WO2012096453A2

WO2012096453A2 - Method and system for providing a user interface based on a service environment

Info

Publication number: WO2012096453A2
Application number: PCT/KR2011/009902
Authority: WO
Inventors: 장동일
Original assignee: 주식회사 포키비언
Priority date: 2011-01-10
Filing date: 2011-12-21
Publication date: 2012-07-19
Also published as: WO2012096453A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a user interface (UI) based on a service environment. The user interface providing system comprises: a time information acquisition unit which acquires information on a time when a request for a user interface is received from a user; a location information acquisition unit which acquires information on the location of the user which corresponds to the time; a virtual space determining unit which determines information on a virtual space corresponding to the user on the basis of the acquired time information and location information; and a user interface providing unit which provides, on the basis of the determined virtual space information, the user interface that is used by the user in the virtual space.

Description

Method and system for providing user interface based on service environment

The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a user interface based on a service environment, and more particularly, to a method and system for providing a user interface suitable for an environment using a service based on an environment in which the user uses a service.

With the development of wired and wireless network technology and the spread of various types of terminals, so-called N-screen services, in which a single user uses a plurality of heterogeneous terminals, have attracted attention.

In particular, a service for providing a variety of contents by interlocking smart TVs, PCs, Internet phones, etc. centering on mobile terminals capable of wireless data communication such as smart phones, has been provided to users.

In such an environment, a mobile terminal capable of wireless data communication such as a smartphone may be used not only as a simple communication device but also as a control terminal capable of controlling other terminals such as a smart TV and a PC.

That is, the user may use a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet PC as a control terminal that displays an interface for controlling other terminals while simultaneously displaying user-specific information such as user's taste and existing usage history.

However, a plurality of terminals may exist in the service environment of the user, and the environment in which the user uses the service may also include a plurality of environments.

Therefore, although a service, a viewing channel, and a content that are mainly used may vary according to an environment in which the user uses the service or a terminal used by the user, according to the related art, a difference of the environment is not considered and simply a plurality of terminals are used. Only a controllable interface is provided, which causes a problem of poor utility.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to provide a user interface providing method and system that can provide a user interface and user information suitable for the environment according to the environment in which the user uses the service.

As a technical means for achieving the above-described technical problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a time information acquisition unit for obtaining information of the time corresponding to the time when the request of the user interface from the user, the user corresponding to the time Location information acquisition unit for obtaining information of the location of the virtual space determination unit for determining the information of the virtual space corresponding to the user based on the information of the acquired time and the information of the acquired location of the determined virtual space A system for providing a user interface (UI) based on a service environment including a user interface providing unit for providing a user interface used by the user in the virtual space based on the information may be provided.

In addition, the second aspect of the present invention (a) obtaining the location information of the user requesting the provision of the user interface, (b) obtaining time information at the time of requesting the provision of the user interface, (c) the Retrieving virtual space information corresponding to location information and time information; and (d) providing a user interface to the user based on the retrieved virtual space information, the user using the provided user interface. By using one or more terminals can provide a user interface (UI) providing method based on a service environment.

Since the present invention provides a user interface suitable for a virtual space that is an environment in which a user uses one or more terminals or services, the user can more easily use one or more terminals or services in an environment to which the user belongs.

1 is a diagram illustrating a virtual space according to a user's use of a service recognized by a user interface providing system according to the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an interface providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a user interface (UI) according to a virtual space in a user interface providing method based on a service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing a virtual space of a user by an interface providing system in a method for providing a user interface based on a service environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when a part is "connected" to another part, this includes not only "directly connected" but also "electrically connected" with another element in between. . In addition, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, which means that it may further include other components, except to exclude other components unless otherwise stated.

1 is a diagram illustrating a virtual space according to a user's use of a service recognized by a user interface providing system according to the present invention. In the present invention, the virtual space refers to an environment in which a user uses one or more terminals or services, and includes an environment concept as well as a concept of time.

In FIG. 1, a user may move between a home and a company, and thus, various services may be used in a home and a company by using a plurality of terminals.

For example, a user may mainly use IPTV contents using services such as real-time broadcasting and VOD using a TV at home, and a device that can be controlled by providing a separate interface as well as a TV, for example, an air conditioner and a robot. A vacuum cleaner etc. can be used. In addition, the user can mainly use the mail, work schedule management services using a PC in the company.

In addition, the user may be divided into a service mainly used according to the space in the home, the service mainly used according to the time as well as the space.

For example, for a time from 18:00 to 22:00 on Monday through Friday, the user may mainly use the TV viewing service in the living room. In addition, in the case of the hours from 22 to 24 hours of Monday to Friday, the user can mainly use the VOD viewing service in room 1.

In this case, the living room for a time from 18:00 to 22:00 on Monday to Friday may be set as the first space, and room 1 for a time from 22:00 to 24 hours on Monday to Friday may be set as the second space. have.

In the case of the hours from 13:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, the user can use the Internet service mainly by using a PC in room 2. In the case of hours from 9:00 to 18:00 on Mondays through Fridays, You can use business-related services mainly.

In such a case, room 2 for a time from 13:00 to 17:00 on Saturday to Sunday may be set as the third space, and the company for a time from 9:00 to 18:00 on Monday to Friday may be set as the fourth space. have.

As such, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the virtual space according to the user's use of the service is not simply set based on the location as described above, but is set in consideration of the user's living environment such as time and type of the terminal to be used. Can be.

The interface providing system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a virtual space manager 110, a profile manager 120, a location information acquirer 130, a time information acquirer 140, and a virtual space determiner 150. ), A profile obtaining unit 160, a UI providing unit 170, a virtual space database 180, and a profile database 190, and may be included in an interface providing terminal such as a user's smart phone and a tablet PC.

The interface providing terminal is connected to another terminal used by the user through the interface providing system 100, for example, a user interface (UI) for controlling or managing the terminal by connecting to a terminal such as a TV, a PC, a cleaner, or an air conditioner. Can be provided to the user.

The virtual space manager 110 generates information of the newly recognized user's virtual space and stores the information in the virtual space database 180. When an update is made to the existing virtual space, the virtual space manager 110 updates the information of the corresponding virtual space. Stored in the spatial database 180.

As described above, the virtual space according to the user's use of the service is set in consideration of not only the location but also the time, the user's living environment such as a user terminal, and a living pattern. Virtual space information can be generated and updated based on a living pattern or the like.

The profile manager 120 generates profile information of the user according to the virtual space managed by the virtual space manager 110, stores the profile information in the profile database 190, and updates the profile information when the virtual space information is updated, or the user. The profile information is updated when the usage information of the terminal and the like is changed.

The profile manager 120 may configure the user's configuration information, such as configuration information of a user interface (UI) set by the user, reservation information or alarm information, preference service information used by the user through the terminal, and the user's device. Based on the usage information and the service history information, the user's profile information on the virtual space generated and managed by the virtual space manager 110 may be generated.

For example, in the living room during the hours of 18:00 to 22:00 on Monday to Friday set as the first virtual space, a user mainly uses a real-time broadcast watching service, and in particular, a specific channel is used for watching a drama or news every hour. When mainly used, the profile manager 120 may generate a first profile including preferred channel information mainly used by a user for each time with respect to the first virtual space.

The location information acquisition unit 130 obtains location information which is information of a place where the user is located at the time when the user interface is requested from the user. That is, the location information acquisition unit 130 obtains location information of the user at the time of requesting the user interface through the interface providing terminal.

The location information acquisition unit 130 may access a wireless access point such as global positioning system (GPS) information of an interface providing terminal including the interface providing system 100 and a Wi-Fi access point (AP) located around the interface providing terminal. The location information of the user, that is, the interface providing terminal may be obtained using the strength of the signal of the point (AP).

In particular, the location information acquisition unit 130 may acquire the location information of the interface providing terminal indoors using the signal strength of the Wi-Fi AP located around the interface providing terminal as described above.

That is, the location information acquisition unit 130 calculates how far the interface providing terminal is located from each Wi-Fi-AP using the signal strength of the Wi-Fi-AP located near the interface providing terminal, Location information of the providing terminal can be obtained.

In addition, the location information acquisition unit 130 is connected to the interface providing terminal to obtain the user's location information using the identification information of the device, such as a TV, PC, refrigerator, etc. device provided with the interface through the interface providing terminal. can do.

For example, when the interface providing terminal is connected to a TV located in the living room, the location information acquisition unit 130 may obtain location information of the user, that is, location information that the user is located in the living room, using the identification information of the TV. .

The time information obtaining unit 140 obtains time information from the time when the user interface is requested to be provided. That is, the time information acquisition unit 140 obtains information of the time when the user interface is provided to the user through the interface providing terminal.

The virtual space determiner 150 uses the location information of the user acquired by the location information acquirer 130 and the time information acquired by the time information acquirer 140 to determine a virtual space to which the user belongs, that is, the user. Determines whether the interface belongs to a virtual use environment that needs to be provided.

For example, when it is determined that the user is located in the living room by the location information acquirer 130 and the time is determined by 20 o'clock by the time information acquirer 140, the virtual space determiner 150 is the current user. May be determined to be located in the living room for a time from 18:00 to 22:00 on Monday to Friday set as the first virtual space, and based on this determination, it may be determined that the virtual space to which the user belongs is the first virtual space.

The profile obtaining unit 160 obtains profile information matching the virtual space determined by the virtual space determining unit 150 from the profile database 190.

The UI providing unit 170 provides a user interface (UI) that matches the profile information obtained by the profile obtaining unit 160 to the user through the interface providing terminal.

In operation S110, the interface providing system detects a virtual space to which the user belongs using the location information and the time information of the user.

The interface providing system may recognize a situation in which the user is connected to a device other than the interface providing terminal by using the interface providing terminal, and thus detect a virtual space to which the user belongs.

The interface providing system may detect the virtual space and acquire access terminal information, user terminal usage history information, and the like that match the detected virtual space.

That is, the interface providing system may obtain information of a terminal accessed through the interface providing terminal, usage information of the connected terminal, and the like. For example, when a user watches a specific channel using a TV in the detected virtual space in step S110, the interface providing system may obtain information about the TV and the channel used in the detected virtual space.

In step S120, the interface providing system determines whether the virtual space detected in step S110 is a new virtual space or whether a change has occurred in the existing virtual space.

In step S130, when it is determined in step S120 that the virtual space detected by the interface providing system is a new virtual space, the interface providing system creates a new virtual space for the virtual space detected in step S110. .

That is, the interface providing system generates a new virtual space by using location information matching the virtual space detected in step S110, time information, information on an access terminal acquired in step S110, user terminal usage history information, and the like. Can be generated.

In step S140, the interface providing system generates profile information for the new virtual space created in step S130. The generated profile information includes user setting information on the terminal such as configuration information of a user interface (UI) set by the user, reservation information or alarm information, preferred service information used by the user through the terminal, and the like. Service history information and the like.

In step S150, if it is determined in step S120 that the virtual space detected by the interface providing system is an existing virtual space instead of a new virtual space, the interface providing system may enter the virtual space detected in step S110. Information of a matching existing virtual space is obtained from a virtual space database (not shown).

In addition, the interface providing system may obtain profile information matching the virtual space detected in step S110 from a profile database (not shown).

In step S160, the interface providing system acquires the information or the profile information of the existing virtual space so that the information of the access terminal obtained in step S150 and the step S110, terminal usage history information of the user, etc. are reflected. Update.

Then, when the user uses the interface providing terminal in the updated virtual space, the user may be provided with a user interface (UI) reflecting the updated information.

In step S210, the interface providing system acquires location information of the user. That is, the interface providing system may recognize that the user is connecting to another terminal through the interface providing terminal and request to provide the interface, and may acquire location information of the interface providing terminal that the user is using.

As described above, the interface providing system uses location information of the interface providing terminal by using global positioning system (GPS) information of the interface providing terminal, signal strength of a Wi-Fi access point (AP) located near the interface providing terminal, and the like. Can be obtained.

In step S220, the interface providing system obtains information of the time when the interface is provided through the interface providing terminal. The interface providing system may acquire time information by using a time information providing function included in the interface providing terminal.

For example, when the interface providing terminal receives time information from the mobile communication service provider and provides the received time information to the user using a clock UI, the interface providing system receives the interface providing terminal from the mobile communication service provider. Based on the time information, information on the time at which the interface is provided through the interface providing terminal may be obtained.

In step S230, the interface providing system searches for a virtual space matching the location information received in step S110 and the time information received in step S120 from a virtual space database (not shown).

That is, the interface providing system determines a virtual space where the current user uses the user interface (UI) by using the location information received in step S110 and the time information received in step S120, and matches the searched virtual space. Virtual space information may be obtained.

In step S240, the interface providing system obtains profile information matching the virtual space information obtained by searching in step S230 from a profile database (not shown).

In step S250, the interface providing system provides a user interface (UI) matching the profile information obtained in step S240 to the user through an interface providing terminal (not shown).

The profile information includes configuration information of a user interface (UI) set by the user, user setting information on the terminal such as reservation information or alarm information, preferred service information and service history information used by the user through the terminal, and the like. In addition, the interface provision system may provide a user with a user interface that matches the profile information.

An embodiment of the present invention may also be implemented in the form of a recording medium including instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executed by the computer. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media.

In addition, computer readable media may include both computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Communication media typically includes computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave, or other transmission mechanism, and includes any information delivery media.

Although the methods and systems of the present invention have been described in connection with specific embodiments, some or all of their components or operations may be implemented using a computer system having a general hardware architecture.

The foregoing description of the present invention is intended for illustration, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be easily modified in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. will be. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

For example, each component described as a single type may be implemented in a distributed manner, and similarly, components described as distributed may be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is shown by the following claims rather than the above description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. do.

Claims

In the user interface (UI) providing system based on the service environment,

A time information acquisition unit for obtaining information of a time corresponding to a point in time at which a request for a user interface is received from a user;

A location information acquisition unit for obtaining information of the location of the user corresponding to the viewpoint;

A virtual space determiner configured to determine information of a virtual space corresponding to the user based on the obtained time information and the obtained location information;

A user interface providing unit for providing a user interface used by the user in the virtual space based on the determined information of the virtual space.

System for providing a user interface comprising a.
The method of claim 1,

A profile manager for generating profile information corresponding to information of the virtual space and including setting information of the user interface

System for providing a user interface further comprising.
The method of claim 2,

And the user interface providing unit provides the user face based on profile information corresponding to the determined virtual space information.
The method of claim 2,

And the profile information includes usage history information of a terminal or a service used through the user interface.
The method of claim 1,

The location information acquisition unit obtains the location information based on global positioning system (GPS) information.

And the access information of the wireless access point includes access signal strength information with the wireless access point.
In the user interface (UI) providing method based on the service environment,

(a) obtaining location information of a user who has requested to provide a user interface,

(b) obtaining time information at the time of requesting the provision of the user interface;

(c) retrieving virtual space information corresponding to the location information and time information;

(d) providing a user interface to the user based on the retrieved virtual space information

Including,

And the user uses one or more terminals by using the provided user interface.
The method of claim 6,

In step (c),

(c1) obtaining profile information matching the retrieved virtual space information and including at least one of setting information of the user interface and usage history information of the one or more terminals;

Including,

And (d) providing a user interface to the user based on the obtained profile information.
The method of claim 6,

In the step (a), wherein the location information is obtained based on at least one of global positioning system (GPS) information and access signal strength information with a wireless access point (AP).