KR20120119830A - Device supporting text conversation and text conversation control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A text conversation supporting apparatus and method thereof are provided to enable a user to search or obtain necessary information in a chatting process without stopping a chatting service. CONSTITUTION: An interface(310) provides a first window to a user. The first window displays first chatting information including text. The interface provides a division menu for the first window or the creation menu of a second window to the user. A control unit(320) controls the interface to provide the second window by responding to the input of the user for the creation menu of the second window or the division menu. [Reference numerals] (310) Interface; (320) Control unit; (330) Transmission unit; (340) Reception unit

Description

Devices that support text chat and how to control text chat {DEVICE SUPPORTING TEXT CONVERSATION AND TEXT CONVERSATION CONTROL METHOD}

The present invention relates to a text chat method using a communication terminal and an apparatus for controlling the chat method.

With the recent rapid development of electronic engineering and communication engineering, mobile communication terminals have various functions. That is, with the rapid development of wireless communication and data processing technology, people can use not only voice calls but also Internet access, video communication and video message transmission using mobile communication terminals.

In addition, due to the rapid spread of mobile communication terminals, mobile communication terminals are becoming an essential means in modern life, such as a considerable amount of communication occurring in human relationships through mobile communication terminals.

A typical text-based message transfer service that can be used by a user in a mobile communication system is a short message service (SMS). This is a bidirectional data radio calling service in accordance with the standard of the mobile communication globalization system (GSM), and is a service for transmitting data with a maximum size of 150 bytes between the terminal and the terminal. It is possible to send and receive messages consisting of letters and numbers between the mobile communication terminal or the network through SMS, and the types of services include short message transmission, urgent message display, date / time recording, and message recognition.

Such SMS has been used daily because it is possible to easily send and receive messages anytime and anywhere among users who use the mobile communication terminal in conjunction with the generalization of the mobile communication terminal.

Meanwhile, communication network providers currently providing mobile communication services may provide a mobile messenger as a text chat service that can be used in a mobile communication system. Types of such mobile messengers include mobile MSN, Buddy Buddy, and Nate-On. These mobile messengers are provided through a mobile data communication network.

However, in the case of a mobile communication terminal currently provided to the consumer, that is, a GSM, CDMA, or WCDMA terminal that does not provide data service (ie, a non-WIPI terminal), the corresponding text chat service is provided. There is a problem that can not be. In addition, in the case of a data service based text chat service, since the service is provided through a too complicated procedure, there is a problem that acts as an obstacle to activation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an interface in which a user can search or obtain necessary information separately without interruption of a chat in a chat process using a mobile terminal.

In addition, the present invention transmits the additional information (including the searched information or the contents of the file) obtained by either one of the chat parties to the chat counterpart, and the additional information is displayed on the terminal of the counterpart who receives the additional information so that the chat counterparts have the additional information. An object of the present invention is to provide an interface and terminal control method that can be shared.

A terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a user with a first window for displaying first chat information including text, and provides a split menu for the first window or a creation menu of a second window to the user. interface; And a controller configured to control the interface to provide the second window in response to the user's input to the split menu or the creation menu of the second window.

In this case, the interface may provide a search menu to search for information or a file to the user through the second window.

In addition, the interface may provide a transmission menu of the second chat information to the user through the second window so that the second chat information displayed in the second window may be transmitted to the counterpart. In this case, the terminal may further include a transmitter for transmitting the second chat information and setting information about the second window to the counterpart in response to the user's input to the transmission menu of the second chat information.

The terminal may further include a receiver configured to receive second chat information for the second window from the counterpart. In this case, the interface may update the content displayed in the second window with the received second chat information in response to the received second chat information.

The interface may provide a drawing menu to the user through the second window, and display second chat information including a picture in the second window in response to the user's input to the drawing menu. have.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a terminal may include: an interface for providing a first window displaying first chat information including text to a user; A receiver configured to receive second chat information and setting information on the second window from the counterpart terminal; And a controller configured to control the interface to provide the second window displaying the received second chat information in response to the received second chat information and setting information on the second window. Can be.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a chat mode includes providing a user with a first window displaying first chat information through a screen of a terminal; In response to the user's input, providing a second window to the user through a screen of the terminal; And transmitting the second chat information and the setting information on the second window to the counterpart terminal in response to the user's command for transmitting the second chat information displayed in the second window.

At this time, the chat mode control method of the present invention, updating and displaying the second chat information displayed in the second window based on the update information on the second chat information received from the counterpart terminal; It may further include.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a chat mode includes providing a user with a first window displaying first chat information through a screen of a terminal; Receiving setting information on a second window and second chat information for the second window from a counterpart terminal; And providing the user with the second window on which the second chat information is displayed through the screen of the terminal based on the second chat information and the setting information on the second window.

The chat mode control method of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may provide an interface through which a user may separately search for or obtain necessary information without interruption of a chat. The user can check the contents by searching the information through the Internet or by searching the file stored in the terminal without closing or interrupting the chat window during the chat.

In addition, according to the present invention, the additional information obtained by either one of the chat parties (including the searched information or the contents of the file) is transmitted to the chat counterpart, and the additional information is displayed on the terminal of the counterpart who has received the additional information. Additional information is shared. This allows both parties to enjoy the chat service without interruption while sharing additional information required during the chat.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an interface is provided through which a user draws a picture on the fly and sends it to the other party instead of text or a pre-stored emoticon.

1 is a diagram illustrating a mobile communication system supporting a text chatting service according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an operation flowchart illustrating a text chatting service control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a mobile terminal 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 to 6 are diagrams illustrating an example of a text chat screen provided by the terminal 300 of FIG. 3.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to or limited by the embodiments. Like reference symbols in the drawings denote like elements.

1 is a diagram illustrating a mobile communication system supporting a text chatting service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile communication system includes a base station or repeater 110, a first terminal 120, a second terminal 130, and a third terminal 140.

The base station or repeater 110 may have the same configuration as the configuration for transmitting the existing short message. Mobile communication terminals may transmit or receive various types of information in the form of text or images. In this case, the mobile communication terminals may transmit information through a mobile internet or a mobile data network, or, in the case of transmitting a text, may transmit a relatively short message service (SMS).

Short message service is a two-way short message service that can send and receive relatively short text messages between mobile communication terminals regardless of the communication between the mobile communication terminals. In general, the delivery of a short message is faster than an e-mail via the Internet, and has an advantage of being delivered to a receiver at the same time as a transmission, and thus the use of general users is increasing.

Short message services currently provided are often limited to 80 to 90 bytes in length of the text, but the text chat service of the present invention is not limited to the length limitation of the text.

The base station or repeater 110 delivers the reply number and the message (content) of the terminal for transmitting in a short message. In addition, since the user is not constrained as compared to a voice call that cannot perform other tasks, some operators provide advertisements and life information using a short message.

The first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 display the received short message to the user, and in response to the received short message, the user may select a communication method such as replying, voice call connection, text chatting, or the like. It can provide an interface.

The first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 of the present invention is a concept including a mobile communication terminal, a VoIP phone, or an mVoIP phone, and the form of the terminal is a smartphone, a feature phone, a PDA phone or a tablet PC. It may include all types of mobile terminals.

The short message transmission process in the mobile communication system will be described through the short message transmission from the first terminal 120 to the second terminal 130.

The first terminal 120 generates a short message including text input by the user. The first terminal 120 can generate a short message including a reply number (identification number of the first terminal 120).

The first terminal 120 transmits a short message to the base station or the repeater 110.

The base station or repeater 110 is installed for each region divided into a specific size, and typically, the closest base station or repeater 110 receives the short message first from the first terminal 120. In this case, the position of the first terminal 120 can be known from the position of the base station or the repeater 110 and its allocation area.

The base station or repeater 110 transmits the location information, the terminal information and the short message of the first terminal 120 to a mobile communication switching center (not shown).

The mobile communication switching center may search for the base station or repeater closest to the second terminal 130 from the identification number of the second terminal 130 included in the short message. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed herein that the base station or repeater closest to the second terminal 130 is also the base station or repeater 110.

The base station or repeater transmits the location information and the terminal information of the second terminal 130 to the mobile communication switching center in response to the search request of the mobile communication switching center.

The mobile communication switching center transmits a short message to the base station or repeater 110, and the base station or repeater 110 transmits the short message to the second terminal 130.

In the present specification, for convenience of the following description, an institution performing a function in an existing communication network such as a base station or a repeater 110, a mobile communication switching center, or a short message service center (not shown) includes a server of a communication network. Or call it a server.

The server includes a part that performs a control function to efficiently operate a plurality of base stations and repeaters, and controls interworking functions between mobile communication networks, wireline telephone networks, mobile data networks, and the like. It is possible to control the handover function between different types of communication networks such as Multiple Access (CDMA), W-CDMA, or Global System for Mobile communications (GSM).

The server may store a short message transmitted between terminals as needed, and in the above example, performs location registration of the first terminal 120 and the second terminal 130, and visitor location register in the server. , The subscriber information of the first terminal 120 and the second terminal 130 is temporarily stored in the VLR. Thereafter, the server may request a location registration of the first terminal 120 and the second terminal 130 to a home location register (HLR).

If the short message requested to be transmitted from the first terminal 120 to the second terminal 130 is not delivered to the second terminal 130, the server may set the time or the second designated by the user of the first terminal 120. The short message may be stored until the terminal 130 reaches a receivable state.

The short message stored in the server may be deleted if the short message is not transmitted to the second terminal 130 even after it is confirmed that the short message has been delivered to the second terminal 130 or until a preset valid time elapses.

The short message may be usefully delivered even when the user is located in a public place where the call is difficult, or when the call may damage another person, such as a meeting, work, or lecture.

In addition, multi-party voice call can be mainly used in a special situation such as a conference call, but a short message is more useful for multi-party communication because it can be conveniently delivered to a plurality of parties if only the number of the other party is specified. Can be.

When both parties send and receive a short message repeatedly, there may be a desire to display and confirm the transmission message and the received message on one screen, and the situation in which both parties can continue to communicate in real time. If so, a user interface may be provided to provide an improved text chat (text chat) service.

The first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention supports a text chat service based on a short message service, and interfaces such as the Korean standard Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability (WIPI). You can provide a text chat service without including. The first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 may transmit data necessary for a chat service using a mobile internet (or a mobile data network) or a voice call band as necessary.

In addition, since the first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 implements a text chat using a relatively inexpensive short message service, the user's charge burden can be reduced.

2 is an operation flowchart illustrating a chat mode control method of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a case where a chat is made between the first terminal 120 and the second terminal 130 is illustrated for convenience of description. In this case, each of the first terminal 120 and the second terminal 130 is provided with a basic first window for chatting. In the first window of each of the first terminal 120 and the second terminal 130, text-based first chat information exchanged by both parties is displayed.

In the first terminal 120, the user may instruct to generate a second window by dividing the first window according to a user selection menu, and the first terminal 120 sends the second window to the user in response to the division command. Can provide. (S210)

In the first terminal 120, when the user selects the "send" menu for the second window (or the second chat information displayed in the second window), the first terminal 120 displays the first message displayed in the second window. 2 Chat information is transmitted to the second terminal 130 (S220).

The second terminal 130 receives the second chat information from the first terminal 120 (S230). At this time, the second chat information as well as the setting information for the second window may be received together. The setting information about the second window may include a size of the second window, a type of the second window, a type of menu button additionally provided to the second window, and the like.

The second terminal 130 generates a second window based on the received setting information on the second window, and displays the received second chat information in the second window (S230).

If the user of the second terminal 130 updates the second chat information in the second window, and the user of the second terminal 130 selects the “send” menu on the second window, the second terminal 130 updates. The second chat information may be transmitted to the first terminal 120 (S240). At this time, if the setting information of the second window of the second terminal 130 is changed by the updated second chat information, the second terminal 130 combines the updated second chat information with the setting information of the changed second window. Can transmit

When the first terminal 120 receives the updated second chat information, the first terminal 120 may display the updated second chat information on the second window (S250). In this case, when the changed setting information of the second window is received together from the second terminal 130, the second terminal 130 may change and display the setting of the second window.

3 is a diagram illustrating a terminal 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The terminal 300 may represent at least one of the first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 of FIG. 1.

The terminal 300 includes an interface 310 and a controller 220. The terminal 300 may further include a transmitter 330 and a receiver 340.

The interface 310 may include a screen of the terminal 300 and a keypad. The concept includes a screen directly detected by a user and an input device through which a user inputs information. In this case, the interface 310 should not be construed as being limited to a screen or a keypad, but should be interpreted as including all of the technical ideas included in the equivalent range of these configurations.

The interface 310 can provide a text chat selection menu to the user. The text chat selection menu may be provided to the user along with voice call, short message transmission, multimedia message transmission, and the like.

When the user selects a text chat through the text chat selection menu, the interface 310 may provide the user with an interface for selecting a counterpart of the text chat. The user may designate a plurality of counterparts, and multi-party chat may be supported at this time.

When the terminal 300 receives the chat request, a chat selection menu is provided, and when the user inputs the chat text, the terminal 300 may convert the chat text into an SMS. In this case, the converted SMS may include a flag indicating a short message related to a chat, or a data field, rather than a simple short message. When the terminal 300 transmits an SMS related to a chat to the other terminal, the other terminal may extract a chat related flag or data field from the received SMS without a separate chat acceptance notification, and may regard it as a chat acceptance notification. .

The interface 310 may provide a text chat selection menu for designating a plurality of counterpart terminals to the user. When the current state of the counterpart terminal is in an idle state, the counterpart terminal may provide a menu for selecting whether to respond to the chat request to the user.

In this case, a typical SMS may have a limitation of text length (80 bytes or 90 bytes). However, since the user who selects the text chat will input the text without considering the limitation of the length, the controller 320 may integrate the received short messages into one text.

According to another exemplary embodiment, when generating a plurality of short messages by dividing the chat text, the controller 320 may insert the fragment information into the SMS. In this case, when receiving the SMS, the controller 320 may restore the chat text from the SMS based on the split information.

Interface 310 provides a user with a first window for displaying basic first chat information, including text. In this case, the interface 310 may provide a "split" menu with respect to the first window. If the user selects a "split" menu, the controller 320 controls the interface 310 to provide a second window.

According to another embodiment, not only when the user selects a "split" menu, but also according to a basic setting of the user's terminal 300, a first window for basic chat and a second window for searching for additional information May be provided.

The interface 310 provides a search menu to enable the user to search for information through the Internet or to search for a file stored in the terminal 300 through the second window.

In this case, when the user selects a file searched by the search menu (when a “read” or “view content” command is input by the user), the interface 310 interworks with the reader / viewer software for the searched file. The contents of the can be displayed automatically.

In addition, the interface 310 provides a "transfer" menu that allows the user to obtain necessary information through the second window and then transmit the information to the counterpart. When the user selects the "send" menu of the second window, the transmitter 330 transmits the second chat information on the second window to the counterpart terminal in response to the user's input (selection of the "send" menu). In this case, the second chat information may include search information or content of a file obtained by the user through the second window.

Meanwhile, when the second chat information is updated in the counterpart terminal by changing the second chat information through the second window or adding new information, the receiver 340 may receive the updated second chat information in the counterpart terminal.

When the receiver 340 receives the updated second chat information from the counterpart terminal, the interface 310 displays the updated second chat information on the second window so that the updated second chat information is shared between both parties. To be possible.

Alternatively, when only the first window is provided in the interface 310, the reception unit 340 may receive second chat information from the counterpart terminal. In this case, the second chat information may be received with a separate field value indicating that the second chat information is information displayed on the second window. The controller 320 may transmit a command for generating the second window to the interface 310 based on the received field value. That is, the interface 310 may provide the user with the second window based on the second chat information received by the receiver 340. The received second chat information is displayed in the second window.

If the user has updated the second chat information, such as adding a comment to the second chat information displayed in the second window, recommending other search information, or modifying the contents of the displayed file, the user can enter the "Send" menu. Select to transmit the updated second chat information to the counterpart terminal.

In this case, the controller 320 may change the size of the second window or the type of the selection menu provided in the second window according to the updated second chat information. The transmitter 330 may transmit the updated second chat information, together with the changed setting information of the second window.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an interface 310 provided by the terminal 300 of FIG. 3, specifically, a second window and a selection menu.

Referring to FIG. 4, the message content from the other terminal is displayed to the user through the interface 310.

The first window 411 displays first chat information 410 including chat contents, and provides an input bar 413 for inputting a message to be transmitted to a counterpart. In this case, the scroll bar 412 indicates a relative position of a portion currently displayed when the amount of the first chat information 410 is large.

The second window 421 displays second chat information 420 including the file search results and provides a search bar 423 where a user can enter a keyword or file name for the search. In this case, the scroll bar 422 indicates a relative position of a portion currently displayed when the amount of the second chat information 420 is large.

That is, while the user continues to chat with the other party through the first window 411 without interruption, the user may search for or obtain necessary information through the second window 421 according to the contents of the conversation.

When the user selects the “Menu” button 430, the user may change settings related to the type, size, and the like of the second window 421. When the user selects the “send” button 440, the second chat information 420 displayed in the second window 421 is transmitted to the counterpart terminal. Of course, the “send” button 440 may not only transmit the second chat information 420, but may correspond to the activated window depending on whether the currently activated window is the first window 411 or the second window 421. Information can be sent.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the interface 310 provided by the terminal 300 of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 5, the roles of the first window 511, the first chat information 510, the input window 513, the scroll bars 512 and 522, the “menu” button 530, and the “send” button 540 are described. Since the function is similar to that described in FIG. 4, further description is omitted.

The second window 521 is provided with second chat information 520 obtained by searching through the Internet. At this time, a search bar 523 is provided with which a user can input a keyword or condition for searching.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of an interface 310 provided by the terminal 300 of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 6, the roles of the first window 611, the first chat information 610, the input window 613, the scroll bars 612 and 622, the “menu” button 630, and the “send” button 640 are described. Since the function is similar to that described in FIG. 4, further description is omitted.

The second window 621 can provide the user with a "draw picture" menu 623. The " draw picture " menu 623 allows a user to select the line thickness, color, pattern type, etc. of the picture displayed on the screen.

The second chat information 620 is information including a picture drawn by the user.

The second chat information 620 may be expressed not only by a user's free drawing, but also by combining text and pictures.

The chat mode control method of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed by various computer means and recorded in a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and constructed for the present invention or may be available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape, optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and magnetic disks, such as floppy disks. Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

As described above, the present invention has been described by way of limited embodiments and drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains various modifications and variations from such descriptions. This is possible.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined by the equivalents of the claims, as well as the claims.

310: interface
320:
330: transmitter 340: receiver

Claims (12)

An interface for providing a user with a first window for displaying first chat information including text, and for providing the user with a split menu for the first window or a creation menu for a second window; And
A control unit for controlling the interface to provide the second window in response to the user's input to the split menu or the creation menu of the second window;
Lt; / RTI > The method of claim 1,
The interface provides a search menu to enable the user to search for information or files through the second window. The method of claim 2,
The interface receives a user's read command for a file searched by the search menu, and invokes a software module linked to the searched file to display contents of the searched file. The method of claim 1,
And the interface provides a menu for transmitting the second chat information to the user through the second window so that the second chat information displayed in the second window can be transmitted to the other party. 5. The method of claim 4,
A transmitter for transmitting the second chat information and setting information about the second window to the counterpart in response to the user's input to the transmission menu of the second chat information;
The terminal further comprising. The method of claim 1,
A receiver configured to receive second chat information for the second window from a counterpart;
Further comprising:
The interface is configured to update the content displayed in the second window with the received second chat information in response to the received second chat information. The method of claim 1,
The interface provides a drawing menu to the user through the second window, and in response to the user's input to the drawing menu, the terminal displaying second chat information including a picture in the second window. . An interface for providing a user with a first window displaying first chat information including text;
A receiver configured to receive second chat information and setting information on the second window from the counterpart terminal; And
A control unit controlling the interface to provide the second window displaying the received second chat information in response to the received second chat information and setting information on the second window;
Lt; / RTI > Providing a user with a first window for displaying first chat information through a screen of the terminal;
In response to the user's input, providing a second window to the user through a screen of the terminal; And
In response to the user's command for transmitting the second chat information displayed in the second window, transmitting the second chat information and the setting information for the second window to a counterpart terminal.
Chat mode control method of the terminal comprising a. 10. The method of claim 9,
Updating and displaying the second chat information displayed in the second window based on the update information on the second chat information received from the counterpart terminal;
Chat mode control method of the terminal further comprising. Providing a user with a first window for displaying first chat information through a screen of the terminal;
Receiving setting information on a second window and second chat information for the second window from a counterpart terminal; And
Providing the user with the second window on which the second chat information is displayed on the screen of the terminal based on the second chat information and setting information on the second window;
Chat mode control method of the terminal comprising a. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for executing the method of any one of claims 9 to 11 is recorded.

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