WO2007008050A1

WO2007008050A1 - System, apparatus and method for providing a flashcon in a instant messenger of a mobile device

Info

Publication number: WO2007008050A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/002796
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jae Woo Jung; Jae Ha Lee; Ka Ram Han; Yun Sun Lee; Jung Ho Woo
Original assignee: Sk Communications Corp.
Priority date: 2005-07-14
Filing date: 2006-07-14
Publication date: 2007-01-18
Also published as: KR101200559B1; KR20070009880A

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which an instant messenger is provided in wireless terminals, the system comprising: a messenger server providing exchange of a message by checking whether a terminal having received a dialogue request from the mobile terminal is in a communication-practicable state and forming a communication channel between the two terminals; a flashcon web server providing a flashcon reproducing file to the wireless terminal in response to a flashcon reproducing request from the wireless terminal; and a flashcon database server, which comprises database, storing and transmitting a variety of information for providing a flashcon through the database.

Description

SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FLASHCON IN A INSTANT MESSENGER OF A MOBILE

DEVICE

Technical Field

[1] This invention relates to a mobile instant messenger for providing an instant messenger to a wireless terminal, and more particularly, a system, an apparatus, and a method for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which a dialogist's emotion can be expressed in an animation in the mobile instant messenger.

[2]

Background Art

[3] In general, an instant messenger is software or hardware for allowing two or more users to transmit a small amount of character data in real time. The instant messenger allows a user to register opposite dialogists and to transmit and receive a message to and from an opposite dialogist in an opposite dialogist list output to a messenger picture. The instant messenger could be recently used in a mobile communication terminal, as well as in personal computers and has been rapidly spread.

[4] The instant messenger communicates using texts mainly. Theses days, in order to overcome the limit of expressing a user's look required for delivering the user's intention or emotion using only texts, the instant messenger utilizes graphic emoticons instead of directly displaying texts. Moreover, in an instant messenger program such as "NATE ON", a flashcon for making oneself understood by an animation using a flash technology is provided.

[5] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a picture for providing a flashcon in a conventional PC instant messenger. Referring to Fig. 1, dialogists use a flashcon 110 instead of a text or a simple emoticon to express their emotion to the opposite party in an instant messenger 100 operating on a PC. The flashcon 110 provided on the instant messenger 100 can express a dialogist's emotion more effectively and variously as well as enhance a fun of dialogue, thereby enhancing the degree of utilization.

[6] On the other hand, an image or a simple emoticon is generally used as means for making oneself understood at the time of delivering a message using a cellular phone or a PDA. In case of a short message occupying the most portions other than a telephone communication in utilizing a mobile communication terminal, the text or the simple emoticon is used as means for making oneself understood.

[7] The mobile communication terminal can perform a variety of accessory functions such as a short message server (SMS) function in addition to a simple telephone com- munication. The short message service function is a service for allowing a relatively short text sentence to be delivered between terminals (or to a PC). Since the SMS can allow a desired message to be delivered regardless of the communication state of the opposite terminal and is relatively cheap in comparison with the telephone communication, the SMS is widely used to replace the telephone communication function.

[8] At the time of transmitting a short message with a mobile communication terminal, a user manipulates keys to prepare a sentence to be transmitted and transmits the prepared sentence. Since the SMS can allow only about 40 Hangul characters to be transmitted and received, a user cannot input and transmit a lot of contents. In addition, since only very small and finite keys are used to input and deliver the contents, it is very complex to input and transmit many characters.

[9] Accordingly, much time and labor are required for inputting a short message containing many meanings and thus the total meaning of the short message cannot help becoming pointless. That is, since the short message makes itself understood using mainly a text, there is a limit in expressing a speaker's look or the like required for delivering a daily language.

[10] In order to overcome such a limit, emoticons are widely used in mobile terminals.

The emoticon is a new-coined word obtained from emotion + icon and serves as icons expressing an emotion. The emoticons are derived from Smiley used by network users of a UNIX system.

[11] The emoticons are defined as hieroglyphic characters including combinations of general characters and special characters so as to express a user's emotion. The emoticons are a language specific to a cyber space for delivering delicate human emotions and symbols or the meanings of specific persons, occupations, things, and the like by properly combining characters, signs, and numerals of a computer keyboard, in other words, a cyber sign language.

[12] In that the emoticons can be understood by any person and makes it easy to express a user's delicate emotion, the emoticons are widely used in a cyber space. In recently developed mobile communication terminals, about 90 emoticons are developed and stored to correspond to a user's various looks. For example, "^{Λ Λ}" indicates a general laugh, "^ΛΛ;" indicates an awkward laugh, and "T.T" indicates a figure in tears. In this way, the emoticons use signs to effectively deliver emotions in mobile terminals.

[13]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[14] However, as shown in Fig. 1, a flashcon embodied in a PC instant messenger is not embodied yet in a mobile environment. In the mobile environment using wireless terminals such as cellular phones and PDAs, the input means thereof is remarkably inconvenient in comparison with wired computer terminals and thus a function of conveniently expressing a user's emotion or intention in a variety of images is much required as described above. On the contrary, the flashcon is not embodied yet in a mobile instant messenger and is not made easy to embody due to problems in transmission and storage of files and problems in input means of the wireless terminals.

[15] Accordingly, there is a great need for a method of effectively embodying a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger.

[16]

Technical Solution

[17] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system, an apparatus, and a method for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which a dialogist's emotion or intention can be expressed in an animated image in the mobile instant messenger provided from a wireless terminal.

[18] It is another object of the present invention to provide a system, an apparatus, and a method for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which a dialogist's emotion can be expressed in an animated image including vibration or sound in the mobile instant messenger.

[19] To achieve the above objects, according to an aspect, the present invention provides a system for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which an instant messenger is provided in a wireless terminal, the system comprising: a messenger server providing exchange of a message by checking whether a terminal having received a dialogue request from the mobile terminal is in a communication- practicable state and forming a communication channel between the two terminals; a flashcon web server providing a flashcon reproducing file to the corresponding wireless terminal in response to a flashcon reproducing request from the wireless terminal; and a flashcon database server, which comprises database, storing and transmitting a variety of information for providing a flashcon through the database.

[20] According to another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which an instant messenger is provided in a wireless terminal, the apparatus comprising: a messenger server providing exchange of a message by checking whether a terminal having received a dialogue request from the mobile terminal is in a communication-practicable state and forming a communication channel between the two terminals; a flashcon web server providing a flashcon reproducing file to the wireless terminal in response to a flashcon reproducing request from the wireless terminal; and a flashcon database server, which comprises database, storing and transmitting a variety of information for providing a flashcon through the database.

[21] According to still another aspect, the present invention provides a method of providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which an instant messenger is provided in a wireless terminal, the method comprising: executing a flashcon by inputting information including a preset special sign indicating the execution of the flashcon through a message input box of the wireless terminal; receiving a flashcon configuration file from a flashcon web server; comparing a version of a flashcon configuration file stored in its own local storage unit with a version of the received flashcon configuration file; receiving a new flashcon configuration file having a high version from the flashcon web server when the version of the received flashcon configuration file is higher than the version of the flashcon configuration file stored in the local storage unit; and reproducing the selected flashcon configuration file.

[22] The present invention provides a method of expressing an emotion or intention more effectively by expressing an intention using a flashcon at the time of communicating with the opposite party through a dialogue box in a mobile instant messenger. At this time, the flashcon is stored and executed in the format of file in the wireless terminal. The flashcon file can be embodied in a moving image or an animation file with any form including a flash file (for example, a file having an extension "swf"). It is preferable that the flashcon file is embodied in the format of a file which includes a plurality of image frames and of which the extension is "sis."

[23] At this time, the method of expressing an intention using the flashcon can be easily embodied by coupling a mapping number mapped with each flashcon one to one to a special character (for example, character "*" indicating a flashcon in a dialogue box of an instant messenger. Alternatively, it can be embodied that categories of a short key map are displayed when a special character (for example, character "*" indicating a flashcon is input through the dialogue box of the instant messenger.

[24] On the other hand, according to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to enhance the performance of the flashcon by together outputting sound, vibration, or the like from the wireless terminal at the time of displaying the flashcon. At this time, since the sound or vibration should be synchronized with a specific image of a flashcon, it is preferable to together provide output synchronization information of the sound or vibration. For example, when the flashcon to be expressed is an "image putting a finger in an anus" or an "image giving a slap on a cheek", it is possible to more effectively deliver the meaning of the flashcon by providing sound or vibration together with a predetermined exact image.

[25] Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a picture for providing a flashcon in a conventional PC instant messenger;

[27] Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a picture for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger according to the present invention;

[28] Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a system for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger according to the present invention;

[29] Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a wireless terminal for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger according to the present invention;

[30] Fig. 5 is a signal flowchart illustrating a procedure of providing a flashcon to a wireless terminal through a flashcon providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[31] Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of executing a flashcon in a wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[32] Fig. 7 is a signal flowchart illustrating a procedure of providing a flashcon including vibration or sound according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[33] Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of executing a flashcon including vibration or sound in a wireless terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[34] Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a structure of a flashcon file including vibration or sound according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[35] Figs. 10 to 14 are views illustrating examples of a mobile flashcon according to embodiments of the present invention;

[36] Figs. 15 to 16 are views illustrating a picture for providing a flashcon dialog map according to embodiments of the present invention; and

[37] Figs. 17 to 20 are views illustrating a picture for providing a flashcon short key according to embodiments of the present invention.

[38]

Mode for the Invention

[39] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description of the present invention, concrete description on related functions or constructions will be omitted if it is deemed that the functions and/or constructions may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention.

[40] Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a picture for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger according to the present invention. Referring to Fig. 2, by operating an instant messenger in a wireless terminal according to the present invention and then inputting "*223" which is obtained by coupling a mapping number "223" mapped to a flashcon one to one to a special character "*" to a message input portion 210 of an instant messenger dialogue box 200, a flashcon 220 indicating dibs is expressed in the form of animation.

[41] A system and an apparatus for providing a flashcon in the mobile instant messenger according to the present invention will be now described with reference to figs. 3 and 4.

[42] Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a system for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger according to the present invention. Referring to Fig. 3, the system for providing a mobile flashcon according to the present invention includes one or more wireless terminals 300 and 310, a wireless network 320, a wired network 330, a wired terminal 340 (that is, PC), a messenger server 350, a flashcon web server 360, a flashcon database server 370, and a plurality of databases 371, 372, 373, and 374.

[43] The wireless terminal 300 can hold a dialogue with the other wireless terminal 310 through the wireless network 320 by the use of a mobile instant messenger. That is, when the wireless terminal 300 operates the mobile instant messenger and makes a request for a dialogue with the other wireless terminal 310, a request signal is transmitted to the messenger server 350 through the wireless network 320 and the wired network 330. The messenger server 350 checks whether the wireless terminal 310 which a request has been made for the dialogue with is in the dialogue-practicable state and forms a dialogue channel between the two wireless terminals 300 and 310. At this time, a dialogue box is created in the two wireless terminals 300 and 310 and the mutual dialogue can be performed by inputting a message to the created dialogue box.

[44] When execution and creation of a flashcon is requested by the use of the created dialogue box in a predetermined method as shown in Fig. 2, the corresponding flashcon is provided through the flashcon database server 370 from the flashcon web server 360 in response to the request. The flashcon database server 370 includes a plurality of databases and stores and transmits a variety of information for providing a flashcon using the databases. That is, the flashcon database server 370 includes databases such as a category information database 371, a flashcon information database 372, a user information database 373, and a flashcon file database 374.

[45] First, the category information database 371 stores flashcon map information. The flashcon map information means mapping information on a plurality of flashcons, which are structured, stored, and mapped in response to input numerals. The flashcons can be classified and stored into one or more layered categories. Accordingly, the flashcon map information can have a tree-shaped structure.

[46] Next, the flashcon information database 372 stores individual information of each flashcon. For example, the flashcon information database 372 stores mapping numeral information, text setting information, capacity information, and the like of each flashcon.

[47] The user information database 373 can store user-specific information on users having utilized or purchased a flashcon, flashcon configuration file information, charged information, etc. That is, when the flashcon is such a type of a flashcon which should be purchased for use, purchase information or usability information on the corresponding flashcon and information on the period of time is preferably provided every user. Since types of flashcons can be successively added and updated, it is possible to allow each user to effectively utilize new flashcons by storing the configuration information on the flashcons in the form of a file and managing the version thereof.

[48] The flashcon file database 374 stores actual flashcon files. At this time, the files for implementing the flashcons can be embodied in any format and can be embodied in the form of an animation or a moving image file including a flash image of which the extension is "swf". On the other hand, the flashcon files are stored in the form of files, which include a plurality of image frames and of which the extension is "sis" in consideration of the efficiency of embodying a flashcon image in a wireless terminal.

[49] Accordingly, the respective wireless terminals 300 and 310 can reproduce the flashcon file stored in their local memory by selecting and executing the flashcon in the dialogue box of the mobile instant messenger or can reproduce and transmit by downloading and reproducing the corresponding flashcon file from the flashcon database server 370. The concrete method of providing a flashcon by the use of the flashcon web server 360 and the flashcon database server 370 will be described later with reference to Fig. 5.

[50] On the other hand, although it has been described that a flashcon is provided using the instant messenger between the wireless terminals 300 and 310, the flashcon may be provided using the instant messenger between the wireless terminal and the wired terminal 340. That is, the wireless terminal 300 can have a dialogue with the wired terminal 340 using a messenger through the wireless network 320 and the wired network 330. In this case, by requesting the message input portion of the dialogue box to generate or transmit a flashcon as described above, it is possible to reproduce a flashcon in its own or opposite terminal.

[51] The wireless network 320 may be any wireless network such as 2G, 3G, and 4G and may include a local area network such as WAN or a private network. For example, when the wireless network 320 is a 3G CDMA network, the wireless network 320 can include a base station (BTS) performing a communication with the wireless terminals 300 and 310 in a wireless section, a base station controller (BSC) controlling the base station, a switchboard (MSC) switching a call, a short message service center (SMSC) providing a short message service, and a packet data service node (PDSN) providing a data service to the mobile communication terminal.

[52] Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of the wireless terminal 300 for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 4, files and modules to be stored for providing a mobile flashcon according to the present invention can be newly added to a general structure of a wireless terminal. That is, the wireless terminal 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a key input unit 400, a display unit 410, a vibration motor driver 420, a vibration motor 421, a controller 430, a radio frequency unit 440, an antenna 441, a sound processing unit 450, a speaker 451, a microphone 452, a storage unit 460, an instant messenger module 470, and a flashcon processing module 480.

[53] The flashcon configuration file 461, the flashcon file 462 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be stored in the storage unit 460. The instant messenger module 470 and the flashcon processing module 480 can be made of individual modules or can be made in the form of software, which can be stored in the storage unit 460.

[54] The controller 430 controls the entire operations of the wireless terminal and specifically controls the flashcon processing module 480 to select and reproduce a flashcon by checking whether a flashcon reproducing request is generated when the instant messenger is executed by the instant messenger module 470. That is, the controller judges whether a special character (for example, "*" for generating a flashcon is included in the input box of the instant messenger and controls the flashcon processing module 480 to reproduce a flashcon mapped with a numeral input together with the special sign in accordance the judgment result.

[55] The key input unit 400 includes a plurality of numeral and character keys and a plurality of functional keys (*, #, etc.) for performing a variety of functions and outputs an electrical signal of the key data corresponding to the key input by a user to the controller 430. Specifically, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the wireless terminal inputs the special character or the numerals using the key input unit 400 or selects a desired flashcon using a flashcon short key map so as to reproduce or transmit a flashcon.

[56] The display unit 410 can be embodied by a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a light emitting diode and displays the status of the mobile communication terminal, the flashcon short key map, or a flashcon image under the control of the controller 430.

[57] The radio frequency unit 440 converts a signal received by the antenna 441 from a radio frequency signal to an intermediate frequency signal and outputs the intermediate frequency signal, and converts a signal to be transmitted from the intermediate frequency signal to the radio frequency signal and outputs the radio frequency signal to the antenna 441. This radio frequency unit is provided as an exemplary embodiment of a wireless signal processor. The sound processing unit 450 receives and demodulates the radio frequency signal received by the antenna 441 from the radio frequency unit 440 and outputs a sound signal from the speaker (SPK) 451, or modulates a sound signal input from the microphone (MIC) 452 and transmits the modulated sound signal from the antenna 451 through the radio frequency unit 440.

[58] The storage unit 460 temporarily stores programs for operation of the controller 430 and data processed during the operation and thus it is referred to as a local database so as to distinguish the storage unit 460 from the flashcon database server to be described later. Specifically, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit 460 can store the flashcon configuration file 461 and the flashcon file 462. The flashcon configuration file 461 includes a list of providable flashcons or category information on the flashcons. The flashcon configuration file 461 can be continuously updated to a new version by means of a check of version in the flashcon web server 360. The flashcon file 462 means the providable flashcon files downloaded from the flashcon file database 374 of a provider. The flashcon file 462 can be embodied in any format as described above and can be embodied in any animation or a moving image including a flash image of which the extension is "swf". On the other hand, in the present invention, the flashcon file is stored in the form of a file, which includes a plurality of image frames and of which the extension is "sis" in consideration of the efficiency in embodying a flashcon image in a wireless terminal. In this case, the flashcon file 462 can be structured and stored in the unit of category in accordance with the flashcon map.

[59] The vibration motor driver 420 performs a function of driving the vibration motor

421 under the control of the controller 430. Specifically, when a vibration is set at the time of reproducing a flashcon, the vibration motor driver 420 provides the set vibration by driving the vibration motor 421 in synchronization with the reproduction of the flashcon in accordance with the set vibration.

[60] When the mobile instant messenger program is executed in the wireless terminal

300, the instant messenger module 470 creates a variety of menu and dialogue boxed for the instant messenger, supports a variety of functions of the instant messenger, and serves to permit the exchange of a message with the opposite party (the wireless terminal 310 or the wired terminal 340).

[61] When a command for selecting, reproducing, or transmitting a flashcon is input in the state where the mobile instant messenger program is executed or a message should be input, the flashcon processing module 480 performs a variety of functions associated with the flashcon processing so as to retrieve, reproduce, or transmit the flashcon. The flashcon processing module 480 checks the flashcon configuration file 461 and the flashcon file 462 stored in the storage unit 460, reproduces the previously stored flashcon file 462 or downloads and reproduces the flashcon file from the flashcon web server 360.

[62] Fig. 5 is a signal flowchart illustrating a procedure of providing a flashcon to a wireless terminal through a flashcon providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 5, when the mobile instant messenger is first executed in the wireless terminal 300 and then a flashcon menu is selected or input in the mobile instant messenger, the flashcon execution information is transmitted to the flashcon web server 360 (S501) and thus the flashcon web server 360 is automatically logged in. At this time, the wireless terminal 300 requests the flashcon web server 360 for ticket information and charged information for reproducing a flashcon.

[63] In response to the request from the wireless terminal 300, the flashcon web server

360 requests the flashcon database server 370 for the charged information of the current user (S502). Then, the flashcon web server 360 reads out the user information and the charged information from the flashcon database server 370 (S503). Thereafter, the flashcon web server 360 transmits the ticket information and the charged information of the user to the wireless terminal 300 (S504).

[64] At this time, the wireless terminal 300 requests the flashcon web server 360 for version information of a flashcon configuration file (S505). The flashcon web server 360 requests the flashcon database server 370 for the previously stored version information of the user's flashcon configuration file in response to the request. The flashcon database server 370 transmits the version information of the flashcon configuration file to the flashcon web server 360 in response to the request (S506). The flashcon web server 360 replies to the request (S508) by transmitting the version information of the flashcon configuration file received from the flashcon database server 370 to the wireless terminal 300.

[65] The wireless terminal 300 checks the version information of the flashcon configuration file transmitted from the flashcon web server 360 and compares the transmitted version information of the flashcon configuration file with the version information of the flashcon configuration file 461 stored in the local storage unit 460, thereby determining whether the subsequent procedure should be performed (that is, whether a new flashcon configuration file should be downloaded).

[66] When the version of the flashcon configuration file 461 stored in the local storage unit 460 is equal to the version of the received flashcon configuration file, the previously stored flashcon configuration file 461 is used without performing the download process. When the version of the flashcon configuration file 461 stored in the local storage unit 460 is lower than the version of the received flashcon configuration file, the process of downloading the flashcon configuration file is performed as follows.

[67] First, the wireless terminal 300 requests the flashcon web server 360 to download a new flashcon configuration file (S509). The flashcon web server 360 requests the flashcon database server 370 for the corresponding flashcon configuration file in response to the request and downloads the flashcon configuration file from the flashcon database server 370 as a result of the request (S511). Accordingly, the flashcon web server 360 transmits the downloaded new flashcon configuration file to the wireless terminal 300 (S512).

[68] Thereafter, the wireless terminal 300 checks the downloaded new flashcon configuration file and requests the flashcon web server 360 for a thumbnail image of the newly updated flashcon (S513). The flashcon web server 360 downloads the thumbnail image of the flashcon from the flashcon database server 370 (S514 and S515) in response to the request and transmits the downloaded thumbnail image to the wireless terminal 300 (S516).

[69] It is checked whether the flashcon selected by the wireless terminal 300 after updating the flashcon configuration file and downloading the thumbnail image of the flashcon is stored as a flashcon file 462 in the local storage unit 460. When the selected flashcon is previously stored in the local storage unit 460, the flashcon file is reproduced.

[70] On the contrary, when the selected flashcon is not stored in the local storage unit

460, the flashcon web server 360 is requested for the flashcon file (S517). In response to the request from the wireless terminal 300, the flashcon web server 360 requests the flashcon database server 370 for the flashcon file (S518) and downloads the flashcon file (S519). Then, the flashcon web server 360 transmits the downloaded flashcon file to the wireless terminal 300 (S520). The wireless terminal 300 temporarily stores and reproduces the downloaded flashcon file, or permanently or temporarily stores the downloaded flashcon file in the local storage unit 460, thereby reusing the downloaded flashcon file in response to a next reproduction request.

[71] This procedure varies depending upon a charging method and it is efficient that the downloaded flashcon file is stored in the local storage unit 460 and is used later. The flashcon web server 360 may charge on the basis of the number of reproduction times or the period of reproduction time of the flashcon file. It is preferable that only a predetermined number of flashcon files are stored in the local storage unit 460 in consideration of the capacity of the flashcon files. When the flashcon files are downloaded greater than the predetermined number, it is preferable that the stored flashcon files are deleted for management in consideration of the reproduction frequency or the latest time of the reproduction.

[72] Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of executing a flashcon in a wireless terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 6, as described with reference to Fig. 5, the wireless terminal executes and reproduces the flashcon according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[73] First, the wireless terminal 300 selects the execution of a flashcon through a message input box of the mobile instant message or another message input box (S601). With the execution of the flashcon, the wireless terminal 300 receives the ticket information and charged information from the flashcon web server 360 as described above (S602). The wireless terminal 300 receives a flashcon configuration file from the flashcon web server 360 (S603) and compares the version of the flashcon configuration file stored in the local storage unit 460 with the version of the received flashcon configuration file (S 604).

[74] When the version of the received flashcon configuration file is higher than the version of the flashcon configuration file previously stored in the local storage unit 460, the wireless terminal 300 selects a new flashcon configuration file having a high version from the flashcon web server 360 as described above (S605) and downloads a thumbnail image of a newly added flashcon from the received flashcon configuration file (S606).

[75] When the version of the received flashcon configuration file is lower than or equal to the version of the stored flashcon configuration file, the wireless terminal uses the stored flashcon configuration file without downloading the new flashcon configuration file.

[76] Then, when a flashcon is selected from the list of flashcons in the wireless terminal

300 (S607), it is checked whether the selected flashcon is stored in the local storage unit 460. When it is checked that the selected flashcon is not stored in the local storage unit 460, the wireless terminal 300 downloads the flashcon from the flashcon web server 360 (S609) and reproduces the downloaded flashcon. When the selected flashcon is stored in the local storage unit 460, the wireless terminal 300 reproduces the flashcon file without downloading any new flashcon file.

[77] In this case, the selected flashcon may be transmitted to and displayed on the opposite dialogist's terminal or may be reproduced in its own terminal and output as an image (S610).

[78] Hereinafter, examples where a flashcon is reproduced together with vibration or sound will be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 9.

[79] Fig. 7 is a signal flowchart illustrating a procedure of providing a flashcon including vibration or sound according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 7, when the flashcon to be reproduced includes vibration or sound according to another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to enhance the performance of reproducing the flashcon by allowing the wireless terminal 300 to output the corresponding vibration or sound at the time of reproducing the flashcon file.

[80] That is, when the flashcon file selected by the wireless terminal 300 is stored in the local storage unit 460, the wireless terminal 300 requests the flashcon web server 360 for the flashcon file as described above (S701). The flashcon web server 360 requests the flashcon database server 370 for the flashcon file in response to the request.

[81] In this case, since the flashcon including the vibration or sound is reproduced according to another embodiment of the present invention, the flashcon file including the vibration or sound is defined and suggested as a new "SIL file (*.sil)" as shown in Fig. 9 in the present invention.

[82] Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a structure of a flashcon file including vibration or sound according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 9, the flashcon file according to another embodiment of the present invention can include vibration information 910, sound (mmf) information 920, flashcon image information (SIS file) 930, and a reserved area 940. At this time, the vibration information 910 indicates in which number of frame or which seconds the vibration is generated at the time of reproducing the flashcon file and may be time information having a unit of second. The sound (mmf) information indicates in which number of frame or which seconds the sound is generated at the time of reproducing the flashcon file and may be time information having a unit of second.

[83] For example, assuming that there is a flashcon file "happy.sil" including vibration or sound, the most significant byte (MSB) includes the vibration information, the next 3 bytes include the sound information (mmf), and the other includes a SIS file which is an existing flashcon file.

[84] In Fig. 7, the SIL file previously stored in the local storage unit 460 or downloaded from the flashcon web server 360 is subjected to an unpacking process by the wireless terminal 300 and the vibration information 910, the sound information 920, and the SIS file information 930 are read out therefrom, thereby reproducing the final flashcon file (S705).

[85] Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of executing a flashcon including vibration or sound in a wireless terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 8, as described with reference to Fig. 6, the wireless terminal executes and reproduces the flashcon including vibration or sound according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[86] First, the wireless terminal 300 selects the execution of a flashcon through the message input box of the mobile instant messenger or another message input box. Then, when a flashcon is selected from the list of flashcons in the wireless terminal 300 (S802), it is checked whether the selected flashcon is stored in the local storage unit 460. When it is checked that the selected flashcon is not stored in the local storage unit 460, the corresponding flashcon file is downloaded from the flashcon web server 360 (S804) and reproduced. When the selected flashcon is stored in the local storage unit 460, the corresponding flashcon file is reproduced without downloading the flashcon file.

[87] At this time, when the flashcon file to be reproduced includes the vibration or sound

(S805), synchronization information is extracted from the flashcon file (that is, SIL file) (S806) and the selected flashcon file is reproduced along with the vibration or sound (S807).

[88] Hitherto, the system, the apparatus, and the method for providing a mobile flashcon according to the present invention have been described in detail. Hereinafter, examples where a mobile flashcon is embodied in practice according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 10 to 20.

[89] Figs. 10 to 14 are views illustrating examples of a mobile flashcon according to embodiments of the present invention. Referring to Figs. 10 to 14, a flashcon file can be reproduced by inputting a combination (that is, inputting "*111" of a special character (for example, "*") indicating a predetermined flashcon and a numeral (for example, " 111" indicating the selection of a specific flashcon in a message input box in the state that a mobile instant messenger is operated in the wireless terminal. At this time, the flashcon image can be reproduced in the form of a flash image on the dialogue box of the wireless terminal as shown in the figures and an emotion can be expressed more effectively by combining the vibration or sound as described above. Fig. 10 illustrates an example of a flashcon indicating "dibs", Fig. 11 illustrates an example of a flashcon indicating "don't laugh", Fig. 12 illustrates an example of a flashcon indicating "no interest", Fig. 13 illustrates an example of a flashcon indicating "lie", and Fig. 14 illustrates an example of flashcon indicating "putting a finger in an anus".

[90] On the other hand, in the flashcon indicating "lie" shown in Fig. 13, it is possible to enhance the performance of the flashcon by outputting proper sound in synchronization with the reproduced image. In the flashcon indicating "putting a finger in an anus" shown in Fig. 14, it is possible to enhance the performance of the flashcon by outputting vibration in synchronization with the reproduced image. That is, the sound can be output in synchronization with the image saying "lie" in Fig. 13 and the vibration can be output in synchronization with the image being subjected to "putting a finger in its anus" in Fig. 14.

[91] Figs. 15 and 16 are views illustrating a picture for providing a flashcon dialogue map according to embodiments of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 15, the special character "*" indicating the reproduction of a flashcon is input to a message input area of a dialogue box of the mobile instant messenger as described above. Then, by successively inputting a predetermined numeral to select a specific flashcon, a dialogue map suitable for the flashcon can be displayed at the upper end of the message input area. For example, when "*317" is input to the dialogue input box, a dialogue map such as "put dibs on you. Hhh, you are mine." can be displayed.

[92] On the other hand, for the purpose of convenient input of keys, when the special character "*" indicating the reproduction of a flashcon is input, it is preferable that a key input mode is automatically converted from Hangul or English into numerals. Only the dialogue map can be displayed for a user rejecting the reproduction of a flashcon. Referring to Fig. 16, similarly to Fig. 15, when "*223" is input to the dialogue box, a flashcon is reproduced along with a dialogue map such as "What? Well, give a slap on a cheek". At this time, the flashcon can be reproduced and displayed for the user having selected and transmitted the flashcon. It is preferable that the selected flashcon should be transmitted to and displayed on the opposite dialogist's wireless terminal.

[93] Figs. 17 to 20 are views illustrating a picture for providing a flashcon short key according to embodiments of the present invention. Referring to Figs. 17 to 20, it is possible to set and provide short keys so as to facilitate the selection of a plurality of flashcons.

[94] That is, when the special character '*" indicating a selection mode of a flashcon is input as shown in Fig. 17, a large category of a short key map can be provided as shown in Fig. 18. For example, large categories such as " 1. dialogue", "2. comic and bizarre", "3. congratulation and love", "4. foods and things" are provided through a particular small box. By confirming the large categories and selecting any numeral of the categories, detailed categories of the corresponding category can be popped up along with their thumbnail images as shown in Fig. 19. For example, when "1" is selected from the menu of the large categories, the detailed categories corresponding to the "dialogue" can be provided in the form of thumbnail images.

[95] Then, subsequently to Fig. 19, the detailed categories and the specific flashcons are selected by inputting the corresponding numerals and the selected flashcon is reproduced along with a common phrase corresponding to the selected flashcon as shown in Fig. 20.

[96]

Industrial Applicability

[97] According to the above-mentioned aspects of the present invention, it is possible to more effectively express a dialogist's emotion or intention by expressing the emotion or intention using a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger of a wireless terminal. In addition, by easily embodying the selection of the flashcon, it is possible to easily deliver a desired message using a flashcon in a wireless terminal in which it is more or less difficult to input a message.

[98] According to the aspects of the present invention, it is possible to enhance the fun of dialogue and the efficiency of reproducing a flashcon by reproducing sound or vibration in synchronization with the flashcon.

[99] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

[1] A system for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which an instant messenger is provided in a wireless terminal, the system comprising: a messenger server providing exchange of a message by checking whether a terminal having received a dialogue request from the mobile terminal is in a communication-practicable state and forming a communication channel between the two terminals; a flashcon web server providing a flashcon reproducing file to the corresponding wireless terminal in response to a flashcon reproducing request from the wireless terminal; and a flashcon database server, which comprises database, storing and transmitting a variety of information for providing a flashcon through the database.

[2] The system according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless terminal reproducing a flashcon file stored in its own local memory or downloading and reproducing the flashcon file from the flashcon database server by selecting and executing a flashcon in a dialogue box of the mobile instant messenger.

[3] The system according to claim 2, wherein the wireless terminal comprises: a local storage unit storing a flashcon reproducing file and a flashcon configuration file including a list of the providable flaschons or category information of the flashcons; an instant messenger module creating a variety of menu and dialogue boxes for the mobile instant messenger and supporting a variety of functions of the instant messenger; a flashcon processing module performing a variety of functions associated with the processing of a flashcon so as to retrieve, reproduce, or transmit the flashcon at the time of executing the flashcon in a mobile instant messenger program; and a controller controlling the entire operations of the wireless terminal so as to check the flashcon reproducing request and allow the flashcon processing module to select and reproduce the flashcon when the instant messenger is executed by the instant messenger module.

[4] The system according to claim 1, wherein the flashcon database server comprises: a category information database storing flashcon map information in which the flashcons are structured and mapped with input numerals; a flashcon information database storing individual information of the flaschons; a user information database storing information on users utilizing or purchasing the flaschons; and a flashcon file database storing reproducible flashcon files.

[5] The system according to claim 1, wherein the flashcon files comprise one or more selected from vibration information, sound information, flashcon image information, and reserved area.

[6] An apparatus for providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which an instant messenger is provided in a wireless terminal, the apparatus comprising: a messenger server providing exchange of a message by checking whether a terminal having received a dialogue request from the mobile terminal is in a communication-practicable state and forming a communication channel between the two terminals; a flashcon web server providing a flashcon reproducing file to the wireless terminal in response to a flashcon reproducing request from the wireless terminal; and a flashcon database server, which comprises database, storing and transmitting a variety of information for providing a flashcon through the database.

[7] The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flashcon database server comprises: a category information database storing flashcon map information in which the flashcons are structured and mapped with input numerals; a flashcon information database storing individual information of the flaschons; a user information database storing information on users utilizing or purchasing the flaschons; and a flashcon file database storing reproducible flashcon files.

[8] The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the flashcon map information has a tree-shaped structure which is structured and classified into one or more layers.

[9] The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the individual information of the flashcons stored in the flashcon information database comprises one or more selected from numeral information mapped with the flashcons, text setting information, and capacity information.

[10] The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flashcon file comprises one or more selected from vibration information, sound information, flashcon image information, and reserved area.

[11] A method of providing a flashcon in a mobile instant messenger in which an instant messenger is provided in a wireless terminal, the method comprising: executing a flashcon by inputting information including a preset special sign indicating the execution of the flashcon through a message input box of the wireless terminal; receiving a flashcon configuration file from a flashcon web server; comparing a version of a flashcon configuration file stored in its own local storage unit with a version of the received flashcon configuration file; receiving a new flashcon configuration file having a high version from the flashcon web server when the version of the received flashcon configuration file is higher than the version of the flashcon configuration file stored in the local storage unit; and reproducing the selected flashcon configuration file.

[12] The method according to claim 11, further comprising downloading a thumbnail image of a flashcon newly added from the received new flashcon configuration file, after receiving the new flashcon configuration file having a high version from the flashcon web server.

[13] The method according to claim 11, further comprising: selecting a flashcon from the list of flashcons; checking whether the selected flashcon is stored in a local storage unit; and downloading the selected flashcon file from the flashcon web server when the selected flashcon is not stored in the local storage unit.

[14] The method according to claim 11, wherein the flashcon file includes one or more selected from vibration information, sound information, flashcon image information, and reserved area.