WO2013081214A1

WO2013081214A1 - System, apparatus and method for providing multimedia animation message based on 3d smart character used in mobile device

Info

Publication number: WO2013081214A1
Application number: PCT/KR2011/009240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ji-Won Park; Geun-ok PARK
Original assignee: Octo Tree Pte., Ltd.
Priority date: 2011-12-01
Filing date: 2011-12-01
Publication date: 2013-06-06

Abstract

Disclosed are a system, an apparatus and a method, capable of providing a multimedia animation message having a character combined with a template in various receipt formats by adding a modularized character of a user to a sampled multimedia animation message template. A portable terminal receives the template consisting of metadata from an item server by requesting the template to the item server, combines the template with the character, and transmits the template combined with the character and information about receipt formats of a receiver to a media server. The media server creates the multimedia animation message based on the character by using the template combined with the character, and stores the created multimedia animation message by converting a format of the multimedia animation message into one of a multimedia message, an E-mail, a web page, and a specific format of an Internet service. The media server transmits the multimedia animation message to a receiver device.

Description

SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MULTIMEDIA ANIMATION MESSAGE BASED ON 3D SMART CHARACTER USED IN MOBILE DEVICE

The present invention relates to a technology for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character using a mobile device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system, an apparatus and a method, capable of providing a multimedia animation message having a character combined with a template in various receipt formats by adding a modularized character of a user to a sampled multimedia animation message template.

As a smart phone technology and a service thereof have been developed, an information service, a game, and a multimedia service are combined through a smart phone. In addition, the conventional concept of a computer is being changed to the concept of a mobile information device based on a tablet PC and a smart phone.

Due to the characteristics of mobile devices, most users use services several tens of times a day while carrying the mobile devices at all times. Under the above circumstance, the users demand for more individual, distinct and specific functions, so the SNS (social network service) has been extensively used in the market.

An object of the present invention is to provide a service, in which a 3D spatial image technology for a user and an artificial intelligent cyber friend of the user are provided in user environment of a mobile device and the user inputs a dialogue, a motion, an action, and an item to grow and evolve the cyber friend. The cyber friend can be modified into a unique character through the input of specific pattern, conversation or interchange of environment.

Another object of the present invention to transmit a multimedia animation message anywhere and anytime within a short time by using a cyber friend, in which the multimedia animation message is easily made by the cyber friend and the multimedia animation message is transmitted to an SNS or other mobile devices.

The present invention provides a technology, a method and a data structure for changing intellect, personality, instinct, and personal goal by infinitely differentiating and formatting the growth and variation range of the character according to the input and method variation of each user by applying a structure and a method for growing an artificial intelligent character to a conventional 3D space and image manufacturing technology.

The present invention provides a multimedia animation message having a character combined with a template by modularizing external information (i.e., motion, face look, voice, effect sound, acoustic sound, vibration, etc.) of the character (i.e., cyber friend) and internal information (i.e., personality, attitude, instinct, artificial intelligence, etc.) of the character and adding modularized information to a sampled multimedia animation message template.

In addition, the present invention provides a technology, a data structure and a method for transmitting a multimedia animation message by automatically correcting the format (i.e., frame number, image size, resolution, etc.) of the multimedia animation message according to the receipt format of a receiver when the multimedia animation message is transmitted. The receipt format may be a multimedia animation attached to the Internet service, such as the SNS, a multimedia animation attached to the E-mail or an MMS of a conventional 3G mobile communication service.

Further, the present invention provides a method and a structure for transmitting modularized data of each character, and a structure, a data processing method, a data structure, a processing scheme, and a processing sequence of a computer server therefor to integrate the above services as one service.

In more detail, the present invention provides a 3D artificial intelligent character dedicated for each user and various communication methods (input and output methods) between the user and the character by using the 3D artificial intelligent character. In addition, internal and external data of the character are changed according to the above, and the result is feedback to the user. The changed character information is modularized and stored and the character is grown, changed and modified as a unique character based on the characteristics of each character and the user. In addition, the user can receive the multimedia animation message using the character by automatically applying various (sampled) multimedia animation templates, which are downloaded from the computer server, to the modularized character of the user. According to the present invention, the multimedia animation message contents of each user can be transmitted by automatically converting the message into Internet multimedia animation, E-mail multimedia animation, or MMS multimedia animation according to the receipt scheme.

In particular, a system for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a portable terminal, an item server and a media server.

The portable terminal stores the character modularized and continuously modified, receives a template consisting of metadata from an item server, and combines the character with the template. In addition, the portable terminal transmits the template combined with the character and information about a receipt format of a receiver to a media server.

The item server transmits the template to the portable terminal upon request of the portable terminal.

The media server creates the multimedia animation message based on the character by using the template combined with the character, stores the created multimedia animation message by converting a format of the multimedia animation message into one of a multimedia message, an E-mail, a web page, and a specific format of an Internet service, and transmits the multimedia animation message to a receiver device according to a selected format.

When transmitting the multimedia animation message to the receiver device, the media server transmits an address or a link where the multimedia animation message is stored, and the receiver device receives the multimedia animation message by referring to the address or through the link.

Meanwhile, an apparatus for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character includes a communication module, a storage module and a controller.

The communication module receives a template consisting of metadata from an item server by requesting the template to the item server and transmits one of a multimedia message, an E-mail, and a message having a specific format of an Internet service to the item server.

The storage module stores the character modularized and continuously modified and the template received from the item server through the communication module. In addition, the storage module stores the template combined with the character.

The controller requests the template to the item server through the communication module, stores the template received from the item server through the communication module in the storage module and combines the template with the character. The controller changes external and internal data of the character stored in the storage module according to an input of a user. In addition, the controller transmits the template combined with the character and information about a receipt format of a receiver to the media server through the communication module.

The controller changes at least one of a theme, a character, a character style, an animation, a text animation, a background, and an effect sound of the template according to the input or an item selection of the user.

The controller customizes at least one of a face, a hair, tops, bottoms, shoes, a background, a jacket, an accessory, an animation, a motion, and a special effect according to the input or an item selection of the user.

In addition, the controller changes external and internal data of the character according to the input of the user. The external data include a face, a face look, a body, an arm, a leg, a hand and a foot, and the internal data include a personality, an attitude, and an intelligence.

Meanwhile, a method for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character includes the steps of requesting and receiving a template consisting of metadata from an item server by using a portable terminal; combining the character with the template by using the portable terminal; transmitting the template combined with the character and information about a receipt format of a receiver to a media server by using the portable terminal; and creating the multimedia animation message based on the character using the template combined with the character and transmitting the multimedia animation message by converting a format of the multimedia animation message into one of a multimedia message, an E-mail, a web page, and a specific format of an Internet service by using the media server.

The method further includes the step of transmitting the multimedia animation message having a selected format to a receiver device by using the media server.

In addition, the method further includes the step of transmitting an address or a link where the multimedia animation message having a selected format is stored to a receiver device by using the media server. In this case, the receiver device receives the multimedia animation message by referring to the address or through the link.

The method further includes the step of changing at least one of a theme, a character, a character style, an animation, a text animation, a background, and an effect sound of the template according to an input or an item selection of a user by using the portable terminal.

The method further includes the step of customizing at least one of a face, a hair, tops, bottoms, shoes, a background, a jacket, an accessory, an animation, a motion, and a special effect according to an input or an item selection of a user by using the portable terminal.

The method further includes the step of changing external and internal data of the character according to an input of a user. In this case, the external data include a face, a face look, a body, an arm, a leg, a hand and a foot, and the internal data include a personality, an attitude, and an intelligence.

According to the present invention, the user can create the multimedia animation message or contents by using the template. Thus, even the novice can simply create the multimedia animation message or contents by using the character. In addition, the multimedia animation message or contents can be transmitted to the receiver in the form of MMS message, E-mail or various Internet service formats, or the multimedia animation message or contents can be shared with other users by uploading the multimedia animation message or contents in a web server. The multimedia animation message or contents are transmitted through the template including metadata, so the file size is small. Thus, the transmission rate and the processing rate between the mobile terminal of the user and the media server can be improved and the network resource can be saved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a system for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a portable terminal used in a system for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a screen image illustrating a character according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a multimedia animation message template according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 to 7 are views showing screen images of a multimedia animation message template according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character in a portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character in a system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In the following description, the known functions and configurations that make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a system for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the system for providing the multimedia animation message based on the character according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a store server 110, an item server 120, a web server 130, a media server 140, a message server 150, a billing server 160, a portable terminal 200, and a device 300. The portable terminal 200 is a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, a smart phone or a tablet PC, and the device 300 refers to all kinds of information communication devices including the mobile device, which can be connected to the network.

The store server 110, the item server 120, the web server 130, the media server 140, the message server 150 and the billing server 160 are located over the network. In addition, the portable terminal 200 can access the store server 110 and the item server 120, respectively, through the network. The portable terminal 200 can access the store server 110 and the item server 120 through various schemes depending on the protocol supporting the network access. For example, the portable terminal 200 can access the network through the fixed access scheme, such as the DSL (digital subscriber line), the cable model or the Ethernet. In addition, the portable terminal 200 can be connected to the network through the mobile access scheme by using base station. Further, the portable terminal 200 can access the network through the wireless access scheme, such as the WLAN (wireless local area network), the WiFi (wireless fidelity), or the WiMax (worldwide interoperability for microwave access).

The store server 110 may store a plurality of applications. The store server 110 can authenticate the portable terminal 200 upon the request of the portable terminal 200 to provide the application purchased through the portable terminal 200. To this end, the store server 110 may have the function for authenticating the portable terminal 200 while distinguishing the portable terminal 200 requesting the application from other portable terminals 200, and the settlement function for the purchase of the user through the portable terminal 200.

The item server 120 basically stores the template having a plurality of elements (that is, metadata) constituting the multimedia animation message (or contents). In addition, the item server 120 stores and provides the items. Upon receiving the request from the portable terminal 200, the item server 120 receives the authentication result from the store server 110 and provides the template or the item to the authenticated portable terminal 200. The item may be a digital object.

The web server 130 creates and stores a web page and provides the web page to the portable terminal 200 or the device 300 connected to the web server 130.

The media server 140 stores various files to create the template and the multimedia animation message (or contents), which can be created through the template. Upon receiving the template, the media server 140 can create the multimedia animation message (or contents) through the encoding scheme using the template. The encoding scheme may include MPEG, MOV or H.264, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In detail, the media server 140 may include various types of CODECs. In addition, upon receiving the request from the web server 130, the portable terminal 200 and the device 300, the media server 140 can provide the created multimedia animation message (or contents) through the streaming scheme or the download scheme. Especially, the media server 140 can create the multimedia animation message based on the character by using the template combined with the character and can store the created multimedia animation message by converting the format of the multimedia animation message into the format of the multimedia message, the E-mail, the web page and the Internet service. The media server 140 can transmit the multimedia animation message to the receiver device 300 based on the selected format. Further, when transmitting the multimedia animation message to the receiver device 300, the media server 140 transmits the address or link where the multimedia animation message is stored in such a manner that the device 300 can refer to the address or can receive the multimedia animation message through the link.

The message server 150 receives the MMS message from the portable terminal 200 and transmits the address, from which the MMS message can be downloaded, that is, the address of the media server 140 to the device 300 to which the portable terminal 300 tries to transmit the MMS message. Therefore, the device 300 can receive the multimedia animation message in the form of the MMS message by accessing the message server 150 with reference to the corresponding address.

The billing server 160 creates data for charging the payment to the portable terminal 200 according to the MMS message of the message server 150.

After the portable terminal 200 accesses the storage server 110 and is authenticated, the portable terminal 200 can download various applications. Such authentication can be achieved by using an ID (Identification) and a PW (Password) of the user of the portable terminal 200. After downloading the applications, the portable terminal 200 executes the applications to create the character and to provide the multimedia service to the user. In necessary, the portable terminal 200 can download the template for creating the item or the multimedia animation message from the item server 120. The portable terminal 200 can create the multimedia animation message (or contents) through the downloaded template and can transmit the multimedia message including the created multimedia animation message (or contents).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the portable terminal used in the system for providing the multimedia animation message based on the character according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the portable terminal 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a communication module 210, an input module 220, an audio module 230, a display module 240, a sensor module 240, a storage module 260, and a controller 270.

The communication module 210 accesses the network to make data communication. In this case, the network includes an access network to provide wireless service to the portable terminal 200 and a core network which has various servers located thereon and provides wired services such as switching or routing. In addition, the core network includes a circuit-switched network and a packet-switched network. The access scheme of the communication module 210 includes the fixed access scheme such as the DSL, the cable modem or the Ethernet, a mobile access scheme such as a W-CDM, a CDMA 2000, a GSM, or a GPRS, or a wireless access scheme such as a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), a WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), or a WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). If the communication module 210 receives data from the controller 270, the communication module 210 accesses the network to transmit the data. In addition, the communication module 210 may provide the data to the controller 300 by accessing the network to receive data from one entity existing on the network. In particular, the communication module 210 can request the template consisting of metadata to the item server 120 (see, FIG. 1) to receive the template from the item server 120. Further, the communication module 210 can transmit one of a multimedia message, an E-mail and a message based on a specific format of the Internet service to the item server 120.

The input module 220 receives one of a user command, a user selection, data and information. The input module 220 may include various input keys and functional keys to receive information about numbers or characters and to set up various functions. The input module 220 detects the user input and transmits an input signal according to the detected user input to the controller 270. For example, the input module 220 may include all types of input units to be developed in the future in addition to input devices such as a keyboard, a key pad, a mouse, a joystick, and a touch screen. If the input module 220 is the touch screen, the input module 220 may be integrally formed with the display module 240.

The audio module 230 processes an audio signal, and may include a microphone and a speaker. The audio module 230 converts an analog audio signal input through the microphone to a digital audio signal and transmits the digital audio signal to the controller 270. In addition, the audio module 230 converts a digital audio signal output from the controller 270 into an analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal through the speaker.

The display module 240 displays results or information according to the motions of the portable terminal 200 through a screen. The display module 270 may include a touch screen. If the display module 240 in the form of the touch screen is provided with the display module 240, the display module 240 may be integrally formed with the input module 220.

The sensor module 250 detects the motion of the portable terminal 200. If the sensor module 250 detects the motion of the portable terminal 200, the detected motion is transmitted to the controller 270. In this case, the motion includes the gradient to the ground surface, the direction, the movement, and the rotation of the portable terminal 200. In order to detect the motion of the portable terminal 200, the sensor module 250 may include at least one of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a geo-magnetic sensor.

The storage module 260 stores data. The storage module 260 includes a main memory device and an auxiliary memory device. The storage module 260 may store an operating system, various applications, cyber characters and data of each cyber character. In particular, the storage module 260 can store characters, which are modularized and continuously changed, templates received from the item server through the communication module 210, and templates combined with the characters. The data stored in the storage module 260 can be deleted, modified, and added according to the user's manipulation.

The controller 270 may include a process unit to actually drive the operating system and an application to produce the contents of a multimedia animation. For example, the controller 270 may include a central process unit (CPU). If the portable terminal 200 is powered on, the controller 270 shifts the operating system from the auxiliary memory device to the main memory device of the storage module 260, and the controller 270 performs a booting operation to drive the operating system. In particular, if there is a request for executing the application, the controller 270 loads the corresponding application from the storage module 260 to execute the application. In particular, the controller 270 store the templates received from the item server through the communication module 210 in the storage module 260, combine the templates with the characters, changes external and internal data of the character stored in the storage module 260 according to the input of the user, and transmit the templates combined with the characters and receipt information of a receiver to the media server through the communication module 210.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a screen image illustrating an example of a character according to the embodiment of the present invention.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can select a cyber character of the user. The cyber character has unique personality, instinct and artificial intelligence (personal goal). The avatar shown in FIG. 3 is an example of a male character 10 having the timid personality, weak instinct, and personal goal of dancer.

The user can customize the cyber character. Following table 1 represents factors for customizing the cyber character.

Table 1

Customizing factors	Face
	Hair
	Apparel-Tops
	Apparel-Bottoms
	Apparel-Shoes
	Background
	Apparel-Jackets
	Accessories
	Animation/Motions/Special effect

As shown in Table 1, the factors that can be customized by the user include the face, the hair, the tops, the bottoms, the shoes, the background, the jacket, the accessories, the animation, the motion, and the special effect of the cyber character.

For example, the user can customize the cyber character according to the following methods. In the screen displaying the cyber character, the user purchases an item for customizing from an item shop or through a my-bag menu, or selects a free item. In this case, the purchased or selected item is applied to a corresponding part of the cyber character, so that the external and internal data of the corresponding character are changed and the result image and effect are displayed.

In addition, external shapes (face, face look, body, hand, leg and color) or internal shapes (personality, instinct and personal goal) can be changed according to the input method, input pattern, input frequency, input position, and input situation of the user as well as the item selection, selection frequency, and selection time.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a multimedia animation message template according to the embodiment of the present invention and FIGS. 5 to 7 are views showing screen images of the multimedia animation message template according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The multimedia message basically includes multimedia animation contents created by using the templates. The multimedia animation contents having specific themes can be created by using the templates and FIG. 4 shows the class structure of the templates based on the themes.

As shown in FIG. 4, the templates may include themes such as love, thanks, call me, meeting, apology, fun, special, and more, as categories. Each theme may include sub-categories. For instance, the 'special' may include sub-categories, such as thanksgiving day, merry Christmas, new year, entrance into a school, and doing for the month. In addition, the 'more' may include sub-categories, such as greeting, encouragement, family, celebration, event, weather, B2C, and at work. The above examples are to explain that each template is created with specific themes and the themes of the templates may not be limited to the above.

Table 2 shows the templates according to the embodiment of the present invention. The templates shown in Table 2 are illustrative purposes only and the present invention is not limited thereto. The templates used in the present invention can be variously implemented.

Table 2

Theme Category	Love
Character	Active woman of twenties
Character Style	Cartoon
Animation	1. Background of playground2. Appearance of character3. Heart appearing at eyes and chest of character with speech balloon
Text animation	I love you (with heart)
Background	2D still image, playground
Effect Sound	Kiss sound

As shown in Table 2, the templates may include the fields of the theme category, the character, the character style, the animation, the text animation, the background and the effect sound. The template defines the multimedia animation message or contents according to the content of each field. The multimedia animation message or the contents are the combination of files, such as a plurality of images, the animation in which frames including a plurality of images are consecutively displayed, sound or audio files, and texts. Thus, the definition of the multimedia animation message or the contents may refer to the definition of links of files constituting the multimedia animation message or the contents and combination of the files by analyzing a plurality of fields of the templates.

The theme category field defines the theme of the corresponding template. In Table 2, the template belongs to the category having the theme of 'love'.

The character field defines the character combined with the corresponding template. As described above, the character is stored in the portable terminal and grown while interacting with the user. That is, the character is modified according to the user's input, and the external data (face, face look, body, arm, leg, hand and foot) and internal data (personality, attitude, and intelligence) of the character are also changed. In Table 2, the template includes the character of 'active woman of twenties'.

The character style field defines whether the character style is a cartoon, a reality or others. In Table 2, the template uses the character having the style of 'cartoon'.

The animation field defines the animation added to the template. In Table 2, the animation is the background of the playground (FIG. 5), the appearance of the character (FIG. 6), and the heart appearing at eyes and chest of the character with a speech balloon (FIG. 7).

The text animation field defines the animation effect of the text. In Table 2, the text animation is added to the template. At this time, the text animation can be synchronized with the animation defined in the animation field. In Table 2, 'I love you' is displayed in the speech balloon when the heart appears at the eyes and the chest of the character.

The background field defines the background image of the template. In FIG. 2, the background image is the still image representing the playground.

The effect sound field defines the effect sound added to the template. In Table 2, the effect sound is the kiss sound.

As described above, the template defines the multimedia animation image or the contents and exclusively includes the metadata. If the template becomes instance, the actual file is loaded through the metadata, so that the contents are created. For instance, the animation field exclusively includes the link located at a position where the explanation of the corresponding animation and the corresponding animation file are stored. The animation field is not the real animation. In addition, the effect sound field is not the corresponding effect sound file, but represents the link located at the position where the explanation of the corresponding effect sound and the corresponding effect sound are stored. Thus, if the template becomes instance, the multimedia animation message or the contents including the animation, the text, the background image, and the effect sound can be created. In addition, the user can transmit the MMS message by adding the multimedia animation message or the contents to the MMS message. Further, the user can create new multimedia animation message or contents by modifying a part of the template.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method for providing the multimedia animation message based on the character in the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

After the application has been executed upon the request of the user, the controller 270 displays a list of the templates in the display module 240 (S101). The template list has the class structure as shown in FIG. 4 and the user can select one of the templates. If the user selects one of the templates (S102), the controller 270 detects the selection of the user and provides the preview of the multimedia animation message or the contents having the selected template combined with the character (S103).

The user can determine whether to use the present template combined with the character or to change a specific part of the template combined with the character. In detail, the user can select the transmission or change of the present template combined with the character and the controller 270 can detect the user's selection (S104).

If the user wants to change the template, the controller 270 changes the template as explained with reference to Table 2 (S105).

If the user wants to transmit the template, the controller 270 transmits the template combined with the character (S106). At this time, the contents, that is, the multimedia animation is not yet created in the template, so the template includes the metadata only. Thus, the file size is not large, so the transmission time can be shortened and the network resource can be saved when transmitting the multimedia animation message.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method for providing the multimedia animation message based on the character in the system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the portable terminal 200 receives the template consisting of the metadata from the item server 120 by requesting the template to the item server 120 and combines the character of the portable terminal with the received template.

Then, the portable terminal 200 transmits the template combined with the character to the media server 140 and transmits information about the receipt type of the receiver to the media server 140 by determining the receipt type of the receiver. The information about the receipt type of the receiver includes one of the multimedia message, the E-mail, the web page, and the specific format of the Internet service.

The media server 140 creates the multimedia animation message based on the character by using the template combined with the character, and stores the multimedia animation message by converting the format of the multimedia animation message into one of the multimedia message, the E-mail, the web page, and the specific format of the Internet service.

After that, the media server 140 transmits the multimedia animation message having the selected format to the receiver device 300. In addition, the media server 140 can transmit the address or the link where the multimedia animation message is stored to the receiver device 300. In this case, the receiver server 300 can receive the multimedia animation message by referring to the address or through the link.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

A system for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character, the system comprising:

a portable terminal, which stores the character modularized and continuously modified, receives a template consisting of metadata from an item server, combines the character with the template, and transmits the template combined with the character and information about a receipt format of a receiver to a media server;

the item server transmitting the template to the portable terminal upon request of the portable terminal; and

the media server, which creates the multimedia animation message based on the character by using the template combined with the character, stores the created multimedia animation message by converting a format of the multimedia animation message into one of a multimedia message, an E-mail, a web page, and a specific format of an Internet service, and transmits the multimedia animation message to a receiver device according to a selected format.
The system of claim 1, wherein, when transmitting the multimedia animation message to the receiver device, the media server transmits an address or a link where the multimedia animation message is stored, and the receiver device receives the multimedia animation message by referring to the address or through the link.
An apparatus for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character, the apparatus comprising:

a communication module, which receives a template consisting of metadata from an item server by requesting the template to the item server and transmits one of a multimedia message, an E-mail, and a message having a specific format of an Internet service to the item server;

a storage module, which stores the character modularized and continuously modified, the template received from the item server through the communication module, and the template combined with the character; and

a controller, which requests the template to the item server through the communication module, stores the template received from the item server through the communication module in the storage module, combines the template with the character, changes external and internal data of the character stored in the storage module according to an input of a user, and transmits the template combined with the character and information about a receipt format of a receiver to the media server through the communication module.
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller changes at least one of a theme, a character, a character style, an animation, a text animation, a background, and an effect sound of the template according to the input or an item selection of the user.
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller customizes at least one of a face, a hair, tops, bottoms, shoes, a background, a jacket, an accessory, an animation, a motion, and a special effect according to the input or an item selection of the user.
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller changes external and internal data of the character according to the input of the user, the external data include a face, a face look, a body, an arm, a leg, a hand and a foot, and the internal data include a personality, an attitude, and an intelligence.
A method for providing a multimedia animation message based on a character, the method comprising:

requesting and receiving a template consisting of metadata from an item server by using a portable terminal;

combining the character with the template by using the portable terminal;

transmitting the template combined with the character and information about a receipt format of a receiver to a media server by using the portable terminal; and

creating the multimedia animation message based on the character using the template combined with the character and transmitting the multimedia animation message by converting a format of the multimedia animation message into one of a multimedia message, an E-mail, a web page, and a specific format of an Internet service by using the media server.
The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the multimedia animation message having a selected format to a receiver device by using the media server.
The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting an address or a link where the multimedia animation message having a selected format is stored to a receiver device by using the media server, wherein the receiver device receives the multimedia animation message by referring to the address or through the link.
The method of claim 7, further comprising changing at least one of a theme, a character, a character style, an animation, a text animation, a background, and an effect sound of the template according to an input or an item selection of a user by using the portable terminal.
The method of claim 7, further comprising customizing at least one of a face, a hair, tops, bottoms, shoes, a background, a jacket, an accessory, an animation, a motion, and a special effect according to an input or an item selection of a user by using the portable terminal.
The method of claim 7, further comprising changing external and internal data of the character according to an input of a user, wherein the external data include a face, a face look, a body, an arm, a leg, a hand and a foot, and the internal data include a personality, an attitude, and an intelligence.