KR101022792B1 - How devices and text chat services support text chat - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a text chatting service method based on a short message service of a terminal connected to a communication network, and an apparatus supporting the method. The terminal or text chat service method of the present invention may provide a menu for selecting a text chat to a user. The terminal or text chat service method of the present invention may display a chat window on the screen of the terminal when the user of the terminal and the user of the counterpart terminal accept the chat. The terminal or the text chat service method of the present invention can convert the short message received from the counterpart terminal into the chat text and display the converted chat text in the chat window.

Short Message Service, SMS, Text Chat

Description

Devices that support text chat and how to service text chat {DEVICE SUPPORTING TEXT CONVERSATION AND TEXT CONVERSATION SERVICE METHOD}

The present invention relates to a text chat method using a communication terminal and an apparatus supporting the chat method.

With the recent rapid development of electronic engineering and communication engineering, mobile communication terminals have various functions. That is, with the rapid development of wireless communication and data processing technology, people can use not only voice calls but also Internet access, video communication and video message transmission using mobile communication terminals.

In addition, due to the rapid spread of mobile communication terminals, mobile communication terminals are becoming an essential means in modern life, such as a considerable amount of communication occurring in human relationships through mobile communication terminals.

A typical text-based message transfer service that can be used by a user in a mobile communication system is a short message service (SMS). This is a bidirectional data radio calling service in accordance with the standard of the mobile communication globalization system (GSM), and is a service for transmitting data with a maximum size of 150 bytes between the terminal and the terminal. It is possible to send and receive messages consisting of letters and numbers between the mobile communication terminal or the network through SMS, and the types of services include short message transmission, urgent message display, date / time recording, and message recognition.

Such SMS has been used daily because it is possible to easily send and receive messages anytime and anywhere among users who use the mobile communication terminal in conjunction with the generalization of the mobile communication terminal.

Meanwhile, communication network providers currently providing mobile communication services may provide a mobile messenger as a text chat service that can be used in a mobile communication system. Types of such mobile messengers include mobile MSN, Buddy Buddy, and Nate-On. These mobile messengers are provided through a mobile data communication network.

However, in the case of a mobile communication terminal currently provided to the consumer, that is, a GSM, CDMA, or WCDMA terminal that does not provide data service (ie, a non-WIPI terminal), the corresponding text chat service is provided. There is a problem that can not be. In addition, in the case of a data service based text chat service, since the service is provided through a too complicated procedure, there is a problem that acts as an obstacle to activation.

According to the present invention, a server of a communication network is provided with a service method and apparatus for implementing a text chat between both users by using a short message exchange between terminals without having to implement a function for text chat.

According to the present invention, it is possible to text chat using a short message between users having a terminal supporting the service without adding a new function to the server of the communication network.

The terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention provides an interface for providing a text chat selection menu to a user, and when a text chat is selected from the text chat selection menu, a transceiver for transmitting a chat request to a counterpart terminal designated as the counterpart of the text chat; And controlling the interface to display a chat window to the user and to display a short message received from the counterpart terminal in the chat window when a chat response corresponding to the chat request is received from the counterpart terminal. It may include a control unit.

In this case, the interface may provide the text chat selection menu as one of menus in response to a short message received from the counterpart terminal. In this case, the controller may convert the chat text input by the user into a short message, and insert a data field indicating a time when the short message is generated in the short message.

The text chat service method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be performed through a user terminal. The text chat service method includes providing a text chat selection menu to a user of a terminal, and when text chat is selected from the text chat selection menu, transmitting a chat request to a counterpart terminal designated as the counterpart of the text chat, to the user. Displaying a chat window; converting a short message received from the counterpart terminal into chat text when a chat response corresponding to the chat request is received from the counterpart terminal; and displaying the chat text in the chat window. It may include.

In this case, the step of providing a text chat selection menu to the user may provide the text chat selection menu as one of menus in response to a short message received from the counterpart terminal.

In this case, the text chat service method may further include converting the chat text input by the user into a short message, and converting the chat text into a short message may include the time at which the short message is generated ( A data field indicating time may be inserted into the short message.

The control method of the terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may support a text chat service. The method of controlling a terminal may include receiving a chat request from a counterpart terminal, checking whether the terminal is in a call or chatting, transmitting a non-chat notification to the counterpart terminal when the terminal is busy or chatting, The method may include providing a text chat selection menu to a user of the terminal when not in a call or chatting, and displaying a chat window to the user when the user selects a text chat.

When using the text chat service according to an embodiment of the present invention, the server of the communication network is capable of text chatting between both users by using a short message exchange between terminals without having to implement a function for text chatting. The terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention may convert the received short message into chat text and display the converted chat text on the screen of the terminal. This enables text chatting using a short message between users who have a terminal supporting the service without adding a new function to the server of the communication network.

In addition, since the text chat service according to an embodiment of the present invention uses a short message that is conventionally used, a user can enjoy a text chat that enables real-time message checking such as a messenger without requiring a separate sign-up procedure or login process. have.

In addition, the terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention supports a text chat using a short message, so that the user can easily change the communication method to the communication using the short message in the text chat mode or vice versa.

In addition, the terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide a convenient user interface that can simultaneously check the transmitted short message and the received short message through a single screen.

In addition, according to the text chat service method according to an embodiment of the present invention, even when implementing a text chat between three or more users, it does not require a complicated relay function by the server of the communication network, the short message between each of the terminals It is possible to provide a text chat interface through an arrangement according to the transmission and reception and the transmission time of the short message.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited or limited by the embodiments. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

1 is a diagram illustrating a mobile communication system supporting a text chatting service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile communication system includes a base station or repeater 110, a first terminal 120, a second terminal 130, and a third terminal 140.

The base station or repeater 110 may have the same configuration as the configuration for transmitting the existing short message. Mobile communication terminals may transmit or receive various types of information in the form of text or images. In this case, the mobile communication terminals may transmit information through a mobile internet or a mobile data network, or, in the case of transmitting a text, may transmit a relatively short message service (SMS).

Short message service is a two-way short message service that can send and receive relatively short text messages between mobile communication terminals regardless of the communication between the mobile communication terminals. In general, the delivery of a short message is faster than an e-mail via the Internet, and has an advantage of being delivered to a receiver at the same time as a transmission, and thus the use of general users is increasing.

Short message services currently provided are often limited to 80 to 90 bytes in length of the text, but the text chat service of the present invention is not limited to the length limitation of the text.

The base station or repeater 110 delivers the reply number and the message (content) of the terminal for transmitting in a short message. In addition, since the user is not constrained as compared to a voice call that cannot perform other tasks, some operators provide advertisements and life information using a short message.

The first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 display the received short message to the user, and in response to the received short message, the user may select a communication method such as replying, voice call connection, text chatting, or the like. It can provide an interface.

The short message transmission process in the mobile communication system will be described through the short message transmission from the first terminal 120 to the second terminal 130.

The first terminal 120 generates a short message including text input by the user. The first terminal 120 can generate a short message including a reply number (identification number of the first terminal 120).

The first terminal 120 transmits a short message to the base station or the repeater 110.

The base station or repeater 110 is installed for each region divided into a specific size, and typically, the closest base station or repeater 110 receives the short message first from the first terminal 120. In this case, the position of the first terminal 120 can be known from the position of the base station or the repeater 110 and its allocation area.

The base station or repeater 110 transmits the location information, the terminal information and the short message of the first terminal 120 to a mobile communication switching center (not shown).

The mobile communication switching center may search for the base station or repeater closest to the second terminal 130 from the identification number of the second terminal 130 included in the short message. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed herein that the base station or repeater closest to the second terminal 130 is also the base station or repeater 110.

The base station or repeater transmits the location information and the terminal information of the second terminal 130 to the mobile communication switching center in response to the search request of the mobile communication switching center.

The mobile communication switching center transmits a short message to the base station or repeater 110, and the base station or repeater 110 transmits the short message to the second terminal 130.

In the present specification, for convenience of the following description, an institution performing a function in an existing communication network such as a base station or a repeater 110, a mobile communication switching center, or a short message service center (not shown) includes a server of a communication network. Or call it a server.

The server includes a part that performs a control function to efficiently operate a plurality of base stations and repeaters, controls the interworking function between a mobile communication network, a wired telephone network, a mobile data network, and the like, and performs code division multiple access (Code Division). It is possible to control the handover function between different types of communication networks such as Multiple Access (CDMA), W-CDMA, or Global System for Mobile communications (GSM).

The server may store a short message transmitted between terminals as needed, and in the above example, performs location registration of the first terminal 120 and the second terminal 130, and visitor location register in the server. , The subscriber information of the first terminal 120 and the second terminal 130 is temporarily stored in the VLR. Thereafter, the server may request a location registration of the first terminal 120 and the second terminal 130 to a home location register (HLR).

If the short message requested to be transmitted from the first terminal 120 to the second terminal 130 is not delivered to the second terminal 130, the server may set the time or the second designated by the user of the first terminal 120. The short message may be stored until the terminal 130 reaches a receivable state.

The short message stored in the server may be deleted if the short message is not transmitted to the second terminal 130 even after it is confirmed that the short message has been delivered to the second terminal 130 or until a preset valid time elapses.

The short message may be usefully delivered even when the user is located in a public place where the call is difficult, or when the call may damage another person, such as a meeting, work, or lecture.

In addition, multi-party voice call can be mainly used in a special situation such as a conference call, but a short message is more useful for multi-party communication because it can be conveniently delivered to a plurality of parties if only the number of the other party is specified. Can be.

When both parties send and receive a short message repeatedly, there may be a desire to display and confirm the transmission message and the received message on one screen, and the situation in which both parties can continue to communicate in real time. If so, a user interface may be provided to provide an improved text chat (text chat) service.

The first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention supports a text chat service based on a short message service, and interfaces such as the Korean standard Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability (WIPI). You can provide a text chat service without including. The first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 may transmit data necessary for a chat service using a mobile internet (or a mobile data network) or a voice call band as necessary.

In addition, since the first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 implements a text chat using a relatively inexpensive short message service, the user's charge burden can be reduced.

2 is a diagram illustrating a terminal 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The terminal 200 may represent at least one of the first terminal 120 to the third terminal 140 of FIG. 1.

The terminal 200 includes an interface 210, a controller 220, and a transceiver 230.

The interface 210 may include a screen of the terminal 200 and a keypad. The concept includes a screen directly detected by a user and an input device through which a user inputs information. In this case, the interface 210 should not be construed as being limited to the screen or the keypad, but should be interpreted as including all the technical ideas included in the equivalent range of these configurations.

The controller 220 may include a text chat request identification unit 221, a text chat mode selection unit 222, and a chat content / SMS conversion unit 223.

Interface 210 may provide a text chat selection menu to a user. The text chat selection menu may be provided to the user along with voice call, short message transmission, multimedia message transmission, and the like.

When the user selects a text chat through the text chat selection menu, the interface 210 may provide the user with an interface for selecting a counterpart of the text chat. The user may designate a plurality of counterparts, and multi-party chat may be supported at this time.

The transceiver 230 may transmit a chat request to the counterpart terminal designated as the counterpart. When the counterpart terminal receives the chat request, the counterpart terminal checks the current state of the counterpart terminal. When the counterpart terminal is in a call, the counterpart terminal may transmit a non-chat or standby notification to the terminal 200. When the counterpart terminal is chatting with the third party, the counterpart terminal may inform the user of the counterpart terminal that a chat request has been received and provide a menu for selecting whether to respond to the chat request. Alternatively, according to a preset program, the counterpart terminal may transmit a non-chat or standby notification to the terminal 200 when the counterpart terminal is chatting with a third party.

In this case, the chat request may be generated as a separate message or signal, or may be a chat SMS in which chat text input by the user is converted. That is, the controller 220 may convert the chat text into a chat SMS, and the transceiver 230 may substitute the chat request by transmitting the converted chat SMS to the counterpart terminal.

The event in which the counterpart terminal notifies the user of the counterpart terminal that the chat request has been received may be represented by various effects such as text, an icon, a sound, or a vibration. In this case, the counterpart terminal may provide a chat connection menu in which a chat window is displayed on the counterpart terminal when a user of the counterpart terminal presses a specific key. For example, the counterpart terminal may display the text "Chat Request" and the phone number of the terminal 200 on the screen, and immediately display a chat window when the user of the counterpart terminal presses "OK". If the user of the counterpart terminal presses the "cancel" or "end call" key, the counterpart terminal may regard it as a chat rejection.

According to another embodiment, when the user of the counterpart terminal responds with a general short message in response to the chat request, the counterpart terminal and the terminal 200 may regard this as a rejection of the chat.

When the user of the counterpart terminal responds with the general short message in response to the chat request, the terminal 200 may stop displaying the chat window and provide a short message menu to the user.

The chat response menu provided to the user of the counterpart terminal may be provided to the user of the terminal 200 when the terminal 200 receives the chat request from the third other terminal. The terminal 200 may provide a user with a menu and a user interface (UI) for easily forming a chat session.

When the terminal 200 receives the chat request, a chat selection menu is provided, and when the user inputs the chat text, the terminal 200 may convert the chat text into an SMS. In this case, the converted SMS may include a flag indicating a short message related to a chat, or a data field, rather than a simple short message. When the terminal 200 transmits an SMS related to a chat to the other terminal, the other terminal may extract a chat related flag or data field from the received SMS without a separate chat acceptance notification, and may regard it as a chat acceptance notification. .

The interface 210 may provide a text chat selection menu for designating a plurality of counterpart terminals to the user. In this case, when the user selects a plurality of counterpart terminals, the transceiver 230 may transmit the chat request to the specified plurality of counterpart terminals.

When the current state of the counterpart terminal is in an idle state, the counterpart terminal may provide a menu for selecting whether to respond to the chat request to the user.

When the user of the counterpart terminal responds to the chat request, the counterpart terminal transmits a chat acceptance notification corresponding to the chat request to the terminal 200. At this time, as described above, the counterpart terminal does not generate a separate chat acceptance notice, but converts the chat text input by the user of the counterpart terminal into the chat SMS, and sends the chat SMS to the terminal 200 to notify the chat acceptance. You can also substitute for

The controller 220 controls the interface 210 to display a chat window to the user of the terminal 200. In this case, the controller 220 may declare the current state of the terminal 200 in the chat mode. The controller 220 may display a chat window immediately when the user of the terminal 200 selects a chat.

According to another embodiment, when the transceiver 230 receives a chat acceptance notification corresponding to the chat request, the controller 220 controls the interface 210 to display a chat window to the user of the terminal 200. In this case, the controller 220 may declare the current state of the terminal 200 in the chat mode.

As described above, the transceiver 230 may regard the received chat SMS as a chat acceptance notification when receiving a chat SMS from a counterpart terminal without receiving a separate chat acceptance notification. At this time, the received chat SMS may be regarded as a chat response corresponding to the chat request.

The chat response may be an explicit chat acceptance notification or may be a chat SMS received without an explicit chat acceptance notification. The terminal 200 may display a chat window regardless of whether a chat response is received, and provide a chat window and a chat-related menu to the user as it is when the chat response is received.

Alternatively, according to another embodiment, the terminal 200 may wait until a chat response is received and then display a chat window.

The interface 210 displays chat text entered by the user. While the terminal 200 is declared in the chat mode or while the chat window is displayed, the short message received from the counterpart terminal may be converted into chat text by the controller 220.

When the transceiver 230 receives the short message from the counterpart terminal, the controller 220 may convert the received short message into chat text.

In this case, a typical SMS may have a limitation of text length (80 bytes or 90 bytes). However, since the user who selects the text chat will input the text without considering the limitation of the length, the controller 220 may convert the received short message into one text.

In this case, the controller 220 may generate the chat text based on the transmission time of the short message and the length of the short message. In addition, the controller 220 may extract a context of the short message and generate a chat text according to the extracted context. The controller 220 may parse the received short message in a meaningful word unit and extract a context through this. Since both sides of the chat may make a mistake in spacing and spelling, the controller 220 may store an error pattern that is easy for a user to extract and extract a context based on the error pattern.

The controller 220 may convert the chat text input by the user to the interface 210 into SMS. In this case, the controller 220 may generate a plurality of short messages by dividing the chat text input by the user when the length of the chat text exceeds the SMS length limit. The length limit at this time may be, for example, 80 bytes. The transceiver 230 may transmit the converted SMS to the counterpart terminal.

According to another exemplary embodiment, when generating a plurality of short messages by dividing the chat text, the controller 220 may insert the fragment information into the SMS. In this case, when receiving the SMS, the controller 220 may restore the chat text from the SMS based on the split information.

The conversion process between the chat text and the SMS may be performed in particular by the chat content / SMS conversion unit 223, but the spirit of the present invention is not limited to these names.

In order to implement a text chat using the short message, the terminal 200 may insert a field indicating whether the text message is a simple short message or a short message for the text chat in the short message. An example of each field of such a short message is shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a short message generated by the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

The SMS header 1110 includes basic information indicating that the SMS is in accordance with a communication standard. The SMS header 1110 may include an identification number of the terminal 200 and / or an identification number of the counterpart terminal.

The chat identification field 1120 may be represented by a binary number of 1 bit and may indicate whether the chat is a simple short message or a short message for text chatting. For example, when the chat identification field 1120 is "1", this may indicate that the chat message is a short message for text chatting.

The chat text generation field 1130 may include information regarding generation of chat text. The chat text generation field 1130 may include split / combination information between the chat text and the SMS and rank identification information of the chat text. For example, the rank identification information may include information about an input time at which the chat text is input.

Text field 1140 contains the main text that is the content of the chat. The text field 1140 may include content of a chat input by a user.

The receiving terminal may separate the text field 1140 from the received short message and extract the text. The receiving terminal generates a display element based on the extracted text, and displays the display element on the screen.

The display element contains the subject of the conversation and the content of the conversation. The subject of the conversation may be identified by a phone number, and if the other party's name corresponding to the phone number is stored, the other party's name may be displayed on the screen.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the text chat request identifier 221 in the controller 220 may identify a text chat request from another terminal received by the transceiver 230. When the text chat request from the other terminal is identified, the text chat request identification unit 221 transmits a notification of the identification number and the text chat request of the other terminal to the text chat mode selection unit 222.

The text chat mode selector 222 transmits the identification number of the other terminal to the interface 210 and controls the interface 210 so that the text chat selection menu is provided to the user.

When the text chat is selected, the text chat mode selector 222 controls the transceiver 230 to transmit a chat acceptance notification to the other terminal. The text chat mode selector 222 notifies the chat content / SMS converting unit 223 that the chat session has been established so that the chat content / SMS converting unit 223 is ready to convert the received SMS into chat text. .

The interface 210 may provide a text chat selection menu as one of menus in response to a short message received from the other terminal. In other words, when a short message is first received from the other terminal, the user of the terminal 200 may be provided with a selection menu such as 'reply short message', 'voice call attempt', and 'text chat attempt'. have.

An example of such a selection menu is shown in FIG. 3.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a text chat selection menu provided by the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the content of the short message from the other terminal is displayed to the user through the interface 210.

When the user presses a preset key, for example, a selection key such as 'menu', the selection menu shown in FIG. 3 may be provided.

In Figure 3 is shown a menu for 1. replying to the short message, 2. attempt to connect to the text chat, 3. forward the short message to others, and 4. delete the short message.

When the user selects item 2, the terminal 200 may transmit a text chat request to the other terminal that has transmitted the short message.

When a chat rejection notification corresponding to the chat request is received from the counterpart terminal, or when a chat impossible notification is received, the terminal 200 may display the chat rejection or impossible notification on the screen. Since the other party may be in a call or chat state and may not be able to chat, or may be in a meeting or work state and thus do not want to chat, the terminal 200 provides a text message selection menu to reply to the user by text message. can do.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the controller 220 may convert the chat text input by the user into a short message while the terminal 200 is set to the chat mode or the chat window is displayed.

At this time, since the server of the communication network performs a function of transferring a short message between terminals, each of the terminals performs a function of generating a chat text from the short messages.

Since each of the users continuously inputs the chat text during the chat, the terminals grasp the temporal order of the short message received continuously and the chat text input by the user, and display the texts based on the temporal order.

If the chat is conducted by three or more users at the same time (called multiparty chat), the ability to grasp the temporal order between the short messages is more important.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 200 inserts a rank identification information field indicating rank identification information of a chat text into a short message and transmits a short message with the field inserted, based on the field in which the receiver terminal is inserted. Allows you to reconstruct chat text.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, even when a server of a communication network performs only a function of delivering a short message, synchronized text chatting between terminals is possible. This function of the present invention will have a significant effect, especially in multiparty chat. Each of the three or more terminals may sort the chat text based on the rank identification information field inserted in the short message. Each of the three or more terminals can display the chat text aligned to provide a user with a matching chat screen between the terminals without the need for server adjustment.

For example, the controller 220 of the terminal 200 may generate a time when the chat text is generated as rank identification information. In this case, since each SMS includes information on the generated time, each of the three or more terminals may display the text arranged in the order of transmission as in the chat.

According to another embodiment of FIG. 2, the terminal 200 may display the chat text on the interface 210 based on the arrival order of SMS.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a text chat screen provided by the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 6, the chat content is displayed in the chat window 610. The chat content consists of the subject of the conversation and the content of the conversation. The subject of the conversation is identified by a telephone number, and the user of the terminal 200 may be displayed by a predetermined identification symbol.

For example, the user of the terminal 200 is "Hong Gil-dong", and the phone number of the other terminal is 010-1234-5678, and the identification symbol of 010-1234-5678 is stored as "English" in the database of the terminal 200. If so, the terminal 200 may display the conversation subject in the chat window 610 as "Hong Gil-dong", "English-American". If the counterpart terminal is not stored in the database, the terminal 200 may display the counterpart of the conversation by phone number.

Window identification bar 620 displays an index for identifying chat window 610. "Chat 1" indicates that the content currently displayed in the chat window 610 is text chat content. Since the terminal 200 may display a plurality of chat windows, the display of "chat 1" indicates that the chat window 610 is the first chat window.

The input text editing window 611 displays text after input by the user and before transmission. The user may view the text displayed in the input text editing window 611 and, if displayed as intended, transmit the input text. The user can edit the text displayed in the input text edit window 611. If the user chooses to send the text displayed in the input text edit window 611, the text displayed in the input text edit window 611 moves to the chat window 610, and the input text edit window 611 is reset. .

Menu selection icon 630 indicates that the user reacts when the user presses the "Menu" key. When the user presses the "menu" key, the terminal 200 may provide various selection menus.

The send icon 640 indicates that when the user enters text and presses the “Send” key, the send icon 640 is sent to the other party. At this time, the setting of the keys shown in FIG. 6 is merely an example, and the spirit of the present invention is not limited by the names of these keys.

In some embodiments, the send icon 640 may not be explicitly displayed. In this case, the user may transmit text using a specific shortcut key. The scroll bar 650 indicates the position of the entire chat content of the content currently displayed in the chat window 610. The user may scroll the screen using a direction key or the like.

Icon 660 is an icon indicating that a short message was received during the chat mode. The terminal 200 may notify the user of the reception by using a simple icon when a short message or a multimedia message is received from the other terminal or a chat request or a voice call request is received from the other terminal during the chat mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a selection menu connected to the menu selection icon 630 of FIG. 6.

The terminal 200 may provide an invitation selection menu for inviting the other party during the chat mode (or while the chat window 610 is displayed). When the user selects the 'invite a friend' menu and selects a new counterpart of the conversation, the terminal may transmit a chat request to the new counterpart terminal. When the chat acceptance notification is received from the new counterpart terminal, the terminal 200 may transmit the chat acceptance notice to the counterpart terminal of the existing conversation.

For example, if terminal A and terminal B invite a user of terminal C to chat during a text chat, terminal A sends a chat request to terminal C and a chat acceptance notification is received from terminal C. The chat acceptance notification is forwarded to terminal B.

When the terminal B receives the chat acceptance notification of the terminal C, the terminal B converts the text input by the user of the terminal B into a short message, and transmits the converted short message to the terminal A and the terminal C.

Likewise, the text input by the user of the terminal A is then converted into a short message by the terminal A, and the converted short message is transmitted to the terminal B and the terminal C.

The terminal 200 may provide a user with a file transfer selection menu for transmitting a file to the counterpart terminal during the chat mode (or while the chat window 610 is displayed). For example, when the terminal A and the terminal B are in a text chat, the user of the terminal A may select a file transfer menu, search for a file stored in the terminal A, and select a file to be transmitted. Terminal A may transmit the selected file to terminal B.

In this case, the terminal A may provide a file list stored in the terminal A to the user. Alternatively, the terminal A may connect to the mobile Internet network at the request of the user and provide the user with a list of files stored in a specific homepage.

Terminal A may temporarily use the mobile Internet network or voice call band to transmit the selected file. Alternatively, the terminal A may convert the selected file into a multimedia message and transmit the converted multimedia message to the terminal B.

The terminal 200 may select a transmission band or a transmission type for transmitting the selected file. In this case, the terminal 200 may convert the selected file into a data format suitable for the selected transmission band or transmission type. For example, when the mobile internet network is selected, the terminal 200 may convert the selected file into a data packet including a header and a tail portion. When the voice call band is selected, the terminal 200 converts the selected file into an audio packet. You can also convert to: When the multimedia message type is selected, the terminal 200 may convert the selected file into a multimedia message.

The terminal 200 may divide the displayed screen into a plurality of areas, display a chat window in one area, and display a menu for file selection in another area.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the terminal 200 may pause the display of the chat window and display a menu for selecting a file to the user.

The terminal 200 may provide a whisper menu to the user so that the user can input contents which are not delivered to at least one of the counterparts but only to the other counterpart.

The terminal 200 provides a menu of other things to do during the chat mode to allow the user of the terminal 200 to take a picture and transmit the generated picture file, or the user of the terminal 200 accesses the mobile Internet. The search can be sent to the other party. The user may select the chat return mode to reselect the chat window 610.

The terminal 200 may provide a selection menu to call the content stored in the terminal 200 to the user during the chat mode. For example, the terminal 200 may provide a menu for the user to select a user setting emoticon, a photo, a music file, and the like, and may transmit the selected content to the counterpart terminal.

8 is a diagram illustrating another example of a selection menu connected to the menu selection icon 630 of FIG. 6.

For example, suppose a user of the terminal 200 receives a chat request from a user of the terminal B while chatting with a user of the terminal A. If the user of the terminal B does not wish to talk to the user of the terminal A, the terminal 200 may provide the user with a selection menu 'Create new chat window' to create a new chat window.

When the user selects to create a new chat window, the terminal 200 may designate an existing chat window as the first area and designate a new chat window as the second area. The terminal 200 may display the first area and the second area at the same time by dividing the entire screen of the terminal 200.

In addition, the terminal 200 may provide a user with a selection menu of the first area and the second area, and display the chat text input by the user in the chat window area selected by the user. The terminal 200 may convert the chat text input by the user into a short message and transmit the converted short message to the counterpart terminal corresponding to the chat window area selected by the user.

At this time, the terminal 200 uses an effect such as alarm, sound, music, etc. to the user for an event (chat input, file transfer, etc.) generated in the chat window with the terminal B when the user is talking in the chat window with the terminal A. Can be notified.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of chat windows displayed on the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

The first chat window 910 displays a conversation with the first counterpart terminal. The first window identification bar 911 displays identification information of the first chat window 910. The first scroll bar 912 indicates a position on the entire chat content of the content currently displayed in the first chat window 910. The first input text editing window 913 displays text input by the user in response to the first chat window 910. The user may look at the text displayed in the first input text editing window 913 to determine whether the text has been input as intended. If the user chooses to send the text displayed in the first input text edit window 913, the text displayed in the first input text edit window 913 moves to the first chat window 910 and the first input text. The edit window 913 is reset.

The second chat window 920 displays a conversation with the second counterpart terminal. The second window identification bar 921 displays identification information of the second chat window 920. The second scroll bar 922 indicates a location on the entire chat content of the content currently displayed in the second chat window 920. The second input text editing window 923 displays text input by the user in response to the second chat window 920.

Menu selection icon 930 indicates that the user reacts when the user presses the "Menu" key. When the user presses the "menu" key, the terminal 200 may provide various selection menus. In this case, the terminal 200 may provide a window selection menu for allowing a user to input text by selecting one of the first chat window 910 and the second chat window 920.

The send icon 940 indicates that when the user enters text and presses the “Send” key, the send icon 940 is sent to the other party.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a chat window and a received file status window displayed on the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

The terminal 200 may divide the displayed screen into a first area and a second area when a file is received from the counterpart terminal. The terminal 200 may allocate a chat window to the first area and display information corresponding to the received file in the second area.

The chat window 1020 displays a conversation with the counterpart terminal. The window identification bar 1010 displays identification information of the chat window 1020. Scroll bar 1021 indicates a location on the entire chat content of the content currently displayed in chat window 1020. The user can scroll through the entire chat content using the direction keys and the like.

The input text editing window 1022 displays text input by the user in response to the chat window 1020.

The file status window 1030 shows a case where the received file is a picture. The terminal 200 may load the received photo file on the memory to display the screen on the screen. The file status window 1030 displays progress information of the file loading process, and when the files are all loaded, an image of the picture may be displayed.

Descriptions of the functions of the menu selection icon 1040 and the transmission icon 1050 will be similar to those of FIG. 6 or 9 and will be omitted.

In FIG. 10, a configuration of displaying or displaying a file received during a chat mode in a chat window 1020 and a separate window 1030 is illustrated. The terminal 200 may display a user search menu for content stored in the terminal 200 as well as a file received during the chat mode using a separate window.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the text chat providing function of the terminal 200 may be implemented through a virtual machine (VM) type software downloaded from a server of a communication network. The VM may include a function of storing the common emoticon and the corresponding string pattern, and controlling to display the emoticon on the screen in response to the string pattern input by the user.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the text chat providing function of the terminal 200 may be implemented through software embedded in the system of the terminal 200. In addition, the terminal 200 may add a new function to the text chat service by updating a new version of the VM or upgrading the embedded software.

The controller 220 may store a history of the chat text displayed in the chat window. In this case, since the controller 220 may have a limited size memory, the controller 220 may store the history up to a size smaller than or equal to a reference value.

For example, the terminal 200 may store up to 50 recent chat logs, and the previous chat log may be transmitted to a server of a communication network and stored in the server.

When the user needs to scroll the screen and display a chat log of 50 lines or more, the terminal 200 may request to send the chat log to the server.

When the new text is added, the terminal 200 may update the stored history and transmit the chat log evicted to the server.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the terminal 200 may store a chat log within the last three days and transmit the previous chat log to the server. At this time, the server may store the previous chat log received from the terminal 200, and transmit to the terminal 200 in response to the request of the terminal 200.

4 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a text chat service method performed by the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

4 is a view illustrating some necessary functions for the convenience of explanation of the text chat service method, thereby not limiting the spirit of the present invention.

The terminal 200 receives a short text message from the counterpart terminal (S410).

The terminal 200 provides a text message / chat selection menu to the user (S420). In this case, the terminal 200 may provide a chat selection menu as one of menus in response to a short message received from the counterpart terminal.

If the user selects a chat (S430), the terminal 200 transmits a chat request to the counterpart terminal (S440).

When a chat acceptance notification corresponding to the chat request is received from the counterpart terminal (S450), the terminal 200 displays a chat window to the user (S460).

If the user does not select a chat (S430), the terminal 200 displays a text message window (S470). Even when a chat rejection notification is received from the counterpart terminal (S450), the terminal 200 displays a text chat window.

The terminal 200 may convert the short message received from the counterpart terminal into chat text. The terminal 200 may display the converted chat text in the chat window. In this case, the terminal 200 may insert a data field indicating rank identification information of the short message into the short message. An example of the rank identification information may be a time at which a short message is generated.

The terminal 200 may provide a selection menu for creating a new chat window to the user while the chat window is displayed. When the new chat window is selected, the terminal 200 may display the existing chat window and the new chat window together, and provide a window selection menu to the user.

The terminal 200 may provide a selection menu for transmitting a file to the counterpart terminal while the chat window is displayed. When the user selects a file transfer, a search menu can be provided to select a file to transfer.

The terminal 200 may provide an invitation selection menu for inviting a new counterpart to the user while the chat window is displayed, and when the user selects a new counterpart, the terminal 200 may transmit a chat request to the new counterpart terminal. At this time, if a chat acceptance notification is received from a new counterpart terminal, multi-party chat is possible.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a terminal control method performed in the terminal 200. 5 assumes a case where a chat request is received from a counterpart terminal.

The terminal 200 receives a chat request call from the counterpart terminal (S510).

If the terminal 200 is busy (S520), the terminal 200 transmits a chat impossible notification to the counterpart terminal (S590). In operation S520, the terminal 200 may perform a similar function even when the terminal 200 is in a chat or is in a silent mode.

If the terminal 200 is not in a call (S520), the terminal 200 provides a user with a chat / short text message response selection menu (S530).

When the user selects a chat (S540), the terminal 200 transmits a chat acceptance notification to the counterpart terminal (S550).

After step S550 is performed, the terminal 200 may be set to a chat mode. If the terminal 200 and the counterpart terminal are set to the chat mode, the terminal 200 and the counterpart terminal may be regarded as chatly connected (S560).

After the terminal 200 is set to the chat mode, the terminal 200 may display a chat window (S570).

If the user does not select a chat (S540), the terminal 200 may display a text message corresponding window to the user (S580). In addition, the terminal 200 may transmit a chat rejection notification to the counterpart terminal.

The terminal 200 may convert the text input through the chat window into a short message and transmit the converted short message to the counterpart terminal. The terminal 200 may convert the short message received from the counterpart terminal into the chat text while setting the chat mode, and display the converted chat text in the chat window.

The communication network may include a CDMA, GSM, WCDMA, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, or mobile Internet network, the server of the communication network may be the same as the existing server, but in some embodiments the server of the communication network is a text chat The text chat function of the terminal 200 may be partially assisted, such as storing some records of the terminal 200.

The text chat service method and / or the terminal control method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed by various computer means and recorded in a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. Program instructions recorded on the media may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape, optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and magnetic disks, such as floppy disks. Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

As described above, the present invention has been described by way of limited embodiments and drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains various modifications and variations from such descriptions. This is possible.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined not only by the claims below, but also by those equivalent to the claims.

1 is a diagram illustrating a mobile communication system supporting a text chatting service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating a terminal 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a text chat selection menu provided by the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

4 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a text chat service method performed by the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a terminal control method performed in the terminal 200. 5 assumes a case where a chat request is received from a counterpart terminal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a text chat screen provided by the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a selection menu connected to the menu selection icon 630 of FIG. 6.

8 is a diagram illustrating another example of a selection menu connected to the menu selection icon 630 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of chat windows displayed on the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a chat window and a received file status window displayed on the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a short message generated by the terminal 200 of FIG. 2.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

210: interface

220: control unit

230: transceiver

Claims (25)

An interface for providing a text chat selection menu to a user; A transmission / reception unit configured to transmit a chat request to a counterpart terminal designated as the counterpart of the text chat when the text chat is selected from the text chat selection menu; And A controller for controlling the interface to display a chat window to the user, and controlling the interface to display a short message received from the counterpart terminal in the chat window when a chat response corresponding to the chat request is received from the counterpart terminal. Including; The control unit Converts the chat text input by the user into a short message, inserts a data field indicating rank identification information of the short message into the short message, The interface is Provide the user with a selection menu to create a new chat window while the chat window is displayed, The control unit When the user selects the new chat window, the existing chat window is designated as the first region, and the new chat window is designated as the second region, The interface is Simultaneously display the first area and the second area to the user, The interface is It provides a text chat selection menu that can specify a plurality of counterpart terminals, The transceiver unit And when the user designates a plurality of counterpart terminals, transmitting the chat request to the specified plurality of counterpart terminals. The method of claim 1, The interface is And when the short message is received from the counterpart terminal, providing the text chat selection menu as one of menus in response to the received short message. The method of claim 1, The control unit When the chat rejection notification corresponding to the chat request is received from the counterpart terminal, the interface is controlled to display the chat rejection notification to the user, and the user is provided with a text message selection menu for selecting a text message. Terminal for controlling the interface. delete The method of claim 1, The control unit Extracting text information from the short message received from the counterpart terminal, and generating a display element to be displayed in the chat window based on the extracted text information. delete The method of claim 1, The interface is While the chat window is displayed, providing the user with a file transfer selection menu for transferring a file to the counterpart terminal and selecting the file transfer selection menu when the user selects the file transfer selection menu. Provide a menu, The transceiver unit And transmitting the selected file to the counterpart terminal. The method of claim 7, wherein The control unit Convert the selected file into a data format for a mobile Internet network or a voice call band or a multimedia message; The transceiver unit And the selected file is transmitted through the mobile internet network or the voice call band or the converted multimedia message. The method of claim 1, The control unit When the file is received from the counterpart terminal, the displayed screen is divided into a first area and a second area, the chat window is allocated to the first area, and information corresponding to the received file is displayed on the second area. Terminal, characterized in that. delete The method of claim 1, The interface is And providing the user with an invitation selection menu for inviting a new party while the chat window is displayed. The method of claim 1, The control unit Terminal, characterized in that implemented in software of the virtual machine type downloaded from the server. The method of claim 12, The control unit And storing the one or more emoticons and corresponding string patterns included in the software, and controlling the interface to display emoticons in response to the string patterns input by the user. The method of claim 1, The control unit Terminal, characterized in that implemented in the software embedded in the system. The method of claim 1, The control unit A history of chat text displayed in the chat window, the history having a size equal to or less than a reference value, and stored in the server by transmitting the chat text before the history to a server of a communication network. terminal. Providing a text chat selection menu to a user of the terminal; Displaying a chat window to the user when a text chat is selected in the text chat selection menu; Transmitting a chat request to a counterpart terminal designated as the counterpart of the text chat; Converting a short message received from the counterpart terminal into chat text when a chat response corresponding to the chat request is received from the counterpart terminal; Displaying the chat text in the chat window; Converting the chat text input by the user into a short message; providing a selection menu for creating a new chat window for the user while the chat window is displayed; Designating an existing chat window as a first area and designating the new chat window as a second area when the new chat window is selected; Simultaneously displaying the first area and the second area to the user; Providing a file transfer selection menu for transmitting a file to the counterpart terminal to the user while the chat window is displayed; Providing a file selection menu to select one or more of files stored in the user when the file transfer selection menu is selected; Converting the file selected by the user into a transmission data format; And Transmitting the converted file to the counterpart terminal, Converting the chat text into a short message And inserting a data field indicating rank identification information of the short message into the short message. The method of claim 16, Providing the text chat selection menu to the user And providing the text chat selection menu as one of menus in response to a short message received from the counterpart terminal. delete delete delete The method of claim 16, Providing the user with an invitation selection menu for inviting a new party while the chat window is displayed; Text chat service method comprising the more. The method of claim 16, Downloading a virtual machine type software including the text chat selection menu from a server of a communication network Text chat service method comprising the more. The method of claim 16, Loading the text chat selection menu into memory of the terminal from software embedded in a system; Text chat service method comprising the more. delete A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of any one of claims 16, 17 and 21-23.

Images