Device and method for using messenger service in group chat room

Abstract

To provide a method and a terminal for using a messenger service that provides settings for participating in a group chat room.SOLUTION: A method for a terminal to use a messenger service in a group chat room includes: receiving, from a server, invitation information related to a situation where a second user has invited a first user to the above-described group chat room; displaying information on a chat room for the group chat room; when the second user is not registered in the messenger service as a friend of the first user, displaying information for the second user and an interface for determining whether the second user can participate in the group chat room; acquiring an interaction for the determination of participation in the group chat room on the interface; and displaying a message generated in the group chat room. The message includes a message generated after the invitation information is received.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to techniques for using a messenger service in a group chat room, and more particularly, to techniques for using a messenger service that provides group chat room participation settings. [Background technology]

[0002] Instant messaging is a service for sending and receiving messages between two or more users using a network, and can be provided to users through a client program called an instant messenger. Unlike conventional instant messengers that send and receive text messages, instant messengers that support various functions such as sending and receiving various types of media files such as photos, videos, and audio files, and sending and receiving data in groups that can communicate with two or more users at the same time, are becoming popular. Recently, as the use of instant messengers has increased on user terminals such as mobile communication terminals and personal PCs, there is a demand for the development of various and convenient instant messaging service technologies that allow users to participate in multiple different chat rooms and talk and / or share data with other participants.

[0003] Such instant messaging services support group chat sessions in which two or more users can communicate with each other at the same time, which can be implemented by creating a group chat room in a user interface on a user terminal.

[0004] Generally, to create a group chat session, a specific user opens a group chat room and invites other users, or a participant in an already created group chat room invites a new user, and the invited user immediately joins the group chat session. However, if an invited user does not want to participate in a chat session in a group chat room, there is currently no means for expressing a refusal response. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2022-0063038 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The apparatus and method for using a messenger service of a group chat room according to the present invention aims to improve the convenience of users by canceling participation in a group chat room against their will after the fact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A method for a first user terminal using a messenger service for a group chat room according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of: receiving, from a server, invitation information related to a second user inviting the first user to the group chat room; displaying chat room information for the group chat room; if the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, displaying information about the second user and an interface for deciding whether to join the group chat room; obtaining an interaction regarding a decision to join the group chat room through the interface; and displaying a message generated in the group chat room.

[0008] Also, the message includes a message generated after receiving the invitation information.

[0009] The method further includes determining whether the second user is registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service.

[0010] In addition, the method for the second user may further include a step of obtaining an interaction to select the group chat room, and the interface may be displayed in response to obtaining the interaction to select the group chat room.

[0011] In addition, the method further includes a step of determining whether the second user is an overseas user in response to obtaining an interaction of selecting the group chat room, and if the second user is an overseas user, in the step of displaying the interface, the information for the second user includes an overseas user indicator indicating that the second user is an overseas user.

[0012] Using a group chat room messenger service.

[0013] Also, in the case where the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user on the messenger service, the chat room information includes an invitation indicator indicating that the second user is in an undecided state as to whether or not to join the group chat room.

[0014] In addition, the invitation viewer can obtain an interaction with the decision to join the group chat room through the interface, and can change the attributes of the group chat room.

[0015] In addition, if the second user is registered as a friend of the first user on the messenger service, the chat room information may include a most recently generated message in the group chat room, and if the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user on the messenger service, the chat room information may not include a most recently generated message in the group chat room.

[0016] Additionally, if the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, the chat room information includes a notification message indicating that an invitation event for the group chat room has occurred.

[0017] Also, the invitation message may be changed to the most recently generated message in the group chat room in response to obtaining an interaction regarding a decision to join the group chat room through the interface.

[0018] Also, the step of displaying the interface may display information about participants who have joined the group chat room.

[0019] In addition, the information on the participant may be displayed separately depending on whether the participant is registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service.

[0020] The method further includes deleting information about the group chat room in response to receiving an interaction regarding a decision to leave the group chat room through the interface.

[0021] A first user terminal using a group chat room messenger service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute instructions included in the memory, wherein the processor may be configured to perform the following steps: receiving invitation information associated with a second user inviting the first user to the group chat room from a server; displaying chat room information for the group chat room; if the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, displaying information about the second user and an interface for deciding whether to join the group chat room; obtaining an interaction regarding a decision to join the group chat room through the interface; and displaying a message generated in the group chat room.

[0022] Also, the message includes a message generated after receiving the invitation information.

[0023] A computer program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be combined with hardware and stored on a medium for performing the above-described method.

[0024] A method for managing participation in a group chat room in a messenger service by a server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a step of receiving invitation information for inviting a first user to the group chat room from a second user terminal; providing related information of participants in the group chat room including the first user to a participant terminal based on the invitation information, the participant terminal being a terminal of a participant who has joined the group chat room; providing the invitation information to the first user terminal; providing a message generated in the group chat room to the first user terminal; and, when an exit response to the group chat room is obtained from the first user terminal, providing updated information on the related information of the participants to the participant terminal, the updated information including information regarding the first user's exit from the group chat room.

[0025] In addition, the above message can be displayed on the first user terminal as a generated message after receiving the invitation information, by the first user terminal obtaining an interaction regarding the decision to join the group chat room.

[0026] The method further includes providing a participation notification message to the participant terminal corresponding to providing related information of the participant to the participant terminal to indicate that the first user has joined the group chat room.

[0027] The method further includes the steps of: when a join response to the group chat room is obtained from the first user terminal, providing information to the participant terminal that is changed when the first user confirms the message; and when a leave response to the group chat room is obtained from the first user terminal, providing an leave notification message to the participant terminal indicating that the first user has left the group chat room.

[0028] The method further includes determining whether a second user of the second user terminal is registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service.

[0029] A server for managing participation in a group chat room in a messenger service according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute instructions included in the memory, wherein the processor may be configured to perform the following steps: receiving invitation information for inviting a first user to the group chat room from a second user terminal; providing participant-related information of the group chat room including the first user to a participant terminal based on the invitation information, the participant terminal being a terminal of a participant who has joined the group chat room; providing the invitation information to the first user terminal; providing a message generated in the group chat room to the first user terminal; and, if an exit response to the group chat room is obtained from the first user terminal, providing updated information on the participant-related information to the participant terminal, the update information including information on the first user's exit from the group chat room.

[0030] In addition, the message may be displayed on the first user terminal as a message generated after receiving the invitation information, by the first user terminal acquiring an interaction regarding a decision to join the group chat room. Effect of the Invention

[0031] The apparatus and method for using a messenger service of a group chat room according to the present invention has an advantage of improving the convenience of the user by allowing a user to cancel participation in a group chat room against his / her will after the fact. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1]1 illustrates an example of a network environment according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a first user terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] 13 illustrates an operation of an inviter's terminal for creating a group chat room according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 4 illustrates an example of a screen of chat room information 410 displayed by a first user terminal upon receiving invitation information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 13 illustrates an example of a chat room information screen that is displayed on a first user terminal after receiving invitation information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 6 illustrates another screen that is displayed by a participant's terminal in response to an interaction with the screen of FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates an example of a screen displayed on a first user terminal according to an interaction acquired by the first user terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates an example of a screen displayed on a first user terminal according to an interaction acquired by the first user terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 13 is another flowchart of an operation of the first user terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 13 illustrates an example of a screen on which a first user terminal displays chat room information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 13 illustrates an example of a screen displayed when a first user terminal receives an invitation to a group chat room from an overseas user according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] 11 is a flowchart of the operation of a server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] 13 illustrates an example of a screen displayed on a third user terminal for confirming participants in a group chat room according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14]13 illustrates a screen of a third user terminal when a first user leaves a group chat room according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or similar components will be given the same reference numerals regardless of the drawing numerals, and the duplicated description thereof will be omitted. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, if a detailed description of related prior art is determined to make the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein unclear, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0034] Terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the above components are not limited to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another component.

[0035] A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning.

[0036] In this application, the steps described may be performed in any order relative to the order listed, except where a particular causal relationship requires that the steps be performed in the order listed.

[0037] In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" and the like are intended to specify the presence of features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof set forth in the specification, but are to be understood as not precluding the presence or additional possibility of one or more other features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0038] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network environment according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] The network environment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in FIG. 1 may include a server 10, a first user terminal 20, a second user terminal 30, and a third user terminal 40.

[0041] The server 10 is a device that provides a messenger service to user terminals. User terminals exemplified by a first user terminal 20, a second user terminal 30, and a third user terminal 40 are devices that use the messenger service provided by the server 10. The server 10 and the user terminals can perform at least one operation related to creating, joining, leaving, and sending a message in a group chat room by sending or receiving a signal or data through a network. The user terminals can be referred to differently depending on the function they perform.

[0042] For example, the first user terminal 20 may be a device that acquires invitation information for the group chat room from the server 10 and determines whether to participate in the group chat room, the second user terminal 30 may be a device that provides the server 10 with invitation information for inviting the first user to the group chat room, and the third user terminal 40 may be a device of another user (e.g., a third user) who has already participated in the group chat room. Hereinafter, the first user terminal 20 may be referred to as a participant terminal, the second user terminal 30 as an inviter terminal, and the third user terminal 40 as a terminal of another participant.

[0043] The network is not limited in the communication method and can include not only communication methods that utilize communication networks (for example, mobile communication networks, wired Internet, wireless Internet, and broadcasting networks) that can include networks, but also short-range wireless communication.

[0044] The server 10 may be embodied as a computer device or multiple computer devices that provide instructions, codes, files, contents, services, etc. The server 10 may be a server 10 that can communicate with a user terminal through a network to transmit and receive information.

[0045] The server 10 may include a processor 11 , a memory 12 and a communication unit 13 .

[0046] The processor 11 controls the overall operation of the memory 12 and the communication unit 13 to provide a messenger service to the user terminal. The messenger service may be a service that allows a plurality of users to send or receive messages between each other through a platform provided by the server 10. Here, a message may be understood to include all transmittable data such as text, photos, videos, audio files, emoticons, etc.

[0047] The memory 12 functions as a storage medium and can store a number of application programs run by the server 10, and data and instructions for the operation of the server 10. In one embodiment, the memory 12 can store an application related to a messenger service.

[0048] The memory 12 may be provided in the form of various storage devices such as a ROM, a RAM, a flash drive, a hard drive, etc., or in the form of web storage.

[0049] The communication unit 13 can communicate with a user terminal via a network in a wired or wireless manner.

[0050] The server 10 of the present invention receives invitation information for inviting the first user to a group chat room from the second user terminal 30, provides participant-related information of the group chat room including the first user to the participant terminal based on the invitation information, provides the invitation information to the first user terminal 20, and provides a message generated in the group chat room to the first user terminal 20. Here, the participant terminal means a terminal of a participant who has participated in the group chat room excluding the first and second users. Also, when the server 10 of the present invention obtains an exit response to the group chat room from the first user terminal 20, it provides updated information on the participant-related information of the first user to the participant terminal.

[0051] Here, a group chat room is a concept that is generally distinguished from a one-on-one chat room and a private chat room, and refers to a chat room with three or more participants. However, in some cases, a chat room with two participants may also be considered to be a group chat room. A group chat room is a virtual space where participants in the chat room can exchange messages, and can be realized through a chat session opened by the server 10.

[0052] Here, the invitation information means information including an intention of the second user to invite the first user to the group chat room. Such invitation information can be transmitted from the second user terminal 30 to the server 10.

[0053] Here, the participant-related information may include information related to changes in participants, such as a participant being newly added or removed from the group chat room. Specifically, when the participants in the group chat room are changed, the participant-related information may be changed participant list information or updated (addition or removal) information of the changed participants. Participant list information means information on users who are currently participating in the group chat room or have decided to participate, and is hereinafter referred to as a participant list. In particular, not only users currently participating in the group chat room, but also users who have received invitation information (to be described later) and have not yet decided whether to enter or not may be included in the above-mentioned participant list. Such a participant list may be updated according to the participation or withdrawal of users.

[0054] The participant update information may be information on the fact that a participant should be updated (added or removed) to the list as a user joins or leaves the group chat room. Specifically, the participant update information means information for reflecting a change in the participant list of a group chat room when a first user leaves the group chat room. Specifically, the participant update information may be a control command requesting a user terminal to change the participant list to reflect the departure of the first user, or may be information on the participant list excluding the first user.

[0055] The first user terminal 20 is a terminal device that receives invitation information from the server 10. The first user terminal 20 may include a communication unit 21, an input unit 22, an output unit 23, a memory 24, and a processor 25.

[0056] The communication unit 21 can communicate with the server 10 or other terminals via wired or wireless communication.

[0057] The input unit 22 can receive various information input by a user's operation and input action, and can be a touch screen module, a keyboard, a mouse, a button, a camera, a stylus, a microphone, and the like.

[0058] The first user terminal 20 receives an input of a user's interaction through the input unit 22. An interaction means that the user operates the input unit 22 to input information reflecting the user's selection or intention, etc., into the first user terminal 20. For example, the interaction can be touching a touch screen, clicking a mouse, typing on a keyboard, inputting a sound into a microphone, taking an image with a camera, recognizing a motion of a motion sensor, etc.

[0059] The output unit 23 can output various information. The output unit 23 can be a display device, a speaker, a vibration generating device, a tactile generating device, etc. In some cases, the output unit 23 can be a device (e.g., a Bluetooth earphone) that is connected to a user terminal via wired or wireless communication (e.g., short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth®) and receives and outputs a signal.

[0060] The memory 24 functions as a storage medium and can store a number of application programs run on the user terminal, as well as data and instructions for the operation of the first user terminal 20 .

[0061] Such memory may be provided in the form of various storage devices such as ROM, RAM, flash drive, hard drive, etc., in terms of hardware, or in the form of web storage.

[0062] In one embodiment, memory 24 may store applications associated with a messenger service that provides group chat room functionality, such as a user's contact list and other users who have been registered as friends with the messenger service.

[0063] The processor 25 controls the overall operation of the communication unit 21, the input unit 22, the output unit 23 and the memory 24, and can execute applications related to the messenger service.

[0064] The first user terminal 20 of the present invention receives invitation information related to the second user inviting the first user to the above-mentioned group chat room from the server 10, displays chat room information for the group chat room, and if the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, displays information for the second user and an interface for deciding whether or not to join the group chat room, obtains an interaction regarding the decision to join the group chat room through the interface, and displays messages generated in the group chat room.

[0065] The above-mentioned operations of the first user terminal 20 can be activated or not depending on the settings of the first user. Specifically, when the first user sets the above-mentioned operations to be activated, the above-mentioned interface can be displayed, an interaction can be obtained, and a message can be displayed depending on whether the second user is a friend of the first user. However, when the first user sets the above-mentioned operations to be deactivated, the first user can participate in the group chat room to which the first user has been invited, regardless of whether the second user is a friend of the first user.

[0066] The second user terminal 30 is a terminal device that provides the server 10 with invitation information for inviting the first user to a group chat room in the present invention. The second user terminal 30 is a terminal device that is the same as or similar to the first user terminal 20. The second user terminal 30 may include a communication unit 31, an input unit 32, an output unit 33, a memory 34, and a processor 35. Each detailed component included in the second user terminal 30 performs substantially the same function as each detailed component included in the first user terminal 20.

[0067] The second user terminal 30 can transmit invitation information or a message for the group chat room to the server 10. In addition, the second user terminal 30 can receive update information on participants in the group chat room and messages generated by other user terminals from the server 10.

[0068] The third user terminal 40 is a terminal device of a third user who has already joined the group chat room in the present invention. The third user terminal 40 may include a communication unit 41, an input unit 42, an output unit 43, a memory 44, and a processor 45. Each detailed component included in the third user terminal 40 performs substantially the same function as each detailed component included in the first user terminal 20.

[0069] The third user terminal 40 can transmit messages to the server 10. In addition, the third user terminal 40 can receive, from the server 10, a list of participants in the group chat room, update information on participants in the group chat room, and messages generated from other user terminals.

[0070] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the operation of the first user terminal 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] In step S110, the first user terminal 20 receives invitation information from the server 10, which is related to the fact that the second user has invited the first user to join the group chat room.

[0072] When a second user wishes to invite a first user to a group chat room, the second user terminal 30 can transmit invitation information including an intention to invite the first user to the server 10. Such invitation information can be transmitted from the server 10 to the first user terminal 20. Here, the second user can invite the first user while creating a new group chat room, or can additionally invite the second user to an already created group chat room.

[0073] The invitation information may include various information related to the invitation, such as the name of the group chat room, identification information of the invited user (first user), identification information of the inviting user (second user), identification information of the user (third user) who joined the group chat room, and the relationship between the invited user and the inviting user (whether they are friends or not).

[0074] In some cases, the invitation information received by the first user terminal 20 from the server 10 may not include information regarding the relationship between the invited user and the inviting user. In such a case, the first user terminal 20 can check the identification information of the inviting user from the invitation information and determine the relationship with the inviting user based on the friend list of the first user in the messenger service.

[0075] The server 10 can allow the first user terminal 20 to participate in a chat session in response to receiving invitation information from the second user terminal 30 even before the first user terminal 20 decides to enter the invited group chat room, as described below. Even before the first user terminal 20 decides to enter the invited group chat room, a message created in the group chat room can be transmitted to the first user terminal 20. More details on this will be provided below.

[0076] In step S120, the first user terminal 20 displays chat room information for the group chat room.

[0077] The chat room information can be displayed in a list of chat rooms so as to be distinguished from other chat rooms. The chat room information can include various information about the group chat room. For example, the chat room information can include the name of the group chat room, the participant information of the group chat room, the number of participants of the group chat room, information about the creation of the group chat room, an invitation notification message for the group chat room, the last message of the group chat room, the time when the last message was received in the group chat room, and information about the number of unread messages created in the group chat room.

[0078] The first user terminal 20 can acquire user interactions related to chat room information. When the corresponding interaction is detected, the first user terminal 20 can perform an operation related to the group chat room. For example, the first user terminal 20 can enter the group chat room through the corresponding interaction or display information related to the entry into the group chat room. The chat room information can occupy a certain area on the screen of the first user terminal 20. In this case, the corresponding interaction can be acquired through the above-mentioned certain area.

[0079] In step S130, if the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, the first user terminal 20 displays information about the second user and an interface for determining whether or not to participate in the group chat room. Such an interface may be displayed in response to an interaction with the chat room information described above.

[0080] Whether the first user terminal 20 performs step S130 is determined according to the relationship between the first user and the second user. More specifically, if the second user is a friend of the first user in the messenger service of the present invention, the display operation of step S130 is performed.

[0081] A second user being a friend of a first user may mean that the first user has registered the second user as a friend in a messenger service. If the second user has registered the first user as a friend, but the first user has not registered the second user as a friend, the second user may not be a friend of the first user.

[0082] The determination as to whether the second user is a friend of the first user may be performed by the first user terminal 20. Specifically, the first user terminal 20 may determine whether the second user is a friend of the first user based on information on a friend list of a messenger service that the first user terminal 20 stores.

[0083] In another example, the determination as to whether the second user is a friend of the first user may be performed by the server 10. The first user terminal 20 may receive information as to whether the second user is a friend of the first user from the server 10, and may determine whether to perform step S130 based on the received information.

[0084] If the second user is not a friend of the first user, the first user terminal 20 may display information about the second user and an interface for deciding whether or not to participate in the group chat room (hereinafter, the "participation decision interface").

[0085] The information on the second user may be identification information for identifying the second user. For example, the information on the second user may include a profile picture, name (e.g., nickname, ID), status message, etc., registered by the second user in the messenger service. Therefore, the first user may infer the identity of the second user through the information on the second user. Also, information that the second user is not a friend of the first user may be displayed.

[0086] The participation decision interface can provide an interface to obtain input from the first user as to whether to join or not join the group chat room. For example, the interface can provide a selection area for "join" or "leave" the group chat room.

[0087] In step S140, the first user terminal 20 acquires an interaction regarding a decision to join the group chat room through the interface.

[0088] The first user can input an interaction for deciding to join the group chat room (hereinafter, a "join decision interaction") or an interaction for deciding to leave the group chat room (hereinafter, an "exit decision interaction") through a participation decision interface on the first user terminal 20. Specifically, the first user can input a participation decision interaction by touching an area displayed as "Join" on the participation decision interface, and can input a leave decision interaction by touching an area displayed as "Exit."

[0089] In step S150, the first user terminal 20 displays the message generated in the group chat room.

[0090] Here, the message may be a message generated by a participant of the group chat room after the first user terminal 20 receives the invitation information. More specifically, the message may be a message generated after the first user terminal 20 receives the invitation information and before the first user terminal 20 acquires a participation decision interaction in the group chat room through an interface.

[0091] Therefore, if the first user terminal 20 receives an interaction regarding the decision to participate in step S140, the first user terminal 20 enters the group chat room. The first user terminal 20 can display all messages generated from the time of the invitation by the second user on the screen of the entered group chat room.

[0092] In one embodiment, the first user terminal 20 may receive the message of step S150 in real time as the message is generated through the server 10 and display it in response to acquiring a participation decision interaction. Therefore, in this case, if the first user terminal 20 acquires a withdrawal decision interaction, the message received by the first user terminal 20 may be deleted instead of being displayed.

[0093] In another embodiment, the first user terminal 20 may request a message from the server 10 in response to acquiring the participation decision interaction, and then receive the message of step S150 from the server 10 and display it. In another embodiment, the first user terminal 20 may acquire the message of step S150 in real time through the server 10, transmit participation decision information to the server 10 in response to acquiring the participation decision interaction, and then display the message in response to acquiring a response from the server 10 that the message may be displayed. In an additional embodiment, the first user terminal 20 may acquire the message of step S150 in real time through the server 10, and display the message generated in the group chat room after acquiring the participation decision interaction. Hereinafter, specific example screens of the method in which the user terminal described above with respect to FIG. 2 uses the messenger service of the group chat room will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8.

[0094] FIG. 3 illustrates an operation of the second user terminal 30 for creating a group chat room according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] 3, the second user terminal 30 can create a group chat room including the first user terminal 20 and the third user terminal 40. The second user terminal 30 can select the first user and the third user who will participate as participants in the group chat room to create the group chat room, and request the server 10 to create the group chat room.

[0096] The information requesting the creation of the group chat room may be included in invitation information for the group chat room transmitted to the server 10. Also, the invitation information may further include various information related to the group chat room. That is, the invitation information may include the first user's intention to create the group chat room and information indicating that the first user and the third user are included as participants (e.g., a participant list).

[0097] Thereafter, the server 10 may transmit the acquired invitation information to the first user terminal 20. By transmitting the invitation information in this manner, step S110 described above in FIG.

[0098] In some cases, the server 10 may transmit to the first user terminal 20 the invitation information received from the second user terminal 30, as well as information generated based on the server 10's judgment (e.g., whether or not the second user is a friend of the first user).

[0099] 3 shows an embodiment in which the second user terminal 30 creates a group chat room, and the second user terminal 30 can transmit invitation information for the first user to the server by creating the group chat room. In some cases, the second user terminal 30 can invite the first user terminal 20 while participating in the group chat room that has already been created, or can transmit the invitation information as described above.

[0100] Figure 4 illustrates a screen displayed on the first user terminal 20 as a result of performing step S120 described above in Figure 2. Specifically, Figure 4 illustrates an example of a screen showing chat room information 410 displayed on the first user terminal 20 as a result of receiving invitation information.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 4, the first user terminal 20 can display different chat room information 410 depending on whether the second user is registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service.

[0102] The chat room information 410 may include at least one object related to the group chat room. Here, the at least one object may be displayed in an area assigned according to an attribute. For example, in the chat room information 410, the names of the participants in the group chat room may be displayed in a first area 411, messages related to the group chat room may be displayed in a second area 413, profile images of the participants in the group chat room may be displayed in a third area 415, and the number of unread messages in the group chat room may be displayed in a fourth area 417.

[0103] The chat room information 410 may further include a fifth area 419 that displays an invitee. The invitee may correspond to an icon displayed in the fifth area 419.

[0104] The invitation indicator may be an indicator included in chat room information corresponding to a group chat room when the first user is invited to the group chat room by a user who is not registered as the first user's friend in the messenger service. In this case, the first user can confirm that he / she has been invited to the group chat room by a user who is not a friend by identifying an icon corresponding to the invitation indicator. For example, the invitation indicator may correspond to an icon of a letter pattern.

[0105] Also, if the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, the second area 413 displaying messages related to the group chat room may display an invitation notification message indicating that an invitation event has occurred, instead of the last message generated in the chat room. Therefore, in this case, the first user may know through the chat room information 410 that he or she has been invited to the group chat room by a user who is not a friend, but may be left in a state where he or she does not know what kind of conversation has occurred in the group chat room.

[0106] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a chat room information screen displayed by the first user terminal 20 upon receiving invitation information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0107] 5, when a second user of the first user terminal 20 registers as a friend of the first user through a messenger service, the last message generated in the corresponding group chat room can be displayed in the second area 513 that displays messages related to the group chat room. Also, the fifth area 519 does not display the invited invitees, but can display other invitees related to the attributes of the group chat room, if there are any.

[0108] The screen of FIG. 5 may be a screen in which the list of chat rooms is displayed again after the first user terminal 20 enters the group chat room through the participation decision interaction on the screen of FIG.

[0109] After entering the group chat room on the screen of Fig. 4, the invited inviter displayed in the fifth area 419 of Fig. 4 may be deleted. After this, if there is another inviter in the group chat room, the inviter may be changed and displayed. However, if there is no other inviter in the group chat room, no inviter may be displayed.

[0110] In addition, the invitation notification message displayed in the second area 413 of FIG. 4 can be changed to the last message generated in the corresponding group chat room and displayed in the same manner as the message displayed in the second area 513 of FIG. 5.

[0111] Figure 6 illustrates a screen displayed on the first user terminal 20 as a result of performing step S130 described above in Figure 2. Specifically, Figure 6 illustrates an example of a screen on the first user terminal 20 displaying information on an inviter and an interface related to joining a group chat room. Figure 6 may be displayed as the first user terminal 20 acquires an interaction on the chat room information 410 of Figure 4.

[0112] Referring to FIG. 6, the first user terminal 20 can display a participation decision screen for deciding whether or not to participate in the group chat room in response to the invitation from the second user.

[0113] The participation decision screen can be divided into a first area 610 that displays information about the second user, a second area 620 that displays other participants who have already joined the group chat room, and a third area 630 that displays an interface for deciding whether or not to join the group chat room.

[0114] As described below, from the perspective of the server 10, the second user terminal 30, and the third user terminal 40, the first user has already joined the group chat room, so "deciding whether to join" may be similar to deciding whether to "enter" the group chat room and check the messages from the first user's perspective.

[0115] The second user information displayed in the first area 610 may be information necessary to identify the second user. For example, the second user information may be profile information set by the second user. The profile information may include a profile image (e.g., photo, picture) or a profile name (e.g., name, nickname, ID) set by the user. Thus, the first user can determine whether the second user is already known to the first user through the information displayed in the first area 610, even if the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, and use this information to decide whether or not to allow the first user to participate.

[0116] The information on the other participants displayed in the second area 620 may be identification information on the other participants (e.g., third users) who have participated in the corresponding group chat room. For example, the information on the other participants may be profile information of the third user including a profile picture or a profile name set by the third user. Thus, the first user can determine the attributes of the group chat room through the information displayed in the second area 620 and use it to decide whether to participate. For example, if the other participants displayed in the second area 620 are colleagues of the first user at work, the second user can recognize that the corresponding group chat room is a work-related chat room even if the second user is not a user registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, and thus the first user can decide to participate in the corresponding group chat room.

[0117] In addition, the first user terminal 20 may classify and display the other participants displayed in the second area 620 according to a predetermined criterion. The predetermined criterion may be determined based on a relationship with the first user. For example, the predetermined criterion may be determined based on whether the other participants are registered as friends of the first user in a messenger service and whether there is a record of recent contact with the first user.

[0118] The interface displayed in the third area 630 may provide an area for the first user to ask whether to enter or leave the corresponding group chat room. Specifically, the third area 630 may display a join interface 631 or an exit interface 632.

[0119] The first user can decide whether to join the corresponding group chat room based on the information acquired from the first area 610 or the second area 620, and can provide an interaction for deciding whether to join or not through the interface.

[0120] If the first user does not want to make any decision on whether or not to participate in the group chat room, the first user can withhold the decision. In this case, the first user can close the participation decision screen of the first user terminal 20. That is, the first user can close the participation decision screen by providing an interaction 640 for closing the participation decision screen on the first user terminal 20.

[0121] Figure 7 illustrates a screen displayed on the first user terminal 20 as a result of performing step S150 described above in Figure 2. Specifically, Figure 7 illustrates an example of a screen on which the first user terminal 20 displays a message generated in a group chat room. Figure 7 may be displayed as the first user terminal 20 acquires an interaction with the participation interface 631 of Figure 6.

[0122] Referring to FIG. 7, a message 710 generated by another participant can be displayed on the screen of the group chat room displayed on the first user terminal 20 by the participation decision interaction of the first user.

[0123] The message 710 generated by another participant may be a message generated after the first user is invited to the group chat room, or more specifically, a message generated by the second user terminal 30 or the third user terminal 40 after the first user terminal 20 receives the invitation information from the server 10 and before the first user terminal 20 enters the group chat room.

[0124] Also, the first user terminal 20 may display the invitation feed message 720 based on the time when the first user terminal 20 receives the invitation information from the server 10. Therefore, the invitation feed message 720 may be displayed before the message 710.

[0125] For example, assume that a first user (Peter) receives an invitation to a group chat room at 10:20 a.m. and responds to the invitation at 11:23 a.m. and enters the group chat room. In this case, three messages 710 created between 10:20 a.m. and 11:23 a.m. can be displayed on the first user terminal 20, even though they were created before the first user entered the chat room.

[0126] When the first user terminal 20 enters the group chat room, the unread indicator 730, which indicates whether or not a message has been read, can be changed.

[0127] FIG. 8 may be displayed by the first user terminal 20 obtaining an interaction with the interface 632 shown in FIG.

[0128] Referring to FIG. 8, the first user terminal 20 may display a confirmation message prompting the first user whether to exit the group chat room in response to the exit decision interaction.

[0129] The messenger service used by the first user terminal 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a service that stores messages generated in a group chat room even before the first user has entered the group chat room, and displays the messages on the first user terminal 20 based on the first user's participation decision interaction.

[0130] When the first user terminal 20 acquires an exit decision interaction, messages created in the corresponding group chat room are deleted. In order to prevent all messages from being deleted before the first user can check them due to unintended input, the first user may be asked whether to exit the group chat room and may delete the corresponding group chat room by acquiring a second exit decision interaction.

[0131] 9 is another flowchart of the operation of the first user terminal 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. With reference to FIG. 9, the first user terminal 20 can determine whether the second user is registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service.

[0132] In step S111, the first user terminal 20 determines whether the second user is registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service.

[0133] The first user terminal 20 compares the stored friend list of the first user with the information on the second user included in the invitation information to determine whether the second user is a friend of the first user. In another example, the friend list to be compared with the invitation information may include not only a friend list associated with a messenger service, but also information on the user's contact information, call or text message sending and receiving history, etc.

[0134] If the second user is not a friend of the first user, the first user terminal 20 may perform step S120a, and if the second user is a friend of the first user, the first user terminal 20 may perform step S120b.

[0135] In step S120a, the first user terminal 20 displays chat room information for the group chat room.

[0136] The above step may be similar to step S120. However, the chat room information may include an invitee displayed in the fifth area (419 in FIG. 4), and the message related to the group chat room displayed in the second area (413 in FIG. 4) may be an invitation notification message notifying the user that the user has been invited to the group chat room. In this case, the last message generated in the group chat room may not be displayed in the second area. That is, the first user terminal 20 may include the invitee and the invitation notification message in the chat room information but not include the last message, depending on whether the second user is a friend of the first user.

[0137] In step S130, the first user terminal 20 displays information about the inviter and an interface related to joining the group chat room. The above steps may be the same as step S130 of FIG.

[0138] In step S140, the first user terminal 20 obtains a participation decision interaction for the interface. The above step may be the same as step S140 in FIG.

[0139] In step S120b, the first user terminal 20 displays chat room information for the group chat room.

[0140] The above step may be similar to step S120, except that the chat room information does not include the invitee displayed in the fifth area (419 in FIG. 4), and the message related to the group chat room displayed in the second area (413 in FIG. 4) may display the last message generated in the group chat room.

[0141] In step S141, the first user terminal 20 acquires a participation decision interaction for information on a chat room.

[0142] The participation decision interaction may be various inputs provided by the first user to enter the group chat room, such as a touch input on a display area on the first user terminal 20 where chat room information is displayed, or a key input via an input device operably connected to the first user terminal 20.

[0143] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a screen on which the first user terminal 20 displays chat room information according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0144] 10, chat room information 1010 of the first user terminal 20 may include an interface 1020 included in the participation decision screen in Fig. 6. In this case, the first user terminal 20 may obtain a participation decision interaction or a withdrawal decision interaction from the first user without displaying a separate participation decision screen in the chat room information.

[0145] If the first user provides a participation decision interaction, the first user terminal 20 enters the group chat room and displays the generated message, and if the first user provides an exit decision interaction, the first user terminal 20 can delete the chat room information.

[0146] The chat room information according to Fig. 10 may be displayed together with information about the second user so that the first user can decide whether to join the group chat room. In this case, the displayed information about the second user may be the same as or similar to that shown in Fig. 6.

[0147] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a screen displayed when the first user terminal 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure receives an invitation to a group chat room from an overseas user.

[0148] If a second user who has received group chat room invitation information from a first user is residing overseas, the first user can identify the second user through the first user's profile information included in the first area of ​​the participation decision screen.

[0149] For example, if the second user terminal 30 that transmitted the invitation information has location information overseas or identification information overseas when the second user joined, the server 10 can transmit information on whether the second user is an overseas user to the first user terminal 20. Also, the first user terminal 20 can change the profile information of the first user to an overseas user display 1110 on the participation decision screen based on the information received from the server 10.

[0150] However, in this case, when the first user terminal 20 first displays the participation decision screen, it displays normal profile information that is not an overseas user display in the first area (610 in FIG. 6), and thereafter, when the participation decision screen is displayed again, the second user information included in the first area can be changed to an overseas user display. That is, while displaying the participation decision screen, the first user terminal 20 receives information on whether the second user lives overseas from the server 10, and thereafter, when the participation decision screen is closed and then displayed again, it can update the information on the second user to reflect the information received from the server 10.

[0151] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the operation of the server 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0152] In step S210, the server 10 receives invitation information from the second user terminal 30 for inviting the first user to the group chat room.

[0153] When the second user selects a user (e.g., the first user) to be invited and then creates a group chat room or transmits an invitation request to the server 10, the server 10 can receive invitation information. In this case, the invitation information includes information on the first user and the second user.

[0154] In step S220, the server 10 provides a list of participants in the group chat room including the first user to the participant terminals of the participants who have joined the group chat room based on the invitation information.

[0155] The server 10 may provide a participant list of the group chat room to the user terminal of the group chat room. Here, regardless of whether the first user has entered the group chat room or not, if the first user is invited to the group chat room, the first user is included in the participant list. The participant list may include information of all users who have already participated in the group chat room, including the first user who joins the group chat room at the invitation request of the second user. For example, profile information of a third user may be included in the participant list. The profile information of the third user may include at least one of a profile image and a profile name set by the third user.

[0156] When the third user receives such a participant list, the third user can confirm that the first user is included in the participant list displayed on the third user terminal 40, and can confirm that the first user has been invited through a feed message displayed in the group chat room.

[0157] Apart from step S220, the second user can share the same participant list with the third user. Since the second user invited the first user, the second user can add the first user to the participant list without receiving the participant list from the server 10 in step S220.

[0158] In step S230, the server 10 provides the invitation information to the first user terminal 20. The above steps correspond to the operation of step S110.

[0159] In step S240, the server 10 provides the message generated in the group chat room to the first user terminal 20.

[0160] The server 10 can transmit a message generated in a corresponding group chat room to the first user terminal 20 regardless of whether the first user has entered the group chat room. However, in this case, the first user terminal 20 may not display the transmitted message until the first user has entered the corresponding group chat room. In other words, a message generated in a corresponding group chat room can be transmitted to the first user terminal 20 and displayed on the condition that the first user terminal 20 acquires a participation decision interaction from the first user.

[0161] In step S250, when the server 10 receives an exit response from the first user terminal 20 to the group chat room, the server 10 provides participant update information to the participant terminal for removing the first user from the participant list.

[0162] When the first user terminal 20 acquires an exit decision interaction for the group chat room from the first user, the first user terminal 20 may delete the chat room information displayed on the screen of the first user terminal 20, and provide the server 10 with information regarding the first user's exit from the corresponding group chat room in an exit response. In this case, the server 10 may recognize that the first user has exited the group chat room from the exit response, remove the first user from the participant list of the corresponding group chat room, and then provide the updated participant list to the user terminal of the participant. In some cases, the server 10 may provide the participant terminal with information regarding the first user being removed from the participant list, rather than providing the participant list itself.

[0163] FIG. 12 describes an embodiment in which the first user terminal 20 determines whether the second user is a friend of the first user in the messenger service, but this is merely an example and does not exclude the operation of determining the friendship relationship between the first and second users based on information held by the server 10 and providing a control command to display information about different chat rooms or a participation decision screen accordingly.

[0164] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a screen displayed by the third user terminal 40 for confirming participants in a group chat room according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0165] Referring to FIG. 13, the third user can check the first user invited by the second user through the group chat participant list 1310 and the feed message 1320.

[0166] For example, when the second user invites the first user Peter, the third user terminal 40 can obtain and display a participant list including "Peter" from the server 10. Also, the third user terminal 40 can display a feed message 1320 informing the group chat room that "Peter" has joined.

[0167] In this case, the third user cannot check information on the first user terminal 20 as to whether the participation decision interface was displayed depending on whether the second user is a friend of “Peter” or whether the third user has currently entered the group chat room.

[0168] However, because the unread indicator 1330 is displayed as “3”, it can be known that out of the four participants excluding “Mike” and himself, three participants have not read “Mike’s” message, but it is not possible to confirm whether the one person who read “Mike’s” message is “Peter” or not.

[0169] Therefore, in the messenger service provided by the server 10 of the present disclosure, when a first user is invited to a group chat room that the first user does not want from the perspective of the first user, the first user can exit without reading the invitation (effectively rejecting the invitation) without checking only the identity of the inviter, and from the perspective of the inviter or other inviters, it is not possible to distinguish whether the first user rejected the invitation itself or entered the group chat room and then exited for other reasons. Therefore, in this case, the second user cannot check whether the first user has registered him / her as a friend.

[0170] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a screen of the third user terminal 40 when the first user leaves the group chat room according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0171] Referring to FIG. 14, when the first user “Peter” leaves the group chat room, a feed message 1410 regarding “Peter” leaving the group chat room can be displayed on the screen of the group chat room of the third user terminal 40.

[0172] In this case, when comparing with FIG. 13, it can be seen that the number of unread messages 1430 has decreased from 3 to 2 due to 'Peter' leaving. In this case, 'Mike' who invited 'Peter' or the third user cannot know whether 'Peter' accepted the invitation and entered the group chat room, read the message sent by 'Mike' and then left, or rejected the invitation without reading it.

[0173] The technical features disclosed in each embodiment of the present invention are not limited to the corresponding embodiment only, and as long as they are not mutually incompatible, the technical features disclosed in each embodiment can be combined and applied to different embodiments.

[0174] Therefore, although each embodiment will be described focusing on its respective technical features, as long as the technical features are not mutually exclusive, they can be combined and applied.

[0175] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and variations are possible in the light of a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be determined not only by the claims of this specification, but also by equivalents to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0176] 10: Server 20: First user terminal 30: Second user terminal 40: Third user terminal

Claims

1. A method for using a group chat room messenger service by a first user terminal, comprising: receiving invitation information associated with a second user inviting the first user to the group chat room from a server; displaying chat room information for the group chat room; If the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, displaying information about the second user and an interface for deciding whether or not to join the group chat room; Obtaining an interaction regarding a decision to join the group chat room through the interface; and displaying the generated message in said group chat room. Using a group chat room messenger service.

2. The above message includes the message generated after receiving the above invitation information.

2. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 1.

3. The method further includes determining whether the second user is registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service.

2. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 1.

4. Further including a step of acquiring an interaction for selecting the group chat room, The method and the interface for the second user include: This will be displayed in response to winning an interaction to select the group chat room above.

2. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 1.

5. and determining whether the second user is an overseas user in response to receiving the group chat room selection interaction, If the second user is an overseas user, in the step of displaying the interface, the information for the second user includes an overseas user indicator indicating that the second user is an overseas user.

5. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 4.

6. If the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, the chat room information includes an invitation indicator indicating that the second user is pending participation in the group chat room.

2. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 1.

7. The above invitees are Correspondingly, through the interface, an interaction is obtained for deciding to join the group chat room, and is modified according to attributes of the group chat room; 7. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 6.

8. If the second user is registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, the chat room information includes the most recently generated message in the group chat room, If the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, the chat room information does not include a most recently generated message in the group chat room.

2. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 1.

9. If the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, the chat room information includes a notification message indicating that an invitation event for the group chat room has occurred.

9. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 8.

10. The above message is In response to obtaining an interaction with the decision to join the group chat room through the interface, the message is updated to the most recently generated message in the group chat room.

10. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 9.

11. The step of displaying the interface includes displaying information about participants who have joined the group chat room.

2. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 1.

12. The information for the above participants is The participants are classified and displayed according to whether they are registered as friends of the first user in the messenger service.

12. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 11.

13. The method further includes deleting information about the group chat room in response to receiving an interaction regarding a decision to leave the group chat room through the interface.

2. A method of using the group chat room messenger service of claim 1.

14. In a first user terminal using a messenger service of a group chat room, memory; and a processor coupled to said memory and configured to execute instructions contained in said memory; The above processors are receiving invitation information associated with a second user inviting the first user to the group chat room from a server; displaying chat room information for the group chat room; If the second user is not registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service, displaying information about the second user and an interface for deciding whether or not to join the group chat room; Obtaining an interaction regarding a decision to join the group chat room through the interface; and and displaying the generated message in the group chat room. A first user terminal using the group chat room messenger service.

15. The above message contains the message generated after receiving the above invitation information. A first user terminal using the group chat room messenger service of claim 14.

16. A method for managing participation in a group chat room in a messenger service, comprising: receiving invitation information from a second user terminal for inviting the first user to the group chat room; Providing related information of the participants of the group chat room, including the first user, to participant terminals based on the invitation information, the participant terminals being terminals of the participants who have joined the group chat room; providing the invitation information to a first user terminal; providing a message generated in the group chat room to the first user terminal; and providing updated information on the related information of the participants to the participant terminals when an exit response to the group chat room is obtained from the first user terminal, the updated information including information on the first user's exit from the group chat room; How to manage participation in group chat rooms.

17. The message is displayed on the first user terminal as a generated message after receiving the invitation information, by the first user terminal acquiring an interaction for deciding to join the group chat room.

20. The method of managing participation in a group chat room of claim 16.

18. and providing a participation notification message to the participant terminal in response to providing the participant-related information to the participant terminal, the participation notification message indicating that the first user has participated in the group chat room.

20. The method of managing participation in a group chat room of claim 16.

19. When a participation response to the group chat room is obtained from the first user terminal, providing information to the participant terminal that is changed by the first user confirming the message; and When an exit response to the group chat room is received from the first user terminal, the method further includes providing an exit notification message to the participant terminals to indicate that the first user has exited from the group chat room.

20. The method of managing participation in a group chat room of claim 16.

20. The method further includes determining whether a second user of the second user terminal is registered as a friend of the first user in the messenger service.

20. The method of managing participation in a group chat room of claim 16.

Images