KR20050029601A - Wireless instant messaging service method and system there-for - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for serving a wireless instant message and a system therefore are provided to drive a messenger application program of a wireless handset off-line, thereby performing a messenger service without making the wireless handset on-line. A subscriber A logs on a messenger server(S312). The subscriber A generates an instant message, and requests the messenger server to transmit the instant message to a subscriber B(S314). The messenger server confirms a state of the subscriber B(S316). If the subscriber B is on-line, the messenger server immediately transmits the instant message to the subscriber B(S318). If the subscriber B is off-line, the messenger server requests an SMSC(Short Message Service Center)/OTA(Over The Air service) server to drive a messenger(S320). The SMSC/OTA server transmits a messenger operating message to a subscriber B terminal(S322). A messenger application program is operated in the subscriber B terminal(S324). The subscriber B terminal automatically logs on the messenger server(S326). The instant message is transmitted to the subscriber B(S328).

Description

Wireless instant messaging service method and system there

The present invention relates to a wireless Internet-based instant messaging service (hereinafter referred to as a messenger service), and more particularly, to a messenger service method and system capable of driving a messenger service even for an off-line wireless handset.

The instant messenger service using the Internet is widely used because of the advantage of instant messaging. However, in the related art, a wired messenger service is mainly used. In the case of the wireless messenger service, the service is available only when the wireless handset is connected to the wireless Internet. More specifically, in order to use a messenger, the wireless handset must always be logged on to the messenger server. Therefore, according to the prior art, there is a inconvenience in that it is not possible to immediately send an instant message to an off-line wireless handset.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, a method of transmitting an instant message to be transmitted to an off-line wireless handset in the form of a short message has been proposed. According to this method, as the instant message is transmitted in the form of a short message, it may take time to transmit the message. In addition, since the instant message is transmitted in the form of a short message, both wireless handsets are connected to the messenger server, which makes it inconvenient to read the message compared to the messenger service in the strict sense of sending and receiving messages in real time.

Therefore, there is a need for a method capable of driving a messenger service even for an off-line wireless handset.

Accordingly, a technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a messenger service method, system, and recording service based on a wireless Internet that can further activate communication by operating a messenger service for an off-line wireless handset so that instant messages are delivered immediately. To provide a medium.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention for achieving the above technical problem, a method for instant message service based on wireless internet is provided. Wireless instant message service method according to a preferred aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of: receiving an instant message transmission request from a first terminal to a second terminal, the second terminal is a wireless handset; Checking a state of the second terminal; If the second terminal is offline, making a messenger driving request to a short message center or an OTA server; Transmitting, by the short message center or the OTA server, a messenger driving message to the second terminal; Connecting the second terminal to a messenger server in response to the messenger driving message; And transmitting an instant message between the first terminal and the second terminal through the messenger server.

Preferably, the wireless instant message service method further comprises the messenger server extracting a phone number of the second terminal from the ID of the second terminal, and sends a messenger driving request to the short message center or the OTA server. And the messenger server providing the phone number of the second terminal to the short message center or the OTA server.

Also preferably, the transmitting of the messenger driving message to the second terminal by the short message center or the OTA server may include: locating the second terminal; And transmitting, by the short message center, the messenger driving message to the second terminal in the form of a short message, or transmitting the messenger driving message to the second terminal by the short message center or the OTA server. 2 determining the location of the terminal; And transmitting, by the OTA server, the messenger driving message to the second terminal in the form of an OTA message.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention for achieving the above technical problem, there is provided a wireless Internet-based instant message service system. According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless instant message service system comprising: means for receiving an instant message transfer request from a first terminal to a second terminal, the second terminal being a wireless handset; Means for checking a state of the second terminal; Means for making a messenger driving request to a short message center or an OTA server when the second terminal is offline; Means for sending a messenger drive message to the second terminal; And means for transmitting an instant message to the second terminal when the second terminal is connected to a messenger server in response to the messenger driving message.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention for achieving the above technical problem, a program of instructions that can be executed by a wireless Internet-based instant message service system is tangibly implemented, and can be read by the instant message service system. A record carrier, comprising: receiving an instant message transfer request from a first terminal to a second terminal, the second terminal being a wireless handset; Checking a state of the second terminal; If the second terminal is offline, making a messenger driving request to a short message center or an OTA server; Transmitting a messenger driving message to the second terminal; And a program executing the step of transmitting an instant message to the second terminal when the second terminal is connected to the messenger server in response to the messenger driving message.

In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network for providing a wireless messenger service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The network shown in Figure 1 is a wireless handset (110a, 110b), wireless network (120a, 120b), messenger server 130, Short Message Service Center (SMSC) / Over-The-Air service Server 140, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 150, and a Home Location Register (HLR) 160.

The wireless handsets 110a and 110b are mobile communication terminals equipped with a messenger application program. As a PC user can use the messenger executable program on his computer when using the messenger service, the messenger application program is coded in the internal memory of the wireless handset. The messenger application program may be preloaded in the internal memory of the wireless handset before being sold to the mobile subscriber. Alternatively, the mobile communication subscriber may download a messenger application program from a predetermined server (for example, a messenger server) using a wireless Internet or the like.

The messenger application program can be driven by manipulating the wireless handset in a predetermined manner. For example, the wireless internet service is accessed using a specific key such as "MagicN". When the messenger service menu is selected while connected to the wireless Internet service, the messenger application program of the terminal may be driven to be connected to the messenger server. Alternatively, as soon as a specific key dedicated to a messenger service is pressed, a messenger application program may be driven to access a messenger server.

The radio networks 120a and 102b include base stations 122a and 122b and interworking functions (IWFs) and packet data serving nodes (PDSNs) 124a and 124b. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 1, a base station controller (not shown) connected between the plurality of base stations and the MSC 150 may be further included. IWF / PDSNs 124a and 124b are wireless data devices for connecting wireless handsets 110a and 110b to the Internet 170. IWF / PDSN 124a, 124b also serves to connect wireless handsets 110a, 110b to messenger server 130. Thus, wireless handsets 110a and 110b are connected to messenger server 130 via base stations 122a and 122b and IWF / PDSNs 124a and 124b.

The messenger server 130 stores and manages information on messenger service subscribers. To this end, the messenger server 130 preferably includes a database. The database may include subscriber ID (ID), password, wireless handset telephone number, etc. for each subscriber. In addition, a database may store a counterpart list for each subscriber, that is, a buddy list. The messenger server performs functions such as subscriber search, subscriber status check / management, and message exchange. Also, when a messenger server receives a request for sending an instant message to a specific terminal (for example, terminal B 110b), if the terminal is logged on, the messenger server immediately sends an instant message to the terminal, and the terminal is logged on. If not, perform a procedure for driving the messenger application program of the terminal. The function of the messenger server related to instant message transmission and messenger operation is described in detail later.

The SMSC / OTA server 140 checks the position of the terminal B 110b through the HLR 160 to the terminal when a messenger driving request of a specific wireless handset (for example, the terminal B) is received from the messenger server 130. The B 110b transmits a message requesting the messenger to be driven. This functionality may be implemented in the SMSC or in the OTA server. SMSC is a device that controls the transmission and reception of short messages. Therefore, for driving the messenger of the wireless handset in the off-line state of the present invention, when the SMSC is used, the messenger driving message is transmitted in the form of a short message.

The OTA server is a server device for managing OTA functions. The OTA function allows a mobile subscriber to register and open a wireless handset purchased by a mobile subscriber on a wireless network on the fly without the intervention of a third party (e.g., a reseller) or to provide a new service to an existing mobile subscriber. This function can be granted. For the implementation of the OTA function, OTA messages are defined and used. Therefore, for driving the messenger of the wireless handset in the off-line state of the present invention, when using the OTA server, the messenger driving message is transmitted in the form of an OTA message. Specifically, some of the OTA messages already defined for the OTA function may be changed and used as messenger driving messages, or new OTA messages may be defined and used as messenger driving messages.

The messenger driving message is transmitted from the SMSC / OTA server 140 to the corresponding wireless handset (eg, terminal B 110b) through the MSC 150, the base station controller (not shown), and the base station 122b.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a messenger service method for an off-line wireless handset according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to this, a description will be given of a messenger service registration process and each process when subscriber A requests for instant message transmission to subscriber B as follows.

First, subscriber A registers as a messenger service subscriber in the messenger server (S212). At this time, subscriber A can register his or her ID, password, telephone number, and other personal information.

In addition, subscriber A may register the other party of the messenger service. At this time, the counterpart search function may be provided in the messenger server so that the counterpart can be easily found.

When subscriber A requests registration by designating subscriber B as the other party of the messenger service, the messenger server transmits a message requesting registration to subscriber B (S214), and in response, a permission message is received from subscriber B (S216). Then, the subscriber B is registered in the messenger server as the messenger counterpart of the subscriber A, that is, the buddy list. At this time, if the subscriber B has already connected to the messenger server and registered as a messenger service subscriber, in response to the registration request (S214) of the messenger server, the subscriber B only needs to perform registration permission as the other party of the subscriber A.

If the subscriber B has not registered as a messenger service subscriber, in response to the registration request (S214) of the messenger server, the subscriber B may simultaneously register as a messenger service subscriber and as a counterpart of the subscriber A.

The steps S212 to S216 are registration steps, which may be performed by subscribers A and B connected to a messenger server through their respective wireless handsets, and in addition to the wireless handsets, the wired / wireless PC 180 shown in FIG. It may also be through.

Next, the processes of subscriber A requesting instant message transmission to subscriber B's wireless handset will be described. It is assumed that subscriber B terminal is offline.

The subscriber A operates the messenger application program by operating the wireless handset in a predetermined manner, and logs on to the messenger server (S222). Log-on may be performed by entering the subscriber A's ID and password on a predetermined screen of the messenger application program. But. By storing the ID and password inside the wireless handset in advance, they can be set up so that they do not have to be entered each time the user logs on. Here, it is assumed that subscriber A logs on to the messenger server using the wireless handset, but it is also possible to log on to the messenger server using a PC.

When subscriber A connects (logs on) to the messenger server, as shown in FIG. 4A, a list of registered counterparties and the current status of each counterpart may be displayed on the display window of subscriber A's wireless handset. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4A, subscribers registered as messenger counterparts of subscriber A include subscriber B and Hong Gil-dong, among which subscriber B is offline and Hong Gil-dong is online.

Subscriber A requests the instant message transmission to subscriber B (S224). The requesting an instant message transmission (S224) may specifically include detailed steps such as selecting an instant message transmission menu, designating a counterpart (subscriber B), and creating an instant message. The designation of the other party may be performed by selecting subscriber B on the display window of the wireless handset. In the conventional wired / wireless messenger service, subscriber B cannot be selected when the subscriber B is offline. However, in the present invention, even if the state of the subscriber B is off-line, that is, not connected to the messenger server, the subscriber B can select the subscriber B and request the instant message transmission.

When the instant message transmission request is received from the subscriber A, the messenger server extracts the subscriber B's telephone number from the database (S226). Prior to this, the messenger server preferably checks whether the subscriber B is in a log-on state or a log-off state. If subscriber B is online, a messenger service may be provided between subscriber A and subscriber B by sending an instant message to subscriber B immediately. However, if subscriber B is offline, the messenger server makes a messenger driving request to the SMSC or OTA server (S228). At this time, the messenger server provides the extracted subscriber B's telephone number to the SMSC or OTA server.

First, a case in which a messenger server makes a messenger driving request through SMSC will be described.

When the SMSC receives a messenger driving request for subscriber B from the messenger server, the SMSC requests to inform the HLR of the location of subscriber B (S230). When receiving the location confirmation of the subscriber B from the HLR (S232), and sends a messenger drive message to the MSC (S234). The MSC transmits the received messenger driving message to the subscriber B (S236). The messenger driven message is transmitted to the terminal of subscriber B in the same manner as the general short message is transmitted from the SMSC to the designated terminal.

The use of the OTA is similar to the case of using the SMSC described above.

If the OTA server also receives a messenger driving request for subscriber B from the messenger server, it first requests the HLR to inform the location of subscriber B (S230). When receiving the location confirmation of the subscriber B from the HLR (S232), and sends a messenger drive message to the subscriber B via the MSC (S234, S236). At this time, the messenger driving message is transmitted to subscriber B in the same manner as a general OTA message is generated from the OTA server and transmitted to the designated terminal. However, a general OTA message may be mainly transmitted to a target of a plurality of terminals connected to a specific MSC and a specific base station controller, whereas a messenger driving message is transmitted to a specific terminal (here, subscriber B terminal) as a target.

Whether the messenger driven message is sent in the form of a short message or in the form of an OTA message, the messenger driven message preferably includes subscriber A and B information (eg, a telephone number) and predetermined driving parameters. The driving parameter is a predefined parameter that serves as a key value for driving the messenger application program.

In response to the driving parameter, the subscriber B terminal indicates that an instant message transmission request has been received from subscriber A in a predetermined manner (S238). For example, when the subscriber B terminal receives the messenger driving message, the subscriber B terminal displays the message on the display window as shown in FIG. 4B. Along with this, subscriber B terminal may inform that the message has come by an audible signal (bell / vibration / music, etc.).

When the subscriber B responds to the messenger driving message by pressing a specific key (for example, a confirmation key) (S238), the messenger application program mounted in the subscriber B terminal is automatically driven (S240). While running the messenger application program, the subscriber B terminal is connected to the messenger server and brought online (S242).

Here, the messenger application program is driven in response to a response from the outside (for example, input of a specific key), but the subscriber B terminal may be brought online while the messenger application program is driven in response to a driving parameter of the messenger driving message. have.

When the subscriber B terminal is online, the instant message created by the subscriber A is transmitted to the subscriber B terminal and displayed (S244). Since both terminals are online, subscriber B can also create and send an instant message to subscriber A immediately. Therefore, traffic channels are allocated to both terminals, and instant messages are exchanged through the traffic channel.

An example of a screen on which an instant message is displayed is shown in FIG. 4C. As shown in FIG. 4C, the screen may include a window in which the sent instant message (“good morning”) is displayed, a window in which the instant message (“What? Can be configured.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a messenger service method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 illustrates an example of an overall messenger service method including a messenger service method for an off-line wireless handset according to an embodiment of the present invention described above.

Here, assume that subscribers A and B are already registered in the messenger server.

Subscriber A logs on to the messenger server, thereby bringing it online (S312).

Subscriber A creates an instant message and requests transmission of message to subscriber B (S314). Of course, subscriber A may request to send the same instant message to multiple subscribers.

If there is an instant message transmission request from subscriber A to subscriber B, the messenger server checks the status of subscriber B (S316). If subscriber B is online, a messenger service is performed between subscriber A and subscriber B by transmitting an instant message to subscriber B immediately (S318).

On the other hand, if subscriber B is offline, the messenger server makes a messenger driving request to the SMSC / OTA server (S320). The SMSC / OTA server transmits a messenger driving message to the terminal of subscriber B (S322). In response to the messenger driving message, the messenger application program is driven in the subscriber B terminal (S324), and at the same time, the subscriber B terminal is automatically connected to the messenger server (S326).

When the subscriber B terminal comes online, an instant message is transmitted to the subscriber B terminal (S328).

Although the invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

According to the present invention, even when the wireless handset is in the offline state, the messenger service may be performed by driving the messenger application program of the wireless handset in the offline state. Thus, the subscriber does not always need to bring the wireless handset online for the messenger service. Therefore, according to the present invention, the wireless Internet cost can be reduced, and the convenience of using a messenger service is improved, so that communication can be activated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand the drawings cited in the detailed description of the invention, a brief description of each drawing is provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network for providing a messenger service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a messenger service method for an off-line wireless handset according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a messenger service method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed when a subscriber accesses (logs on) a messenger server.

4B is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen indicating that an instant message transmission request has been received.

4C is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which a received instant message is displayed.

Claims (10)

In the instant message service method based on the wireless Internet, Receiving an instant message transfer request from a first terminal to a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is a wireless handset; Checking a state of the second terminal; If the second terminal is offline, making a messenger driving request to a short message center or an OTA server; Transmitting, by the short message center or the OTA server, a messenger driving message to the second terminal; Connecting the second terminal to a messenger server in response to the messenger driving message; And Transmitting an instant message between the first terminal and the second terminal through the messenger server; Wireless instant message service method comprising a. The method of claim 1, The wireless instant message service method Extracting, by the messenger server, a phone number of the second terminal from an ID of the second terminal; The step of making a messenger driving request to the short message center or OTA server And providing, by the messenger server, the phone number of the second terminal to the short message center or the OTA server. The method of claim 1, The step of transmitting the messenger driving message to the second terminal by the short message center or OTA server Finding a location of the second terminal; And And transmitting, by the short message center, the messenger driving message to the second terminal in the form of a short message. The method of claim 1, The step of transmitting the messenger driving message to the second terminal by the short message center or OTA server Finding a location of the second terminal; And And transmitting, by the OTA server, the messenger driving message to the second terminal in the form of an OTA message. The method according to claim 3 or 4, The messenger driving message includes information of the first and second terminals and predetermined driving parameters. And the second terminal indicates that a request for receiving an instant message from the first terminal is received in a predetermined manner in response to the driving parameter. The method of claim 3 or 4, wherein the second terminal is connected to a messenger server in response to the messenger driving message. Displaying in a predetermined manner that the second terminal has received the messenger driving message; Receiving a response from the outside; And And in response to a response from the outside, executing a messenger application program mounted in the second terminal. The method of claim 1, wherein the first terminal Wireless instant message service method, characterized in that any one of a mobile terminal, a wired computer and a wireless computer. In the system for providing an instant message service based on the wireless Internet, Means for receiving an instant message transfer request from a first terminal to a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is a wireless handset; Means for checking a state of the second terminal; Means for making a messenger driving request to a short message center or an OTA server when the second terminal is offline; Means for sending a messenger drive message to the second terminal; And Means for transmitting an instant message to the second terminal when the second terminal is connected to a messenger server in response to the messenger driving message; Wireless instant message service system comprising a. The method of claim 8, The wireless instant message service system Means for extracting the telephone number of the second terminal from the ID of the second terminal, And a telephone number of the second terminal is provided to the short message center or the OTA server. In the recording medium that can be read by the instant message service system is implemented by a program of instructions that can be executed by a wireless Internet based instant message service system, Receiving an instant message transfer request from a first terminal to a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is a wireless handset; Checking a state of the second terminal; If the second terminal is offline, making a messenger driving request to a short message center or an OTA server; Transmitting a messenger driving message to the second terminal; And If the second terminal is connected to a messenger server in response to the messenger driving message, transmitting an instant message to the second terminal; Recording medium comprising a program for performing the.