WO2006118409A1

WO2006118409A1 - Method of constructing and managing the homepage of legal entity and the system thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2006118409A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/001640
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sun-Jae Choi; Hee-Kyoung Choi; Eun-Hee Joo; You-Me Lee
Original assignee: Sk Communications Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-04-29
Filing date: 2006-05-02
Publication date: 2006-11-09
Also published as: KR20060114144A; KR100708059B1

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for constructing and managing homepage of a legal entity member that suggest fundamental components used for constructing the Internet homepage to the legal entity member, and supply the homepage to the legal entity member after constructing the homepage comprising the components selected by the legal entity member such that the legal entity member can sell its products or services on the homepage while advertising trademarks on the products or the services provided. The method and system enables a legal entity member to easily construct a homepage by simply selecting components for the homepage and to build an online community with other legal entity members or private members so that public relations and marketing of the legal entity can be performed through the homepage.

Description

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING AND MANAGING THE HOMEPAGE OF LEGAL ENTITY AND THE SYSTEM

THEREOF

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a method and system for constructing and managing a homepage of a legal entity member, and, more particularly to a method and system for constructing and managing a homepage of a legal entity member, which suggests fundamental components used for constructing the Internet homepage to the legal entity member, and supplies the homepage to the legal entity member after constructing the homepage comprising the components selected by the legal entity member such that the legal entity member can sell its products or services on the homepage while advertising trademarks on the products or the services.

[2]

Background Art

[3] For construction and registration of a personal homepage on the Internet, Web pages are constituted using various programs such as JAVA and the like, and various data files or moving images are up-loaded on the Web pages to constitute the homepage. The Web pages are made by means of HTML or other types of language, and then combined with or linked to each other, so that the homepage comprises various Web pages such as bulletin board, guest book, diary, etc. in accordance with user s personality and preferences.

[4] Conventionally, when a person wants to construct a homepage, it was necessary for him or her to have capability of using a language for programming Web pages and of designing components of the homepage. Thus, for a common user who has no professional knowledge of the programming language or the capability to design, it was very difficult to construct the homepage.

[5] In recent years, various tools have been developed, which comprise lists of components to be displayed on the homepage, such that a user can easily construct his or her homepage by selecting the components. The tools enable the user to select components desired to be displayed on the homepage among various components according to his or her preferences, and to up-load various contents on the homepage, so that the user can easily construct the homepage.

[6] Currently, such online homepage construction tools are provided to private members. However, a system has not yet been developed, that allows legal entity members to construct homepage in the name of corporation or legal entity and to access the private members via the homepage, thereby enabling the legal entity members to expand human network and public relations of the corporation, and to promote sales of its products.

[7] Although there exist many conventional Internet sites which can individually construct separate homepage of a corporation and the like, and provide information on the corporation to visitors of the homepage or sell products of the corporation, such conventional Internet sites fail to allow a legal entity member to build a community with a number of private members or other legal entity members such that the community members can maintain continuous and friendly relationships to each other.

[8] Meanwhile, when constructing a homepage of a legal entity such as corporation and the like for interaction with other users via the homepage, the homepage must be constructed and registered conventionally in the name of a representative or an administrator of the legal entity such that public relations of the legal entity can be performed via the homepage. However, such a conventional method for constructing the homepage of legal entity may generate legal liability in terms of registration and usage of the homepage, and fails to ensure satisfactory activities for the legal entity via the homepage.

[9]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[10] For construction and registration of a personal homepage on the Internet, Web pages are constituted using various programs such as JAVA and the like, and various data files or moving images are up-loaded on the Web pages. The Web pages are made by means of HTML or other types of language, and then combined with or linked to each other, so that the homepage comprises various Web pages such as bulletin board, guest book, diary, etc. in accordance with user s personality and preferences.

[11] Conventionally, when a person wants to construct a homepage, it was necessary for him or her to have capability of using a language for programming Web pages and of designing components of the homepage. Thus, for a common user who has no professional knowledge of the programming language or the capability to design, it was very difficult to construct the homepage.

[12] In recent years, various tools have been developed, which comprise lists of components to be displayed on the homepage, such that a user can easily construct his or her homepage by selecting the components. The tools enable the user to select components desired to be displayed on the homepage among various components according to his or her preferences, and to up-load various contents on the homepage, so that the user can easily construct the homepage. [13] Currently, such online homepage construction tools are provided to private members. However, a system has not yet been developed, that allows legal entity members to construct homepage in the name of corporation or legal entity and to access the private members via the homepage, thereby enabling the legal entity members to expand human network and public relations of the corporation, and to promote sales of its products.

[14] Although there exist many conventional Internet sites which can individually construct separate homepage of a corporation and the like, and provide information on the corporation to visitors of the homepage or sell products of the corporation, such conventional Internet sites fail to allow a legal entity member to build a community with a number of private members or other legal entity members such that the community members can maintain continuous and friendly relationships to each other.

[15] Meanwhile, when constructing a homepage of a legal entity such as corporation and the like for interaction with other users via the homepage, the homepage must be constructed and registered conventionally in the name of a representative or an administrator of the legal entity such that public relations of the legal entity can be performed via the homepage. However, such a conventional method for constructing the homepage of legal entity may generate legal liability in terms of registration and usage of the homepage, and fails to ensure satisfactory activities for the legal entity via the homepage.

[16]

Technical Solution

[17] Therefore, the present invention, being conceived in view of the above problems, aims to provide a method and system for constructing and managing a homepage of a legal entity member, that allows the legal entity member including an independent business owner to easily construct the homepage and to register the homepage at an online community such that a member or a visitor of the online community can easily access the homepage of the legal entity member.

[18] It is another object of the present invention to provide the method and system for constructing and managing the homepage of the legal entity member, which allows an avatar or digital items having a predetermined trademark or firm name attached thereto to be displayed on the homepage, and outputs detailed information of a product or provides a Web page containing the detailed information via a function of hypertext link when any of the brand-products on the homepage is clicked.

[19] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide the method and system for constructing and managing the homepage of the legal entity member, which allows the legal entity member to construct and upload the brand-products, the avatar or the digital items on the homepage, or which constructs and uploads the brand-products, the avatar or the digital items on the homepage when the legal entity member provides basic shapes or photos of the avatar or the digital items to the system.

[20] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide the method and system for constructing and managing the homepage of the legal entity member, which stores information on accesses of the private members to the homepage of the legal entity, and provides customized information optimized to the needs of each legal entity member through analysis of access history or preferences of the private members, so that the legal entity member is enabled to activate its public relations and marketing activities.

[21]

Advantageous Effects

[22] The method and system according to the present invention enables a legal entity member to easily construct a homepage by simply selecting components of the homepage and to form an online community with other legal entity members or private members so that public relations and marketing of the legal entity can be performed via the homepage.

[23] In addition, the method and system of the present invention enables an avatar or digital items to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member having a predetermined trademark or firm name attached thereto, so that the branded products are advertised and sales thereof are guided in connection with an online shopping mall and the like.

[24] In addition, the method and system of the present invention enables display of detailed information on the brand-product when a predetermined region of the homepage of the legal entity member where the brand-product is displayed is clicked.

[25]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection state of a homepage construction system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[27] Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the homepage construction system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[28] Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for constructing a homepage of a legal entity member;

[29] Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for constructing and controlling brand- products; and

[30] Fig. 5 is a view illustrating an example of displaying the brand-products on the homepage of the legal entity member. [31]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[32] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described making reference to the accompanying drawings.

[33] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection state of a homepage construction system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the homepage construction system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[34] A system for constructing and managing a homepage of a legal entity member

(hereinafter, homepage system) will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The homepage system 100 is connected to a plurality of legal entity terminals 200 and to a plurality of private terminals 300 via the Internet (not shown).

[35] Herein, the term legal entity terminals 200 means terminals of legal entity members enlisted as members of an online community service supplied by the homepage system 100. The term private terminals 300 means terminals of individuals who are not legal entities. In order to employ a service according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable that both legal entities and individuals are enlisted as members of an online community service which is supplied by the homepage system 100. However, the system of the present invention can supply its services to a non-member as well.

[36] Herein, the term legal entity member includes independent business owners having a taxpayer identification number in addition to legal entities as defined by Civil Law. Accordingly, any legal entity having its own taxpayer identification number, and has a manager distinct from the name of the legal entity, is entitled to be registered as a legal entity member according to the present invention. The term legal entity member will be used in this sense hereinafter.

[37] Unlike private members of the online service, the legal entity member joins the online service in a subscriber's name that is different from the name of the legal entity. Specifically, although the subscriber is the legal entity itself in the case of the legal entity member, the representative of the legal entity is generally a chief executive officer, a person in charge of electronic data processing, an employee and so on. Thus, in case a legal entity joins the online service, it is necessary to submit a certificate of legal entity, and information about the representative or the employee. In addition, if the representative or the employee carries out commercial transactions, there is a possibility of economic damage on the private members through illegal use of the legal entity's name for his or her business. Accordingly, it is necessary to apply a stricter authentication procedure to the legal entity members than to the private members. [38] As shown in Fig. 2, the homepage system 100 comprises a controller 102, a Web server 104, a user information management module 106, a homepage management module 108, a brand-product construction module 110, a database 120, and the like.

[39] The controller 102 and the Web server 104 serve to control components of the homepage system 100 and to supply a browser which enables the homepage system 100 to connect to the legal entity terminals 200 and the private terminals 300 through the Internet. Operation and construction of the controller 102 and the Web server 104 are the same as those applied to a typical Internet connection system, and thus, detailed description thereof are omitted.

[40] The user information management module 106 serves to record user information of individuals and legal entities registered as members at the homepage system 100 on the database 120, and to update the database 120 when modified user information is inputted. The user information includes ID and password for connection to the homepage system 100. In the case of the legal entity, the user information further includes legal entity information for membership authentication, such as information on taxpayer identification number. In addition, personal information on a representative of the legal entity may be included in the user information.

[41] The homepage management module 108 generates information on basic components of a homepage of the legal entity member, and constructs the homepage of the legal entity member using components selected by the legal entity terminal 200. The homepage management module 108 further serves to store information on the homepage of the legal entity member in the database 120 together with the legal entity information.

[42] The term basic components of the homepage means respective Web pages which constitute the homepage, comprising title of the homepage, information on the manager, bulletin board, guest book, the number of accesses, character or avatar display window, skin, and the like.

[43] If these components of the homepage are constructed and designed by a user alone, the user has to use a Web page construction tool. According to the present invention, however, the system suggests a predetermined style and design of the homepage to the user, and constructs the homepage by combining the components as selected by the user.

[44] The brand-product construction module 110 serves to create and register an avatar or digital items to be displayed on the homepage. The terms avatar means characters including human figures, personified animals, etc. in cyberspace which are displayed on the terminal to identify the user. The term digital items means items in cyberspace for displaying electronic appliances, furniture, clothes, accessories, and other products of off-line markets on the terminal. [45] When information on the avatar or the digital items desired to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member is inputted from a legal entity terminal 200, the brand-product construction module 110 registers the input information on the avatar or the digital items at the database 120 together with the legal entity information. Additionally, the brand-product construction module 110 calls the information on the avatar or the digital items from the database 120, and converts the information into moving images, still images, sound signals, etc., to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member.

[46] Although Web pages of a text format are mainly displayed in the homepage, the avatar, the digital items, pictures of items or products related to the legal entity member, banners, flash, etc. can be displayed therein. In particular, the avatar or the digital items in cyberspace are displayed in a specific region (inner window or skin) of the homepage of the legal entity member so as to attract attention, thereby promoting public relations and sales of the product.

[47] The brand-product construction module 110 generates data so that the information of such an avatar and digital items is recorded and is outputted on the homepage.

[48] In addition, trademarks or firm name of the legal entity member or trademarks or firm name of an associated company may be attached to the avatars or the digital items outputted on the homepage of the legal entity member. A trademark is a mark which represents a particular product or service, and can be used without regard to its registration. A trade name is a name which stands for a business of a legal entity or of an independent business owner, and means the same as a trade name in terms of the Commercial Law. A trademark is used hereinafter to comprise a trade name.

[49] According to the present invention, such an avatar or digital items attached with a specific trademark (hereinafter, brand-product) can be displayed on the homepage. To this end, the brand-product construction module 110 records and stores information on a specific product as well as information on the avatar or the digital items in the database 120, and outputs the avatar or the digital items having the trademark selected by the legal entity member as still images or moving images in the specific region on the homepage of the legal entity member.

[50] In order to obtain advertisement effect through the homepage, the avatar or the digital items may be used with the trademark shown thereon. But, it is also possible that a digital item directly imitating a shape of a product well-known to the consumers can be outputted on the homepage to obtain the same effect as in case of showing the trademark of the product. For example, when showing an automobile on the homepage, if the automobile is shown in the shape of an automobile available with the trademark SM5 from Renault Samsung Motors on the homepage, it is easy for general consumers to recognize the manufacturer and type of the automobile without directly using the trademark, SM5. This method can be used to enhance advertisement effects for a product, of which the shape is well-known to the general consumers along with the trademark of the product.

[51] The term brand product covers hereinafter both a product, a trademark or trade name of the manufacturer of which the avatar or the digital image is shown on the homepage, and a product, of which the real shape is imitated as a specific image of the product on the homepage.

[52] The database 120 comprises a user information DB 121, a homepage information

DB 122, a character information DB 123, a product information DB 124, an advertisement information DB 125, etc.

[53] The user information DB 121 stores personal information, IDs, passwords, access history information, financial information for payment of the legal entity members and of the private members, and the like. The access history information and the personal information can be used as material for customized advertisements.

[54] The homepage information DB 122 stores information on components of the homepages of the legal entity members or of the private members, information on contents of the bulletin boards, as well as image data for design of the homepages, etc.

[55] The character information DB 123 and the product information DB 124 store information on an avatar or digital items in cyberspace to be shown on the homepage, and preferably store information on trademarks for constituting brand-products, and detailed information on the brand-products.

[56] The advertisement information DB 125 stores information on advertisement contents to be displayed independently on the homepage, or to be outputted along with the detailed information of the brand-products.

[57] The system according to the present information enables construction of homepages for the legal entity members, and formation of community of the private members and the legal entity members so as to facilitate exchange of information and to maintain close friendship among the private members and legal entity members.

[58]

[59] Construction of homepage for legal entity member

[60] Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for constructing a homepage of a legal entity member. The method for constructing the homepage of the legal entity member will be described hereinafter making reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

[61] First, a manager accesses a homepage system 100 from a legal entity terminal 200 through the Internet (S 102).

[62] The homepage system 100 allows a window for inputting personal identification information of a legal entity member to be shown on an output part of the legal entity terminal 200, and stores membership information input from the legal entity terminal 200 (S 104).

[63] When a legal entity joins as a member of the system, the system can require submission of a legal entity certificate and documents with information on the representative or the employee of the legal entity which are not required for a private member, and preferably authenticates the membership information by means of these documents (S 106). Alternatively, an authentication of real name of the legal entity via a Public Authentication Certificate issued by a public authority, a credit escrow system, an ARS response system, a bank account, etc. are also possible.

[64] If legal entity information is inputted as described above, ID of the legal entity member is determined, and application for assignment of domain name is inputted, the system assigns a domain name and an ID to the legal entity member, and stores the domain name and the ID in the user information DB 121 (S 108). Assignment of the domain name for the homepage of the legal entity is optional, and thus, if the legal entity has an existing domain name, it is possible to use this domain name. Thus, the domain name will be generated only when the application for assignment of a domain name is inputted.

[65] If operation for opening of the homepage of the legal entity is completed, the system sends menus of homepage components, for constituting Web pages of the homepage of the legal entity, and outputs to the legal entity terminal 200 (Sl 10). Then, the manager of the legal entity selects Web pages desired to be shown on the homepage among the Web pages sent from the system.

[66] When selection of the homepage components is inputted from the legal entity terminal 200, the homepage management module 108 constructs the homepage using the selected components, and stores the constructed homepage in the homepage information DB 122 (S 112).

[67] Although Web pages, an avatar, or digital items constructed by the legal entity member itself, can be up-loaded on the homepage, it is desirable that the system constructs the avatar or the digital items based on photos or basic designs provided of the product by the legal entity member, and disposes them on the homepage. To this end, when basic design information is input from the legal entity terminal 200, the system stores the basic design information along with the legal entity information in the homepage information DB 122, and constructs the avatar or the digital items based on the basic design information and stores the same so as to be shown on the homepage (S 114).

[68] When construction of the homepage of the legal entity is completed, the homepage is registered on the Internet, and displayed to users (Sl 16).

[69]

[70] Construction and display of brand-product [71] Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for constructing and controlling brand- products. The method for constructing and controlling the brand-products will be described making reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 4. First, the manager accesses the homepage system 100 from the legal entity terminal 200 through the Internet (S202).

[72] In the homepage system 100, the homepage of the legal entity member is established, and the avatar or the digital items are shown on the homepage.

[73] The homepage system 100 determines whether the accessing member is an authorized legal entity member by means of ID and password input from the legal entity terminal 200 (S204), and if the accessing member is not an authorized legal entity member, the system progresses a member joining process which requires input of personal identification information (S206).

[74] When a member- authentication process described above is completed, the system allows trademarks to be shown on the legal entity terminal such that the manager of the legal entity can select an avatar or digital items to be outputted on the homepage (S208). Preferably, the avatar or the digital items are output as moving images, still images and the like on a predetermined display window of the homepage or a skin region constituting the background of the homepage.

[75] Herein, the digital items preferably comprises clothes, shoes, accessories, and the like, which can be worn by the avatar, and also comprises the same kinds of products as those available in real life, such as furniture, electronic appliances, automobiles, etc. By constructing the digital items to have similar designs to the products in real life, the digital items can provide a sense of enhanced realism.

[76] For the clothes, the system suggests components of the clothes be subdivided according to portions of the body of the avatar such that the manager of the legal entity member can select the components. In other words, the system suggests subdivided lists, such as jackets, trousers, socks, shoes, hair-bands, etc., among the clothes to be worn by the avatar, and allows the manager of the legal entity member to select and combine the digital items in various combinations, thereby widening the range of selection while providing opportunity of exhibiting characteristics of the avatar.

[77] Next, the system requests the manager of the legal entity to select or input a trademark desired to be attached to the avatar or the digital items (S210). In case when the system suggests trademarks stored in the homepage system 100 and the manager selects the trademark, an additional operation is not required. However, if the manager of the legal entity member inputs the trademark, the system requests the manager to input the trademark in the form of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image file, and stores the trademark in the database 120.

[78] If the trademark marked on the avatar or the digital items of the homepage is not owned by the legal entity member, there can arise conflict between the legal entity member and owner of the trademark. Thus, it is desirable that the legal entity member use its trademark on the avatar or the digital items on the homepage, and if the legal entity member wants to use a trademark of another, the system requires submission of a license agreement and the like in order to prevent infringement of the trademark rights.

[79] Next, the system adds link information such that, detailed information related to the brand-products is allowed to be displayed on the homepage (S212), when any one of the avatar or the digital items bearing the trademark, i.e. brand-product, on the display window or the skin region of the homepage is clicked. In other words, when a user accesses the homepage of the legal entity member and clicks on any one of the brand- products bearing the trademark displayed on the homepage, the system allows detailed information on manufacturer thereof be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member, or links the homepage of the legal entity member to a homepage of the manufacturer such that the homepage of the manufacturer is simultaneously displayed on the user s terminal.

[80] Although it is not necessary to add such link information to the brand-products to allow the user to click on the link information, addition of the link information may guide the user to obtain information and purchase the product or the service through access to the homepage of the legal entity member.

[81] Meanwhile, it is possible to add source-codes for recognition of the product name, kind, utility and the like of a product to the data constituting the brand-product. The source-codes are used by an operator of the homepage system 100 in order to understand propensities of the members of the system. If a certain user accesses the homepages of several members of the system, and frequently clicks on a picture of a certain product or collect the picture by scrapping, the possible area of interest of the user can be understood through analysis of the source-code included in the product.

[82] For example, if a certain user frequently accesses homepages of mobile communication companies, and scraps pictures of mobile phones, it is possible that the user has an interest in the mobile phones or has an intention to change one. On the basis of such information, the system supplies information on the mobile phones or mobile communication fees to the user, thereby enhancing the marketing effect.

[83] In order to use such a method, it is necessary to inform members in advance that the source codes are included in the data of the brand-products, and that the propensities of the members can be analyzed using the source-codes in the service contract.

[84] When the components are selected for the brand-products, the system suggests a completed avatar or completed digital items having the trademarks attached thereon to the manager of the legal entity member, and receives confirmation from the manager (S214).

[85] When the final confirmation is inputted from the legal entity terminal 200, the system disposes the completed avatar or the completed digital items (brand-products) bearing the trademarks and comprising the link information, on the display window or the skin region of the homepage of the legal entity member, and allows other users to output the completed avatar or the completed digital items (S216).

[86] Fig. 5 is a view illustrating one example of displaying the brand-products on the homepage of the legal entity member. With a display window R positioned at the center or at a predetermined region of the homepage, brand-products G having similar images of real products are disposed on the display window R or on a skin region which forms background of the homepage such that users accessing the homepage can view the brand-products G.

[87] However, it should be noted that the above display method and system are provided as an example. Alternatively, it is possible that the avatars or the digital items are shown on other locations of the homepage or are shown at a random location on the homepage instead of a predetermined location on the homepage. For example, it is possible that the avatar or the digital items are shown as pop-up menus or as movable display on the homepage such that detailed information is supplied when a user clicks on the avatar or the digital items.

[88] As shown in Fig. 5, it is desirable that the homepage is constituted with backgrounds or brand-products having similar designs as those of the real products. For example, when constructing a gas station or an agency of a mobile communication company on the homepage, a firm name, for example, SK, is attached to the brand- products, it is possible that a sense of realism as well as feeling of closeness are provided due to a connection of the brand-products on the homepage to the real products.

[89] When a click-signal for the brand-products is inputted to the homepage system from any of the private terminals 300 or other legal entity terminals 200 through which the users or other managers access the homepage of the legal entity member (S218), the system calls and outputs detailed information or Web pages to the private terminals of the users or to the legal entity terminals of other managers based on the link information included in the respective brand-products (S220). It is desirable that the shopping malls in cyberspace that sell the respective brand-products are shown on the terminals, when separate Web pages are called.

[90] When a user wants to purchase a product after view of the detailed information or the Web pages of the homepage, the system allows the product to be sold through a typical shopping mall system (S222).

[91] [92] Utilization of human network information

[93] According to the present invention, the legal entity members can join a certain community, and interact as members of the community in the same way as private members. In other words, when outputting a typical homepage, a user inputs a domain name of a homepage on a Web browser, and searches an address of the homepage to output the homepage. Sometimes, the user can store the address or Web site the user frequently visits in his computer by using a Web-favorites storage function.

[94] However, since such a Web-favorites storage function enables unidirectional access, only the user who registers the address of the homepage of the legal entity member to his or her lists of Web favorites can access the homepage, and thus, the legal entity member cannot confirm who has registered its homepage address in his or her Web favorites list.

[95] Accordingly, in order to enable bi-directional registrations, function such as friend- registering in cyberspace or relative-making in cyberspace may be used between users accessing the homepage of the legal entity member. Such function of friend-registering in cyberspace or relative-making in cyberspace can be realized in a way that, if one party offers cyberspace-friendship or cyberspace-relative to another party, and the other party accepts the offer, the system constructs buttons on homepages of both parties such that both parties can register addresses of their homepages, and directly access each other using the button.

[96] With this method, managers of the legal entity members and individual members can recognize the access state of the other member like close friends, and can share various data or can send the data to each other.

[97] In addition, the system allows other friends or other relatives in cyberspace of one user to be registered as friends or relatives in cyberspace to enable the community constructions be performed in a multiplied form so that the community can be expanded rapidly.

[98]

[99] Customized information service

[100] If a user registered as a friend in cyberspace or a relative in cyberspace of the legal entity member accesses the homepage of the legal entity member or registers contents for bulletin, the legal entity member extracts statistical data on access history of the user, and accumulation of such statistical data enables construction of useful data. If a user accessing the homepage of the legal entity member through the private terminal 300 frequently accesses a legal entity member which sells a specific product among other friends in cyberspace or relatives in cyberspace of the legal entity member, it can be concluded that the user is interested in the specific product. In addition, if the number of such accesses among the legal entity members and the individuals of the community increases preferences or interest of the individual can be detected, and the system can provide customized information to the respective individual using the data.

[101] As such, the present invention functions in the same way as a conventional method in that the system extracts statistical data on access history on the basis of access information of the user, and sends information needed by the user. However, according to the present invention, when accessing one another via the homepages constructed by the system, it is highly probable that the users are connected with each other as friends or relatives in cyberspace and the connections occur not at random without any relationship between the participants, thereby enhancing close friendship between the users in contrast to the conventional method.

[102] Although the system of the present invention can sell the customized information to the users, it can provide the customized to friends or relatives in cyberspace at no charge, to activate interactions among the legal entity members and the private members, and to enhance corporate image of the legal entity member.

[103] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to embodiment examples, the scope of rights of this invention shall not be limited thereto, but rather, shall be determined by accompanying claims, allowing various modifications, additions and substitutions without departing the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will appreciate.

[104]

Mode for the Invention

[105] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be achieved by provision of a method for constructing and managing a homepage of a legal entity member, comprising: storing legal entity information for joining an online-community and displaying the legal entity information to other users accessing the online-community, in response to an input of the legal entity information from a legal entity terminal accessing the online-community via the Internet; transmitting information on basic components for the homepage to the legal entity terminal to allow the information to be outputted at the legal entity terminal; constructing the homepage with selected components in response to an input of the selected components and registering information on the homepage along with the legal entity information; and outputting the homepage of the legal entity member to private terminals of community members accessing the community via the Internet.

[106] The method may further comprise: registering information of an avatar or a digital item along with the legal entity information, in response to an input of any one of information of the avatar and the digital item to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member from the legal entity terminal, and converting the information of the avatar or the digital item into an image to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member.

[107] The method may further comprise: attaching a trademark selected by the legal entity member to the avatar or the digital item to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member, and storing the trademark along with the information of the avatar or the digital item; and then, outputting the avatar or the digital item with the trademark attached thereto as an image on a specific region of the homepage of the legal entity member.

[108] The method may further comprise: allowing detailed information of a product or a service to be outputted as an image or a sound on the homepage, in response to a signal of clicking on the avatar or the digital item with the trademark attached thereto on the homepage of the legal entity member by use of a mouse, The method may further comprise: allowing detailed information of a product or a service to be outputted in such a way of linking the avatar or the digital item to Web pages, on which the detailed information is displayed as an image or a sound, such that the Web pages can be displayed on the homepage, in response to a signal of clicking on the avatar or the digital item with the trademark attached thereto on the homepage of the legal entity member by use of a mouse.

[109] The homepage may be provided with a display window for displaying one or more of a name, history, public notice, and legal entity information on the legal entity member.

[110] The method may further comprise: storing information regarding private terminal of the community members accessing the homepage of the legal entity member via the Internet; storing access information including a domain name of a private homepage registered for the private terminal of the community member accessing the homepage of the legal entity member; and displaying the access information of the private homepage on a predetermined region of the homepage of the legal entity member, wherein, when clicking on the access information of the private homepage, the homepage of the legal entity member is linked to the private homepage registered at the private terminal of the community member.

[I l l] The method may further comprise: computing and storing statistical data about access history of the community member to the homepage of the legal entity member from the private terminal; and then, calling the statistical data related to the private terminal, and sending appropriately selected information to a user of the private terminal.

[112] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for constructing and managing a homepage of a legal entity member, comprising: a user information management module to record legal entity information including ID and password of the legal entity member; a homepage management module to generate information about basic components of the homepage, to construct the homepage constituted with the components selected from a legal entity terminal of the legal entity member, and to store information about the homepage of the legal entity member along with the legal entity information; a brand-product construction module to register information on an avatar or a digital item along with the legal entity information in response to an input of any one of the information of the avatar and the digital item to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member from the legal entity terminal, and to convert the information of the avatar or the digital item into an image to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member; and a database to store the legal entity information, the information about the avatar or the digital item, and the information about the homepage.

[113] The brand-product construction module may store a trademark along with the information of the avatar or the digital item after having attached the trademark to the avatar or the digital item as selected by the homepage of the legal entity member, and outputs the avatar or the digital item with the trademark attached thereto as an image in a specific region of the homepage of the legal entity member.

[114]

Industrial Applicability

[115] A method and system according to the present invention enables a legal entity member to easily construct a homepage by simply selecting components of the homepage and to form an online community with other legal entity members or private members so that public relations and marketing of the legal entity can be performed via the homepage.

[116] In addition, the method and system enables an avatar or digital items to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member with a predetermined trademark or firm name attached thereto so that the brand-products are advertised and sales of the products can be guided in connection with an online shopping mall and the like.

[117] In addition, the method and system enables display of detailed information on a brand-product when a predetermined region of the homepage of the legal entity member where the brand-product is displayed is clicked.

Claims

[1] A method for constructing and managing a homepage of a legal entity member, comprising: storing legal entity information for joining an online-community and displaying the legal entity information to other users accessing the online-community, in response to an input of the legal entity information from a legal entity terminal accessing the online-community via the Internet; transmitting information on basic components for the homepage to the legal entity terminal to allow the information be outputted at the legal entity terminal; constructing the homepage with selected components in response to an input of the selected components for the homepage and registering information on the homepage along with the legal entity information; and outputting the homepage of the legal entity member to private terminals of community members accessing the community via the Internet.

[2] The method according to claim 1, further comprising: registering information of an avatar or a digital item along with the legal entity information, in response to an input of any one of information of the avatar and the digital item to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member from the legal entity terminal, and converting the information of the avatar or the digital item into an image to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member.

[3] The method according to claim 2, further comprising: attaching a trademark selected by the legal entity member to the avatar or the digital item to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member, and storing the trademark along with the information of the avatar or the digital item; and, outputting the avatar or the digital item with the trademark attached thereto as the image on a specific region of the homepage of the legal entity member.

[4] The method according to claim 3, further comprising: allowing detailed information of a product or a service to be outputted as an image or a sound on the homepage, in response to a signal of clicking on the avatar or the digital item with the trademark attached thereto on the homepage of the legal entity member by use of a mouse.

[5] The method according to claim 3, further comprising: allowing detailed information of a product or a service to be outputted by linking the avatar or the digital item to Web pages, on which the detailed information is displayed as an image or a sound, such that the Web pages can be displayed on the homepage, in response to a signal of clicking on the avatar or the digital item with the trademark attached thereto on the homepage of the legal entity member by use of a mouse,

[6] The method according to claim 1, wherein the homepage is provided with a display window for displaying one or more of a name, history, public notice, and the legal entity information of the legal entity member.

[7] The method according to claim 1, further comprising: storing information regarding private terminal of the community members accessing the homepage of the legal entity member via the Internet; storing access information including a domain name of a private homepage registered for the private terminal of the community member accessing the homepage of the legal entity member; and displaying the access information of the private homepage on a predetermined region of the homepage of the legal entity member, wherein, when clicking on the access information of the private homepage, the homepage of the legal entity member is linked to the private homepage registered at the private terminal of the community member.

[8] The method according to claim 7, further comprising: computing and storing statistical data about access history of the community member to the homepage of the legal entity member from the private terminal; and then, calling the statistical data related to the private terminal, and sending appropriately selected information to a user of the private terminal.

[9] A system for constructing and managing a homepage of a legal entity member, comprising: a user information management module to record legal entity information including ID and password of the legal entity member; a homepage management module to generate information about basic components of the homepage, to construct the homepage constituted with the components selected from a legal entity terminal of the legal entity member, and to store information about the homepage of the legal entity member along with the legal entity information; a brand-product construction module to register information about an avatar or a digital item along with the legal entity information in response to an input of any one of the information of the avatar and the digital item to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member from the legal entity terminal, and to convert the information of the avatar or the digital item into an image to be displayed on the homepage of the legal entity member; and a database to store the legal entity information, the information about the avatar or the digital item, and the information about the homepage.

[10] The system according to claim 9, wherein the brand-product construction module stores a trademark along with the information of the avatar or the digital item after having attached the trademark to the avatar or the digital item as selected by the legal entity member, and outputs the avatar or the digital item with the trademark attached thereto as an image in a specific region of the homepage of the legal entity member.