WO2009051342A1

WO2009051342A1 - Method for providing communication through image comment

Info

Publication number: WO2009051342A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/005048
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yu Kim
Original assignee: Yu Kim
Priority date: 2007-10-16
Filing date: 2008-08-28
Publication date: 2009-04-23
Also published as: KR100820770B1

Abstract

A method for providing communication through image comment is disclosed. The method includes: producing image comments in a picture or an image that a user draws through an image comment generating tool in order to freely express his/her opinion about a particular Internet content; sorting the image comments based on detailed categories; registering and publishing the image comments so that the image comments serve as a reply; and sorting the published image comments in one of the sequence in time, in popularity, and in reference. The method has advantages in that, since the reply can be expressed in an image format, it allows a user's opinion to be more flexibly and abundantly expressed and thus guides properly progressive reply culture. The method also is advantageous in that, since the reply of an image format can be recreated or edited, it can successively express opinions by a successive reply method and simultaneously allows a reply of a progressive image format to be generated.

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING COMMUNICATION THROUGH

IMAGE COMMENT

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to communication methods. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for providing communication through image comments that implements replies with a format of pictures (or images), where the replies are expressed by letters or symbols through a reply expression, provided in the Internet environment, or a communication means similar to the reply expression, so that it can provide a variety of opinion expressions and perform a modification-creation, which are more various and abundant than the conventional replies. Background Art

[2] Internet users express their opinions in a bulletin board and on articles and other contents, through a phrase, which is in general called a reply. This reply is usually added to the lower end of a particular content, arraying writing time, reference sequence, etc. The reply is used in such a way that a user can express his/her opinion on content. It also serves as a means for users to communicate therebetween. In recent years, adding a reply is regarded as a type of cultural behavior deemed "reply culture."

[3] "Reply culture" has a positive aspect that provides an opportunity for people to sufficiently and freely comment provide opinions and assertions about society situations. On the other hand, it has a negative aspect in that people express malicious opinions regarding other people via their replies.

[4] The conventional reply expression method allows a reply to be expressed by text or symbols and thus a favorable or malicious opinion to be transferred. That is, since the conventional method expresses a reply through a general text format or an abbreviated series of words, it can precisely transfer the meaning of the reply to the user, so that the user can easily understand the reply. On the contrary, when the method having a precise transferring expression feature is maliciously used for an insulting remark or to abuse other people, those verbally attacked are deeply hurt by the reply.

[5] The conventional reply expression method expressed by text or symbols has a disadvantage in that it is not sufficient to serve as a means for performing a metaphorical or implicit expression. The method allows only a particular user to express his/her opinion freely, but does not allow for general users to do the same. The conventional method is also disadvantageous in that it creates a progressive Internet culture where a reply creates a friendly atmosphere and humor rather than provides an environment where a critical and malicious reply is expressed about people. [6] Therefore, the conventional reply expressing method requires improvement which uses only simple text and symbols provided from the keyboard. For example, a reply needs to be expressed by text and icons and imoticons having a variety of styles and facial expressions. The icons and imoticons are provided via an imoticon creating window that is additionally located in the vicinity of the reply writing portion. In that case, the reply can be more graphically and metaphorically expressed than the only text expressing method, so that user can feel more enjoyment.

[7] The conventional method using icons and imoticons, however, has a limitation of expression since one of the icons and imoticons having facial expressions, which are previously set by a system operator, must be selected.

[8] In order to resolve this problem, an image file, such as a picture, photograph, etc., can be uploaded to cyberspace for expressing replies. The image file uploading method, however, makes it difficult to express again a reply in an image file format, produced by an image editing program (for example, Adobe Photoshop of Adobe systems), when a reply has subsequently sub-replies thereto. That is, the image file uploading method can express an image reply only in a simple event style but not in a successive image expression.

[9] Unlike text, a picture, such as an abstract painting or caricature, serves as a means suitable for expressing an implicit or metaphorical opinion and is superior to any other means. It has been reported that art education inspires imaginative and creative power in developing children. If adults are good at expressing their opinions using their own drawings and paintings, they can also contribute more to a seamless and caricaturable reply culture.

[10]

[11] *Therefore, instead of text or preset icons/images, a new reply expression method is required that allows a user to use his/her own drawing or painting, as an opinion expression means, to express his/her opinion, thereby contributing to a progressive and flexible reply culture. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[12] The present invention solves the above problems, and provides a new paradigm of a reply expression method where a tool for drawing paintings is provided with a reply window so that a user can express a reply using his/her own drawing or painting, unlike the conventional reply expression method that expresses a reply using text or symbols.

[13] The present invention further provides a method for providing communication through image comments that allows a user to modify or edit another user's reply in an image format and thus to re-express a reply or complete an image format, thereby performing a successive opinion expressing operation.

[14] The present invention further provides a method for providing communication through image comments that collects replies in an image format, having a single subject and a common point, and expresses them in one cyberspace, thereby providing an art gallery.

[15] The present invention further provides a method for providing communication through image comments that notifies the original image producing user whether to permit the modification of a reply in an image format, during the modification of the reply, according to the modification level or the modification state, thereby protecting the rights of the original image comment. Technical Solution

[16] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing communication through image comments includes: producing image comments in a picture or an image that a user draws through an image comment generating tool in order to freely express his/her opinion about a particular Internet content; sorting the image comments based on detailed categories; registering and publishing the image comments so that the image comments serve as a reply; and sorting the published image comments in one of the sequence in time, in popularity, and in reference.

[17] Preferably, the method further includes an image comment modification-generating step. The image comment modification-creating step includes: asking the user who produces the image comment whether to allow other users to modify his/her image comment; modifying, if the user permits the modification of his/her image comment, the image comment and generating a modified image comment using a method for processing the image comment to an open source and combining it with other image comments or a method for adding an image to the image comment or modifying a portion of the image comment by other users; detecting a modification-level for the modified image comment by selecting a plurality of users, showing them the modified image comment and the original image comment, and inquiring whether the modified image comment damages the basic idea of the original image comment; notifying, if the modified image damages the basic idea of the original image comment, the user who produce the original image comment by showing the user the modified image; and blocking the modified image comment by inquiring whether to block the publication of the modified image comment according the selection of the user who produce the original image comment.

[18] Preferably, the method further includes: generating a gallery composed of image comments in the same classification sorted by the sorting step; and displaying the image comments gathered in the gallery on one screen in a moving image mode or a successively displayed still image mode.

Advantageous Effects

[19] As described above, the method for providing communication through image comments, according to the present invention, has the following effects: [20] 1) Since the reply can be expressed in an image format, it allows a user's opinion to be more flexibly and abundantly expressed and thus guides properly progressive reply culture. [21] 2) Since the reply of an image format can be recreated or edited, it can successively express opinions by a successive reply method and simultaneously allows a reply of a progressive image format to be generated. [22] 3) Since an image is unable to be modified or borrowed without permission, it protects the rights of the original image comment producer. [23] 4) Since the created image comment can be progressively modified and replayed, it guides properly progressive reply culture.

Brief Description of the Drawings [24] The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [25] Figure 1 is a flow chart describing a method for providing communication through an image comment, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [26] Figure 2 is a view illustrating a user interface environment for producing an image comment, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [27] Figure 3 is a view illustrating an image comment where identification codes are shown in a main image area and remaining area; [28] Figure 4 is a flow chart describing a step for modifying an image comment, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [29] Figure 5 shows modified image comments, according to an embodiment of the prese nt invention; and [30] Figure 6 is a view illustrating a screen displaying a moving image generated by grouping image comments in the same classification.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [31] A method for providing communication through image comments, according to the present invention, includes: producing image comments in a picture or an image that a user draws through an image comment generating tool in order to freely express his/ her opinion about a particular Internet content; sorting the image comments based on detailed categories; registering and publishing the image comments so that the image comments serve as a reply; and sorting the published image comments in one of the sequence in time, in popularity, and in reference. Mode for the Invention

[32] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[33] Figure 1 is a flow chart describing a method for providing communication through an image comment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[34] In the present application, the term image comment refers to a reply expressed in an image format. That is image comment is a reply content of a type of picture/image that a user creates, which is different from the conventional reply of letters or symbols or the conventional reply produced by imoticons or image format.

[35] Referring to Figure 1, the method according to an embodiment of the present invention is performed as the following steps. Image comments are produced to allow users to express freely their opinions about particular Internet content. The image comments are classified based on detailed categories. The image comments are registered to generate replies. Image comments with replies are sorted. User's identification codes are inserted into the image comments. The method further performs a process of modifying-creating the image comments and displaying the image comments in the same classification on a single screen.

[36] Figure 2 is a view illustrating a user interface environment for producing an image comment, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[37] When a user intends to express his/her opinion about a particular content published on the Internet, he/she clicks a reply comment generation button and thus an Internet user interface environment is provided as shown in Figure 2.

[38] That is, the method according to the present invention provides a reply comment generating tool through which a user can freely and easily creates image comments.

[39] The image comment generating tool includes functions of the image generating tools that have been known until the present, such as drawing, editing, storing, etc., so that a user can easily and directly draw image comments.

[40] In particular, the drawing function allows a background and a layer to be set in such a way that a particular image is selected from a variety of images previously stored in an image database. In addition, the drawing function allows well-known images or figures to be inserted. Furthermore, the drawing function allows an image to be variously expressed by controlling brightness/chroma and inserting a special effect.

[41] The image comment generating tool includes a writing function as well as a painting generating function, so that letters can be inserted into the image comment. Therefore, a user's opinion can be supplemented by the expression of letters.

[42] In particular, when letters are expressed in the image comment, they can be used by a user's own painted letters. Also, they can be used by a variety of fonts supported in the writing function. When the letters are expressed by using the fonts included in the image comment generating tool, a letter selected by a user is recognized (for example, a letter displayed in a letter generating window is additionally stored) so that the portion expressed as a letter can be stored in an additional letter database. This is intended to simplify the process of searching for an image comment including a particular content, when a plurality of image comments have been registered the database.

[43] With clicking the registration button for a relatively long time, the image comment produced by the image comment generating tool is generated at the end of a particular content in a reply format and published to the other users.

[44] This published image comment has the same function as the general reply. For example, a 1-th image comment may be followed, at the end thereof, by a 2-th image comment. A 1-th image comment may be replied by a 1-1-th image comment (which means a reply attached to a reply) against thereto.

[45] When a plurality of image comments are replied to a particular content, they may be aligned according to time, in general. The image comments may also be aligned in such a way as to be located at the top position according to the number of reference or recommendation. Furthermore, the image comments are searched according to the image comment producing a user/ID or a particular key word and then only the searched image comment is displayed.

[46] The image comment classifying step according to the present invention includes an automatic classifying step and a manual classifying step.

[47] The automatic classifying step refers to a step where letters included in an image comment, i.e., contents to be expressed by an image comment, are sorted into a particular classification by a category classifying step that performs classification into a large category, medium category, and a small category based on a letter database.

[48] The manual classifying step allows a user who produces the image comments to determine whether to perform classification. That is, the manual classifying step displays the category classifications to the user and then makes the user select a particular category from the displayed classification.

[49] This image comment classifying step supports a searching function and a function for setting the subject of image comments that are intended to be displayed in an integral displaying step, which will be descried later.

[50] The user's own producing image comment must display the image comment producer to identify from the original image comment producer in a image comment modifying- creating step which will be described later. Also, a method is required to detect the producer with respect to a system.

[51] To this end, the identification code inserting step according to the present invention includes a water mark inserting step and an image comment area setting step.

[52] The water mark inserting step refers to a step for inserting a water mark to protect the copyright of respective image comments. More specifically, like general water marks, the water mark as beat stream data is inserted into a head or other portion of the image comment that is provided in the format of a combination of file or data by an encrypt key. The water mark is to indicate location information about a corresponding water mark in a web environment during the network communication.

[53] The water mark inserting step protects image comments to identify a user who creates an image comment, track a location of an image comment, and analyze imitation. The water mark makes it possible to track an image comment that is copied from the original image comment and then modified and created to another image comment, and to search for an image comment that is plagiarized from the original image comment and published as a copier's own creating image comment.

[54] The image comment area setting step detects whether a main image of the entire image of an image comment is plagiarized or modified. The main image is a portion within the outline of a picture area in the image comment. The image comment are setting step includes an identification code generating step and a coordinate setting step.

[55] Figure 3 is a view illustrating an image comment where identification codes are shown in a main image area and remaining area.

[56] As shown in Figure 3, the identification (ID) code generating step is performed in such a way that: a 1^st ID code is inserted into corresponding pixels of an edge (i.e., an outline) of a main image or of the entire area of a main image from data (or file) forming an image comment; and a 2° ID code is inserted into at least one location in the other portion other than the main image.

[57] The ID code generating step is performed in such a way that: only a main image in the image comment, particularly, within the outline, is intentionally extracted; the 1^st and 2° ID codes are inserted into the original image comment to prevent the original image comment from modifying maliciously without obtaining the use permission from the original image comment producer; a detection is made as to whether the 1^st and 2° ID codes are included in the imitation image comment that is generated as the original image comment is copied or modified without permission; and a determination is made as to whether to extract only the main area from the original image comment.

[58] The main image refers to a main area that is assumed to be an inside portion within an outline in the entire picture. If there are a plurality of areas surrounded by outlines, it is difficult to determine which one of them is a main area. In that case, it is preferable to insert the 1^st ID code into the plurality of areas, respectively.

[59] Based on this concept, the 1^st ID code can be inserted into an area within the outline of the image comment. If the image size of the original image comment is relatively large, the 1^st ID code can be inserted into only the edge (outline) area of the image comment.

[60] The 2° ID code refers to data including information different from that of the 1^st ID code. The 2° ID code is inserted to a pixel at a plurality of particular locations in an area of the image comment, other than the main area within the outline. That is, the 2° ID code is used to detect the area of the image comment outside the outline.

[61]

[62] *These 1^st and 2° codes have bit stream data values composed of an encrypt key, such as a water mark, and are set so as not to be identified by general users.

[63] Meanwhile, the coordinates generating step includes: defining pixels in a main area of an image comment within the outline, of the pixels determining the entire image of the image comment, as a 1^st coordinate; and defining pixels at a plurality of locations in an area, other than the main area within the outline, as a 2° coordinate. The coordinates generating step performs the same image comment processing procedure as the code generating step. In particular, the coordinates generating step reads only coordinate values in the main image comment area and an area other than the main image communication area within a certain amount of data and thus makes it possible to easily detect the main image comment area.

[64] In a step for detecting image modification, which will be described later, an analysis is made as to determine whether a main area is plagiarized, based on the code generating step and the coordinate generating step described above.

[65] Figure 4 is a flow chart describing a step for modifying an image comment, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 shows modified image comments, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[66] The image comment can be individually used to express a user's opinion. It can also be used in a successively replied manner like conventional replies that are successively replied therebetween. In that case, an image of the image comment needs to be modified to improve an image or to express a new concept that is completely different from that thereof.

[67] To this end, if an image comment has the use permission of a user who produced it

(the image comment); it can be modified within the limit without infringing the idea and meaning of the original image comment, so that it can be expressed in various formats. On the contrary, if an image comment is plagiarized without the user's use permission, the plagiarized image comment is tracked to prevent the modification of the image comment. Although an image comment has the user's use permission, it is required to prevent a new image comment from departing from the idea and expression purpose of the original image comment. This modification is performed in an image comment modifying-creating step.

[68] The image comment modifying-creating step of the present invention includes a modification-permitting step, an image modification-detecting step, a modification- generating step, a modification-level detecting step, a modified image comment notifying step, and a modified image comment blocking step. It is described based on a modification-permitting case and a modification non-permitting case.

[69] The modification-permitting step is performed in such a way that: when a user who originally produces an image comment is asked by an inquiry, for example, "Do you permit your image comment to be modified by other users?" and then the user answers "yes," the image comment is used as an open source/file. On the contrary, regarding the same situation, if the user answers "no," an image modification-detecting step is performed where a continuous monitoring step is made, through the work mark or the ID codes, as to whether other users plagiarize the original image comment.

[70] If the user who originally produces an image comment permits modification of his/ her image comment, the image comment becomes an open file, so that other users can freely load it on an image comment creating window and then edit or modify it. This is to encourage the activation for various image comments. On the contrary, if the user lacks ability to express his/her image comment, he/she may provide a basic structure for an image comment to other users, so that other users develop the image comment more completely.

[71] The modification-generating step includes a combining step, a re-tracing generating step, and a modifying step.

[72]

[73] *The combining step is to combine an image comment a with an image comment b, which are formed as an open source, and to generate a new combined image comment a+b.

[74] The re-tracing generating step re-traces an existing image comment a, forms a retraced painting z, and thus generates an image comment a+z.

[75] The modifying step is performed in such a way that, when the original user produces an image comment A where a person whose eyes are small, for example, other user increases the size of the eye without changing the body, so that the original image comment A is changed to a modified image comment A'.

[76] As such, through the modification-generating step, the original image comment can be developed to be variously expressed and to have extended the concept of a user's opinion. That is, the original image comment can be developed in such a way that the original user could not have thought out. The modification-generating step allows the image comment to be variously changed without limitation.

[77] Since the user who originally produces an image comment allows for the use permission, the original image comment can be variously modified by other users and generated to a modified image comment in the modification-generating step. However, the original image comment must not be modified in such a way as to damage the reputation of its original producing user or be altered in such a way that its original producing user is displeased.

[78] To prevent such serious modifications, the modification-level detecting step is performed as follows: to register a modified image comment; to open it to other users; to inquire whether the modified image comment is modified in such a way as to detract from the basic meaning of the original image comment; and to detect the level of modification regarding the modified image comment according to the majority rule.

[79] For example, a user sets other users by randomly selecting from the members who subscribed in the same website and shows his/her own modifying image comment (or modified image comment) and the original image comment together to the other users at the time he/she is about to register the modified image comment, inquiring "Do you think the modified image comment is modified in such a way as to damage the meaning of the original image comment?" If a major portion of the other users answer "yes," the user ascertains that his/her modifying image comment is seriously modified from the original image comment. If not, the user ascertains that the modification of his/her modifying image comment is proper.

[80] In order to acquire an objective estimation regarding a modified image comment, an inquiry about the modification-level is asked not to the original user who originally produces the image comment but to the other users. That is, it is rational rather to estimate the modification-level of a modified image comment from the other users than to ask the same of the original image comment user. If the modification-level would be asked of the original image comment user, he/she may subjectively estimate the modified image comment, which may cause a dispute.

[81] Meanwhile, if the user estimates that the modified image comment is seriously modified from the original image comment at the modification-level detecting step, he/ she transmits the modified image comment to the original image comment user. When the original image comment user allows for the modification regarding the modified image comment, the modified image comment is created in a fair manner. On the contrary, if the original image comment user does not allow for the modification, the modified image comment is processed in a mosaic pattern or a blind pattern.

[82]

[83] *Although the other users also estimate that the modified image comment has been seriously modified from the original image comment, it is not necessary to perform a blind step to the modified image comment if the original image comment user allows for the modification regarding the modified image comment. However, it is preferable to ask the original image comment user whether the modified image comment is required to perform a mosaic process (or a blind process).

[84] When the modified image comment is processed by a mosaic pattern, a notice message may be transmitted to the user who produced the modified image comment.

[85] If the user who originally produced an image comment does not permit the modification, the image comment must be prevented from opening on other user's image comment generating tools, and from saving or copying.

[86] Meanwhile, it is necessary to detect a plagiarized image comment that is created in such a way that the original image comment is copied by another image generating tool and then the copied image comment is processed as it is originally produced by a copying user. Such a detection step is performed at the image modification-detecting step.

[87] The image modification-detecting step is to detect whether an image comment is plagiarized or modified form the original image comment without the original image comment producing user's permission. It includes a code identifying step and a coordinate identifying step.

[88] The code identifying step analyzes whether a portion or the whole of the 1^st or 2° ID code is included in an image comment at the step where other user produces a new image comment and registers it. If the 1^st ID code is included in the image comment, it is recognized that the image comment uses only a main image area of the other user's producing original image comment. If the 1^st and 2° ID codes are included in the image comment, it is recognized that most of the image comment plagiarizes the original image comment. In that case, a corresponding website deprives the copying user of membership or sends a serious warning to the copying user.

[89] As described above, determining whether a present particular picture plagiarizes the original image comment is performed according to whether it is displayed within the outline of a particular picture. This is to originally prevent only a main portion of the other user's original image comment from being plagiarized without the other user's permission, thereby protecting the copy right of the image comment against infringement.

[90] Similar to the code identifying step, the coordinate identifying step analyzes whether the 1^st coordinates are all included in a particular user's image comment and a portion or the whole of the 2° coordinates, already detected, is included in a particular user's image comment and then detects whether the image comment plagiarizes the original image comment. [91] Figure 6 is a view illustrating a screen displaying a moving image generated by grouping image comments in the same classification.

[92] The display step is to display image comments in the same classification. The image comment, sorted as the same classification at the category classifying step, or the original image comment is combined with the modified image comment and displayed on a particular cyber space as a gallery.

[93] The combined image comments are displayed as a moving image, such as a flash image, or displayed successively and one by one. The display step aesthetically displays a plurality of image comments having the same concept/subject, forming a gallery, and shows the development process from the original image comment to a modified image comment.

[94] In addition, in the process of developing from the original image comment to a modified image comment, modified image comments at particular steps of the developing process can be stored by the image comment generating tool, so that the process of creating the final modified image comment can be produced as a moving image and thus the moving image can be displayed.

[95] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Industrial Applicability

[96] The system according to the present invention can be implemented through the

Internet system. The system basis can be produced and sold in large quantities. The system can be conveniently used by using corresponding application programs downloaded through the Internet.

[97]

Claims

[1] A method for providing communication through image comments comprising: producing image comments in a picture or an image that a user draws through an image comment generating tool in order to freely express his/her opinion about a particular Internet content; sorting the image comments based on detailed categories; registering and publishing the image comments so that the image comments serve as a reply; and sorting the published image comments in one of the sequence in time, in popularity, and in reference.

[2] The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of inserting identification codes, wherein the identification code insertion step is to insert a water mark composed of bit stream data into a head or other part of the image comment that is provided in the format of a combination of file or data by an encrypt key, in order to identify the user who produced the image comment.

[3] The method according to claim 2, wherein the identification code insertion step comprises: setting an image comment area where, at least one 1^st ID code is inserted into corresponding pixels in an inner area of an outline that expresses an image of the data for the image comment and a 2° ID code is inserted into at least one location in an area other than the inner area of the outline.

[4] The method according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising an image comment modification-generating step, wherein the image comment modification-creating step comprises: asking the user who produces the image comment whether to allow other users to modify his/her image comment; modifying, if the user permits the modification of his/her image comment, the image comment and generating a modified image comment using a method for processing the image comment to an open source and combining it with other image comments or a method for adding an image to the image comment or modifying a portion of the image comment by other users; detecting a modification-level for the modified image comment by selecting a plurality of users, showing them the modified image comment and the original image comment, and inquiring whether the modified image comment damages the basic idea of the original image comment; notifying, if the modified image damages the basic idea of the original image comment, the user who produce the original image comment by showing the user the modified image; and blocking the modified image comment by inquiring whether to block the publication of the modified image comment according the selection of the user who produce the original image comment.

[5] The method according to claim 4, further comprising: analyzing, if the user does not permit the modification of his/her image comment, whether a new image comment includes a portion or the whole of the 1^st ID code or the 2° ID code of the other image comment in the process of producing and registering the new image comment by other user, and detecting whether to plagiarize the original image comment.

[6] The method according to claim 1, further comprising: generating a gallery composed of image comments in the same classification sorted by the sorting step; and displaying the image comments gathered in the gallery on one screen in a moving image mode or a successively displayed still image mode.