KR20180125237A - Method for inputting Emoticon on Mobile Device, and Server for Distributing a Software therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for inputting an emoticon of a mobile device and a software distributing server for storing software for the method are disclosed. According to the method for inputting an emoticon of a mobile device, there is no need to make an effort of displaying a keyboard dedicated to a user emoticon. When an original message is inputted through keys, the inputted word or sentence is recognized to display a matched emoticon. So, processes of selecting an emoticon are significantly simplified. The method includes: a step of displaying a letter, number or symbol on a message-entry window; a step of extracting a plurality of emoticons; a step of causing the selected emoticon to be displayed; and a terminating step.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method for inputting an emoticon of a mobile terminal, a software distribution server for storing software for the method,

The present invention relates to a method of inputting an emoticon of a mobile terminal, a method of recognizing a message inputted by a user and presenting emoticon corresponding to the message, and a software distribution server storing software for the method.

In the present invention, a mobile terminal is a portable computer having various functions, such as a mobile communication terminal, a tablet computer, an MP3 player, and a personal digital assistant (PDA). In recent mobile terminals, such functions are being integrated into one device, and mobile communication function, navigation function, and MP3 player function are basically integrated. Typically, the so-called 'smart phone', which is widely used recently, is a combination of a mobile communication network or a wireless LAN-based Internet access function and a variety of functions that can perform various functions by installing various applications such as a computer Function mobile terminal.

With the advent of smartphones, the mobility of individual handsets has improved dramatically, while messaging tools such as KakaoTalk, WhatsApp and WeChat have evolved and social media such as Facebook and Twitter have exploded. .

When writing a message or posting or commenting on social media, we usually use letters and numbers such as Hangul and English, but occasionally we also use emoticons. Emoticon is also referred to as 'pictogram' and is used as a kind of 'Meta Communication'. In the early days, various emoticons starting with symbols (for example,: - D) combined with characters and designated by an ASKII code or UNI code appeared in the early emoticons.

Most of the methods for inputting graphic emoticons are selected from the keyboard (or list) for emoticons and inserted into the message-input window. 1 shows a conventional keyboard and message-input window displayed on a mobile terminal. In order to insert an emoticon into the message-input window 11 of the screen 10 of the message software, ) Should be displayed. In this way, the method of selecting the emoticons in the emoticon keyboard 13 requires to operate the keys so that the emoticon keyboard 13 is displayed separately from the character input in the (first) message-input window 11, The emoticon is inserted into the message-input window 11 and the send button or the OK button is operated, the emoticon is displayed on the message window 15, Is displayed.

Thus, since the conventional method requires two steps, the process is complicated, and it takes a considerable amount of time to select a desired emoticon. Therefore, inserting the emoticon is very inconvenient, and the inconvenience is a major obstacle to the use of the emoticon That's why.

As a result of this improvement, a method of inputting emoticons using a shortcut has recently been developed. For example, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2006-0057374 discloses a method of inputting an emoticon using a preset shortcut symbol. It is convenient to use shortcut keys, but not all users can set up many shortcut keys, and it is impossible for users to memorize all the set shortcut keys. Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2015-0143989 simplifies an operation method by displaying a list of emoticons when a user inputs a special pattern by using an input means such as a touch pad, but still selects a desired emoticon from the list The process is inconvenient.

[Related Technical Literature]

1. A mobile communication terminal equipped with an emoticon input function using a shortcut symbol and an operation method thereof (Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2006-0057374)

2. Simple emoticon input method and device implementing this method (Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2015-0143989)

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for recognizing a message inputted by a user and presenting emoticons corresponding to the message, as a method for inputting an emoticon of a mobile terminal, and a software distribution server for the method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal including a key event processing unit for displaying a character, a number, a symbol or an emoticon corresponding to an input Unicode on a message-input window of a display unit. In the emoticon input method of the present invention, the keyboard processing unit displays a keyboard and an emoticon-display window at the bottom of the message window to receive a key from a user, and transmits a Unicode corresponding to the input key to the key event Displaying the character, number, or symbol corresponding to the input key on the message-input window by providing the input key to the processor; and (2) the emoticon search unit recognizes the tag composed of the input key or combination of keys (Step 3), the emoticon providing unit displays the extracted plurality of emoticons on the emoticon display window (step 4), and the emoticon providing unit displays the emoticon- The Unicode of the emoticon selected by the user is provided to the key event processing unit Displaying the selected emoticon on the message-input window; and (5) if the next key is input through the keyboard without selecting the emoticon of the user after the step of displaying on the emoticon-display window, And ending the step of displaying on the selection window.

Depending on the embodiment, the tag may be a letter, number, symbol, or a combination or sentence that can be combined through the keyboard input.

According to another embodiment, the tag may be a combination in which a pre-designated first word and a second word are successively input, and a predetermined number of unspecified words are arranged between the first word and the second word.

According to still another embodiment, the step of displaying the plurality of emoticons on the emoticons-display window may display the tags recognized by the emoticons search unit in a descending order of the user's selection.

The present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium having stored thereon software for performing operations of the keyboard processing unit, the emoticon search unit, and the emoticon providing unit, and a software downloading software for installing the software when the mobile terminal accesses the Internet It also goes to the distribution server.

The emoticon input method of the present invention does not require the user to perform a trouble of displaying the emoticon dedicated keyboard, and can input the emoticon by key inputting the original message.

In addition, the emoticon input method of the present invention recognizes a word or a sentence or a combination of a specific character and a numeral inputted by a user in addition to a method of collecting and displaying favorite emoticons that a user selects a lot, The process is significantly simplified.

Compared with the shortcut key method, the present invention does not need to memorize the shortcut key set in the emoticon first. In addition, since the shortcut key method can only match one emoticon to one shortcut key, various emoticons can be selected for the same word according to the present invention. Therefore, it is possible to use various emoticons for the same word, Can be expressed.

1 illustrates a conventional keyboard and message-input window displayed on a mobile terminal,
2 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the emoticon input method of the present invention,
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an emoticon display window according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
5 is another screen in which the emoticon display window according to an embodiment of the present invention is displayed.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

The mobile terminal of the present invention refers to a portable computer device, and corresponds to a mobile communication terminal, a tablet computer, an MP3 player, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

2, the mobile terminal 200 includes a display unit 201, an input unit 203, a network interface unit 205, a memory 207, and a control unit 210. The mobile terminal 200 to which the present invention is applied may further include a configuration for various additional functions such as a GPS receiver in addition to the above configuration, but it is not essential to the description of the present invention and therefore is not shown in the drawings and will not be described.

The display unit 201 is a device for displaying various information such as a LCD, an OLED and the like so that the user can visually recognize various information. The input unit 203 is a device for receiving a user's control command. For example, it is preferable that the display unit 201 and the input unit 203 are provided in the form of a single touch screen.

The network interface unit 205 has a wireless interface such as a third-generation or fourth-generation mobile communication network such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) or Long Term Evolution (LTE) or a wireless LAN, A distribution server (not shown) or a web server (not shown).

The memory 207 stores characters, numbers, symbols, and fonts of graphic emoticons mapped to the UNI code displayed on the display unit 201. An emoticon is a graphic image, which is unicode-like, such as letters and numbers, and is installed in the mobile terminal 200 in the form of operating system software described below.

The memory 207 stores 'emoticon-table' characteristic of the present invention. The emoticons-table includes information about the Unicode of the individual emoticons and the tags matched to the emoticons. In addition, the tag means to match at least one emoticon as a character, a number, a symbol, or a combination thereof that can be displayed as a Key input of a keyboard (i.e., using Unicode). Table 1 shows an example of an emoticon-table.

tag Emoticon # 1
(Unicode) Emoticon # 2
(Unicode) Emoticon # 3
(Unicode) Emoticon # 4
(Unicode) love a00000001 a00000002 a00000003 a00000004 kiss a00000001 a00000002 a00000003 a00000004 Couple a00000001 a00000002 a00000003 a00000004 loyalty a00000001 a00000002 a00000003 a00000006 friendship a00000001 a00000006 a00000007 a00000008 Heart aches b00000022 b00000023 b00000024 b00000025

Referring to Table 1, a plurality of emoticons may be matched to one tag. For example, the tag 'love' matches four emoticons. Conversely, a plurality of tags can be matched to one emoticon. For example, the emoticon 'a00000002' has mapped the tags 'love', 'popo', 'lover' and 'honorific'. On the other hand, the emoticons # 1 to # 4 may be of the order displayed on the emoticons-display window 403 although they may have no other meaning.

On the other hand, the tag 'Mind ^ Aha', which is matched with the emoticon 'b00000022', is a combination in which a predetermined number of unspecified words are arranged between a first word 'Mind' and a second word 'Apa'.

The control unit 210 controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal 200 and includes a key event processing unit 211, a keyboard processing unit 213, an emoticon search unit 215, (217). The keyboard processing unit 213, the emoticon search unit 215, and the emoticon providing unit 217 generate characteristic input means of the present invention, which is represented by a screen 400 as shown in FIG. In the screen 400 of FIG. 4, the message-input window 11 and the message window 15 are displayed by different configurations of the mobile terminal 200 (e.g., SMS message software, Facebook software, etc.) 401 and the emoticon display window 403 are displayed and processed by the keyboard processing unit 213, the emoticon search unit 215 and the emoticon providing unit 217.

The control unit 210 may be interpreted as a configuration specifically installed for the present invention but generally includes a main or basic function of the mobile terminal 200 such as input / output control, file management, memory management, telephone function, Or the like. In the case where the controller 210 is installed to perform the basic functions of the mobile terminal 200, the controller 210 includes a processor chip, which is hardware that the mobile terminal 200 basically holds, (OS) software operating on the basis of the operating system (OS) software.

The key event processing unit 211 is installed as a component of operating system software. As mentioned earlier, emoticons (their graphical fonts) are also installed as components of the operating system software.

In contrast, the keyboard processing unit 213, the emoticon search unit 215, and the emoticon providing unit 217 are software (or application, application) operating on the operating system software and installed in the existing mobile terminal .

An emoticon-table is installed in the memory 207 of the conventional terminal and a keyboard processing unit 213, an emoticon search unit 215 and an emoticon providing unit 217 are installed on the operating system software of the control unit 210 It becomes the mobile terminal 200 of the present invention. Meanwhile, the software may be software recorded in a computer-readable storage medium (not shown) of a software distribution server (not shown), and a software distribution server (not shown) '. The mobile terminal 200 can access the software distribution server (not shown) via the Internet and download and install the corresponding software (application). The keyboard processing unit 213, the emoticon search unit 215 and the emoticon providing unit 217 and the emoticon-providing unit 217 may be separately provided. The keyboard processing unit 213, the emoticon search unit 215, The table may be installed in one piece of software.

The key event processing unit 211 recognizes a UNI code provided by the keyboard processing unit 213, that is, a key input or a combination of key inputs, as a character, a number, or a symbol, 11). Referring to FIG. 4, a message-input window 11 and a message window 15 are displayed on a screen 400 of the display unit 201.

The keyboard processing unit 213 displays the keyboard 401 on the screen 400 of the display unit 201 according to the operation and control of the user.

Typically, the mobile terminal 200 has a separate 'basic-keyboard processing unit (not shown)' installed at the time of manufacture, and is used for a short message (SMS) function, a memo function and a search function. Messaging software such as KakaoTalk, Watts, or WitChat, or social media software like Facebook and Twitter, will call the 'default-keyboard software' that is installed by default when keyboard input is required. In this case, when the keyboard processing unit 213 of the present invention is additionally installed, the mobile terminal 200 further includes the keyboard processing unit 213 of the present invention in addition to the basic-keyboard processing unit.

The keyboard processing unit 213 of the present invention is set to be called by a method of changing the settings of messaging software such as KakaoTalk, Watts App, or Wichat, or Social Media software such as Facebook and Twitter shown above. The keyboard processing unit 213 of the present invention operates in place of the " default keyboard software " by changing the settings related to the short message (SMS) function, memo function and search function.

On the other hand, depending on the mobile terminal 200, only the keyboard processing unit 213 of the present invention may be installed without basic-keyboard software.

The emoticon searching unit 215 determines whether there is a tag that is formed of letters, numbers, symbols, or a combination thereof through the keyboard 401, and extracts emoticons corresponding to the tags. The emoticon providing unit 217 displays the emoticons extracted by the emoticons search unit 215 on the emoticon display window 403 and provides the Unicode of the emoticon selected by the user to the key event processing unit 211, 11).

Hereinafter, the emoticon display method of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, focusing on the operation of the keyboard processing unit 213, the emoticon search unit 215, and the emoticon providing unit 217. FIG.

≪ Display keyboard and reception of key input: S301, S303 >

The keyboard processing unit 213 displays the keyboard 401 on the screen 400 of the display unit 201 and then waits for the user's key operation. When the user inputs a key through the input unit 203 in step S301, the keyboard processing unit 213 provides the key event processing unit 211 with a UNI code corresponding to the input key. Accordingly, the key event processing unit 211 displays characters, numbers, or symbols recognized from the input key or combination of keys in the message-input window 11 (S303).

≪ Determination of whether preset tag is inputted: S305 >

The emoticon search unit 215 determines whether there is a tag registered in the emoticon-table among letters, numbers, symbols, or a combination of the keys or keys received from the user through the input unit 203 by the keyboard processing unit 213 . If the matching tag is not found in the emoticon-table with the currently input key or key combination, it waits for the next key to be input through step S301.

In the case of FIG. 4, the user inputs 'love', and the emoticon search unit 215 determines whether the word 'love' combined in real time with the input key is a tag registered in the emoticon table . According to Table 1, 'love' is identified with the tags already registered in the teacon-table.

A tag such as "Mind ^ Hurting" may be displayed when the user types "Mind" and then displays a few boxes or other characters (eg, "a" or "too" As shown in Fig.

<Extraction and Presentation of Emoticons: S307>

The emoticon search unit 215 extracts a plurality of emoticons matched with the tag, and outputs the unicode of the emoticon to the emoticon-tag. And provides it to the emoticon providing unit 217. When a plurality of emoticons are extracted as in the case of Table 1, the emoticons search unit 215 provides Unicode of the plurality of emoticons to the emoticon providing unit 217. [

The emoticon supplier 217 extracts at least one emoticon corresponding to the emoticons Unicode provided by the emoticon search unit 215 from the memory 207, displays the extracted emoticon on the emoticon-display window 403, and receives the user's selection . 4 shows a plurality of emoticons that the emoticon providing unit 217 has extracted from the emoticons-table and displayed on the emoticons-display window 403 as the user inputs 'love'.

<Display the emoticon selected by the user in the message-input window: S309 to S313>

When the user selects one of the plurality of emoticons displayed on the emoticon display window 403 in step S309, the emoticon providing unit 217 provides the key event processing unit 211 with the Unicode of the emoticon selected by the user, And causes the processing unit 211 to be displayed on the message-input window 11 as shown in FIG. 5 (S311). According to this method, the user does not have to manipulate the keyboard for the emoticon, and does not have to search for the emoticon in order to select the desired emoticon.

If the user inputs the next key through the keyboard 401 without selecting the emoticon in step S309, the emoticon providing unit 217 may stop displaying the emoticon on the emoticon display window 403. [ However, since the new key has been input, the process returns to step S301 (S313).

In this way, the emoticon display method of the present invention is performed.

<Example: Emoticon-change of table>

The mobile terminal key event processing unit 211 of the present invention can access the web server via the network interface 205. [ Accordingly, a plurality of mobile terminals 200 may be connected to a web server (not shown), and a web server (not shown) may manage the history data in which the emoticons are selected in step S309 to convert the data into data. In other words, you can see which emoticons are being selected for a particular tag, and thus create an emoticon-table that changes the placement order of the emoticons. The web server (not shown) periodically changes the emoticon-table of each mobile terminal 200 into a new table and reflects it.

Meanwhile, if the emoticons # 1 to # 4 in Table 1 are the display order of the emoticons, the emoticon searching unit 215 searches the emoticon-table of the emoticon-table in consideration of the selection bias of the user, You can also change the display order of the emoticons directly.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

And a key event processing unit for displaying characters, numbers, symbols, or emoticons corresponding to the entered Unicode on a message-input window of the display unit, the method comprising:
The keyboard processing unit displays a keyboard and an emoticon display window at the bottom of the message window to receive a key from a user and provides the Unicode corresponding to the input key to the key event processing unit, Displaying a symbol in the message-input window;
The emoticon search unit recognizes a tag composed of the input key or combination of keys and extracts a plurality of emoticons matched with the tag;
Displaying the extracted plurality of emoticons on the emoticon display window;
Displaying the selected emoticon on the message-input window by providing the Unicode of the emoticon selected by the user among the emoticons displayed on the emoticon display window to the key event processing unit; And
Displaying the emoticon in the emoticon selection window when the next key is input through the keyboard without selecting the emoticon of the user after the step of displaying on the emoticon display window; Input method.
The method according to claim 1,
The tag,
A character, a number, a symbol, a combination thereof, or a sentence that can be combined through the keyboard input.
3. The method of claim 2,
The tag
Wherein a predetermined first word and a second word are sequentially input and a predetermined number of unspecified words are arranged between the first word and the second word.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the displaying of the plurality of emoticons on the emoticons display window displays the tags recognized by the emoticon search unit in a descending order of the user's selection.
A computer-readable recording medium storing software for performing operations of the keyboard processing unit, the emoticon search unit, and the emoticon providing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the mobile terminal accesses through the Internet Said software distribution server enabling said software to be downloaded.

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