WO2021210753A1

WO2021210753A1 - Method and device for providing electronic book service

Info

Publication number: WO2021210753A1
Application number: PCT/KR2020/018509
Authority: WO
Inventors: 박종한
Original assignee: 주식회사 펍플
Priority date: 2020-04-16
Filing date: 2020-12-17
Publication date: 2021-10-21

Abstract

A method and a device for providing an electronic book service are disclosed. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, provided is an electronic book service providing method performed by an electronic book service server, the method comprising the processes of: providing an electronic book including an associated keyword to a terminal; receiving an interaction request for the associated keyword from the terminal; selecting an associated content (hereinafter, an "exposed content") to be exposed to the terminal in relation to the associated keyword from among pre-registered associated contents; and transmitting identification information relating to the exposed content to the terminal.

Description

Method and device for providing e-book service

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for providing an e-book service. More particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus for providing an e-book service capable of interworking with an e-commerce platform.

The content described in this section merely provides background information on the present invention and does not constitute the prior art.

As the educational environment and the government's education policy change recently, the educational paradigm is changing, and various attempts are being made to support the changed educational environment. Among them, e-book is a generic term for digital books that can be used like books by recording information such as text or images on electronic media. are receiving

However, there are many difficulties in producing and publishing e-books for publishers (hereinafter, 'producers') who have been publishing individual or traditional book books. Producers are generally producing e-books using e-book production tools distributed free of charge by distributors. However, there is a problem that the e-book production tools so far are difficult for producers to handle, which acts as a barrier to the activation of the e-book market.

According to the conventional e-book production method, in order to link the e-book with products sold on the e-commerce platform, the producer must directly insert a link to a specific product in the e-book. This e-book production method increases the time required to produce the e-book, and has a problem in that it is impossible to customize the e-book by reflecting the contents and/or characteristics of each user.

The present disclosure relates to the content of the e-book by allocating linked keywords to text and/or images of the e-book and forming a link between the linked keyword and the e-commerce platform using an API (Application Programming Interface) provided by the e-commerce platform. and/or to provide a method and apparatus for providing an e-book service capable of providing customized linked content reflecting the characteristics of each user.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an e-book service providing method performed by an e-book service server, the method comprising: providing an e-book including a linked keyword to a terminal; receiving an interaction request for the associated keyword from the terminal; selecting a linked content (hereinafter, 'exposed content') to be exposed to the terminal in relation to the linked keyword from among previously registered linked content; and transmitting identification information on the exposed content to the terminal.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an e-book service server for providing an e-book service, comprising: an e-book generator for providing an e-book including a linked keyword to a terminal; When receiving an interaction request for the linked keyword from the terminal, an exposure content selection unit that selects linked content (hereinafter, 'exposed content') to be exposed to the terminal in relation to the linked keyword from among previously registered linked content ; and a linked content providing unit for transmitting identification information on the exposed content to the terminal.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a linked keyword is assigned to text and/or an image of an e-book, and an API (Application Programming Interface) provided by the e-commerce platform is used between the linked keyword and the e-commerce platform. By forming a link, there is an effect that customized linked content reflecting the contents of the e-book and/or characteristics of each user can be provided.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an e-book service system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing an e-book service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an e-book service server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an e-book generator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

5 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example of an e-book service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even though they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing the present disclosure, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in describing the components of the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the components from other components, and the essence, order, or order of the components are not limited by the terms. Throughout the specification, when a part 'includes' or 'includes' a certain component, it means that other components may be further included, rather than excluding other components, unless otherwise stated. . In addition, the '... Terms such as 'unit' and 'module' mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented as hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the e-book service system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes all or part of the e-book service server 100 , the content server 110 , and the user terminal 120 . Not all blocks shown in FIG. 1 are essential components, and in another embodiment, some blocks included in the e-book service system 10 may be added, changed, or deleted.

The e-book service server 100 is a device that provides an e-book file to the user terminal 120 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the e-book service server 100 may generate an e-book file from original data input from the outside, but is not limited to this example. That is, the e-book service server 100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure provides the e-book file generated by the e-book generating device (not shown), which is a separate stand-alone device, to the user terminal 120 . can do.

The e-book service server 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure generates an e-book file to which at least one or more link keywords are assigned. When the e-book service server 100 obtains an interaction request for a specific linked keyword given to the e-book file from the user terminal 120, the e-book service server 100 selects linked content to be matched with the linked keyword, and the linked content Provides identification information for the user terminal 120 . Here, the linked content means an e-commerce product or a list of products that can be exposed to the user in connection with the contents of the e-book. The e-commerce product may include, for example, products related to travel, books, sound sources, performances, and the like, but this is for convenience of explanation and is not limited to these examples. That is, the e-book according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be linked with various tradable products through communication such as the Internet.

The content server 110 is a device that provides an e-commerce platform for selling linked content.

The content server 110 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure provides the linked keyword for each linked content to the e-book service server 100 . In this case, the content server 110 may provide the e-book service server 100 with an API (Application Programming Interface) for accessing the linked content.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the e-book service server 100 and the content server 110 may be implemented in the form of a web server and/or a network server. The e-book service server 100 and the content server 110 may communicate with an unspecified number of clients or other servers via an open computer network such as the Internet. The e-book service server 100 and the content server 110 may derive and provide a job result corresponding to a job execution request of a client or another web server.

The user terminal 120 is a device that receives the e-book file from the e-book service server 100 and allows the user to view the contents of the e-book file.

The user terminal 120 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a terminal capable of transmitting and receiving various data via a network according to a user's key manipulation, and includes a tablet PC, a laptop, and a personal computer ( It may be any one of a personal computer (PC), a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a mobile communication terminal.

The user terminal 120 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be equipped with an e-book viewer application. The user terminal 120 drives the e-book viewer application according to a user's manipulation or command, and may provide a viewer function for e-book content through the e-book viewer application.

The user terminal 120 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide an interface including an executable extension function that connects the e-book and the e-commerce platform through the e-book viewer application. The user terminal 120 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure receives identification information on the linked content to be exposed to the user from the e-book service server 100, and accesses the content server 110 based on this to access the linked content. information can be provided to the user.

The content server 110 registers the associated content with the e-book service server 100 (S200). The e-book service server 100 may process the registration of the linked content by mapping the linked content information and the linked keyword received from the content server 110 and storing it in a database. In this case, the e-book service server 100 may additionally collect reference information for providing a customized link service for each user from the content server 110 . Here, the reference information may include content type information such as travel, books, sound sources, and performances. Meanwhile, the e-book service server 100 may register linked content information of a plurality of content servers 110 and may register a plurality of linked content information for the same linked keyword.

The e-book service server 100 provides the e-book to the user terminal 120 (S210). In this case, the e-book service server 100 may provide the e-book to which at least one linked keyword is assigned to the user terminal 120 .

The e-book service server 100 collects and analyzes the e-book usage history of the user terminal 120 (S220). The e-book service server 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may collect and analyze a user's learning pattern using an e-book as an e-book usage history. For example, it is possible to collect and analyze the field in which the user learns, the contents that the user takes notes and/or highlights while learning using the e-book, and the learning time.

The user terminal 120 requests an interaction with a specific linked keyword among linked keywords assigned to the e-book (S230).

The e-book service server 100 selects the linked content to be provided to the user terminal 120 in relation to the linked keyword for which the user terminal 120 has requested an interaction from among one or more previously registered linked content (S240). For example, the e-book service server 100 inquires one or more linked contents previously registered by being mapped with the linked keyword that the user terminal 120 requested for interaction in the database, and provides the user terminal 120 from among the retrieved linked contents. You can select related content to be provided. In this case, the e-book service server 100 may select the linked content to be provided to the user terminal 120 based on the content of the content included in the e-book, the user's learning pattern, and reference information for each linked content.

The e-book service server 100 provides identification information for the selected linked content to the user terminal 120 (S250).

The user terminal 120 may expose the linked content to the user by accessing the content server 110 using the identification information on the linked content (S260). At this time, the user terminal 120 uses the in-app browser of the e-book viewer application or a separate browser application pre-loaded on the user terminal to access the web page provided by the content server to view the linked content by the user. can be exposed to Alternatively, the associated content may be exposed to the user by installing and/or running a separate application related to the associated content.

The user may purchase the exposed linked content, and in this case, the e-book service server 100 may receive a preset fee from the content server 110 . That is, when the user purchases an e-commerce product linked to the e-book, a preset fee may be settled.

As described above, when there is an interaction request for a specific linked keyword from the user terminal 120 , the e-book service server 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure provides the user terminal 120 with respect to the corresponding linked keyword. You can select related content to be provided. Accordingly, the linked content registered in the e-book service server 100 after the production time of the e-book can also be linked to the corresponding e-book, and user-tailored linked content can be provided.

Although it is described that each process is sequentially executed in FIG. 2 , this is merely illustrative of the technical idea of an embodiment of the present disclosure. In other words, those of ordinary skill in the art to which an embodiment of the present disclosure pertain may change the order described in FIG. 2 within a range that does not deviate from the essential characteristics of an embodiment of the present disclosure, or perform one or more of the respective processes. Since it will be possible to apply various modifications and variations by executing in parallel, FIG. 2 is not limited to a time-series order.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the e-book service server 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a linked content registration unit 300 , an e-book generation unit 310 , a usage history analysis unit 320 , and an exposed content selection unit. 330 , all or part of the linked content providing unit 340 is included. Not all blocks shown in FIG. 3 are essential components, and in another embodiment, some blocks included in the e-book service server 100 may be added, changed, or deleted. For example, when receiving an e-book file from an e-book generating device, which is a separate stand-alone device interworking with the e-book service server 100, the e-book service server 100 does not include the e-book generating unit 310. may not be

The linked content registration unit 300 registers linked content information. For example, the linked content registration unit 300 may process the registration of the linked content by mapping the linked content information and the linked keyword received from the content server 110 and storing it in a database. In this case, the linked content registration unit 300 may additionally collect reference information for providing a customized linked service for each user. Here, the reference information may include content type information such as travel, books, sound sources, and performances. Meanwhile, the linked content registration unit 300 may register linked content information of a plurality of content servers 110 , and a plurality of linked content information may be mapped to the same linked keyword and stored.

The e-book generating unit 310 generates an e-book in which a related keyword is assigned to a text paragraph, a word, and an image. The e-book generator 310 provides the e-book to the user terminal 120 according to the request of the user terminal 120 . A detailed description of the e-book generating unit 310 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 .

The usage history analysis unit 320 collects and analyzes the e-book usage history of the user terminal 120 . More specifically, the usage history analysis unit 320 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may collect and analyze a user's learning pattern using the e-book as an e-book usage history. For example, it is possible to collect and analyze the field in which the user learns, the contents that the user takes notes and/or highlights while learning using the e-book, and the learning time.

The exposed content selection unit 330 selects the linked content to be provided to the user terminal 120 from among the previously registered linked content. Specifically, the linked content to be provided to the user terminal 120 is selected from one or more previously registered linked content mapped to the same linked keyword. The exposure content selection unit 330 is a user terminal ( 120) can select related content to be provided.

When there is an interaction request for a specific linked keyword from the user terminal 120 , the exposed content selection unit 330 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is mapped to the corresponding linked keyword and registered among one or more linked contents, the user terminal Linked content to be provided to 120 may be selected.

The exposure content selection unit 330 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure prescribes the linked content to be provided to the user terminal 120 for each linked keyword for all linked keywords included in the e-book provided to the user terminal 120 in advance. It can be selected and stored, and when there is an interaction request for a specific linked keyword from the user terminal 120 , user-customized linked content corresponding to the linked keyword can be delivered to the linked content providing unit 340 .

The linked content providing unit 340 obtains an interaction request for a specific linked keyword from the user terminal 120 , and transmits identification information for the selected linked content to the user terminal 120 to the user terminal 120 . Here, the identification information for the linked content is information that enables the user terminal 120 to launch an executable extension function in relation to the linked content, and an access address related to the linked content and/or an application related to the linked content is driven. It can be a command. The linked content providing unit 340 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may provide identification information on the linked content to the user terminal 120 by using an API provided by the content server 100 . The linked content providing unit 340 calculates a preset fee from the content server 110 when the user terminal 120 connected to the content server 110 purchases the linked content by using the identification information on the linked content. can receive That is, when an e-commerce product linked to an e-book is sold, a preset fee may be calculated from the e-commerce platform.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the e-book generation unit 310 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an input unit 400 , a vector image generation unit 410 , a raster image generation unit 420 , and a metadata generation unit 430 . ), the associated keyword allocator 440 and the format conversion unit 450 include all or a part. Components included in the e-book generating unit 310 according to the present embodiment are not necessarily limited thereto. That is, in the case of FIG. 4, only the components for giving a linked keyword related to the contents of the e-book among the components of the e-book generating unit 310 according to the present embodiment are exemplarily shown. It should be appreciated that 310 may have more or fewer components or different components than those shown for the implementation of other functions.

The input unit 400 receives raw data for producing an e-book. The original data may include text information and image information, and preferably a file produced in EPS or PDF format, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

The vector image generator 410 extracts text information from the original data and then converts the text information into vector image information. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the vector image generating unit 410 calculates coordinates and numerical information for a plurality of lines constituting the form of text information by processing the outline of the character of the text information, It is preferable to generate the text information format in the form of a vector image SGV (Scalable Vector Graphics) format based on the calculated coordinates and numerical information, but is not necessarily limited to this example.

The raster image generator 420 extracts image information from the original data, and converts the extracted image information into raster image information. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the raster image generator 420 converts the extracted image information into a preset image format. For example, the raster image generator 420 may store and provide the extracted image information in a bitmap image format, but is not necessarily limited to this example.

The metadata generator 430 extracts metadata for text information and image information included in the original data. In this case, as metadata, layout information including position coordinate values for each of text information and image information may be collected, and attribute information including data values (ie, text contents) corresponding to text information (attribute information, Hereinafter, 'text attribute information') may be collected. According to an embodiment, the metadata generator 430 may additionally collect one or more of font information, size information, and color information for text information as text style information. Such metadata may be used as reference data in the process of assigning a linked keyword while performing a function as replacement data to replace related data for text information that is lost in the process of imaging text information.

The associated keyword allocator 440 assigns the associated keyword to the vector image and/or the raster image based on the vector image information, the raster image information, and metadata. For example, the linked keyword allocator 440 may assign a linked keyword to each text paragraph, word, and image in the e-book by adding linked keyword information to metadata corresponding to the vector image and the specific raster image. Meanwhile, an example in which the linked keyword assignment unit 440 assigns a linked keyword to a specific text paragraph, word, and image will be described below. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the linked keyword assignment unit 440 is included in the e-book. Linked keywords can be assigned to all text paragraphs, words, and images.

The linked keyword allocator 440 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may assign a linked keyword to the vector image and/or the raster image based on the linked keyword previously registered in the linked content registration unit 300 . For example, the linked keyword allocator 440 inquires metadata having text attribute information that matches a previously registered linked keyword or includes a previously registered linked keyword, and is pre-registered as linked keyword information in the inquired metadata. Linked keywords can be assigned.

The linked keyword allocator 440 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may extract all or part of text information included in the original data, and then extract text information that is repeated more than a preset threshold from among the extracted text information as a key word. . The linked keyword allocator 440 may search for metadata having text attribute information that matches or includes a key word, and assigns a key word as linked keyword information to the retrieved metadata.

The linked keyword allocator 440 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure extracts, as a key word, text attribute information that is repeated over a preset threshold using text attribute information for each metadata, and adds the text attribute information to metadata including the corresponding text attribute information. The extracted key word may be given as linked keyword information.

When the text style information in the metadata satisfies a preset condition, the linked keyword allocator 440 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure extracts text attribute information of the corresponding metadata as a key word, and adds the linked keyword to the corresponding metadata. Key words extracted as information can be given. For example, when the size and/or color of text satisfies a preset condition, linked keyword information may be added to metadata corresponding to the text.

The linked keyword allocator 440 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may extract a key word from a raster image and may assign the extracted key word as a linked keyword to metadata corresponding to the raster image. The linked keyword allocator 440 may extract the text included in the raster image as a key word by using a character recognition technology such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Also, the linked keyword allocator 440 may extract a key word from the raster image by using an image recognition technique such as image classification or object recognition.

The associated keyword allocator 440 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure extracts a key word using a caption of a raster image and/or metadata corresponding to a vector image around the raster image, and corresponds to the raster image. The extracted key word as a linked keyword can be given to the metadata.

The format converter 450 generates an e-book file in a preset format based on metadata, vector image information, and raster image information. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is preferable that the format conversion unit 450 generates an e-book file in an electronic publication (ePUB) format, but is not limited thereto.

5 and 6 are exemplary views illustrating an example of an e-book service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to the method for providing an e-book service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to link related contents such as travel, books, sound sources, and performances according to the contents of the contents included in the e-book. For example, referring to FIG. 5 , 'Italy' may be assigned as a related keyword to metadata corresponding to an image of a map of Italy, and an e-commerce product or a list of products related to travel to Italy may be linked. In addition, the image of the person can be linked to the book content related to the person, the related viewing and/or experiential learning content can be linked to the image related to culture and history, and the sound source content can be linked to the text including the song title. can

According to the method for providing an e-book service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to link different linked contents such as travel, book, sound source, and performance for each user with respect to the same linked keyword. For example, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , with respect to 'Italy', which is the same linked keyword, Italian travel content may be associated with the first user, and Italian-related book content may be associated with the second user. Furthermore, even within the same book content, different book (or book list) content such as history, humanities, and novels may be linked for each user.

Various implementations of the systems and techniques described herein include digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combination can be realized. These various implementations may include being implemented in one or more computer programs executable on a programmable system. The programmable system includes at least one programmable processor (which may be a special purpose processor) coupled to receive data and instructions from, and transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. or may be a general-purpose processor). Computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications or code) contain instructions for a programmable processor and are stored on a "computer-readable recording medium".

The computer-readable recording medium includes all types of recording devices in which data readable by a computer system is stored. These computer-readable recording media are non-volatile or non-transitory, such as ROM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, memory card, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, and storage device. medium, and may further include a transitory medium such as a data transmission medium. In addition, the computer-readable 　 recording medium may be distributed in a network-connected computer system, and computer-readable code may be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

Various implementations of the systems and techniques described herein may be implemented by a programmable computer. Here, the computer includes a programmable processor, a data storage system (including volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or other types of storage systems or combinations thereof), and at least one communication interface. For example, a programmable computer may be one of a server, a network appliance, a set-top box, an embedded device, a computer expansion module, a personal computer, a laptop, a Personal Data Assistant (PDA), a cloud computing system, or a mobile device.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of this embodiment, and various modifications and variations will be possible by those skilled in the art to which this embodiment belongs without departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. Accordingly, the present embodiments are intended to explain rather than limit the technical spirit of the present embodiment, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present embodiment is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of this embodiment should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present embodiment.

(Explanation of symbols)

10: e-book service system 100: e-book service server

110: content server 120: user terminal

300: linked content register 310: e-book generator

320: usage history analysis unit 330: exposure content selection unit

340: linked content providing unit 400: input unit

410: vector image generator 420: raster image generator

430: metadata generator 440: associated keyword allocator

450: format conversion unit

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a patent application No. 10-2020-0045819 filed in Korea on April 16, 2020 and a patent filed in Korea on December 16, 2020, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Claims priority to Application No. 10-2020-0176768.

Claims

As an e-book service providing method performed by an e-book service server,

providing an e-book including a linked keyword to a terminal;

receiving an interaction request for the associated keyword from the terminal;

selecting a linked content (hereinafter, 'exposed content') to be exposed to the terminal in relation to the linked keyword from among previously registered linked content; and

Transmitting identification information for the exposed content to the terminal

E-book service providing method comprising a.
According to claim 1,

Before the process of providing to the terminal,

Further comprising the process of generating the e-book,

The process of creating the e-book,

extracting metadata for text information and image information included in the original data; and

Allocating a related keyword to the metadata based on at least one of the text information and the image information

E-book service providing method comprising a.
3. The method of claim 2,

The process of allocating the linked keyword is,

a process of inquiring text information that matches a previously registered linked keyword or includes the previously registered linked keyword; and

The process of allocating the previously registered linked keyword to metadata corresponding to the inquired text information

E-book service providing method comprising a.
3. The method of claim 2,

The process of allocating the linked keyword is,

extracting a key word based on at least one of the text information and the image information; and

Allocating the key word as the linked keyword to metadata corresponding to at least one of the text information and the image information

E-book service providing method comprising a.
According to claim 1,

Before the process of selecting the exposed content,

The method of providing an e-book service, characterized in that it further comprises the process of collecting and analyzing the e-book usage history of the terminal.
6. The method of claim 5,

The e-book usage history,

The method for providing an e-book service comprising at least one of a field in which the user of the terminal learns, a content that the user writes or highlights on the e-book, and a learning time of the user.
6. The method of claim 5,

The process of selecting the exposed content is,

a process of inquiring one or more related contents mapped with the related keyword and registered in advance; and

A process of selecting the exposed content from among the searched linked content based on at least one of the content of the e-book and the use history of the e-book

E-book service providing method comprising a.
An e-book service server that provides an e-book service,

an e-book generating unit that provides an e-book including a linked keyword to a terminal;

When receiving an interaction request for the linked keyword from the terminal, an exposure content selection unit that selects linked content (hereinafter, 'exposed content') to be exposed to the terminal in relation to the linked keyword from among previously registered linked content ; and

Linked content providing unit for transmitting identification information for the exposed content to the terminal

E-book service server comprising a.
A computer program stored in a computer-readable recording medium to execute each process included in the method for providing an e-book service according to any one of claims 1 to 7.