WO2007066918A1

WO2007066918A1 - Network system for contents collaboration on a real-time community based on items of contents and method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2007066918A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/004993
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ja-Yong Koo
Original assignee: Ja-Yong Koo
Priority date: 2005-12-05
Filing date: 2006-11-24
Publication date: 2007-06-14

Abstract

A network system for contents collaboration and a method thereof. The system comprises an application program plug-in module for plugging-in a corresponding application program for implementation of the network system for contents collaboration; a contents map editor for creating a network room for contents collaboration, creating a corresponding item in the network room, and providing a property to the item; and a community service unit for real time sharing information relevant to the item with one or more registered visitors having logged in the network room according to the visitor's consent. Accordingly, users can share and collaborate corresponding contents one another.

Description

NETWORK SYSTEM FOR CONTENTS COLLABORATION ON

A REAL-TIME COMMUNITY BASED ON ITEMS OF

CONTENTS AND METHOD THEREOF

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a network system for contents collaboration and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a network system for contents collaboration capable of sharing corresponding contents by publishing the corresponding contents (e.g., web, game, multimedia) on an open-type communication network, and a method thereof.

Background Art

[2] Generally, a real-time gaming community system enables users to play a corresponding game real time on a gaming community. However, the real-time gaming community can not implement a collaboration function for the users to share knowledge or information relevant to corresponding web contents.

[3] Accordingly, a method for using a Java-based virtual machine as a game platform has been proposed. The game platform is a method for simultaneously showing a game and a web page on a map-based graphical virtual space by using a virtual reality modeling language (VRML). However, the method has caused many difficulties due to a heavy characteristic of the Java-platform and a limitation of network technology.

[4] Furthermore, since technical problems of the contents collaboration have not been solved, it was difficult for many users to collaborate for one contents. The collaboration means that corresponding contents viewed by one user 'A' is shared by other users 'B'. For instance, when the user 'A' having an authority surfs a shared web page or executes a process such as a game execution and a multimedia file replay, the users 'B' inside a network room where the user 'A'is a master can view the process and information generated during the process.

[5] The conventional technique relating to the contents collaboration has not been

concretely disclosed, and a method for sharing contents information by making an application and a web be cross-over on a multi-platform has not been disclosed.

[6] In the conventional art, when corresponding contents is uploaded to a general web page or a master's own web page, other users having a download authority download the contents or upload information relevant to the contents. That is, since information for the current users relevant to the current contents is not provided, a real time collaboration is impossible. Furthermore, for the contents collaboration, the users have to access to the same web page and have to exchange information one another by using a bulletin board, etc. provided from the web page.

[7] Besides, in the conventional art, since corresponding contents has a general file form, all files included in a corresponding folder have to be downloaded to a user's terminal. Accordingly, the conventional contents collaboration method requires a system, and causes inconvenience to download a corresponding file.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[8] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a network system for contents collaboration capable of enabling a user to execute a real-time collaboration for corresponding contents on an anonymous web, and a method thereof.

[9] Another object of the present invention is to provide a network system for contents collaboration capable of enabling users to check another party's access status to

Internet without accessing to specific contents, and enabling the users to create, spread and manage corresponding contents, and a method thereof.

[10] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a network system for

contents collaboration capable of enabling a user to easily check a characteristic of corresponding contents and easily to provide the contents to another user, and a method thereof.

Technical Solution

[11] To achieve these objects, there is provided a network system for contents collaboration, comprising: an application program plug-in module for plugging-in a corresponding application program for the network system for contents collaboration; a contents map editor for creating a network room for contents collaboration, creating a corresponding item in the network room, and providing a property to the item; and a community service unit for real time sharing information relevant to the item with one or more registered visitors having logged in the network room according to the visitor's consent.

[12] Preferably, the network system for contents collaboration further comprises a log-in check unit for checking an on-line state of the registered visitor and a log-in state to the network room, and informing the state to a user through an extension pack service medium that can be verified by the user.

[13] The extension pack service medium includes at least one of a wire informing

medium and a wireless informing medium. The wire informing medium is one of a wired memo and a wired messenger. The wireless informing medium is one of a wireless short message service (SMS) and a wireless multimedia message service (MMS).

[14] The network system for contents collaboration further comprises a collaboration database for storing and managing information relevant to collaboration with the logged visitors in an interactive form. The collaboration database includes the user's information, the user's log-in information, the user's item keeping information, the user's item property information, the user's network room information, the user's network room creating information, the user's club information, and the user's community information.

[15] The contents includes web contents, multimedia contents, game contents, etc.

[16] The item is provided with a property so as to be interworked with the application program by the contents map editor. Accordingly, the item is interworked with the application program.

[17] The contents map editor provides a property to the item by one of a character string- based text insertion method, and a copy/paste method.

[18] The log-in check unit shows a list of buddies having accessed to corresponding

contents when checking a log-in stateof the visitors, and real time informs the log-in information to the users by wire or by radio. Accordingly, the visitors visiting the user's network room or a community can real time perform a reaction immediately.

[19] To achieve these objects, there is also provided a method for contents collaboration using a network system for contents collaboration, comprising: when a user initially creates a network room or the user is a first visitor, obtaining a master authority for the network room; creating an item in the network room thereby providing a property to the item; and real time sharing information relevant to the item with a visitor according to a consent of one or more registered visitors having logged in the network room.

[20] The method further comprises grouping one or more visitors selected by the user and registering them after providing the property to the item; and checking an on-line state of the registered visitors on a corresponding web, and a log-in state to the network room.

[21] The method further comprises informing the on-line state and the log-in state to the user through an extension pack service medium that can be verified by the user.

[22] The extension pack service medium includes at least one of a wire informing

medium and a wireless informing medium. The wire informing medium is one of a wired memo and a wired messenger. The wireless informing medium is one of a wireless short message service (SMS) and a wireless multimedia message service (MMS). The contents includes web contents, multimedia contents, game contents, etc. The item is provided with a property so as to be interworked with the application program by the contents map editor.

[23] In the step of providing a property to the item, either a character string-based text insertion method or a copy/paste method is used.

[24] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for contents collaboration using a network system for contents collaboration, comprising: when a user initially creates a network room or the user is a first visitor, obtaining a master authority for the network room; creating an item in the network room thereby providing a property to the item; grouping one or more visitors selected by the user and registering them; checking an on-line state of the registered visitors on a corresponding web, and a log-in state to the network room; executing the contents according to a consent of one or more the registered visitors logged-in to the network room;

broadcasting a result of the contents execution to the visitors in the network room; and executing a communication between the user and the visitors with respect to at least one of the contents and an item included in the contents.

[25] The contents includes at least one of multimedia contents and game contents.

[26] The method further comprises informing the on-line state and the log-in state to the user through an extension pack service medium that can be verified by the user.

[27] The extension pack service medium includes at least one of a wired memo, a wired messenger, a wireless short message service (SMS) and a wireless multimedia message service (MMS).

[28] The item is provided with a property so as to be interworked with the application program.

[29] In the step of providing a property to the item, either a character string-based text insertion method or a copy/paste method is used.

Advantageous Effects

[30] In the present invention, a user can share/collaborate web information/media

contents with other visitors, and can simultaneously enjoy web contents, a gaming community contents (an interactive function using an avatar, e.g., a game factor such as competition using avatars and item obtaining), and multimedia contents on the same screen. Accordingly, the users real-time share information by using the web-contents, interactively enjoy games by using the game contents, exchange their opinions with viewing items on the web, or appreciate music or cinema.

[31] Once the network system for contents collaboration is real time executed on a web page having acustomer service as main contents, a web manager real time informs product contents or information contents inside the web page to a customer, and immediately answers for questions. That is, the web manager can real time execute a Q& A service.

[32] Furthermore, in case of a shopping site, contents is pop-up thus to enable users to real time communicate one another with respect to detailed information and their usage opinions for a product.

[33] In case of an education site, a program such as a work and HWP is pop-up thus to enable users to study together. That means users can pop-up text-based web contents to read with their friends. That is, once a user searches interesting contents on the web such as a bulletin board by himself, he can share it with his friend. Accordingly, an interesting factor may be added to the concept of 'downloading' on the current web. The concept of 'downloading'can enhance a usage efficiency by matching with the conventional function such as a bulletin board function and a data room function on the Internet.

[34] Furthermore, real-time on-line state information is informed to the user thus to

enable an immediate reaction. Accordingly, the real-time Q&A is possible in a specific site, e.g., an exclusive forum site by a developer such as a programmer or a designer.

[35] Besides, a multimedia is broadcast by being reproduced, so that two users can chat to each other (messenger, memo, message, SMS, MMS)while viewing a cinema. The two users can also listen to the MP3.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[36] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system for contents collaboration according to the present invention;

[37] FIG. 2 is a view showing a database for the contents collaboration of FIG. 1;

[38] FIG. 3 is a view showing a method for providing a property to an item inside 2D/3D game platform for a web contents collaboration according to the present invention;

[39] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method for publishing stored contents on a 2D/3D game collaboration platform according to an item property provided in a web contents- based collaboration method of the present invention;

[40] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for publishing stored contents on a 2D/3D game collaboration platform according to an item property provided in an application program (e.g., multimedia and game)-based contents collaboration method of the present invention; and

[41] FIG. 6 is a view showing an interface provided to a user terminal in the web

contents-based collaboration method of the present invention.

Mode for the Invention

[42] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[43] The present invention provides a method for sharing corresponding information and collaborating contents, in which contents such as a document file or multimedia data on a user's terminal, web contents on the web, multimedia contents, and each contents on wire/wireless service can be easily published on a gaming community platform. To this end, there is provided a method for converting files shared in the conventional TCP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) network ('network room') into contents having a meta-data item property by meta-data storage technique in a

HTTP(HyperText Transport Protocol) and Domain Naming System (DNS), and for publishing the converted contents on a standard web-based platform.

[44] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system for contents collaboration according to the present invention.

[45] The term 'collaboration' means that not only a user but also another visitors real time share the same contents in the same space. The technique is to overcome the conventional problem that many users on the same web page can not communicate to one another due to the anonymous-based internet.

[46] As shown, the network system for contents collaboration includes a contents collaboration system 100, an item shop 200, buddies registered as friends 270 and 272, and an extension pack service 300.

[47] The contents collaboration system 100 includes an application program plug-in module 110, a contents map editor 130, a community service unit 150, a collaboration database 170, and a log-in check unit 190.

[48] The application program plug-in module 110 enables not only an operating system

(OS) based on MS windows, Linux or Solaris but also an application program operated in wireless internet-based JAVA, Brew, etc. to be executed.

[49] The execution of the application program is to implement programs such as a game and each kind of execution files (e.g., MS Office program, media program).

[50] For instance, a 'web contents' execution is toexecute Internet address-based HTML documents or script-based web pages so that they can be shown on the conventional internet web browser. In case of the Internet Explorer (IE), the HTML documents or the web pages are shown on an application program on another GUI (Graphic User Interface) by using OCX (OLE Custom Control), which may be implemented as various types such as a pop-up, a full size, a multi- windows (simultaneously showing several pages), etc.

[51] The contents map editor 130 enables the user to construct a virtual space in the user's graphical room, a shop, or the web by using a virtual reality (VR, a program by which a virtual room can be created, which is called as a thin editor) in a 2D/3D community. The graphical virtual space and shop are defined as a 'network room'. The contents map editor 130 creates each kind of items used to decorate the network room according to a command inputted by the user, and provides each property to the items. The item may be created in an avatar form. The property of the item may include a web page execution, a pop-up execution, an Internet execution, a corresponding program execution, a corresponding multimedia replay, a corresponding game execution, etc. when the item is clicked.

[52] The contents collaboration system 100 may register an item having a corresponding property created by the contents map editor 130 to an item shop 200 published through an internet 50. The item registered to the item shop 200 can be purchased not only by buddies registered as friends but also any user accessed to the item shop 200. A preset fee is charged, and a result thereof is provided to the registered user by creating an item.

[53] The community service unit 150 provides a communication function between the user and buddies logged into the network room. When an item having a property provided from the contents map editor 130 is clicked, an application program for collaboration is executed or a web browser is activated according to the property of the item thereby enabling corresponding contents (e.g., a game processing situation) to be viewed or corresponding contents (e.g., a multimedia file) to be played.

[54] The collaboration database 170 manages information necessary to collaborate with respect to corresponding contents. FIG. 2 is a view showing information included in the collaboration database 170. As shown, the collaboration database 170 stores and manages a user's information 171, a user's log-in information 172, a user's item keeping information 173, a user's item property information 174, a user's network room information 175, a user's network room creating information 176, a user's club information 177, and a user's community information 178.

[55] The log-in checking unit 190 of FIG. 1 checks an on-line state of buddies registered as friends by the user, or visitors on a web relevant to corresponding contents registered as an interesting field by the user. That is, the log-in check unit 190 checks whether buddies 270 and 272 registered as friends by the user are currently in the online state, and real-time informs the on-line state of the friends to the user when the friends visit the network room thereof. The on-line state may be informed by a wired menu, a wired messenger, a wireless SMS (short message service), a wireless MMS (multimedia message service), etc.

[56] The user's state information means not only a log-in state to the service of the

preferred embodiment but also an extension thereof. For instance, a list of buddies accessed to games such as a brick stack, a basketball, etc. inside a game category is shown on a display of a messenger. Also, when the user's buddy accesses to a specific game and logs in, the state information is informed to the user's portable phone by a wireless SMS. By the log-in check unit 190, programs become synthesized and portal on a collaboration community service in a single sign on (SSO) form not only for a specific contents-related site but also for buddies registered as friends by the user.

[57] Furthermore, the on-line status information is checked, and then isreal-time

informed to the user through a communication medium that can be verified by the user. Accordingly, the limitation of the real-time community is overcome, and users can communicate to one another in a community where a real-time community is formed by performing a communication between the user and the registered buddies in a specific time and a specific place. That is, the on-line state information for the buddies registered by the user is real-time provided to the user by using an extension pack service such as a real-time menu, a wireless SMS, a wireless MMS, and a wire/wireless messenger, thereby enabling the user to perform an immediate reaction.

[58] The extension pack service 300 includes a chatting 310, a game 330, and a wireless

SMS and MMS 370. The extension pack services have been serviced on the internet. In the present invention, the extension pack services can be implemented by mere plug-in, and the user's database can be integrated.

[59] FIG. 3 is a view showing a method for a property to an item by the contents map editor 130 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

[60] The 'collaboration property'means execution of a contents activating program such as the conventional web, the application program, the game program (wireless JAVA- based, web-based, wire on-line network, wap-based stand for collaboration by the user. Herein, the user easily executes the programs by providing each property to graphical items used in a 2D or 3D-based graphical community.

[61] The user exchanges a present with anotheruser by using the 2D/3D item. Also, the user may architect his own network room by using the 2D/3D item. The property may be implemented just by a copy/paste function differently from the conventional contents downloading (web address form), and may be applied to the map editor.

[62] If a mouse is put on a created item at the time of a roll-over, a property of the item is displayed. Herein, a character string may be typed or corrected by clicking a right button of the mouse. For instance, the item can be easily connected to an execution file by hyper-linking a web-document on the item such as ":// ".

[63] As shown in the reference numeral 135, the contents map editor 130 inserts a file address property to DLL and EXE files, and inserts a web address property to cookie and HTML/Scrip files. Accordingly, the contents map editor 130 provides a corresponding file having a corresponding property inserted thereinto to the created 2D/3D item 137 by a text-based character string but also a drag, a copy/paste, etc. The item may be immediately corrected by the user's request.

[64] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method for publishing stored contents on a 2D/3D game collaboration platform by an item property provided in a web contents-based collaboration method of the present invention.

[65] As shown, when a user initially creates a network room through the contents map editor 130 or the user is a first visitor of a corresponding network room, the contents collaboration system 100 provides a master authority for the corresponding network room (Sl 10). Herein, the contents collaboration system 100 creates an item by controlling the contents map editor 130 according to a command inputted by the user, and provides a corresponding property to the created item(S120).

[66] The contents collaboration system 100 groups buddies registered as friends, and registers them according to a command inputted by the user (S 130). Then, when receiving information indicating that the registered buddies are currently on-line from the log-in check unit 190, the contents collaboration system 100 informs the on-line state to the user (S 140).

[67] The contents collaboration system 100 obtains a consent for collaboration from the on-line buddies according to the user's command (S 150). Accordingly, the contents collaboration system 100 surfs a corresponding web page and shares the same web information with the buddies according to the user's control (S 160).

[68] If the collaboration to share a corresponding item been performed, the contents collaboration system 100 provides the corresponding item having a property to a corresponding buddy thus to share the item (S 160).

[69] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for publishing stored contents on a 2D/3D game collaboration platform by an item property provided in an application program (e.g., multimedia andgame)-based contents collaboration method of the present invention.

[70] As shown, when a user initially creates a network room through the contents map editor 130 or the user is a first visitor of a corresponding network room, the contents collaboration system 100 provides a master authority for the corresponding network room (S310). Herein, the contents collaboration system 100 creates an item by controlling the contents map editor 130 according to a command inputted by the user, and provides a corresponding property to the created item(S320).

[71] The contents collaboration system 100 groups buddies registered as friends, and registers them according to a command inputted by the user (S330). Then, when receiving information indicating that the registered buddies are currently on-line from the log-in check unit 190, the contents collaboration system 100 informs the on-line state to the user (S340).

[72] The contents collaboration system 100 obtains a consent for collaboration from the on-line buddies according to the user's command (S350). Accordingly, the contents collaboration system 100 executes corresponding contents according to the user's control (S360). The corresponding contents is game contents or multimedia contents. The game contents is executed by the user, and the multimedia contents is replayed.

[73] The buddies having consented to the collaboration view a game, and the replayed multimedia is broadcast to the buddies (S370). Then, the contents collaboration system 100 exchanges the game item or the multimedia contents through the collaboration between the buddies having consented to the collaboration with the user (S380).

[74] The users can exchange their items with another item used in another game while playing a game, and can implement a synthesized commercial trading system based on items. The user can share information such as a game tip with another user, and can integrally utilize several commercial trading systems relevant to each kind of items.

[75] FIG. 6 is a view showing an interface provided to a user terminal in the web

contents-based collaboration method according to the present invention.

[76] FIG. 6 shows components on a screen when the contents collaboration system 100 is implemented. The screen 500 includes an address window 510 for showing address information, a web window 520 for showing a web page, a controller window 530, and a network room 540 including an 2D/3D item.

[77] The web window 520 is an internet browser for showing a web page. The user can perform a collaboration by using web-relating contents shown on the web window 520. When the user navigates the web window 520, a cookie value thereof is transmitted to another users having allowed a collaboration inside a group. Then, the terminal automatically executes the cookie value, therebyperforming the collaboration.

[78] The controller window 530 displays an on-line state of a user registered as a buddy as on/off, and displays on a list. For instance, the controller window 530 may display another user's access state to another game. The user can transmit not only a message and a file but also a present to another user. At the time of a mode conversion on the web or the contents collaboration system, the screen can be converted through the controller window 530.

[79] The network room 540 for collaboration consists of 2D/3D gaming community. The user can architect the network room 540 by himself with each kind of interior items. The users can communicate to one another with their own avatars, and show their motions. For instance, when another party surfs the internet, the another party is shown as an avatar surfing the internet.

[80] It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

[1] A network system for contents collaboration, comprising:

an application program plug-in module for plugging-in a corresponding application program for implementation of the network system for contents collaboration;

a contents map editor for creating a network room for contents collaboration, creating a corresponding item in the network room, and providing a property to the item; and

a community service unit for real time sharing information relevant to the item with one or more registered visitors having logged in the network room according to the visitor's consent.

[2] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 1, further comprising a log-in check unit for checking an on-line state of the registered visitor and a login state to the network room, and informing the state to a user through an extension pack service medium that can be verified by the user.

[3] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 2,wherein the extension pack service medium comprises at least one of a wire informing medium and a wireless informing medium.

[4] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 3, wherein the wire

informing medium is one of a wired memo and a wired messenger.

[5] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 3,wherein the wireless informing medium is one of a wireless short message service (SMS) and a wireless multimedia message service (MMS).

[6] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 2,further comprising a collaboration database for storing and managing information relevant to collaboration with the logged-in visitors in an interactive form.

[7] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 6,wherein the collaboration database comprises a user's information, a user's log-in information, a user's item keeping information, a user's item property information, a user's network room information, a user's network room creating information, a user's club information, and a user's community information.

[8] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 1, wherein the contents comprises at least one of web contents, multimedia contents, and game contents.

[9] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 1, wherein the item is provided with a property so as to be interworked with the application program by the contents map editor, and thus the item is interworked with the application program.

[10] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 9,wherein the contents map editor provides a property to the item by one of a character string-based text insertion method and a copy/paste method.

[11] The network system for contents collaboration of claim 1, wherein the log-in check unit shows a list of buddies accessed to corresponding contents when checking a log-in state of the visitors, and real time informs the log-in information to the users by wire or by radio so that the users visiting the user's network room or a community may real time performs an immediate reaction.

[12] A method for contents collaboration using a network system for contents collaboration, comprising:

when a user initially creates a network room or the user is a first visitor, obtaining a master authority for the network room;

creating an item in the network room thereby providing a property to the item; and

real time sharing information relevant to the item with one or more registered visitors having logged in the network according to the visitor's consent.

[13] The method of claim 12, further comprising:

grouping one or more visitors selected by the user and registering them after providing the property to the item; and

checking an on-line state of the registered visitors on a corresponding web, and a log-in state to the network room.

[14] The method of claim 13, further comprising:

informing a result of the on-line state and the log-in state to the user through an extension pack service medium that can be verified by the user.

[15] The method of claim 14, wherein the extension pack service medium comprises at least one of a wire informing medium and a wireless informing medium.

[16] The method of claim 15, wherein the wire informing medium is one of a wired memo and a wired messenger.

[17] The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless informing medium is one of a wireless short message service (SMS) and a wireless multimedia message service (MMS).

[18] The method of claim 12, wherein the contents includes web contents, multimedia contents, and game contents.

[19] The method of claim 12, wherein the item is provided with a property so as to be interworked with the application program.

[20] The method of claim 12, wherein in the step of providing the property to the item, one of a character- string based text insertion method and a copy/paste method is used.

[21] A method for contents collaboration using a network system for contents collaboration, comprising:

creating an item in the network room thereby providing a property to the item; grouping one or more visitors selected by the user and registering them;

checking an on-line state of the registered visitors on a corresponding web, and a log-in state to the network room;

executing the contents according to a consent of one or more registered visitors having logged in the network room;

broadcasting a result of the contents execution to the visitors in the network room; and

executing an exchange between the user and the visitors with respect to at least one of the contents and an item included in the contents.

[22] The method of claim 21, wherein the contents comprises at least one of

multimedia contents and game contents.

[23] The method of claim 21, further comprising:

informing the on-line state and the log-in state to the user through an extension pack service medium that can be verified by the user.

[24] The method of claim 23, wherein the extension pack service medium comprises at least one of a wired memo, a wired messenger, a wireless short message service (SMS) and a wireless multimedia message service (MMS).

[25] The method of claim 21, wherein the item is provided with a property so as to be interworked with the application program.

[26] The method of claim 21, wherein in the step of providing the property to the item, one of a character string-based text insertion method and a copy/paste method is used.