KR20060017366A - Method and apparatus for providing virtual online disk over the wireless network according to the user level - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content management technology in a wireless environment for providing a virtual online disk, comprising: a plurality of content providing servers for producing and storing content for a mobile communication terminal; DB is stored, and the associated usage history information is connected to the mobile communication terminal through the Internet network or mobile communication network, and if the content storage request from the mobile communication terminal to store the content on the online disk of the mobile communication terminal, but stored in the DB And a content management server for querying the usage record and the content pointer of the mobile communication terminal to perform differentiated content service management for each user class and storing the result in the DB. According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the user satisfaction in terms of content consumers, and in terms of content providers, it is easy to manage clients and provide better services, thereby increasing sales.

Online disk, Web, WAP, pointers

Description

TECHNICAL AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL ONLINE DISK OVER THE WIRELESS NETWORK ACCORDING TO THE USER LEVEL}

1 is a network configuration diagram of an apparatus for managing content in a wireless environment providing a virtual online disk according to the present invention;

2 is a service flow diagram illustrating a content management method in a wireless environment providing a virtual online disk according to the present invention.

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

100: mobile communication terminal 102: mobile communication network

104: content providing server 106: DB

108: content management server 110: wired terminal

112: the Internet

The present invention relates to a paid content service technology in a wireless environment, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for managing contents in a wireless environment for providing a virtual online disk suitable for serving wireless content through an online disk.

With the explosive increase in mobile service subscribers, most people now receive more than one mobile service, and thus, the form of mobile communication services, games, backgrounds, in addition to simple voice calls, text and voice message transmission services, etc. Wireless content providing services that download and use various contents such as screens and ringtones to terminals are being actively used.

The wireless content providing service transmits the selected content to the mobile communication terminal by the content delivery server (Download Server, Streaming Server) when the user selects the desired paid content, and the mobile communication company (Communication Service Provider) provides the content to the user. You will be charged for the cost of providing Specifically, a wireless Internet server of a mobile communication company or a content provider using a program that allows a user to use a wireless Internet service (using a protocol such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) or Mobile Explorer (ME)) or an ARS service. After accessing, select the desired content. The wireless Internet server transmits the corresponding content to the user's mobile communication terminal according to a protocol such as WAP, and the mobile communication terminal stores and uses the content in the storage space of the terminal.

On the other hand, current mobile communication terminals have a limitation in that they cannot sufficiently accommodate the provided content capacity because the storage space is not sufficiently secured due to size or cost. That is, since mobile communication terminals do not have a wide range of choices in terms of capacity and manufacturing cost, such as a regular wired terminal, such as a desktop, there is a limit to the use of wireless content services that are diversified and increasing day by day.

Therefore, when a user wants to purchase new content, the user should delete one or more of previously stored content and download it.

However, the charging of the paid content is made every time, so if the user has used previously but wants to reuse the content that was deleted for the purchase of new content, the user has to pay for the download again. In other words, the same content must be paid twice. This cost problem also occurs in the case of streaming.

Of course, this may not be the case if the storage space of the mobile communication device is dramatically increased, but the current mobile communication terminal cannot fundamentally prevent such a charging problem.

In addition, in the current paid wireless content provision, the download failure rate is up to several tens or tens of percent, and although it is a very small probability, it may not be performed as a content error even after the download is successful. You may feel anxious that you may have to pay.

In addition, the current wireless content purchase is possible only when connected to the content providing server using a mobile communication terminal. Due to the limitation of the display space of the mobile communication terminal, not only sufficient search for contents that can be provided can be performed, but also an action for performing an operation until purchase (for example, searching for contents through a key input or logging in a user). ) Is not easy and consumes a lot of time.

Due to these various problems, the wireless content service is not activated.

As a part of the prior art for overcoming this limitation, a method for providing paid content for a mobile communication terminal is provided to provide a user storage space as a personal mailbox of an individual user in a storage space of a server (Korea Patent Application Publication). 2003-0039736) has been proposed. The present invention provides a method of storing wireless paid content in a storage space on the web so that the user can provide the content freely at any time through the mobile communication terminal when needed. The content to be used in the mobile communication terminal by accessing a server through the Internet network is provided. It is also possible to verify and purchase in advance.

However, this conventional method has the advantage that the user can receive the service by using the personal storage space on the web, but there is a limit that the storage space is limited and can only provide consistent customer service.

The present invention is proposed to overcome the technical limitations of the Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 2003-0039736, it is possible to differentiate the content stored in the online disk (online-disk) for each user rating and purchase additional capacity according to the user's request An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for managing contents in a wireless environment for providing a virtual online disk.

The content management apparatus according to the present invention for realizing the above object can provide contents to a plurality of mobile communication terminals through a mobile communication network or store the contents on an online disk assigned to the corresponding mobile communication terminal through the mobile communication network. A wireless environment, comprising: a plurality of content providing servers for producing and storing contents for a mobile communication terminal; a DB storing user information, content information, and usage history information related to content providing; and an internet network or the mobile terminal. Is connected to a mobile communication terminal through a communication network, when content storage is requested from the mobile communication terminal to store the content on the online disk of the mobile communication terminal, query the usage record and the content pointer of the mobile communication terminal stored in the DB To manage differentiated content services by user rating Performing provides the content management apparatus in a wireless environment that provides the online virtual disk comprising a content management server which stores the result in the DB.

Content management method for realizing the object of the present invention, a content management method in a wireless environment connecting a content providing server for providing arbitrary content and a content management server for providing an individual online disk to a mobile communication terminal through a mobile communication network As a content request message provided from the mobile communication terminal to the content providing server, retrieving a content DB in the content providing server and transmitting the corresponding content to the mobile communication terminal, and sending the corresponding content to the history DB in the content providing server. Recording a content usage history related to content download, and if an online disk creation request message is provided to the content management server, inquiring user information from a user information DB in the content management server and creating an online disk of the user. System and the user Determining whether a content storage request message is provided from the mobile communication terminal to the content management server when the online disk is generated; and when the content storage request message is provided, the content management server through the history DB and the user information DB. Inquiring a content usage record and a content pointer of the corresponding user, and storing the content provided from the mobile communication terminal in the online disk space according to the inquiry result. Provide management methods.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment allows for a better understanding of the objects, features and advantages of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

1 is a network configuration diagram of a content management device in a wireless environment providing a virtual online disk according to the present invention. The mobile communication terminal 100, the mobile communication network 102, the content providing server 104, and the DB 106 are shown in FIG. ), A content management server 108, a wired terminal 110, and the Internet network 112, respectively.

Prior to the description of FIG. 1, the online disk applied to this embodiment is a virtual storage space concept in which user information and a pointer of content are stored, rather than a physical physical storage space. In this case, the pointer refers to an ID or address that refers to any content in storage existing on the network.

As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication terminal 100 is connected to the content providing server 104 or the content management server 108 through the mobile communication network 102 as a user's portable terminal. The mobile communication terminal 100 is not limited in form as long as an application program capable of downloading and executing content is installed.

The mobile communication network 102 is a conventional network for voice communication between mobile communication terminals, that is, a base station (BS), a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO), a home location register (HLR), In addition to the Network Management System (NMS), the mobile terminal further includes a component such as a swap gateway that enables transmission and reception of content for mobile communication, so that a user may access the content providing server 104 or the content management server 108. When applying for content download, the content is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 100 of the user.

The content providing server 104 is a server for producing and storing contents for mobile communication terminals, and includes a plurality of contents that can be executed by using a WAP or a ME. In this case, although the content providing server 104 illustrated in FIG. 1 is represented as one server for convenience of description, a plurality of content providing servers may be provided according to a content service range, which is generally known in the art. Those who have knowledge will find it easy.

The DB 106 includes personal information about the user, information on the terminal model of the user, information on the capacity of the online disk differentiated by user grade, information on the number of folders that can be created, information on the level of contents that can be stored, information on the contents storage period, etc. The user information DB for storing the information, the content DB for storing information about the various contents provided from the content providing server 104, the history DB for storing information on the usage history related to the content providing, etc., each DB Table information included in the may be included in the content providing server 104 or the content management server 108.

These DBs 106 are relational database management systems (RDBMS) such as Oracle, Infomix, Sybase, DB2, or object-oriented such as Gemston, Orion, O2, etc. It can be implemented for the purposes of the present invention using a database management system (OODBMS), and has suitable fields to achieve its function.

The content management server 108 is connected to the user terminal 100 through the internet network 112 or the mobile communication network 102 and may be configured as a web server and / or a swap server.

The content management server 108 should be able to perform the following functions.

First, information about contents already purchased by users from various content providing servers is stored in an online disk in the user information DB, an online disk as a fixed storage space for each individual is assigned to a user registered as a member, and downloaded / logged to a logged in user. It stores the billing information of the user who purchased or presents the streamable content, and transmits it to the mobile communication terminal of the user when downloading / streaming the content stored in the personal mailbox (registered).

In addition, if the content management server 108 according to the present embodiment is requested to store the content from the user to store the content on the online disk, the content management server 108 inquires the user's usage history and the content pointer Differentiated service management is performed for each user class, and the service management result is stored in the user information DB. The contents stored in the user information DB are as follows.

1. Storage capacity

The general user has a storage space of a certain size, the content management server 108 checks the storage capacity limit recorded in the user information DB and determines whether additional storage is possible. In this embodiment, the capacity is differentiated by subscriber class, it is characterized in that it is implemented to enable additional purchase or additional application of storage capacity.

2. Managed folder information (number of folders, limit capacity of each folder)

The user is allocated a certain storage space in the form of a folder, and the user can keep each content in this folder. This folder also differs in the number that can be created for each user class, and differentiated storage capacity can be allocated to each folder.

3. Storeable Content Level

The content management server 108 may determine whether the type of the content that the user intends to store in his storage space or the information of the content is appropriate for his authority by referring to the user profile recorded in the user information DB. If the user's rating is low, the content management server 108 may restrict the storing of expensive content, new content, and the like on the online disk.

4. Storage period

Content stored on the online disk may not be permanently stored and may be deleted after a certain period of time or the service may be terminated, and the content management server 108 may manage the storage period in accordance with the user grade.

Meanwhile, the wired terminal 110 connected to the content providing server 104 or the content management server 108 through the internet network 112 may be a general PC, a laptop, a desktop, or the like. And an Internet network 112 through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) network, a cable modem and a cable broadcasting network, a LAN card and a LAN network, a LAN card, and an intranet within an enterprise.

The Internet network 112 includes various services existing in the TCP / IP protocol and its upper layers, namely, HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Telnet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Domain Name System (DNS), and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). ) Refers to a global open computer network structure that provides Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Network File Service (NFS), and Network Information Service (NIS), and the wired terminal 110 is a content providing server 104 or content. Allows connection to management server 108.

Hereinafter, a service process for content management in a wireless environment providing a virtual online disk according to the present invention together with the above-described configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

Prior to the description, the user login process required for the wireless content service in FIG. 2, the charging process according to the content download, etc. is a process that can be applied in a typical wireless environment for providing an online disk to highlight the core technology of the present invention. For this reason, the description thereof will be omitted.

First, as in step S200, when the mobile communication terminal 100 requests content provision from the content providing server 104, the content providing server 104 proceeds to step S202 to determine the terminal model of the corresponding user. After checking, the content DB in the DB 106 is searched to create a content list suitable for the corresponding model. At this time, the content providing request is also possible through the wired terminal 110, this fact will be easily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Subsequently, when the user selects arbitrary content through the mobile communication terminal 100, the content providing server 104 proceeds to step S204 to provide content information corresponding to the corresponding model to the mobile communication terminal 100. . That is, content information is downloaded to the mobile communication terminal 100.

At this time, the content providing server 104 records the content usage history related to the content download in the history DB in the DB 106 (S206).

On the other hand, the content management server 108 proceeds to step S208 to determine whether a user request for generating an online disk is generated from the mobile communication terminal 100 according to the present embodiment.

When the online disk creation is requested, the content management server 108 inquires the user information in the user information DB in the DB 106 (S210).

According to the user information inquiry result, the content management server 108 generates the online disk of the requested user on the DB 106 (S212). That is, the content management server 108 queries the user information DB to generate the online disk. When the user requesting the request is determined to be a member of a certain level or more, the user's online disk is created in the virtual space in the DB 106.

When the user's online disk is created, the content management server 108 determines whether content storage is requested from the mobile communication terminal 100, that is, a user request message for storing arbitrary content on the online disk is provided. (S214).

When the content storage request message is provided from the mobile communication terminal 100 to the content management server 108, the content management server 108 proceeds to step S216 and the user in the history DB and user information DB in the DB 106. Retrieves the content usage history and content pointer of the.

According to the content usage record and the content pointer inquiry result, the content management server 108 stores the content provided from the mobile communication terminal 100 in the user's online disk space (S218).

At this time, in the present embodiment, the content service management, which is differentiated for each user level, is performed in storing the content on the online disk.

First of all, the capacity that can be stored in the online disk is provided by different user grades. At this time, the content management server 108 checks the storage capacity limit recorded in the user information DB and determines whether additional storage is possible, and if additional storage is possible, allows additional purchase of the storage capacity requested by the user.

In addition, the online disk allocated to each user is a storage space in the form of a folder, and such folders are different in number by user class, and differential storage capacity can be allocated to each folder.

In addition, the level of content that can be stored on each user's online disk can be differentially applied according to the user profile in the user information DB. If the user's rating is low, the content management server 108 may restrict the storing of the high purchase price content on its online disk.

In addition, it is possible to differentially manage the periods in which the contents can be kept on the online disk according to the user level.

As described above, according to the present invention, the wireless content stored in the online disk on the web is managed to be differentiated by user class.

In the above description, but limited to one embodiment of the present invention, it is obvious that the technology of the present invention can be easily modified by those skilled in the art. Such modified embodiments should be included in the technical spirit described in the claims of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the user satisfaction in terms of content consumers, and in terms of content providers, it is easy to manage clients and provide better services, thereby increasing sales.

Claims (7)

A wireless environment for providing content to a plurality of mobile communication terminals through a mobile communication network or storing content on an online disk assigned to the mobile communication terminal through the mobile communication network, A plurality of content providing servers for producing and storing contents for mobile communication terminals; A DB storing user information, content information, and usage history information related to content provision of the mobile communication terminal; Is connected to a mobile communication terminal through an internet network or the mobile communication network, when content storage is requested from the mobile communication terminal to store the content on the online disk of the mobile communication terminal, the usage record of the mobile communication terminal stored in the DB And a content management server for querying a content pointer to perform differential content service management for each user class and storing the result in the DB. Content management apparatus in a wireless environment providing a virtual online disk comprising a. The method of claim 1, Information in the DB content management device in a wireless environment providing a virtual online disk, characterized in that included in the content providing server or the content management server. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The content management server is a content management server in a wireless environment providing a virtual online disk, characterized in that the web server and / or a swap server. The method of claim 1, The online disk is a content management device in a wireless environment for providing a virtual online disk, characterized in that the virtual storage space on the web. The method of claim 1, The content service management information stored in the DB may differentiate the storage capacity of the online disk by user class, differentiate the capacity of a management folder assigned to the user by user class, or differentiate the content available level by user class, Content management apparatus in a wireless environment for providing a virtual online disk, characterized in that the storage period of the content is differentiated by user class. A content management method in a wireless environment in which a content providing server providing arbitrary content and a content management server providing an online disk for each individual are connected to a mobile communication terminal through a mobile communication network. When the content request message is provided from the mobile communication terminal to the content providing server, searching for a content DB in the content providing server and transmitting the corresponding content to the mobile communication terminal; Recording a content usage history related to content download in a history DB in the content providing server; If an online disk creation request message is provided to the content management server, querying user information in a user information DB in the content management server and generating an online disk of the corresponding user; Determining whether a content storage request message is provided from the mobile communication terminal to the content management server when the online disk of the user is generated; Querying the content usage record and the content pointer of the corresponding user in the content management server through the history DB and the user information DB when the content storage request message is provided; Storing contents provided from the mobile communication terminal in the online disk space according to the inquiry result; Content management method in a wireless environment providing a virtual online disk comprising a. The method of claim 6, The content storage step, Differentiate the capacity that can be stored in the online disk by user class, Stores online disks assigned to each user in the form of folders differentiated by user class. Manage the level of content that can be stored on each user's online disk, by user class, And a period in which a user can store arbitrary contents on the online disk according to a user grade.

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