WO2009061056A1

WO2009061056A1 - Method and system of providing message-based service, and storage media storing instructions performing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2009061056A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003715
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jin Hong Yang; Geum Beom Song
Original assignee: Herit Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-11-08
Filing date: 2008-06-27
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: KR100803693B1

Abstract

A method of providing a message-based service includes receiving a message, extracting a keyword from the received message to generate information needed by a transmitter and/or a receiver of the received message (hereinafter, referred to as 'context information'), determining a content provider based on the generated context information, and transmitting, to the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service-providing message made by the determined content provider or a service-providing message previously defined according to the determined content provider. Therefore, the method can be potentially used for finding out the context information from the message to provide the transmitter and/or the receiver with a service that the transmitter and/or the receiver need(s).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING MESSAGE-BASED SERVICE, AND STORAGE MEDIA STORING INSTRUCTIONS

PERFORMING THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a message -based service, and more particularly, to a method and system of providing a message-based service and a storage medium storing instructions for performing the method. Background Art

[2] Lately, with development of mobile communication service, various services using a cellular phone are being developed. For example, in the past, a message service meant only a Short Message Service (SMS) transferring characters, but now may include a Long Message Service (LMS), a Multimedia Message Service (MMS), and an e-mail service as well as the SMS.

[3] A message transmitted by a transmitter or received by a receiver may sometimes not include specific content, but usually includes information that the transmitter and/or the receiver need(s). Therefore, when it is possible to find out information that the transmitter and/or the receiver need(s) from the message to provide the transmitter and/ or the receiver with a service that the transmitter and/or the receiver need(s), the transmitter and/or the receiver can be provided with helpful information.

[4] In addition, when the transmitter and/or the receiver need(s) advertisement information on a specific service, an advertiser can provide the transmitter and/or the receiver with needed advertisement information. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] The present invention is directed to a method of providing a message-based service which can provide a service that a transmitter and/or a receiver need(s) based on a message.

[6] The present invention is also directed to a system for performing the method.

[7] The present invention is also directed to a storage medium storing instructions for performing the method. Technical Solution

[8] One aspect of the present invention provides a method of providing a message-based service, including: receiving a message; extracting a keyword from the received message to generate information needed by a transmitter and/or a receiver of the received message (hereinafter, referred to as "context information"); determining a content provider based on the generated context information; and transmitting, to the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service-providing message made by the determined content provider or a service-providing message previously defined according to the determined content provider.

[9] The method may further include transmitting, by the transmitter, the message to a previously defined specific number. The receiving the message may include determining whether the transmitter and/or the receiver subscribe(s) to the message-based service, and receiving the message.

[10] The generating the context information may include generating the context information based on at least one of personal information on the transmitter and/or the receiver, location information on the transmitter and/or the receiver, the extracted keyword or time information.

[11] The generating the context information may include synthesizing first context information generated from the message transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver and second context information generated from the message sent in reply from the receiver to the transmitter, to generate the context information.

[12] The determining the content provider based on the generated context information may include, when there are two or more content providers, determining the content provider based on amounts paid for the message-based service by the respective content providers.

[13] The determining the content provider may include determining the content provider based on a weighted round robin scheme determined according to the amounts, probabilities determined according to the amounts, or a content provider paying the largest amount among the two or more content providers.

[14] The method may further include, when the service-providing message includes feedback information, accessing, by the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service provided by the content provider based on the feedback information. The feedback information may be received from the transmitter and/or the receiver.

[15] The method may further include generating statistical data when the transmitter and/ or the receiver access(es) the service provided by the content provider based on the feedback information.

[16] Another aspect of the present invention provides a system for providing a message- based service, including: means for receiving a message; means for extracting a keyword from the received message to generate information needed by a transmitter and/or a receiver of the received message (hereinafter, referred to as "context information"); means for determining a content provider on the basis of the generated context information; and means for transmitting, to the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service-providing message made by the determined content provider or a service- providing message previously defined according to the determined content provider.

[17] The means for generating the context information may include means for generating the context information based on at least one of personal information on the transmitter and/or the receiver, location information on the transmitter and/or the receiver, the extracted keyword or time information.

[18] The means for determining the content provider based on the generated context information may include means for, when there are two or more content providers, determining the content provider based on amounts paid for the message-based service by the respective content providers.

[19] The system may further include means for, when the service-providing message includes feedback information, accessing, by the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service provided by the content provider based on the feedback information. The feedback information may be received from the transmitter and/or the receiver.

[20] Still another aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method of providing a message-based service, the method including: extracting a keyword from the received message to generate information needed by a transmitter and/or a receiver of the received message (hereinafter, referred to as "context information"); determining a content provider based on the generated context information; and transmitting, to the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service- providing message made by the determined content provider or a service-providing message previously defined according to the determined content provider.

Advantageous Effects

[21] An example embodiment of the present invention can derive information that a transmitter and/or a receiver need(s) from a message to provide the transmitter and/or the receiver with a needed service.

[22] Also, when a transmitter and/or a receiver need(s) advertisement information on a specific service, an example embodiment of the present invention can provide the transmitter and/or the receiver with needed advertisement information.

[23] Also, an example embodiment of the present invention can provide needed information to a transmitter and/or a receiver derived from a message to increase communication service providers' profit. Brief Description of the Drawings

[24] FIG. 1 is a diagram for illustrating a message-based service providing system according to an example embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a message-based service providing method according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[25] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams for illustrating a procedure where the message-based service providing system in FIG. 1 generates a service-providing message based on messages transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver.

[26] FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams for illustrating a procedure where the message-based service providing system in FIG. 1 generates a service-providing message based on a message transmitted by a transmitter.

[27] FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams for illustrating a procedure where the message-based service providing system in FIG. 1 generates a service-providing message when a transmitter transmits a message to a previously defined specific number. Mode for the Invention

[28] Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the example embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various types. Therefore, the present example embodiments are provided for complete disclosure of the present invention and to fully inform the scope of the present invention to those ordinarily skilled in the art.

[29] Terms used in the present invention must be understood as described below.

[30] The terms "first", "second" etc., are for distinguishing a component from other components, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and vice versa.

[31] The term "and/or" denotes all combinations of one or more related items that can be made. For example, "a first item, a second item and/or a third item" denotes at least one of the first item, the second item and the third item, that is, all combinations of two or more of the items as well as the respective items.

[32] When it is said that a component is "connected" with another component, the component may be directly connected with another component, or still another component may exist between the components. On the other hand, when it is said that a component is "directly connected" with another component, no component exists between the components. This is the same for other expressions, such as "between" and "directly between" or "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to" describing a relationship between components.

[33] Singular expressions used in the present invention include plural expressions unless the singular expressions have obviously different means in a context. Terms "include", "have" etc., are intended to denote the existence of mentioned characters, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the probability of existence or addition of one or more other characters, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[34] Respective steps described in the present invention may be performed in a different order from an order in which the respective steps are described unless a specific non- obvious order is described in a context. In other words, respective steps may be performed in the same order as described, substantially at the same time, or in reverse order with respect to the sequence of description.

[35] All terms used in this specification have the same meanings as generally understood by those skilled in the art unless they are differently defined. Terms defined in a generally used dictionary have the same meanings as obtained in a context of related art, but do not have ideal or excessively formal meanings unless they are non- obviously defined in this specification.

[36] FIG. 1 is a diagram for illustrating a message-based service providing system according to an example embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a message-based service providing method according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[37] Referring to FIG. 1, a message-based service providing system 100 includes a transmitter 110, a context aware server 120, a service-providing message server 130 and a receiver 140, and may further include a base station 150 capable of connecting with each other.

[38] The context aware server 120 and the service-providing message server 130 may be implemented as one server according to an example embodiment, or implemented as separate servers according to another example embodiment.

[39] The context aware server 120 receives a message (S210). According to an example embodiment, when the transmitter transmits a message to a previously defined specific number, the context aware server 120 may receive the message. According to another example embodiment, the context aware server 120 may determine whether the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140 subscribe(s) to a message-based service to receive the message.

[40] The context aware server 120 extracts a keyword from the received message to generate information needed by the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140 of the received message (hereinafter, referred to as "context information") (S220). According to an example embodiment, the context information server 120 may generate the context information based on at least one of personal information on the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140, location information on the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140, the extracted keyword or time information.

[41] For example, the personal information may include an age, a date of birth, an occupation, a consumption pattern, a preferred brand, etc., and the location information may include information on at least one base station directly connected with a terminal or Global Positioning System (GPS) information of the terminal.

[42] The service-providing message server 130 determines a content provider based on the context information generated by the context aware server 120 (S230). According to an example embodiment, when there are two or more content providers, the service- providing message server 130 may determine the content provider based on amounts paid for the message-based service by the respective content providers.

[43] For example, the service-providing message server 130 may use a weighted round robin scheme determined based on the amounts paid for the message-based service. When there are content providers A, B and C corresponding to the context information, content provider A may pay 60 % of the total amount, content provider B may pay 30 % of the same, and content provider C may pay 10 % of the same. In this case, the service-providing message server 130 determines content provider A six out of ten times, content provider B three out of ten times, and content provider C one out of ten times as the content provider.

[44] For another example, the service-providing message server 130 may determine a content provider according to a probability determined based on amounts paid for the message-based service. When there are content providers A, B and C corresponding to the context information, content provider A may pay 60 % of the total amount, content provider B may pay 30 % of the same, and content provider C may pay 10 % of the same. In this case, the service-providing message server 130 determines content provider A with a probability of 6/10, content provider B with a probability of 3/10, and content provider C with a probability of 1/10 as the content provider.

[45] For still another example, the service-providing message server 130 may determine, as the content provider, a content provider paying the largest amount among two or more content providers based on amounts paid for the message-based service.

[46] The service-providing message server 130 transmits a service-providing message made by the determined content provider or a service-providing message previously defined according to the determined content provider to the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140 (S240).

[47] For example, when the determined content provider has a commercial purpose, the service-providing message server 130 may transmit a service-providing message made by the content provider. On the other hand, when the determined content provider has a non-commercial purpose, the service-providing message server 130 may transmit a service-providing message previously defined according to the content provider.

[48] When the service-providing message transmitted from the service-providing message server 130 includes feedback information, the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140 access (es) a service provided by the content provider using the feedback information (S250). The feedback information may be received from the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140

[49] When the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140 access(es) the service provided by the content provider using the feedback information, the service-providing message server 130 generates statistical data (S260).

[50] Hereinafter, more detailed description will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to

8.

[51] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams for illustrating a procedure where the message-based service providing system in FIG. 1 generates a service-providing message based on messages transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver.

[52] The transmitter 110 transmits a message Ml including a content "Sehun, see you in front of Myungdong XX department store at 6 tonight. Let's have dinner and buy some clothes." to the receiver 140.

[53] The context aware server 120 extracts a keyword from the message Ml. For example, the keyword may be "at 6 tonight", "Myungdong XX department store", "have dinner" and "buy some clothes". The context aware server 120 generates information 310 needed by the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140 of the message Ml (hereinafter, referred to as "first context information 310").

[54] In reply, the receiver 140 transmits a message M2 including a content "Okay. How about spaghetti? Or pizza? Go shopping in Y plaza? Or somewhere else?" to the transmitter 110.

[55] The context aware server 120 extracts a keyword from the message M2. For example, the keyword may be "spaghetti", "pizza" and "Y plaza". The context aware server 120 generates information 320 needed by the transmitter 140 and/or the receiver 110 of the message M2(hereinafter, referred to as "second context information 320").

[56] According to an example embodiment, the context aware server 120 may separately process the first and second context information 310 and 320 generated from the message Ml transmitted from the transmitter 110 and the message M2 sent in reply from the receiver 140. According to another example embodiment, the context aware server 120 may synthesize the first and second context information 310 and 320 generated from the message Ml transmitted from the transmitter 110 and the message M2 sent in reply from the receiver 140 and thus generate context information 410.

[57] For example, when the receiver 140 transmits the message M2 in response to the message Ml within a specific time after the transmitter 110 transmits the message Ml, the context aware server 120 may synthesize the first and second context information 310 and 320 generated from the message Ml transmitted from the transmitter 110 and the message M2 sent in reply from the receiver 140, to generate the context information 410.

[58] The service-providing message server 130 determines a content provider based on the context information 410. For example, the content provider may include "Myungdong pizza", "Myungdong spaghetti", Myungdong XX department store" and "Myungdong YY fashion", and the service-providing message server 130 may classify the content providers based on personal information on the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140.

[59] The service-providing message server 130 transmits a service -providing message 420 made by the content provider to the transmitter 110 and/or the receiver 140. For example, the service-providing message server 130 may transmit a message 420a made by "Myungdong Pizza" to the transmitter 110 and the receiver 140.

[60] FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams for illustrating a procedure where the message-based service providing system in FIG. 1 generates a service-providing message based on a message transmitted by a transmitter.

[61] The transmitter 110 transmits a message M3 including a content "Rats! This sucks!" to the receiver 140.

[62] The context aware server 120 extracts a keyword from the message M3. For example, the keyword may include "this sucks" The context aware server 120 generates information 610 needed by the receiver 140 of the message M3 (hereinafter, referred to as "third context information 610").

[63] The service-providing message server 130 determines a content provider based on the third context information 610. For example, the content provider may be determined as the content provider providing a ring-back tone 620a and/or emoticon pack 620b.

[64] When there are two or more content providers, the content provider may be determined based on amounts paid for the message -based service by the respective content providers.

[65] The service-providing message server 130 transmits a service -providing message 620 made by the content provider to the receiver 140. For example, the service-providing message server 130 may transmit a message 620a made by a provider of a ring-back tone content to the receiver 140.

[66] FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams for illustrating a procedure where the message-based service providing system in FIG. 1 generates a service-providing message when a transmitter transmits a message to a previously defined specific number.

[67] The transmitter 110 transmits a message M4 including a content "Myungdong pizza" to a previously defined specific number. For example, the specific number may correspond to a supplementary service provided by a communication service provider.

[68] The context aware server 120 extracts a keyword from the message M4. For example, the keyword may include "Myungdong pizza". The context aware server 120 generates information 810 needed by the transmitter 110 of the message M4(hereinafter, referred to as "fourth context information").

[69] The service-providing message server 130 determines a content provider based on the fourth context information 810. For example, the content provider may include "myungdong pizza" and "Myungdong DD pizza".

[70] When there are two or more content providers, the content provider may be determined based on amounts paid for the message -based service by the respective content providers.

[71] The service-providing message server 130 transmits a service -providing message 820 made by the content provider to the transmitter 110. For example, the service- providing message server 130 may transmit a message 820a made by "Myungdong hut" to the receiver 140.

[72] FIGS. 7 and 8 are based on the assumption that the content provider has a commercial purpose, but a case in which the content provider has a non-commercial purpose may be implemented according to another example embodiment. For example, when the transmitter 110 transmits a message M5 including a content "Myungdong police station" to a specific number, the service-providing message server 130 may transmit a service-providing message previously defined according to a content provider to the transmitter 110.

[73] Meanwhile, a method performed by the context aware server 120 and the service- providing message server 130 can be implemented by a computer program, and thus storage media storing instructions for performing the method can be also implemented with ease. Industrial Applicability

[74] The above described example embodiments of the present invention may have effects including advantages below. However, it does not mean that all example embodiments of the present invention must have all the effects. Thus, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the effects.

[75] An example embodiment of the present invention can derive information that a transmitter and/or a receiver need(s) from a message to provide the transmitter and/or the receiver with a needed service.

[76] Also, when a transmitter and/or a receiver need(s) advertisement information on a specific service, an example embodiment of the present invention can provide the transmitter and/or the receiver with needed advertisement information.

[77] Also, an example embodiment of the present invention can provide needed information to a transmitter and/or a receiver derived from a message to increase communication service providers' profit.

[78] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain example embodiments thereof, 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 invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

[1] A method of providing a message-based service, comprising: receiving a message; extracting a keyword from the received message to generate information needed by a transmitter and/or a receiver of the received message (hereinafter, referred to as "context information"); determining a content provider based on the generated context information; and transmitting, to the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service-providing message made by the determined content provider or a service-providing message previously defined according to the determined content provider.

[2] The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the transmitter, the message to a previously defined specific number.

[3] The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the message comprises: determining whether the transmitter and/or the receiver subscribe(s) to the message -based service to receive the message.

[4] The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the context information comprises: generating the context information based on at least one of personal information on the transmitter and/or the receiver, location information on the transmitter and/or the receiver, the extracted keyword or time information.

[5] The method of claim 4, wherein the generating the context information comprises: synthesizing first context information generated from the message transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver and second context information generated from the message sent in reply from the receiver to the transmitter, to generate the context information.

[6] The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the content provider based on the generated context information comprises, when there are two or more content providers, determining the content provider based on amounts paid for the message-based service by the respective content providers.

[7] The method of claim 6, wherein the determining the content provider comprises: determining the content provider based on a weighted round robin scheme determined according to the amounts, probabilities determined according to the amounts, or a content provider paying the largest amount among the two or more content providers.

[8] The method of claim 1, further comprising: when the service-providing message includes feedback information, accessing, by the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service provided by the content provider based on the feedback information, the feedback information that may be received from the transmitter and/or the receiver.

[9] The method of claim 8, further comprising: generating statistical data when the transmitter and/or the receiver access(es) the service provided by the content provider based on the feedback information.

[10] A system for providing a message-based service, comprising: means for receiving a message; means for extracting a keyword from the received message to generate information needed by a transmitter and/or a receiver of the received message (hereinafter, referred to as "context information"); means for determining a content provider on the basis of the generated context information; and means for transmitting, to the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service-providing message made by the determined content provider or a service-providing message previously defined according to the determined content provider.

[11] The system of claim 10, wherein means for generating the context information comprises: means for generating the context information based on at least one of personal information on the transmitter and/or the receiver, location information on the transmitter and/or the receiver, the extracted keyword or time information.

[12] The system of claim 10, wherein means for determining the content provider based on the generated context information comprises: means for, when there are two or more content providers, determining the content provider based on amounts paid for the message-based service by the respective content providers.

[13] The system of claim 10, further comprising: means for, when the service-providing message includes feedback information, accessing, by the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service provided by the content provider based on the feedback information, the feedback information that may be received from the transmitter and/or the receiver.

[14] A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method of providing a message- based service, the method comprising: receiving a message; extracting a keyword from the received message to generate information needed by a transmitter and/or a receiver of the received message (hereinafter, referred to as "context information"); determining a content provider based on the generated context information; and transmitting, to the transmitter and/or the receiver, a service-providing message made by the determined content provider or a service-providing message previously defined according to the determined content provider.