, in order for a user registered as a member to receive community service with other users through the community system 100, a program for connecting to the Internet on the terminal 300 (for example, For example, when a URL for connecting to the community system 100 is input while the web browser, etc. is being driven, this URL information is converted and packetized by a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) in a web browser, and then over the Internet. Is transmitted to the community system 100.

Accordingly, the interface server 50 of the community system 100 transmits a web page corresponding to the URL information to the user terminal 300, and the transmitted web page is converted into a window state on the web browser and displayed. Accordingly, the user may check various information provided by the community system 100 through a web page displayed on the screen of the terminal 300. Thereafter, when the user inputs a login ID, a password, etc. to receive the provided service, the user register 21 of the processing server 20 performs a login for the user (S100 to S110).

If the logged-in user selects the star registration menu from the various information provided by the community system 100, the processing server 20 performs star registration as follows (S120 to S130).

First, a user inputs information, for example, ID, of a user who wants to register as a star. The first relationship forming unit 22a of the processing server 20 searches for the user database 11 based on the ID provided by the user and registers the user (or interested person) who is interested in the star in the community system 100. Check whether the user (S140 ~ S160).

If the interested person who wants to register as a star is a user registered in the community system 100, the first relationship forming unit 22a searches the registration database 12 and requests star registration of the user (or requester) who has requested a star registration. Check to determine whether the number of registered stars is less than or equal to the set number (S170 to S180). This step is to maintain the meaning of the star by preventing indiscriminate star registration, which may be optionally performed.

If the number of stars registered by the requester is less than or equal to the set number, the first relationship forming unit 22a requests the point processing unit 25 to settle the points according to the star registration (S190). The payment unit 25c of the point processing unit 25 inquires the point balance of the requester stored in the point database 14, and if the star registration is possible with the current point balance, the predetermined point is processed as a payment for the star registration (S200). S210, if the point balance is insufficient, the user guides the point 300 to the point charging (S220). Then, the result of the processing is notified to the first relationship forming unit 22a.

When the point settlement according to star registration is performed, the first relationship forming unit 22a associates the ID of the interested person with the star as a star and registers the registration in the registration database 12 (S230). Therefore, the requestor can view, consume, and purchase all contents of the interested person registered as a star. At this time, the requester can provide the user who registered as a star the points paid at the time of star registration.

On the other hand, the first relationship forming unit 22a is not the user registered in the community system 100 in step S160 above, or if the number of stars registered by the requester in step S180 is greater than or equal to the set number of user terminals Notify that the star registration is impossible to 300 (S240).

Next, a process of forming a buddy relationship between users will be described.

4 illustrates a process of forming a buddy relationship according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, when the logged-in user requests access to the community system 100 and requests buddy registration, the second relationship forming unit 22b of the processing server 20 sends the buddy registration screen to the user terminal 300. It provides (S300 ~ S310). Accordingly, when the user inputs another user ID to register as a buddy on the buddy registration screen, the second relationship forming unit 22b searches for the user database 11 based on the ID provided by the user and registers as a buddy. (Or registration target person) confirms whether the user is registered in the community system 100 (S320 to S330).

If the user who wants to register as a buddy is a registered user in the community system 100, the second relationship forming unit 22b requests a specific user (a buddy registration requester) to request a buddy relationship by mail or a messenger of the user who wants to register as a buddy. Notify that (S340).

Accordingly, when a response to allow buddy relationship registration is received from a user (subject to be registered) who wants to register as a buddy, the second relationship forming unit 22b buddy's ID of the user who allowed to form a relationship to the ID of the user who requested buddy registration. In response, the registration is registered in the registration database 12, and the buddy registration requester is notified of the registration completion (S350 to S380). Thus, a buddy relationship is formed between the two users. All the activities available through messenger are done between users who have a buddy relationship. For example, a message transfer, a file transfer, information provision, etc. are performed through a messenger.

On the other hand, when the buddy registration target person rejects the buddy relationship registration, the second relationship forming unit 22b notifies the buddy registration requester that the target party has rejected the relationship registration (S390).

As described above, in an embodiment of the present invention, a star / fan relationship is formed between the users or a buddy relationship is formed, and contents are provided and distributed between users who have formed each relationship.

Next, the process of monitoring the activities of users registered as stars and providing the information to the users registered as fans in order to maintain the community between the users registered as stars and fans.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing process in an operation process of a community system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, when a star and fan relationship is formed between specific users, the activity monitoring unit 23 checks activities of users registered as stars (S420).

First, the activity monitoring unit 23 checks whether a specific user (hereinafter referred to as a star user) registered as a star in the database 13 of interest is logged in (S410), and when the star user logs in, the activity information database In step S420, the ID of the star user logged in is stored.

Next, the logged-in star user checks the activity state using the service provided by the system, and stores the state information in the activity information database 15 in association with the ID.

 Star users access the community system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and perform activities through various services. For example, it is possible to form a community with fans through the first or second service described above. Specifically, specific content (eg, photos, music files, video files, etc.) is generated on the stage provided by the second service, and the generated content is posted through the bulletin board (including the bulletin board on the blog). do. In addition, the content generated through the first service is provided to a plurality of users through a broadcast, or chatting with other users on a specific topic.

The activity monitoring unit 23 tracks the use of these services by the logged-in star user, records activity information such as activity time and type of service used in the activity information database 15 in response to the star user ID, or records such activity information. Provided to users registered as a fan (S430 to S450). As an example of recording the activity information, the login or logoff state is recorded in response to the user's login time or logoff time. In addition, the user records the time at which the content is posted and records the type of the posted content. In addition, the time at which the user started broadcasting is recorded, and the type of broadcasting is recorded. It also records the time when the user started chatting and the subject of the chat.

As described above, when a star user who uses various services logs off, the activity monitoring unit 23 records the logoff time and logoff state of the user in the activity information database 15 (S460 to S470).

As described above, after the star user's activity status is monitored, information on the star user's activity status is provided in real time to users registered as fans, or at the request of a fan user who accesses the system. May be provided to the user.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing activity information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when a user registered as a fan connects to the system 100 and requests activity information about a user who is registered as a user, that is, a star user (S500), the content processing unit 24 may be used. The registration database 12 is searched based on the fan user ID to confirm whether the star user is a registered star (S510 to S520).

If the star user is registered as a star of the fan user who requested the information, the content processor 24 searches the activity information database 15 and provides activity information corresponding to the ID of the star user to the fan user terminal ( S530 to S540). Therefore, the fan user can easily know what activity the current star user is doing on the system 100 (S550).

If the star user is not registered as a fan user's star in step S520, the user is not informed that activity information is not provided to the fan user terminal (S540).

On the other hand, unlike the above-described activity information providing process, it is possible to provide information about the activity status of the star user to the users registered as fans in real time.

7 illustrates a process of providing activity information according to another embodiment of the present invention.

When the activity information is obtained by monitoring the activity state of the star user as described above, as shown in Fig. 7, the activity monitoring unit 23 notifies the content processing unit 24 (S600 to S610).

Accordingly, the content processor 24 searches the registration database 12 based on the star user ID, extracts users registered as fans of the star user (S620), and generates content corresponding to activity information of the star user. Next, it is pushed to the extracted fan users (S630). Here, the content is a message indicating what activity the star user is performing, for example, a message indicating a broadcast notification of Hong Gil-dong when Hong Gil-dong starts broadcasting. However, the content is not limited thereto.

The content processing unit 24 pushes the activity information to the messengers of the users registered as fans through the messenger server 40 or pushes the activity information to the users registered as fans through the mail server 30 (S640 to S650). ).

As such, in the embodiment of the present invention, all activity information of the star user is pushed to the fan users through the messenger. However, even when the user does not execute a messenger or the like on the terminal, but only the web browser is executed, a module that is only responsible for communicating with the messenger server 40 in the form of active X is inserted in the web browser. Therefore, activity information provided from the community system 100 may be provided through the module. That is, the user can receive the activity information of the star without executing the messenger.

Therefore, users registered as fans can check the activity status of the star user registered in real time (S660 to S670). As a result, the fan users can check the activity status of the star users in real time, and selectively connect to the system 100 to directly communicate with the star users. For example, when a star user performs a music broadcast or a chat, a fan user who receives such activity information from the system 100 connects to the system 100 to listen to a star user's music broadcast or chats with a star user. can do.

Meanwhile, in an embodiment of the present invention, users registered as fans may provide points to star users every set period in accordance with providing activity information of star users as described above, so that the relationship between fans and stars can be continuously maintained.

8 is a sequence of point transfer process for maintaining the relationship according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the transfer unit 25b of the point processing unit 25 searches the point database 14 of users registered as fans every set period and inquires the accounts of the fan users and points according to the relationship maintenance. Check whether the transfer is possible (S700).

If the point balance of the fan user is insufficient, the transfer unit 25c notifies the point user that the point is insufficient to maintain the relationship with the star by guiding the point charging to the terminal 300 of the fan user (S710 to S720). In this case, the fan user may recharge the point according to the purchase of the product, or purchase the point to charge the account (S730), and may also request the termination of the star / fan relationship for the multiple star users registered therein (S740). ).

When the fan user requests to terminate the star / fan relationship with respect to a specific user registered by the fan user, the first relationship forming unit 22a deletes the star user information corresponding to the fan user ID from the registration database 12 (S750). ). At this time, if the deleted star user has no fans other than the fan user, information of the star user registered in the database 13 of interest is deleted (S760).

However, despite warning of the lack of points, if the fan user does not charge points in the account or does not request to cancel the star registration, the first relationship forming unit 22a may automatically terminate the star registration of the user registered as a fan. Can be. Fan users will not be able to view, consume, and purchase the contents of the corresponding star users.

On the other hand, if transfer is possible to the point of the fan user in step S710, the transfer unit 25b extracts the star user information registered by the fan user from the registration database 12, and the fan user to the extracted star user's account Some of the points in the transfer process. Accordingly, the points transferred to the star user's account are charged (S770 to S780). At this time, the transfer unit 25b may notify the star user terminal that the fan user has transferred the points for maintaining the relationship.

As the points are provided between the users who have a star / fan relationship in each setting period, the star users can be more active in the network activity, and thus the fan users can use more contents provided by the star users. Can be. Therefore, the community between users is maintained.

On the other hand, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to send and receive, such as presenting points between users, in this case, the amount of points transmitted and received may be limited by a set period (for example, daily).

In addition, while the above-described embodiment has described providing the fan users with activity information of the star users, the activity information of the fan users may also be provided to the star users of the corresponding fan through the process described above. . In addition, the activity information is not limited to being provided through a messenger as in the above embodiment, but may be provided to users by various methods (for example, mail transmission).

In addition, although the above-described embodiment has been described based on the user's relationship between star and fan, the same embodiment can be applied to users who have formed a buddy or link relationship.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the most practical and preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above disclosed embodiments, but also includes various modifications and equivalents within the scope of the following claims.

As described above, a relationship between a star, a fan, a buddy, and a link is formed between users through a network according to an embodiment of the present invention, and accordingly, contents such as activity information are automatically provided between users, Lasting relationships between them can be maintained. In addition, it is possible to induce users to continue to use the community service.

In addition, since the compensation is provided according to the provision of contents among users, the distribution of contents among the users can be activated, and as a result, a continuous relationship is maintained among the users.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a relationship between users in a community system and a content distribution process performed within each relationship according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a community system through a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a star registration process according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of forming a buddy relationship according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing process according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of providing activity information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating another activity information providing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a point transfer process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (1)

In a community method of a system for forming a community among a plurality of users through a network a) registering at least one second user as an interest at the request of the first user to form a community relationship between the first user and the second user; b) monitoring the activity over the network of the second users; And c) providing the activity information of the second users to the first users who registered the second user as an interest; Recording medium in which a program implemented with a function including the stored.