Method and system for providing content, and program

Abstract

To provide a method and a system for providing content with which users can easily access the content.SOLUTION: A method of providing content includes the steps of: providing preview content for content in a preset preview area corresponding to at least a portion of a display area; changing, on receipt of a scroll request for the preview area, an output range of the preview content output in the preview area; and providing, based on the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range, a graphic object related to viewing the specific content in the preview area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3F

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a system for providing content to a user and the like.

Background Art

[0002] With the development of technology, the utilization rate of digital devices has been increasing. In particular, user terminals (for example, smartphones, tablet PCs, etc.) are equipped with various functions such as web search using the Internet, listening to music, and watching video content in addition to communication functions such as telephone and text messages.

[0003] Due to the spread of such user terminals, the content industry has been growing significantly. Content means various types of information and their contents provided through the Internet, computer communication, etc., and its types are very diverse. For example, content includes web comics, comics, web novels, music, e-books, articles, videos, videos of TV programs, images, and the like.

[0004] Among them, a typical example of content with strong demand is web comics. Web comics are manga serialized and distributed via the Internet network, and are a compound word of "web" and "comics".

[0005] As the demand for such web comics has been steadily increasing, various providers (or service operators related to web comics) have developed various services so that many consumers are interested in their web comics and use them. As an example, many operators (or service operators related to web comics) divide the content corresponding to the amount of one book into a plurality of episodes and provide it to users to encourage continuous use of the episodes.

[0006] As another example, in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0085195 (Method and System for Providing a Web Comic with Animation Effects Applied to a User Terminal, Patent Document 1), a method is proposed to assist users in understanding a web comic by providing them with a web comic to which animation effects are applied.

[0007] Thus, various devices have been made to promote users' interest in and use of content. Also, by increasing users' willingness to purchase content in this way, it is required to attract more users and ensure continuous use of the content.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] The present invention relates to a content providing method and a content providing system that enable users to easily access content.

[0010] More specifically, the present invention relates to a content providing method and a content providing system that can provide a preview of content.

[0011] Also, the present invention relates to a content providing method and a content providing system for providing a user interface that allows users to use the content subsequently after checking the preview.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a content providing method and a content providing system that can promote users to continuously use the content.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] The content providing method according to the present invention may include the steps of: providing preview content of the content in a preset preview area corresponding to at least a part of the display area; changing an output range of the preview content output to the preview area in response to receiving a scroll request in the preview area; and providing a graphic object related to viewing of the content in the preview area in response to the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range.

[0014] On the other hand, the content providing system according to the present invention includes a control unit that provides preview content of the content in a preset preview area corresponding to at least a part of the display area. The control unit changes an output range of the preview content output to the preview area in response to receiving a scroll request in the preview area, and may provide a graphic object related to viewing of the content in the preview area in response to the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range.

[0015] Further, the program according to the present invention is a program executed by one or more processors in a computer such as a personal computer or a smartphone, and may include instruction codes for executing the steps of: providing preview content of the content in a preset preview area corresponding to at least a part of the display area; changing an output range of the preview content output to the preview area in response to receiving a scroll request in the preview area; and providing a graphic object related to viewing of the content in the preview area in response to the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] As described above, the content providing method and the content providing system according to the present invention can provide preview content of the content in a preset preview area corresponding to at least a part of the display area. The user can confirm a specific content in advance through the preview content, and can easily determine the content to be used from the preview of the content confirmed in advance. Thereby, the user can more easily access new content.

[0017] Furthermore, the content providing method and the content providing system according to the present invention can change the output range of the preview content output in the preview area in response to the reception of a scroll request in the preview area. The user can conveniently use the preview content with only a simple operation.

[0018] Furthermore, the content providing method and the content providing system according to the present invention can provide a graphic object related to the viewing of the content in the preview area in response to the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range. Thereby, the user can conveniently obtain information about new content without performing a separate operation such as searching, and can easily use the content of interest. Furthermore, after the user confirms the preview content, the user can continue to use the content. Furthermore, the provider who provides the content can effectively promote the use of the content by the user and prevent the user from leaving by ensuring the continuous use of the content by the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

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[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of the reference signs, and duplicate descriptions thereof are omitted. The suffixes “module” and “section” for the components used in the following description are merely given or mixed for the purpose of easily preparing the specification, and do not have meanings or roles that are distinguishable from each other. Further, when it is determined that a specific description of related known art obscures the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification when explaining the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the detailed description thereof is omitted. Further, the accompanying drawings are for easily understanding the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical idea disclosed in this specification is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives included in the idea and technical scope of the present invention should be understood to be included.

[0021] Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second can be used to describe various components, but the above components are not limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component.

[0022] When a certain component is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or coupled to the other component, but other components may also exist therebetween. On the other hand, when a certain component is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another component, it should be understood that no other components exist therebetween.

[0023] The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0024] In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended to specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in this specification, and it should be understood that they do not preclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. The present invention relates to a content providing method and system, and can provide a preview of content to a user in order to effectively induce the user's content consumption.

[0025] Here, "preview" can mean information or media provided so that a user can check in advance before purchasing a product or using a service. For example, a movie trailer, a demo game, a screenshot of an application, a preview of a video (or a book), a one-minute preview of music, etc. correspond to a preview.

[0026] Furthermore, in the present invention, by activating a tab that meets the conditions according to the content viewing history in the user account, a user interface can be provided that allows the user to easily access new content and continue to use the content.

[0027] Thereby, in the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from leaving by attracting the user's interest in the content and ensuring the user's continuous consumption of the content. In this way, the content providing service of the present invention can provide not only the content but also a service that provides a user-customized interface for the use of the content.

[0028] Here, the "content providing service" can be understood as a term that comprehensively refers to the services provided by the content providing system 100 according to the present invention. The content providing service can be understood to provide not only the service of providing content to the user terminal 200, but also information regarding the content and various functions necessary incidentally to the use of the content.

[0029] On the other hand, the content providing system 100 described in the present invention may be composed of a system that provides at least one of various types of content. The types of content to which the present invention is applicable can be very diverse. For example, among content such as web comics, web novels, music, e-books, videos, and images, at least one may correspond to the content provided by the present invention.

[0030] Such content may be composed of a plurality of sub-contents. The plurality of sub-contents can form a series of the content. Here, the series may mean a continuous project or content.

[0031] In the present invention, in order to avoid confusion between the terms "content" and "sub-content", the "sub-content" may be referred to as an "episode". That is, in the present invention, "sub-content" and "episode" may be used interchangeably.

[0032] Furthermore, in the present invention, "using (consuming or viewing) the content" can be understood as using (consuming or viewing) an episode (or sub-content).

[0033] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a method for providing content to a user will be described more specifically. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a content providing system 100 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a content providing method according to the present invention. FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, and 3F are conceptual diagrams for explaining a method for providing content through preview in the present invention, and FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, and 6 are conceptual diagrams for explaining a method for activating a tab that meets the conditions according to whether the user has viewed the content in the user account, and FIGS. 7, 8, 9A, and 9B are conceptual diagrams for explaining a user interface in which a content preview function is provided.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the content providing system 100 according to the present invention may include at least one of a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130.

[0035] The communication unit 110 can play a role of providing (or transmitting) content or content-related information on the user terminal 200 through wired or wireless communication with the user terminal 200. Here, the user terminal 200 may include at least one of a mobile phone, a smart phone, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a slate PC, a tablet PC, an ultrabook, a desktop computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a PDA (personal digital assistants), a PMP (portable multimedia player), a navigation device, and a wearable device (for example, a smartwatch, smart glass, HMD (head mounted display)).

[0036] Although not shown, the user terminal 200 may include at least one of a display unit that outputs information and an input unit that receives information input from the user.

[0037] The display unit and the input unit of the user terminal 200 may exist independently of each other, or may exist integrally like a touch screen. When the display unit and the input unit exist integrally like a touch screen, the input unit is a detection unit that detects input via the display unit (for example, touch input, scroll input, etc.), and can be understood as a configuration of the display unit.

[0038] Hereinafter, without distinguishing whether the display unit and the input unit of the user terminal 200 exist independently or integrally, a configuration that performs the function of outputting information is referred to as a display unit, and a configuration that performs the function of receiving information input is referred to as an input unit. Next, the storage unit 120 may be configured to store various information related to content use. Such a storage unit 120 may include a content server 100a that includes information related to a plurality of contents.

[0039] The information related to the content providing service of the present invention can be stored in at least a part of the content server 100a, and no special restrictions are provided in this way in the present invention. Therefore, hereinafter, the storage unit 120 and the content server 100a are expressed as the storage unit 120 without distinguishing them separately.

[0040] Also, hereinafter, the content server 100a and the content DB are uniformly referred to as the content server 100a without distinguishing them separately. That is, the content server 100a described in the present invention can of course also be understood as a content DB.

[0041] Furthermore, the content server 100a that stores a plurality of contents can also exist as a configuration separate from the storage unit 120. In this case, the content providing system 100 according to the present invention can control the content server 100a to provide the information stored in the content server 100a to the user terminal 200.

[0042] For example, the control unit 130 can control the content server 100a to provide the content stored in the content server 100a to the user terminal 200.

[0043] On the other hand, user information that has subscribed to a service (for example, a content providing service) provided by the content providing system (or content providing system) 100 according to the present invention may be stored in the storage unit 120.

[0044] Such user information may include information regarding a user account (for example, ID (identification)). The user can use the web comic content provided by the present invention by logging in to the content providing system 100 according to the present invention with the user account.

[0045] Furthermore, history information associated with the user account may be stored in the storage unit 120.

[0046] The history information may include various information of the user account related to the service provided by the content providing system 100.

[0047] Specifically, the history information includes: i) history information of content (or episodes) used (or viewed) by the user account (or the user terminal 200 on which the user account is logged in) (for example, the title of the viewed content, the episode number of the viewed episode, the viewing date and time information, etc.), ii) feedback information of the user account on specific content (for example, at least one of review information, comment information, rating information, reaction information to content recommendation (selection history of the end style icon of the pop-up window related to specific content)) may be included.

[0048] On the other hand, the control unit 130 can perform a series of processes related to the present invention and can play a role in controlling the overall operation of the content providing system 100.

[0049] The control unit 130 can process signals, data, information, etc. input or output through the components considered above, or can provide or process information and functions suitable for the user.

[0050] Hereinafter, a method for effectively inducing user content consumption by providing preview content of the content to the user will be described in more detail.

[0051] On the other hand, in the present invention, a process of providing preview content of the content to a preset preview area corresponding to at least a part of the display area may be performed (see S210, Figure 2).

[0052] As shown in Figure 3A, the control unit 130 can provide the preview content 310 to the user terminal 200 so that the preview content 310 having a preset length is output to at least a part of the area 301 of the display area 300 of the user terminal 200. Here, the preview content can be understood as pre-display content or preview content that shows at least a part of the content in advance.

[0053] More specifically, in the present invention, "content" may be composed of a plurality of episodes. Further, an episode may be composed of a plurality of cut images (Cut Image or scene image).

[0054] The preview content described in the present invention may be configured to include at least one of the plurality of cut images that constitute a specific numbered episode (for example, episode 1) among the plurality of episodes.

[0055] For example, assume that a specific numbered episode is composed of 10 cut images. The preview content 310 may be configured to include the first consecutive cut image (refer to the reference numeral "311" in FIG. 3A), the second cut image (reference numeral "312" in FIG. 3B), and the third cut image (refer to the reference numeral "313" in FIG. 3C) among the 10 cut images.

[0056] The preview content 310 may be configured to have a length corresponding to the cut images 311 to 313 included in the preview content 310. The control unit 130 may output a part 311 of the preview content 310 having a preset length to the display area 300.

[0057] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3A, in the present invention, the display area 300 of the user terminal 200 may be divided into a plurality of areas according to whether the preview content is provided. Specifically, among the display area 300 of the user terminal 200, a part of the area 301 where the preview content 310 is provided is classified and referred to as the "first area" or the "preview area", and may be described with the same reference numeral "301". Also, the remaining area where the preview content 310 is not provided may be described as the "second area 302".

[0058] Among the display area 300, the positions of the first area (or preview area) 301 and the second area 302 may be preset and exist by the content providing system 100.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 3A, the control unit 130 may provide the preview content 310 to the preset first area 301 and control the display unit of the user terminal 200 so that the preview content 310 is not provided to the second area 302 excluding the first area 301. In this case, the control unit 130 may control so that various information regarding the content (for example, the title of the content, the author name, the score, etc.) is displayed (output) in the second area 302.

[0060] In this way, the control unit 130 performs first data processing for controlling the display unit of the user terminal 200 so that the preview content 310 is provided to the first area 301 among the display area 300 of the user terminal 200, and performs second data processing for controlling the display unit of the user terminal 200 so that information related to the content is provided to the second area 302 excluding the first area 301.

[0061] On the other hand, in the present invention, in response to receiving a scroll request in the preview area, a process of changing the output range of the preview content output in the preview area can be performed (S220, see FIG. 2).

[0062] The output range of the preview content 310 output to the first area 301 may be configured to be changed in response to a scroll request in the first area 301. As described above, the preview content may be configured to have a preset length. Also, a partial range of the preview content having the preset length may be output to the first area 301 of the display area 300.

[0063] Upon receiving a scroll request in the first region 301, the control unit 130 may change the output range of the preview content so that a part different from a part of the preview content output in the first region 301 is output in the first region 301.

[0064] For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the control unit 130 can receive a scroll request for the first region 301 while the first cut image 311 corresponding to the first range is provided on the first region 301. As shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 130 can control so that the second cut image 312 corresponding to a second range different from the first range is output to the first region 301 in response to the scroll request. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the control unit 130 can control so that a part of the preview content (for example, a part of the second cut image "312" and the third cut image "313") corresponding to a third range different from the second range is output to the first region 301 in response to the continuous reception of the scroll request in the first region 301. In the present invention, in the process of providing a graphic object related to content browsing to the preview area, it can be performed in response to the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range (S230, see FIG. 2).

[0065] As shown in FIG. 3D, the control unit 130 can control so that a graphic object 320 linked to a browsing request for a specific numbered episode is output to the display area 300 in conjunction with the output of the preview content 310 in the output range corresponding to the preset range in the first region 301.

[0066] Here, the preset range can be understood as a preset range in which the graphic object 320 is output among the preview content 310 having a certain length.

[0067] For example, the preset range may be preset and exist as a range corresponding to the last cut image 313 among the plurality of cut images 311 to 313 that make up the preview content 310. As another example, the preset range may be preset as a certain range including the bottom side of the last cut image 313 of the preview content 310 (for example, a range corresponding to 150 pixels based on the lowermost end of the last cut). As still another example, the preset range may be preset as a certain range including the central region (or part) of the last cut image 313 of the preview content 310 (for example, a range corresponding to 150 pixels above the central region). However, the above-described ranges are merely examples, and the ranges set for providing graphic objects related to content viewing are not limited to these.

[0068] The control unit 130 can change the output range of the preview content 310 output to the first region 301 in response to a scroll request in the first region 301. Further, the control unit 130 can monitor (or check) whether the changed output range corresponds to a preset range. According to the result of the monitoring, the control unit 130 can determine whether to output the graphic object 320 to the display region 300.

[0069] For example, assume that a certain range including the bottom side of the last cut image 313 among the plurality of cut images 311 to 313 that make up the preview content 310 is preset to be associated with the output of the graphic object 320.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 3C, as a result of monitoring, even if a part of the last cut image 313 of the preview content 310 is output to the first area 301, if a preset range (for example, a certain range including the bottom side of the last cut image 313) is not output on the first area 301, the control unit 130 may control to continuously output only the preview content 310 to the display area 300 and not output the graphic object 320.

[0071] In contrast, as shown in FIG. 3D, as a result of monitoring, when a preset range (for example, a certain range including the bottom side of the last cut image 313) of the preview content 310 is output on the first area 301, the control unit 130 may control to provide the graphic object 320 related to the viewing of the content to the display area 300.

[0072] In this case, the graphic object 320 may include various information related to the content. For example, as shown in FIG. 3E, the graphic object 320 may include at least one of guiding information for guiding the viewing of the content (for example, "Don’t miss this interesting story"), a thumbnail 321 of a specific numbered episode, and explanatory information of a specific numbered episode (for example, "Sam’s Life" 322, "Episode 1" 323).

[0073] In this way, in a state where the preview content 310 is provided to the preview area 301, the control unit 130 can perform different data processing regarding the output of the graphic object 320 according to the output range of the preview content 310.

[0074] Specifically, the control unit 130 can perform first data processing to control to provide the graphic object 320 related to the viewing of the content in conjunction with the output of the preview content 310 corresponding to the preset range to the first area 301.

[0075] On the other hand, when preview content 310 that does not correspond to a preset range is output to the first area 301, the control unit 130 can perform second data processing to control so that the preview content 310 is continuously output to the first area 301 without providing the graphic object 320 related to the viewing of the content.

[0076] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3D and 3E, visual effects processing of a preset method may be performed on a preset range of the last cut image 313 of the preview content 310.

[0077] The visual effect may mean a visual effect used to synthesize frames in a video (or image) or a photograph for visual processing (or expression). Such visual effects are used to provide a spectacular visual experience or enhance the sense of reality in various fields (for example, visual media such as movies, games, advertisements, and televisions).

[0078] For example, as a preset method for visual effects processing, there may be at least one of gradation, color gradient, blending, morphing, alpha blending, and texture mapping. However, the above-described methods are only examples, and the methods for visual effects processing are not limited to these.

[0079] When the preset range of the last cut image 313 of the preview content 310 is output, the control unit 130 can control so that visual effect processing of a preset method is performed on the range. For example, the control unit 130 may perform visual effect processing on the lower part of the last cut image 313 of the preview content (range corresponding to 150 pixels based on the bottom side).

[0080] On the other hand, the graphic object 320 related to the viewing of the content may exist associated with a specific numbered episode among the plurality of episodes constituting the content. Here, the specific numbered episode may mean the first episode among the plurality of episodes constituting the content.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 3E, when a selection for the graphic object 320 is made from the user terminal 200, the control unit 130 may process the selection for the graphic object 320 as a viewing request for the first episode among the plurality of episodes constituting the content.

[0082] That is, the control unit 130 can process that a viewing request for a specific numbered (first) episode among the plurality of episodes constituting the content has been received in response to the graphic object 320 being selected from the user terminal 200.

[0083] The control unit 130 can control so that a specific numbered episode is provided to the user terminal 200 in response to a viewing request for a specific numbered episode.

[0084] In this case, the control unit 130 can provide a specific numbered episode corresponding to the received viewing request using an episode viewer.

[0085] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3F, the control unit 130 can control the display unit of the user terminal 200 such that the display area 300 of the user terminal 200 where the preview content 310 is output switches to a viewer screen (or viewer page) 350 corresponding to the episode viewer in response to a viewing request for a specific numbered episode. The control unit 130 controls the user terminal so that an episode viewer for providing a specific numbered episode is executed in response to a viewing request for the specific numbered episode, and can provide the viewer screen of the episode viewer to the display area.

[0086] An episode viewer refers to a software interface or application module for visually displaying specific episode content through the display unit of a user terminal. This viewer manages a seamless transition from preview content to main episode content, and improves the user experience by continuing to display a part of the previously displayed preview content during the execution of the viewer. The episode viewer switches the display area of the preview content to the display area of the main episode content in response to a user request. At this time, a seamless transition is realized using an algorithm for controlling the display unit. In addition, it processes user input signals such as touch, scroll, and button clicks, recognizes content viewing requests, and loads appropriate episodes. Furthermore, the episode viewer converts specific episode data into a displayable format using a graphic rendering engine and provides it as a combination of text, images, animations, or multimedia data. The viewer saves and manages the user's viewing position so that viewing can continue from the previous position even after the screen is switched. In addition, it synchronizes episode data based on the network connection status and supports offline viewing through a local caching function. In addition, the episode viewer can support multiple episodes and various content formats and ensure compatibility independent of the platform or device. Also, by integrating with a content delivery server, data can be dynamically loaded in real time and the content can be updated. Through these functions, the episode viewer provides a smooth and intuitive content viewing experience and can meet the technical and structural content management requirements.

[0087] The control unit 130 can continuously provide at least a part of the preview content that was output in the preview area before the execution of the episode viewer on the viewer screen. At this time, on the switched viewer screen, an episode with a specific number may be provided following the preview content 310.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 3F, the control unit 130 can provide, on the viewer screen, a cut image 361 including the lower part of the preview content 310 and another cut image 362 arranged next to the cut image, for an episode with a specific number. The cut image 361 provided on the first area 360 of the viewer screen is the last cut image among the plurality of cut images 311 to 313 constituting the preview content 310 (refer to the reference numeral "313" in FIG. 3E), and the cut image 362 provided on the second area 370 of the viewer screen may be a cut image arranged next to the last cut image 361 among the plurality of cut images constituting an episode with a specific number.

[0089] When the episode viewer is executed, the control unit 130 may control so that the lower part of the preview content is included in the initial screen of the viewer screen. When the episode viewer is executed, at least a part 361 of the preview content output in the preview area before the execution of the episode viewer and an episode with a specific number may be displayed together on the initial screen of the viewer screen. In this case, a lower part (end area) of the preview content may be included in one area corresponding to a preset ratio (for example, 50%) of the initial screen.

[0090] When a scroll request to the user terminal is input while the lower part of the preview content is displayed on the viewer screen, the control unit 130 can provide the user terminal with cut images included in an episode with a specific number following the lower part of the preview content. As described above, the preview content in the present invention can be understood as the content included in a specific numbered episode. The preview content 310 may be configured to include a plurality of cut images 311 to 313. The plurality of cut images 311 to 313 included in the preview content 310 can correspond to a part of the plurality of cut images constituting a specific numbered episode. For example, assume that a specific numbered episode is composed of 10 cut images. The preview content may be composed of the first cut image 311 to the third cut image 313 among the 10 cut images. The control unit 130 can provide an interface that allows a user who has been using the preview content to continuously use the content by displaying the fourth cut image following the third cut image on the viewer screen. On the other hand, the control unit 130 can provide the cut images of the preview content and the cut images of a specific episode together on the viewer screen in response to a request to view a specific numbered episode. The cut images provided together in response to the viewing request may correspond to the last cut image among the plurality of cut images of the preview content and the first cut image among the plurality of cut images of a specific numbered episode.

[0091] On the one hand, the preset range of the preview content may correspond to the end area of the last cut image of the preview content. The control unit 130 may provide, on the viewer screen, from the end area of the cut image corresponding to the last cut image of the preview content among the plurality of cut images of a specific numbered episode. The control unit 130 may control so that the specific numbered episode is scrolled to the end area of the cut image in conjunction with the switching to the viewer screen on the user terminal 200. When a scroll request for the viewer screen is received while the end area of the cut image is output on the viewer screen, the control unit 130 may change the output range of the specific numbered episode output on the viewer screen. The user can immediately view an episode of a specific number (for example, episode 1) from the scene corresponding to the end area of the preview content just by selecting a graphic object while viewing the preview content. The user can view the previous part (the cut image corresponding to the preview content) again or subsequently view the next part (the next cut image of the preview content) through scrolling regarding the episode of a specific number. In this way, the control unit 130 performs data processing for controlling the display unit of the user terminal 200 so that the last cut image among the plurality of cut images of the preview content 310 and the cut image (or the first cut image) arranged next to the last cut image among the plurality of cut images of a specific numbered episode are provided together on one area of the viewer screen switched in response to the viewing request, thereby guiding the user who uses the preview content to continue using the content.

[0092] On the other hand, in the present invention, different user interfaces regarding content use can be provided according to the content viewing history of the user account that has subscribed to the content providing service. The control unit 130 can receive a selection signal from the user terminal 200 for at least one content provided by the content providing service.

[0093] In response to receiving a selection signal for the content, the control unit 130 can check whether there is a browsing history of browsing the content with the user account logged in to the user terminal 200.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 4, in the storage unit 120, history information 400 including content browsing history may be associated and exist for each of a plurality of user accounts subscribed to the content providing service. For example, in the history information 400, at least two of work information (e.g., "title") for the content, author information (e.g., "author name"), browsing history information (e.g., "browsing history"), and browsing number information (e.g., "browsing number") may be matched and exist. In response to receiving a selection signal for the content from the user terminal 200, the control unit 130 can provide a content page 500 for providing information related to the content to the user terminal 200.

[0095] In one area 520 of the content page 500, a plurality of tab icons 521, 522 for switching to different information display areas may be displayed.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 5A, among the plurality of tab icons 521, 522 included in the content page 500, the first tab icon 521 may be configured to be associated with a control command for providing a preview area in which preview content 310 is output in at least one area 520 of the content page 500.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 5B, among the plurality of tab icons 521, 522 included in the content page 500, the second tab icon 522 may be configured to be associated with a control command for providing a list of a plurality of episodes constituting the content in at least one area 520 of the content page 500.

[0098] The control unit 130 can control such that any one of a plurality of tab icons 521 and 522 included in the content page 500 is activated according to whether there is a browsing history in the content for the user account.

[0099] For this purpose, when the control unit 130 receives a selection signal for the content from the user terminal 200, it can refer to the history information 400 and check the content browsing history for the user account logged in to the user terminal 200.

[0100] The control unit 130 can control such that any one of a plurality of tab icons 521 and 522 included in the content page 500 is activated according to the confirmation result. Further, the control unit 130 can provide different information (preview content or list) regarding the content to the user terminal 200 depending on which of the tab icons 521 and 522 is activated.

[0101] For example, assume that a selection signal for a first work (e.g., "Sam’s Life") is received from the user terminal 200 logged in with the first user account U1. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 130 can confirm that there is no history of viewing the first work with the first user account U1.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 5A, based on the fact that there is no history of viewing the first work with the first user account U1, the control unit 130 can control such that the first tab icon 521 among the plurality of tab icons 521 and 522 included in the content page 500 is activated. Further, in conjunction with the activation of the first tab icon 521, the control unit 130 can control such that a preview area including the preview content 310 is provided in the display area 300 of the user terminal 200. That is, the control unit 130 can perform first data processing to control such that the preview content corresponding to the selection signal is provided in the preview area.

[0103] On the other hand, assume that a selection signal for a first work (e.g., "Sam’s Life") is received from a user terminal 200 logged in with a second user account U2. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 130 can confirm that there is a history of viewing the first work with the second user account U2.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 5B, based on the fact that there is a history of viewing the first work with the second user account U2, the control unit 130 can control the second tab icon 522 among the plurality of tab icons 521, 522 included in the content page 500 to be activated. Further, in conjunction with the activation of the second tab icon 522, the control unit 130 can perform second data processing to control a list of a plurality of episodes constituting the first work to be output to the display area 300 of the user terminal 200.

[0105] In this way, when the control unit 130 receives a selection signal for the content, it can perform different data processing to provide different information (preview content or list) regarding the content according to whether there is a viewing history of the content with the user account.

[0106] On the other hand, in response to receiving a selection signal for any one of the first tab icon 521 and the second tab icon 522 from the user terminal 200, the control unit 130 can control the selected tab icon to be activated.

[0107] When the second tab icon 522 is selected while the first tab icon 521 among the plurality of tab icons 521 and 522 is activated, the control unit 130 can control the second tab icon 522 to be activated. Further, in conjunction with the activation of the second tab icon 522, the control unit 130 can control the preview content 310 to disappear in the display area 300 of the user terminal 200 and an episode list for specific content to be output. In this case, based on the fact that there is no history of viewing the content in the user account, the control unit 130 can provide a graphic object (see reference numeral 530 in FIG. 5B) associated with the viewing request for the first episode among the plurality of episodes constituting the content.

[0108] When the graphic object 530 is selected from the user terminal 200, the control unit 130 can receive a viewing request for the first episode associated with the graphic object 530. In response to receiving the viewing request, the control unit 130 can use an episode viewer to provide the first episode corresponding to the viewing request to the user terminal 200.

[0109] Furthermore, when the first tab icon 521 is selected while the second tab icon 522 among the plurality of tab icons 521 and 522 is activated, the control unit 130 can control the preview content 310 to be output in the display area 300.

[0110] On the one hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the second tab icon 612 is activated, the control unit 130 outputs an episode list 621 on the display area 300 based on the information of the latest episode (e.g., episode 100 "Episode 100"), and the recently viewed episode information in the user account (e.g., episode 96, "Episode 96"), and the next episode information of the recently viewed episode (e.g., episode 97, "Episode 97"). The control unit 130 can control the movement (or scroll anchor) of the list so that the episode list 621 is output. That is, the control unit 130 can rearrange the episode list 621 so that the information of the episodes serialized after a specific numbered episode viewed in the user account is included in the display area 300 among the plurality of episodes constituting the content.

[0111] Specifically, when the second tab icon 612 is activated in a user account with a browsing history for the content, the control unit 130 refers to the history information of the user account and controls the display unit of the user terminal 200 where the user account is logged in so that the list 621 for the plurality of episodes output on one area 620 of the content page 600 moves (or scrolls anchor) to the recently viewed episode of the user account.

[0112] Here, the activation of the second tab icon 612 can be understood as at least one of the cases where the control unit 130 is controlled to be activated based on a specific content browsing history of the user account, or when it is activated by a request (or selection) for activation of the second tab icon 612 by the user.

[0113] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, assume that the most recently viewed episode of the user account is Episode 96 (“Episode 96”). Based on the activation of the second tab icon 612 in the user account, the control unit 130 can control the list 621 for the plurality of episodes output on the second area 620 to move to Episode 96 (“Episode 96”), which is the most recently viewed episode of the user account.

[0114] Furthermore, the control unit 130 can control the display unit of the user terminal 200 where the user account is logged in so that the list 621 for the plurality of episodes is provided in sequence (e.g., in ascending or descending order) as information on the episodes serialized after the most recently viewed episode of the user account.

[0115] At this time, even if a scroll input is performed on the second area 620 including the list 621 for the plurality of episodes, the control unit 130 can control the display unit of the user terminal 200 so that the plurality of tab icons 611 and 612 displayed on the first area 610 are provided in a fixed state.

[0116] That is, when the control unit 130 receives a selection signal from a user account with a content viewing history, based on the received selection signal, the control unit 130 can perform second data processing to control the display unit of the user terminal 200 so that a list for the plurality of episodes constituting specific content is provided in one area of the content page.

[0117] In this way, the control unit 130 can provide a user interface that enables the user to easily access new content and continuously use the content by performing different data processing according to the content viewing history existing for each of the plurality of user accounts.

[0118] On the one hand, the method of providing preview content in the present invention can be various. In the present invention, a user interface capable of searching for preview content of a plurality of contents provided by a content providing service can be provided.

[0119] For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the control unit 130 can provide content information (for example, thumbnail, content title, author name, etc.) of at least one content provided by the content providing service on the service pages 700 and 800. The control unit 130 can receive a selection signal for the content in response to the selection of the content information corresponding to the content. The control unit 130 can control so that preview content of the content is output to the display area 300 of the user terminal 200 in response to the selection signal for the content. In this case, the control unit 130 can confirm whether there is a history of viewing the content with the user account logged in to the user terminal 200, and provide a list of preview content or episodes of specific content.

[0120] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9A, the control unit 130 can provide a plurality of thumbnail objects 921, 931, 941, 951 and preview content 922 corresponding to the thumbnail objects to the display area 300 together. The control unit 130 can control the display area of the user terminal 200 to be composed of a preview area (or first area) 910 where preview content is provided and a thumbnail area (or second area) 920 including thumbnails for the content.

[0121] The thumbnail area 920 may include a plurality of thumbnail objects 921, 931, 941, 951 corresponding to respective different contents.

[0122] When a specific thumbnail object corresponding to specific content among the plurality of thumbnail objects 921, 931, 941, and 951 is selected, the control unit 130 can perform data processing to control the display unit of the user terminal 200 so that preview content of the selected specific content is provided in the preview area 910 of the display area 900 of the user terminal 200.

[0123] For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the first thumbnail object 921 corresponding to the first content is selected among the plurality of thumbnail objects 921, 931, 941, and 951 in the thumbnail area 920, the control unit 130 can control the display unit of the user terminal 200 so that the first preview content 922 for the first content is provided.

[0124] Of the display area 900 of the user terminal 200, the preview area 910 where the first preview content 922 is output may be configured to be scrolled on the display area 900 of the user terminal 200 so that the output range of the previously output first preview content 922 is changed according to a user input received from the user terminal 200.

[0125] That is, the control unit 130 can control the display unit of the user terminal 200 so that the first preview content 922 output in the preview area 910 is scrolled (or moved) up and down (or left and right) in response to a scroll input (or request) for the preview area 910 received from the user terminal 200.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 9A, when the control unit 130 outputs a part of the last cut image 923 of the first preview content 922 onto the preview area 910 in response to a scroll input in a specific direction (vertical or horizontal), and determines that the output range corresponds to a preset range, the control unit 130 can control the display unit of the user terminal 200 so as to provide a graphic object 925 related to the viewing of specific content.

[0127] On the other hand, when the control unit 130 receives a touch input request in a preset direction for the preview area 910 from the user terminal 200, the control unit 130 can control the display unit of the user terminal 200 so as to provide preview content of content different from the first preview content 922 output to the preview area 910.

[0128] For example, as shown in FIG. 9B, the control unit 130 can perform data processing to control the display unit of the user terminal 200 so as to provide second preview content 932 for a second content different from the first preview content 922 output to the preview area 910 in response to a touch input (or swipe) in a preset direction (left or right) for the preview area 910 received from the user terminal 200.

[0129] In this case, it is obvious that changing to other preview content can also be performed by a touch input in a preset direction (left or right) for the thumbnail area 920, or by selecting a thumbnail object for which a change is desired in the thumbnail area 920.

[0130] Furthermore, thumbnail objects of the preview content provided in the preview area 910 may be prominently displayed in the thumbnail area 920.

[0131] For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, assume that first preview content 922 for first content is provided in preview area 910. Control unit 130 can control the display unit of user terminal 200 so that thumbnail object 921 for the first preview content 922 provided in preview area 910 is highlighted and displayed. At this time, when preview content of other content is provided in preview area 910, the thumbnail object highlighted in thumbnail area 920 can be changed to a thumbnail object of the other content.

[0132] For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, in a state where first preview content 922 for first content is provided in preview area 910, in response to being changed to second preview content 932 for second content different from the first preview content 922 by a user input, control unit 130 can control the display unit of user terminal 200 so that the first thumbnail object 921 highlighted in thumbnail area 920 is changed to the second thumbnail object 931 of the changed second preview content 932.

[0133] As discussed above, the content providing method and system according to the present invention can provide preview content of specific content in a preset preview area corresponding to at least a part of the display area. The user can preliminarily confirm specific content through the preview content, and can easily determine the content to be used through the preliminarily confirmed content preview. Thereby, the user can more easily access new content.

[0134] Furthermore, the content providing method and system according to the present invention can change the output range of the preview content output in the preview area in response to receiving a scroll request for the preview area. The user can conveniently use the preview content with only a simple operation.

[0135] Furthermore, the content providing method and system according to the present invention can provide a graphic object related to the viewing of specific content in the preview area in response to the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range. Thereby, the user can conveniently obtain information about new content without performing another operation such as searching, and can easily use the content of interest. Furthermore, the user can continuously use the content following the preview content. Furthermore, the content provider can effectively induce the user to use the content, and can prevent the user from leaving by ensuring the user's continuous use of the content.

[0136] Note that each step of the content providing method according to the present invention can be performed, for example, by the control unit of the content providing system described above.

[0137] On the other hand, the present invention described above can be embodied as a program executed by one or more processors in a computer and storable in a computer-readable medium (or recording medium) such as this.

[0138] Furthermore, the present invention considered above can be embodied as computer-readable code or instruction words in a medium on which a program is recorded. That is, the present invention can be provided in the form of a program.

[0139] On the one hand, a computer-readable medium includes all types of recording devices in which data readable by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable media include HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Disk), SDD (Silicon Disk Drive), ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage devices, and the like.

[0140] Furthermore, the computer-readable medium may include storage and may be a server or cloud storage that can be accessed by an electronic device through communication. In this case, the computer can download the program according to the present invention from the server or cloud storage through wired or wireless communication.

[0141] Furthermore, in the present invention, the computer is an electronic device equipped with a processor, that is, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and its type is not particularly limited.

[0142] On the other hand, the above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in all respects and should be considered exemplary. The scope of the present invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for providing content to a user terminal including a display area, comprising: by the control unit of the content providing system, providing preview content of the content to a preset preview area corresponding to at least a part of the display area; changing an output range of the preview content output to the preview area in response to receiving a scroll request in the preview area; providing a graphic object related to viewing of the content to the preview area in response to the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range.

2. The content is composed of a plurality of episodes, The graphic object is linked to a specific numbered episode among the plurality of episodes, according to the content providing method described in claim 1.

3. When the graphic object is selected from the user terminal, The selection is processed as a viewing request for the specific numbered episode by the control unit, according to the content providing method described in claim 2.

4. The method further includes, by the control unit, providing the specific numbered episode to the user terminal in response to the viewing request, according to the content providing method described in claim 3.

5. In the step of providing the specific numbered episode, controlling the user terminal to execute an episode viewer for providing the specific numbered episode based on the viewing request, providing a viewer screen of the episode viewer to the display area, according to the content providing method described in claim 4.

6. At least a part of the preview content output in the preview area before execution of the episode viewer is continuously provided on the viewer screen, according to the content providing method described in claim 5.

7. When the episode viewer is executed, a lower part of the preview content is included in an initial screen of the viewer screen. When a scroll request is input to the user terminal in a state where the lower part of the preview content is displayed on the viewer screen, the episode with the specific number is provided to the user terminal following the lower part of the preview content. The content providing method according to claim 6, characterized in that.

8. The preview content is the content included in the episode with the specific number, On the viewer screen, in the episode with the specific number, a cut image including the lower part of the preview content and a cut image arranged next to the cut image are provided. The content providing method according to claim 7, characterized in that.

9. When the episode viewer is executed, on the initial screen of the viewer screen, at least a part of the preview content output in the preview area before the execution of the episode viewer and the episode with the specific number are displayed together, In response to a scroll input to the user terminal, at least a part of the preview content disappears from the viewer screen. The content providing method according to claim 6, characterized in that.

10. In a region corresponding to a preset ratio of the initial screen, the lower part of the preview content is included. The content providing method according to claim 7, characterized in that.

11. The episode with the specific number is composed of a plurality of cut images, The preview content is composed of some of the plurality of cut images, On the viewer screen, Among the partial cut images of the preview content, cut images included in the episode with the specific number are provided following the last cut image. The content providing method according to claim 6, characterized in that.

12. In the step of providing the episode with the specific number, At least a part of the cut images constituting the preview content and at least a part of the cut images constituting the episode with the specific number are provided together. The content providing method according to claim 4, characterized in that.

13. Each of the preview content and the episode with the specific number is composed of a plurality of cut images, The cut images provided together in response to the viewing request are the last cut image among the plurality of cut images of the preview content and the first cut image among the plurality of cut images of the episode with the specific number. The content providing method according to claim 12, characterized in that.

14. The episode with the specific number is the first episode among the plurality of episodes constituting the content. The content providing method according to claim 2, characterized in that.

15. By the control unit, Receiving a selection signal regarding the content from the user terminal; Based on the selection signal, checking whether there is a history of viewing the content in the user account logged in to the user terminal; According to the result of the check, further including the step of providing different information regarding the content to the user terminal. The preview content is provided to the user terminal according to the selection signal when there is no history of viewing the content in the user account. The content providing method according to claim 1, characterized in that.

16. If, as a result of the check, there is a history of viewing the content in the user account, a list of a plurality of episodes constituting the content is provided to the user terminal. The content providing method according to claim 15, characterized in that.

17. The list is arranged so as to include information on the episodes serialized after the episodes viewed in the user account among the plurality of episodes. The content providing method according to claim 16, characterized in that.

18. When a selection signal regarding the content is received, a content page for providing information regarding the content is provided to the user terminal. The content page A plurality of tab icons for switching to different information display areas are displayed. Among the plurality of tab icons, the first tab icon Is associated with a control command for providing the preview area to at least a part of the content page. Among the plurality of tab icons, the second tab icon The content providing method according to claim 16, characterized in that it is associated with a control instruction for providing the list to at least a part of the content page.

19. In the step of providing the different information, As a result of the confirmation, if there is no history of viewing the content in the user account, the first tab icon is activated, and the preview area is provided in at least a part of the content page, The content providing method according to claim 18, characterized in that as a result of the confirmation, if there is a history of viewing the content in the user account, the second tab icon is activated, and the list is provided in at least a part of the content page.

20. The display area further includes a thumbnail area, The thumbnail area includes thumbnail objects corresponding to different contents, The content providing method according to claim 1, characterized in that when a specific thumbnail object corresponding to the content is selected among the thumbnail objects, preview content of the content is provided in the preview area.

21. The content providing method according to claim 20, characterized in that in response to receiving a request for a touch input in a preset direction to the preview area from the user terminal, preview content of a content different from the content is provided in the preview area.

22. In the thumbnail area, the thumbnail object of the preview content provided in the preview area is highlighted and displayed, The content providing method according to claim 21, characterized in that when preview content of the content arranged next is provided in the preview area, the thumbnail object highlighted in the thumbnail area is changed to the thumbnail object of the content arranged next.

23. A system for providing content to a user terminal including a display area, including a control unit that provides preview content of the content in a preset preview area corresponding to at least a part of the display area, The control unit is In response to receiving a scroll request in the preview area, change the output range of the preview content output in the preview area, A content providing system, characterized in that, in response to the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range, a graphic object related to viewing of the content is provided in the preview area.

24. A program executed by one or more processors in a computer, causing the computer to provide preview content of the content in a preset preview area corresponding to at least a part of the display area; change the output range of the preview content output in the preview area in response to receiving a scroll request in the preview area; and include instructions for causing the preview area to provide a graphic object related to viewing of the content in response to the output range of the preview content corresponding to a preset range.

Images