Method, system and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for providing novels via instant messaging software

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for providing novels via instant messaging software. The novel providing method includes: a registration step of receiving content and an output time interval associated with the content from a content provider terminal, storing the content and the output time interval, and thereby registering a novel containing the content; and a provision step of providing the content to the first user terminal via the instant messaging software installed on the first user terminal, through a chat room participated in by the first user account and a robot account associated with the novel, based on the first user settings associated with the first user account, by replaying the content included in the novel according to the output time interval.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following description relates to a technique for providing fiction using instant messaging software. Background Art

[0002] With the development of the Internet, books that were previously sold offline can be provided through the Internet.

[0003] For example, Korean Patent Gazette No. 10-0948428 (issued on March 11, 2010) discloses a technology for providing a novel service via a network.

[0004] In the case of a general novel, an interface is provided for the user to sequentially read articles written in static form.

[0005] On the other hand, online novels that are recently being provided to multiple users are different from conventional novels in that they are presented in a script format with the names and lines of characters organized into individual lines or paragraphs. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention can provide a replay function for sequentially outputting the lines of a novel in units of messages by utilizing a chat interface of an instant messaging software.

[0007] The present invention can set the output time interval of each line differently according to the content development or situation of the novel to provide an interface environment with vividness and immersion.

[0008] The present invention can provide a function that allows users to directly input comments on individual lines of a replayed novel and a function that allows users to check other users' preferences.

[0009] The present invention can output the lines of the characters selected by the user as user-side messages in the chat interface of the instant messaging software, thereby providing an environment in which the user can participate.

[0010] The present invention provides a novel providing method, which is executed in a computer system, wherein the computer system includes at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions contained in a memory, and the novel providing method includes: a logging step, in which content and an output time interval related to the content are received from a content provider terminal by the at least one processor to store the content and the output time interval, thereby logging in to a novel containing the content; and a providing step, in which the at least one processor provides the content to the first user terminal by replaying the content contained in the novel according to the output time interval on an instant messaging software installed on the first user terminal through a chat room participated by a first user account and a robot account related to the novel, based on the first user settings related to the first user account.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the logging in step may include: receiving the content and the output time interval from the content provider terminal via a novel writing tool, wherein the novel writing tool includes a function for inputting the content and the output time interval related to the content.

[0012] According to yet another embodiment, the novel providing method may further include: if the first user account is granted authority to the novel, generating, by the at least one processor, a chat room in which the first user account and the robot account participate.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the novel providing method may further include: generating a community channel corresponding to the novel in response to a request from the content provider terminal through the at least one processor; and if the first user account is granted permission for the novel, adding the first user account to the community channel through the at least one processor. The providing step may include: generating the chat room in which the first user account and the robot account participate by associating the chat room with the community channel.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the login step may include: associating the multiple contents received from the content provider terminal with a subset of the novel, and the providing step may include: if the first user account is granted permission for the subset, then associating the first chat room participated by the first user account and the robot account with the community channel to generate the first chat room; and based on the request of the first user terminal for the subset, on the instant messaging software, through the first chat room, providing the multiple contents included in the subset to the first user terminal in a manner of replaying the multiple contents according to each output time interval.

[0015] According to another embodiment, the step of generating the above-mentioned community channel may include the step of associating a community chat room with the above-mentioned community channel to generate a community chat room, and the above-mentioned adding step may include: if the above-mentioned first user account is granted authority to the above-mentioned novel, then adding the above-mentioned first user account to the above-mentioned community chat room.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the novel providing method may further include: calculating statistical information for each content based on comments or likes related to each content of the novel received from multiple user terminals through the at least one processor; and providing the statistical information for each content to the content provider terminal or at least one user terminal among the multiple user terminals through the at least one processor.

[0017] The present invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program. The computer program is used to execute the novel providing method in a computer system and is stored in the non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.

[0018] The present invention provides a computer system, which includes at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions contained in a memory, and the at least one processor includes: a novel login unit, which receives content and an output time interval related to the content from a content provider terminal to store the content and the output time interval, thereby logging in a novel containing the content; and a novel replay unit, which, on an instant messaging software installed on a first user terminal, provides the content to the first user terminal in a manner of replaying the content contained in the novel according to the output time interval based on the first user settings related to the first user account through a chat room participated by a first user account and a robot account related to the novel.

[0019] The present invention provides a novel replay method, which is executed on a terminal implemented by a computer. The terminal may include at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions contained in a memory. The novel replay method may include: receiving, through the at least one processor, multiple contents contained in the novel and output time intervals related to each content from a server according to a content request made by a user of the terminal; providing, through the at least one processor, a user interface that allows the user to input replay settings; receiving, through the at least one processor, replay settings related to the novel input by the user through the user interface; and replaying, through the at least one processor, on instant messaging software installed on the terminal, at least one of the multiple contents according to the corresponding output time interval based on the replay settings, through a chat room participated in by a robot account related to the novel.

[0020] According to one embodiment, a portion of the above-mentioned multiple contents may be related to at least one of the characters in the above-mentioned novel, and the above-mentioned replay step may include: in the above-mentioned chat room, displaying the content related to at least one of the characters in the above-mentioned novel as a message of the above-mentioned at least one character.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the replay step may include: displaying a first type of content among the multiple contents in a manner different from a second type of content among the multiple contents, the first type of content being unrelated to the characters in the novel, and the second type of content being related to at least one of the characters in the novel.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the step of providing the above-mentioned user interface may include: providing a user interface that allows the above-mentioned user to select at least one character from the above-mentioned novel, the step of receiving the above-mentioned replay setting may include: receiving a selection of the above-mentioned at least one character from the above-mentioned user interface, and the step of replaying may include: in the above-mentioned chat room, displaying content related to the above-mentioned at least one selected character in a manner different from content related to characters not selected through the above-mentioned user interface.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the step of providing the above-mentioned user interface may include: providing a user interface that allows the above-mentioned user to set the replay speed, the step of receiving the above-mentioned replay setting may include: receiving the above-mentioned replay speed setting from the above-mentioned user through the above-mentioned user interface, and the above-mentioned replay step may include: overlapping the above-mentioned replay speed with the output time interval related to each content according to the above-mentioned setting received through the above-mentioned user interface, and replaying at least one of the above-mentioned multiple contents according to the overlapped above-mentioned output time interval through the above-mentioned chat room.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the novel replay method may further include: receiving, through the at least one processor, a selection of one of the multiple contents from the user; receiving, through the at least one processor, at least one of comments or preferences related to the one content from the server in response to the selection; and providing, through the at least one processor, a user interface capable of displaying the received comments or preferences or allowing the user to input comments or preferences related to the one content. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 A diagram showing an example of a network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2This is a block diagram for illustrating the internal structure of an electronic device and a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This figure shows an example of structural elements that may be included in a processor of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 The flowchart shows an example of a method that can be executed by a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 5 An example of a user interface screen related to a novel registration step according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0030] Figures 6 to 8 An example of a user interface screen related to a novel playback step according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0031] Figures 9 to 11 An example of a user interface screen related to a community space and statistical information for novels according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] The embodiment of the present invention relates to a technology for providing novels by utilizing a chat interface of instant messaging software.

[0034] The embodiments including the contents specifically disclosed in this specification can provide a replay function that uses the chat interface of instant messaging software to output the contents of the novel in message units in sequence, thereby having considerable advantages in practicality, efficiency, convenience, cost savings, etc.

[0035] Figure 1 A diagram showing an example of a network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 The network environment includes multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, 140, multiple servers 150, 160 and a network 170. Figure 1 For the purpose of illustrating an example of the present invention, the number of electronic devices or servers is not limited to Figure 1 .

[0036] The plurality of electronic devices 110, 120, 130, 140 may be fixed terminals or mobile terminals implemented by a computer system. Examples of the plurality of electronic devices 110, 120, 130, 140 include smart phones, mobile phones, navigators, computers, notebook computers, digital broadcast terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players (PMPs), tablet computers, game consoles, wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, etc. As an example, in Figure 1 The shape of a smartphone is shown as an example of the electronic device 110, but in an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device 110 can actually be one of a variety of physical computer systems that communicate with other electronic devices 120, 130, 140 and / or servers 150, 160 through a network 170 using wireless or wired communication methods.

[0037] The communication method is not limited and may include communication methods using communication networks (e.g., mobile communication networks, wired networks, wireless networks, broadcast networks, satellite networks, etc.) that may be included in network 170, as well as short-range wireless communication between multiple devices. For example, network 170 may include any one or more of a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a broadband network (BBN), the Internet, and the like. Furthermore, network 170 may include any one or more of a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star bus network, a tree network, a hierarchical network, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

[0038] The servers 150 and 160 may be implemented by a computer device or multiple computer devices that communicate with the multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 via the network 170 to provide instructions, codes, files, content, services, and the like. For example, the server 150 may be a system that provides a first service to the multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 connected via the network 170, and the server 160 may be a system that provides a second service to the multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 connected via the network 170. As a more specific example, the server 150 may be driven by an application as a computer program installed on the multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140, and provide the service that the application desires to provide (for example, an instant messaging software service) as a first service to the multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140. As another example, the server 160 may provide a service of distributing files for installing and driving the above-mentioned application to the plurality of electronic devices 110 , 120 , 130 , and 140 as the second service.

[0039] Figure 2 1 is a block diagram for explaining the internal structure of an electronic device and a server in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 1 , the internal structures of the electronic device 110 and the server 150 are described as examples of electronic devices. In addition, the other electronic devices 120 , 130 , 140 or the server 160 may also have the same or similar internal structures as the electronic device 110 or the server 150 .

[0040] The electronic device 110 and the server 150 may include memories 211, 221, processors 212, 222, communication modules 213, 223, and input / output interfaces 214, 224. The memories 211, 221, as non-temporary computer-readable recording media, may include permanent mass storage devices such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard disk drives, solid state drives (SSD), and flash memory. Among them, permanent mass storage devices such as read-only memory, solid state drives, flash memory, and hard disk drives are separate permanent storage devices distinguished from the memories 211, 221, and may also be formed in the electronic device 110 or the server 150. In addition, the memories 211, 221 may store an operating system and at least one program code (for example, a browser installed on the electronic device 110 to drive or an application installed on the electronic device 110 to provide a specific service). The above-mentioned software structural elements can be loaded from a computer-readable recording medium separate from the memory 211, 221. The above-mentioned separate computer-readable recording medium may include a computer-readable recording medium such as a floppy disk drive, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a DVD / CD-ROM drive, a memory card, etc. In another embodiment, the software structural elements can be loaded into the memory 211, 221 via the communication module 213, 223 instead of being loaded via a computer-readable recording medium. For example, at least one program can be loaded into the memory 211, 221 based on a computer program installed via a file (for example, the above-mentioned application), and the above-mentioned file is provided via the network 170 by a developer or a file publishing system (for example, the above-mentioned server 160) that publishes the application installation file.

[0041] Processors 212 and 222 can be configured to perform basic arithmetic, logical, and input / output calculations, thereby processing instructions from a computer program. Instructions can be provided to processors 212 and 222 via memories 211 and 221 or communication modules 213 and 223. For example, processors 212 and 222 can be configured to execute received instructions based on program code stored in a recording device such as memories 211 and 221.

[0042] Communication modules 213 and 223 can provide functionality for electronic device 110 and server 150 to communicate with each other via network 170, and can also provide functionality for electronic device 110 and / or server 150 to communicate with other electronic devices (e.g., electronic device 120) or other servers (e.g., server 160). For example, a request generated by processor 212 of electronic device 110 based on program code stored in a recording device such as memory 211 can be transmitted to server 150 via network 170 under the control of communication module 213. Conversely, control signals, instructions, content, files, etc. provided by processor 222 of server 150 can be provided to electronic device 110 via communication module 223 and network 170 via communication module 213 of electronic device 110. For example, control signals, instructions, content, files, etc. from server 150 received via communication module 213 can be transmitted to processor 212 or memory 211, and the content or files can be stored in a storage device (the aforementioned permanent storage device) that may also be included in electronic device 110.

[0043] The input / output interface 214 may be a unit for connecting to an input / output device 215. For example, the input device may include a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a camera, and the like, and the output device may include a display, a speaker, a haptic feedback device, and the like. As another example, the input / output interface 214 may also be a unit for connecting to a device that combines input and output functions, such as a touch screen. The input / output device 215 may also be configured as one device with the electronic device 110. Furthermore, the input / output interface 224 of the server 150 may be a unit for connecting to a device (not shown) for input or output that may be connected to the server 150 or may be included in the server 150. As a more specific example, the processor 212 of the electronic device 110, in the process of processing the instructions of the computer program loaded in the memory 211, may display a service screen or content constructed using data provided by the server 150 or the electronic device 120 on the display through the input / output interface 214.

[0044] Furthermore, in another embodiment, the electronic device 110 and the server 150 may include Figure 2However, there is no need to explicitly show the structural elements of most of the prior art. For example, the electronic device 110 may also be implemented to include at least a part of the above-mentioned input and output device 215, or may further include other structural elements such as a transceiver, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a camera, various sensors, a database, and the like. As a more specific example, in the case where the electronic device 110 is a smart phone, the electronic device 110 may also be implemented to further include multiple structural elements that are commonly included in a smart phone, such as an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a camera module, various physical buttons, buttons using a touchpad, input and output ports, a vibrator for vibration, and the like.

[0045] The following describes a specific embodiment of a method and system for providing novels via instant messaging software.

[0046] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of structural elements that may be included in a processor of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 The flowchart shows an example of a method that can be executed by a server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] The server 150 of this embodiment serves as a platform for providing novel services to multiple electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 as clients via instant messaging software. Server 150 collaborates with applications (i.e., instant messaging software) installed on electronic devices 110, 120, 130, and 140 to provide novel services. In particular, server 150 can provide a playback function that sequentially outputs the contents of the novel in message units using the chat interface of the instant messaging software.

[0048] The server 150 may execute Figure 4 The novel provides a method for this purpose, such as Figure 3 As shown, the processor 222 of the server 150 may include a novel registration unit 310, a chat room provision unit 320, and a novel playback unit 330 as components. Depending on the embodiment, the components of the processor 222 may be selectively included in or excluded from the processor 222. Furthermore, depending on the embodiment, the components of the processor 222 may be separated or combined to facilitate the functional performance of the processor 222.

[0049] The processor 222 and the components of the processor 222 are used to execute Figure 4The server 150 is controlled in a manner that includes the steps (steps S410 to S440) of the novel providing method. For example, the processor 222 and the structural elements of the processor 222 can be implemented to execute instructions based on the code of the operating system and at least one program code contained in the memory 221.

[0050] The components of processor 222 may be different functions of processor 222 executed by processor 222 according to instructions provided by program code stored in server 150. For example, novel registration unit 310 may be used as a functional representation of processor 222: this functionality controls server 150 according to the aforementioned instructions, causing server 150 to register novels provided by content providers (e.g., authors, platform administrators, etc.).

[0051] In step S410, the processor 222 may read necessary instructions from the memory 221 loaded with instructions related to the control of the server 150. In this case, the read instructions may include instructions for controlling the processor 222 to execute the steps (steps S420 to S440) described later.

[0052] In step S420, the novel registration unit 310 may receive content and the output time interval associated with the content from the content provider's terminal, store the content and the output time interval, and thereby register a novel containing the corresponding content. For example, the novel registration unit 310 may register novels containing content related to the corresponding characters, based on the content provider's settings. Character-related content may include the characters' lines, narration, situation descriptions, sound effects, and the like. The novel registration unit 310 may provide additional tools for writing novel content to all users with instant messaging software accounts. In this case, the novel writing tools may include various templates and menus for entering novel content. The novel registration unit 310 may receive the content and the output time intervals for each content from the content provider's terminal via the novel writing tools, and register the novel containing the received content. For example, the novel writing tool may include functions for registering characters, setting environments for each character (e.g., introductions, background images, illustrations, etc.), inputting characters' lines, narration, stage directions, and other content as expanded content for the novel, and inputting output time intervals for replaying lines or other content. The novel registration unit 310 may sequentially receive expanded content (lines or other content) based on the novel from the content provider via the novel writing tool and store the input content in the order in which it was input. In this case, for each content, the output time interval entered by the content provider may be associated with the corresponding content and stored. If the novel is divided into multiple subsets (e.g., multiple episodes), the novel registration unit 310 may register the novel by subset. In this case, each content and its output time interval may be received from the content provider's terminal and associated with the corresponding subset for registration.

[0053] The function of inputting content (lines or other content) may include the following functions: that is, emoticons, animated stickers, sound stickers, pop-up stickers, voice effects, and other content that can be provided on instant messaging software can be inserted into the middle of the content. Therefore, in the process of writing novels, the content on instant messaging software can be actively used to overcome the interface limitations of previous online novels.

[0054] In this embodiment, novels registered by content providers can be saved (stored) in a database (not shown) that can be included in or connected to server 150. Based on requests from users (hereinafter referred to as "readers"), the corresponding novels are made available through the chat interface (i.e., chat room) of instant messaging software. In this case, the novel's lines or other content (narration, stage directions, etc.) are sequentially output as messages, just like a real-time chat between characters. In this case, the output interval indicates how long after content (lines or other content) is displayed in the instant messaging software's chat room. It can be the time interval between content (lines or other content), or in other words, the time interval between the output of the previous content and the output of the next content. The novel registration unit 310 sets the output interval for each content (lines or other content) individually based on the content provider's settings. If the content provider does not set the output interval, the interval can be set using a preset default value.

[0055] If the content provider inputs the content (lines or other content) in sequence according to the unfolding content of the novel through a novel writing tool, the content will be logged in the corresponding order, thereby making it possible to write a novel in the form of a script that unfolds over time. In particular, according to the intention of the content provider, the time interval for replaying each content can be set differently, thereby expecting the effect of immersion in the work by conveying the plot (for example, a situation where two characters are confronting each other, etc.) through the output time interval.

[0056] In step S430, the chat room providing unit 320 may add the account of a user who has obtained permission to access the novel (hereinafter referred to as a "reader") to the chat room of a robot account associated with the novel (hereinafter referred to as a "novel robot"), thereby providing the reader with a chat room with the novel robot. For example, a reader who purchases a novel through a checkout or obtains a novel through an event, etc., may be granted permission to access the novel. In this case, the chat room providing unit 320 may generate and provide a one-to-one chat room matching the account of the reader with permission and the account of the novel robot.

[0057] As one embodiment, the chat room provider 320 can connect to a community service on an instant messaging app to provide a chat room. The server 150 can provide additional community channels for each novel provided through the novel service. The chat room provider 320 can add or associate a user account with the community channel corresponding to the novel selected by the user of the instant messaging app. In other words, the server 150 can generate a community channel corresponding to the novel logged in through the corresponding content provider at the request of the content provider. If the reader's account is granted permission to access the novel, after adding the corresponding reader's account to the community channel, the chat room participated in by the reader's account and the novel robot's account can be associated with the community channel to generate the chat room.

[0058] In the case where the novel is divided into multiple subsets (for example, multiple episodes), the chat room providing unit 320 can determine whether the user has permission for each subset. In the case where it is determined that the user is granted permission for at least one subset of the novel, the chat room providing unit 320 can add or associate the user account as a reader account in the community channel of the corresponding novel, and generate a chat room for the novel robot and the reader corresponding to at least one subset to which the reader is granted permission among the multiple subsets of the novel robot related to the corresponding novel. In other words, multiple chat rooms can be set up in each community channel. In this case, permissions are granted and chat rooms are generated for each subset. For each novel, a community channel can be composed of multiple chat rooms and different environment settings can be applied. In this case, in order to specifically manage the reader's permissions, an additional chat room with the novel robot can be provided for each subset. For example, if user X enters "watch" for episode 1 of novel A, which is provided free of charge through a novel service, the chat room provision unit 320, having received user X's input, may add user X's user account as a reader account in the novel A community channel and provide a chat room for user X and a novel bot corresponding to episode 1 of novel A through the novel A community channel. Subsequently, if user X enters "watch" for episode 2 of novel A, which is provided for a fee through the novel service, the chat room provision unit 320, having received user X's input, determines whether user X has permission to read episode 2 of novel A. If the user X does have permission to read episode 2 of novel A, the chat room for user X and the novel bot corresponding to episode 2 of novel A may be provided through the novel A community channel. The server 150 may also generate an additional community chat room associated with the corresponding community channel within the novel community channel and then add the accounts of readers who have permission to read the corresponding novel or at least a subset of the novel to the corresponding community chat room. This not only provides novel services through the community channel but also allows readers to communicate with other readers, thereby providing more efficient community services.

[0059] In step S440, the novel replay unit 330 may, based on the reader's request, provide the reader's terminal with the contents of the novel at the corresponding output time intervals through a chat room participated in by the reader's account and the novel robot account, based on the reader settings related to the corresponding reader, in an instant messaging software installed on the reader's terminal. In other words, the novel replay unit 330 provides the contents of the novel (lines or other content) in units of messages output by the novel robot according to the output time intervals set by the content provider by replaying the novel through the chat room that matches the reader's account and the novel robot account. In the chat room of the instant messaging software, the novel replay unit 330 replays the novel content in a manner similar to the structure of users sending and receiving messages in real time. The reader does not read the statically written novel content, but rather outputs the novel content in units of messages in sequence, just like the actual characters sending and receiving messages. This provides a more vivid and focused novel service. In this case, the novel playback unit 330 can provide content (lines or other content) at the output time interval set by the content provider. This allows the novel to be played quickly when two characters are in conflict, while playing at a normal speed when two characters are in conflict, allowing readers to immerse themselves more deeply in the novel. In particular, the novel playback unit 330 can provide messages corresponding to the novel content (lines or other content) based on the reader's settings through the chat room between the novel robot and the reader. In this case, the reader can set the content configuration, playback speed, introductions to each character, background images, illustrations, etc. for the novel to be played.

[0060] Figure 5 1 shows an example of a service page displayed on a user terminal (for example, electronic device 120 ) used by a content provider as a user interface related to a novel registration step of the novel registration unit 310 .

[0061] Figure 5 The novel writing screen 500 is shown. Figure 5 As shown, in the novel writing screen 500, as a novel writing tool including a format and menus for content providers to write novels, the following may be included: a menu 501 for selecting characters or narration (or stage directions); a menu 502 for inputting characters' lines or content such as narration or stage directions; and a menu 503 for inputting an output time interval for content playback. In this case, the menu 502 for inputting content may include an environment for inputting text, images (stickers or emoticons, etc.), photos, videos, audio files, links, and other content that can be added to the instant messaging software.

[0062] In addition, the novel writing screen 500 may also include a menu for presetting, a menu for inputting basic information such as the novel title or subset information (episode information), a menu for logging into a character list, and a menu for setting the environment of each character.

[0063] Content providers can sequentially input novel content in the form of scripts through the novel writing screen 500. In this case, menu 503 for inputting and outputting time intervals can be used to adjust the time interval between the output of the previous content and the playback of the next content, while composing the novel. Furthermore, rather than simply composing primarily text, various content, such as stickers or emoticons, can be appropriately added to the content or explanation to present it to the reader. In other words, a novel can be composed by inputting content, such as stickers, after specific content or content, and the novel will then transmit the corresponding content to the novel robot.

[0064] Figures 6 to 11 The diagram shows an example of a service page displayed on a user terminal (for example, the electronic device 110 ) used by a reader as a user interface related to the novel reproducing procedure of the novel reproducing unit 330 .

[0065] The electronic device 110 can execute the novel replaying method described below, and the processor 212 of the electronic device 110 can control the electronic device 110 to execute the multiple steps included in the corresponding novel replaying method.

[0066] As an example, the processor 212 can receive the content contained in the novel and the output time intervals related to each content from the server 150 according to the reader's request, and on the instant messaging software set on the electronic device 110, the various contents of the novel can be replayed according to the corresponding output time intervals through the chat room participated by the account of the novel robot.

[0067] Figure 6 An example of a novel playback screen 600 is shown. Figure 6 The novel playback screen 600 is a chat room where the reader's account is matched with the novel robot's account. The content of each character is sequentially output as messages 601 related to the corresponding character, according to the output interval set for each content. For example, if the output interval is set to 0.5 seconds for "Sally's" content "Wow! That's funny.", 0.5 seconds after the output of "James's" content "Have you seen this video?", which was the previous content, Sally's content "Wow! That's funny." is output. In other words, the content of each character can be output as a chat message within the chat room, and in this case, the novel robot outputs the content as messages 601 sent from the character related to the corresponding content.

[0068] Unlike content related to characters, content unrelated to characters, such as novel commentary or stage directions, can be output as a message in a different format from that of character-related content. Furthermore, this can be output as a message 602 transmitted by a system serving as a neutral interface for the chat room. This uses an interface similar to that used in instant messaging software to notify when a new user has been added to a chat room or to distinguish dates. This allows for the following effect: when content related to commentary or stage directions is being transmitted, rather than content related to characters, the neutral system can transmit the content, rather than transmitting it as a chat message.

[0069] Figure 7 and Figure 8 Another example of the novel playback screen 700 is shown.

[0070] As another example, before executing novel playback, processor 212 can provide a user interface for the reader to configure playback settings and receive the reader's playback settings through the corresponding interface. Based on the reader's playback settings, the novel's contents are replayed at corresponding output time intervals on the instant messaging software installed on electronic device 110, via a chat room participated in by the novel robot account. The reader can configure the content configuration, playback speed, character profiles, background images, illustrations, and other settings for the novel to be replayed, thereby providing a reader-customized novel playback environment.

[0071] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the novel replay screen 700 is a chat room where the reader's account matches the account of the novel robot. If the reader is invited to enter the chat room with the novel robot for the first time, the novel robot can first provide a character list 710 as a user interface for selecting at least one character from the characters in the novel, so that the reader can select the character whose content he wants to output as his chat message. In this case, if the reader does not select a character and starts replaying the novel, Figure 6 As shown, the content of all characters can be output in the form of a message 601 sent from the character party related to the corresponding content. On the other hand, when the reader selects at least one specific character from the character list 710, the content of the character selected by the reader can be displayed differently from the content of the remaining characters not selected by the reader. As an example, the content of the character selected by the reader is output in the form of a message 803 sent from the reader party, and the content of the remaining characters is output in the form of a message 601 sent from the character party related to each content. For example, when the reader selects "Brown" from the character list 710, as shown in FIG. Figure 8As shown, the content of "Brown" can be output as a message 803 sent by the reader, "Show it to Cony." This is similar to a reader's speech. Therefore, before starting to play the novel, by specifying one or more characters, the content of the corresponding characters can be tagged, just like a direct message from the reader in a chat room. This allows the reader's preference for the corresponding characters to be calculated, and a user interface displaying the calculated preference can be provided.

[0072] Furthermore, the novel playback screens 600 and 700 may also include a menu for setting the environment of each character as one of the user participation functions. The reader can directly set or change the user interface of the character profile, background image, illustration, etc. of the novel being played back in the chat room of the instant messaging software.

[0073] The novel playback screens 600 and 700 may include a pause menu 620 and 820 for temporarily pausing novel playback, a play menu 630 and 830 for starting novel playback, and a speed-up play menu 640 and 840 for adjusting the playback speed. During novel playback, if a reader enters the pause menu 620 and 820, or slides down the novel playback screen 600 and 700, or closes the novel playback screen 600 and 700, the novel playback unit 330 recognizes this as a pause playback event and pauses the novel playback, while memorizing the last output content. Thereafter, if the reader executes the novel playback screen 600 and 700 or enters the play menu 630 and 830 in the novel playback screen 600 and 700, the novel playback resumes after the content memorized according to the pause playback event. Furthermore, the novel playback unit 330 may provide a user interface for allowing the reader to set the playback speed of the novel, through which the reader's playback speed setting may be received. For example, during the novel replay process, the novel replay unit 330 can adjust the message output speed, i.e., the replay speed, in accordance with the reader's input using the speed playback menu 640, 840. In this case, the novel replay unit 330 can overlap the replay speed set by the reader with the output time interval related to each content, and replay the corresponding content according to the overlapped output time interval. For example, if the reader inputs the speed playback menu 640, 840, the novel replay unit 330 can increase or decrease the overall output speed of the output time interval set by the content provider by 1.5 times the speed, 2 times the speed, etc. Furthermore, the novel replay unit 330 can output the content at a specified speed based on the reader's settings, regardless of the output time interval set by the content provider (i.e., taking precedence over the output time interval set by the content provider).

[0074] Furthermore, when the processor 212 receives a selection of one of the contents of the novel from a reader, it can receive comments and / or preferences input by other readers regarding the selected content from the server 150 and display them in the following user interface, which is capable of displaying the received comments and / or preferences, or a user interface that allows readers to directly input comments and / or preferences.

[0075] Reference Figure 9 When a reader selects a specific message on the novel playback screen 600 or 700, the novel playback unit 330 can output a menu directory 950 as an interface for copying, forwarding, sharing, entering comments, etc. on the selected message. The menu directory 950 may include a comment menu 951 that allows the reader to directly enter comments on specific content in the novel being played back. In other words, the novel playback unit 330 can provide an interface that allows readers to leave comments on individual content, that is, on a message-by-message basis, or to confirm comments left by other readers in the novel being played back.

[0076] Each content of the novel is output in the form of a message. In this case, each message contains a uniform resource locator that is not directly exposed. When the reader needs to view other readers' comments on a specific content or leave a comment directly, if the reader selects the corresponding content, he can move to the comment space through the uniform resource locator. After the reader selects a specific content in the novel playback screen 600, 700, and selects the comment menu 951 in the menu directory 950, as shown in FIG. Figure 10 As shown, the novel playback unit 330 can provide a comment screen 1000 related to the selected content. In this case, the comment screen 1000 includes an interface 1070 for readers to write comments on the selected content 1060 using text, voice files, stickers, or emoticons, and includes a directory 1080 of comments left by other readers on the corresponding content 1060. Furthermore, the comment screen 1000 may also include a function for readers to write comments on comments left by other readers and a function for entering preferences such as likes or recommendations. Furthermore, the comment screen 1000 may also include a full comment menu 1090, which allows users to view comments on individual contents of the novel at once, as well as comments entered for the entire novel without selecting any content. Readers can confirm comments and preferences (such as likes and recommendations) left by other readers on the comment screen 1000 provided for each content, thereby allowing them to communicate with other readers.

[0077] The processor 222 can aggregate the comments or preferences left by readers on each content of the novel and calculate statistical information for each content, and provide the statistical information or various feedback using the statistical information to users (content providers, readers, etc.). For example, 10 content items can be selected and presented in order of "likes", and popular dramas can be selected and presented in order of the number of comments.

[0078] Furthermore, the novel replay unit 330 can provide statistical information of the content as feedback information to the content provider or the reader. Figure 10 As shown, when the novel replay unit 330 provides a comment screen 1000 for the content 1060 selected by the reader, it can be provided together with the comments left by other readers or statistical information 1004 obtained from the degree of preference. Figure 11 As shown, during the novel playback process, when the novel playback unit 330 outputs the content of the characters in units of messages, it can also associate statistical information 1104 obtained from the comments or preferences of readers who have read the corresponding novel with each message and output it.

[0079] The above describes that the server 150 is linked with the application (instant messaging software) installed on the electronic devices 110 and 120 to execute the novel providing method on the server 150 side, but it is not limited to this. According to an embodiment, at least a part of the above-mentioned novel providing method can be executed in the electronic device 110 according to the instructions provided by the application installed on the electronic device 110.

[0080] Specifically, in order to enable the electronic devices 110 and 120 to perform Figure 4 The processor of the corresponding electronic device may include a novel login unit, a chat room providing unit, and a novel playback unit. Depending on the embodiment, the novel login unit, chat room providing unit, and novel playback unit may be selectively included in or excluded from the processors of electronic devices 110 and 120, and may also be separated or combined for processor functional performance.

[0081] The novel registration unit, chat room providing unit and novel replaying unit included in the processor of the electronic device 110, 120 are connected to the chat room providing unit and the novel replaying unit through Figure 3 The novel registration unit 310, chat room providing unit 320 and novel replaying unit 330 described above are executed identically or correspondingly. Figure 4 There are multiple steps (step S420 to step S440), so detailed description is omitted.

[0082] As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, a playback function can be provided that sequentially outputs the contents of a novel as messages using the chat interface of an instant messaging software. In particular, the output time interval can be set differently according to the content development or situation of the novel, thereby providing a lively and immersive interface environment. Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the content of a character selected by the user can be output as a user-side message within the chat interface of the instant messaging software, thereby providing an environment in which users can participate. A function can also be provided that allows users to directly enter comments on each content of the replayed novel and a function can be provided that allows users to confirm the preferences of other users.

[0083] The devices described above can be implemented using hardware structural elements, software structural elements, and / or a combination of hardware structural elements and software structural elements. For example, the devices and structural elements described in the embodiments can be implemented using one or more general-purpose computers or special-purpose computers, such as a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device that can execute and respond to instructions. The processing device can execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications executed on the operating system. Furthermore, the processing device can access, store, operate, process, and generate data in response to the execution of the software. For ease of understanding, the case of using only one processing device is described. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates will appreciate that the processing device can include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing device can include multiple processors or a processor and a controller. In addition, other processing configurations such as parallel processors are also possible.

[0084] Software may include a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of more than one of these, which configures a processing device in a manner that performs the required work or issues instructions to the processing device independently or collectively. Software and / or data may be embodied in any type of machine, component, physical device, computer storage medium, or device for parsing by the processing device or for providing instructions or data to the processing device. Software is distributed across computer systems connected by a network so that it can be stored or executed in a decentralized manner. Software and data may be stored on one or more computer-readable recording media.

[0085] The method of the embodiment can be implemented as a program instruction form that can be executed by a variety of computer units and recorded on a computer-readable medium. In this case, the medium can continuously store a program that can be executed by a computer, or temporarily store the program for execution or downloading. In addition, the medium can be a variety of recording units or storage units in the form of a single or multiple hardware combinations, and is not limited to a medium directly connected to a certain computer system, and can also be dispersed on a network. As examples of media, magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic disks, optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks (magneto-optical medium) and read-only memories, random access memories, flash memories, etc., can store program instructions. In addition, as examples of other media, it can also be an application store for circulating applications or a web page that supplies or circulates various other software, a recording medium or storage medium managed in a server, etc.

[0086] As described above, although the embodiments are described using limited embodiments and drawings, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications and variations based on the above description. For example, even if the described techniques are performed in a different order than the described method, and / or the structural elements of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. are combined or combined in a different manner than the described method, or are replaced or substituted with other structural elements or equivalent technical solutions, appropriate results can still be achieved.

[0087] Therefore, other examples, other embodiments, and equivalents to those in the claims are also within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A novel providing method, executed in a computer system, characterized in that: The computer system includes at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions contained in a memory, The above novel providing method includes: a registering step of receiving content and an output time interval associated with the content from a content provider terminal via the at least one processor, storing the content and the output time interval, and thereby registering a novel containing the content; and The providing step comprises providing the content to the first user terminal by replaying the content included in the novel according to the output time interval based on the first user setting associated with the first user account through a chat room participated in by the first user account and a robot account associated with the novel on an instant messaging software installed on the first user terminal by the at least one processor. The novel providing method further includes: generating, by the at least one processor, a community channel corresponding to the novel in response to a request from the content provider terminal; and If the first user account is granted permission to read the novel, the at least one processor adds the first user account to the community channel as a reader's account for the novel. The providing step includes: associating the chat room participated in by the first user account and the robot account with the community channel to generate the chat room, The first user setting includes at least one of the content configuration and playback speed of the novel. According to the first user setting, the content is provided to the chat room in units of messages output by the robot account or the first user account.

2. The novel providing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The logging in step includes: receiving the content and the output time interval from the content provider terminal via a novel writing tool, wherein the novel writing tool includes a function for inputting the content and the output time interval related to the content.

3. The novel providing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The novel providing method further includes: if the first user account is granted permission for the novel, generating a chat room participated by the first user account and the robot account through the at least one processor.

4. The novel providing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The registering step includes associating the plurality of contents received from the content provider terminal with the subset of the novel, The above-mentioned providing steps include: If the first user account is granted permission for the subset, associating a first chat room participated in by the first user account and the robot account with the community channel to generate the first chat room; and Based on a request from the first user terminal for the subset, the plurality of contents included in the subset are provided to the first user terminal via the first chat room on the instant messaging software in a manner of replaying the plurality of contents according to respective output time intervals.

5. The novel providing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step of generating the community channel includes the step of associating a community chat room with the community channel to generate the community chat room. The adding step includes: if the first user account is granted permission for the novel, adding the first user account to the community chat room.

6. The novel providing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The novel providing method further includes: Calculating statistical information for each content based on comments or likes related to each content of the novel received from a plurality of user terminals by the at least one processor; and The statistical information for each content is provided to the content provider terminal or at least one of the plurality of user terminals through the at least one processor.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program, characterized in that: The computer program is used to execute the novel providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in a computer system and is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.

8. A computer system, characterized in that: comprising at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions contained in the memory, The at least one processor includes: a novel registration unit that receives content and an output time interval associated with the content from a content provider terminal, stores the content and the output time interval, and thereby registers a novel containing the content; and The novel replaying unit, on an instant messaging software installed on a first user terminal, provides the content to the first user terminal by replaying the content included in the novel according to the output time interval based on the first user settings associated with the first user account through a chat room participated in by the first user account and a robot account related to the novel. The at least one processor further includes a chat room providing unit for providing the chat room. The chat room providing unit generates a community channel corresponding to the novel in response to a request from the content provider terminal. If the first user account is granted permission to access the novel, the chat room providing unit adds the first user account to the community channel as a reader's account for the novel, and the chat room providing unit associates the chat room participated in by the first user account and the robot account with the community channel to generate the chat room. The first user setting includes at least one of the content configuration and playback speed of the novel. According to the first user setting, the content is provided to the chat room in units of messages output by the robot account or the first user account.

9. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein: The novel registration unit receives the content and the output time interval from the content provider terminal via a novel writing tool, wherein the novel writing tool includes a function for inputting the content and the output time interval related to the content.

10. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein: The at least one processor further includes a chat room providing unit for providing the chat room. If the first user account is granted authority to the novel, the chat room providing unit generates a chat room in which the first user account and the robot account participate.

11. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein: The novel registration unit associates the plurality of contents received from the content provider terminal with the subset of the novel. If the first user account is granted authority over the subset, the chat room providing unit generates a first chat room by associating the first user account and the robot account with the community channel. The novel replay unit provides the plurality of contents included in the subset to the first user terminal via the first chat room on the instant messaging software in response to a request from the first user terminal for the subset, by replaying the plurality of contents at respective output time intervals.

12. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein: The chat room providing unit generates a community chat room by associating the community chat room with the community channel. If the first user account is granted authority to the novel, the chat room providing unit adds the first user account to the community chat room.

13. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein: The at least one processor calculates statistical information for each content based on comments or likes related to each content of the novel received from multiple user terminals, and the at least one processor provides the statistical information for each content to the content provider terminal or at least one user terminal among the multiple user terminals.

14. A novel replaying method, executed on a terminal implemented by a computer, characterized in that: The terminal includes at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions contained in a memory, The novel replay method includes: Receiving, by the at least one processor, a plurality of contents included in the novel and output time intervals associated with the respective contents from a server according to a content request made by a user of the terminal; Providing, via the at least one processor, a user interface for allowing the user to input playback settings; receiving, by the at least one processor, playback settings related to the novel input by the user through the user interface; and By means of the at least one processor, on the instant messaging software installed on the terminal, in a chat room participated in by a robot account related to the novel, at least one of the plurality of contents is replayed according to the corresponding output time interval based on the replay setting. The server receives the plurality of contents and output time intervals associated with the respective contents from a content provider terminal, stores the plurality of contents and the output time intervals, registers the novel containing the plurality of contents, and generates a community channel corresponding to the novel in response to a request from the content provider terminal. If the user account of the terminal is granted permission for the novel, the server adds the user account to the community channel as a reader's account for the novel, and associates the chat room participated in by the user account and the robot account with the community channel to generate the chat room. The playback setting includes at least one of the content configuration and playback speed for the novel. The above replay steps include: According to the playback setting, at least a portion of the plurality of contents is provided to the chat room in units of messages output by the robot account or the user account.

15. The novel replaying method according to claim 14, characterized in that: A portion of the plurality of contents is related to at least one of the characters in the novel. The replaying step includes displaying content related to at least one of the characters in the novel as a message of the at least one character in the chat room.

16. The novel replaying method according to claim 14, characterized in that: The replay step includes displaying a first type of content among the multiple contents in a manner different from a second type of content among the multiple contents, wherein the first type of content is not related to the characters in the novel, and the second type of content is related to at least one of the characters in the novel.

17. The novel replaying method according to claim 14, characterized in that: The step of providing the user interface includes: providing a user interface that allows the user to select at least one character from among the characters in the novel; The step of receiving the playback setting includes: receiving a selection of the at least one character from the user through the user interface; The replaying step includes displaying, in the chat room, content related to the at least one selected character in a manner different from content related to characters not selected through the user interface.

18. The novel replaying method according to claim 14, characterized in that: The step of providing the user interface includes: providing a user interface that allows the user to set the playback speed, The step of receiving the playback setting includes: receiving the playback speed setting from the user through the user interface, The replaying step includes: overlapping the replay speed with the output time intervals related to the respective contents according to the setting received through the user interface, and replaying at least one of the plurality of contents according to the overlapped output time intervals through the chat room.

19. The novel replaying method according to claim 14, characterized in that: The novel replay method further includes: Receiving, by the at least one processor, a selection of one of the plurality of contents from the user; Receiving, by the at least one processor, at least one of a comment or a likeness related to the one content from a server in response to the selection; and The at least one processor provides a user interface capable of displaying the received comments or likes or allowing the user to input comments or likes related to the one content.

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