An apparatus and method for restricting the display of messages in a messenger service.

Abstract

To provide an apparatus and a method for restricting message display in a messenger service.SOLUTION: A method of displaying a message on a messenger service by a user terminal includes the steps of receiving a message from a server by the user terminal, receiving a hidden command for the message from the server when text information extracted from the message satisfies a preset condition, and displaying a hidden message corresponding to the message in a chat room of the messenger service on the basis of the hidden command.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a messenger service, and more particularly to a technique for restricting and displaying messages submitted by a user in a messenger service. [Background technology]

[0002] As the use of the Internet has become widespread and wireless communication technology has developed, the age group using the Internet has expanded to include children, and various means have emerged for freely expressing thoughts and opinions. In particular, as wireless terminals such as smartphones have become commonplace, messenger services that allow communication with various people without time or place restrictions have become widely available.

[0003] However, when some users send messages through these messenger services that contain harmful words such as abusive language or slang, there is a possibility that they may cause offense to the recipient, but no appropriate measures have been taken to restrict this.To solve this, there is a proposal for the messenger service server to store, filter or manage all messages on the server, but this not only poses resource and security issues, but also creates problems such as delays, which cause inconvenience to users who expect real-time message transmission.

[0004] Therefore, there is an increasing demand for an effective method that can solve the above-mentioned problems and limit the display of harmful words. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2022-0065531 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention aims to improve the satisfaction of users of a messenger service by restricting the display of messages containing harmful words.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to improve the satisfaction of service users by controlling the delay time that may occur when restricting the display of messages containing harmful words in a messenger service to a certain level or less. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A method for displaying a message in a messenger service by a user terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of receiving the message from a server, receiving a hiding command for the message from the server if text information extracted from the message satisfies a preset condition, and displaying a hidden message corresponding to the message in a chat room of the messenger service based on the hiding command.

[0009] The method may further include a step of displaying the message in the chat room, which is performed before the step of receiving the hidden command, and in the step of displaying the hidden message, the hidden message may be displayed in place of the message.

[0010] The method further includes the steps of: displaying a push message corresponding to the message; and displaying the push message in place of a hidden push message corresponding to the hidden message based on the hidden command.

[0011] The method also includes a step of receiving a reply message subordinate to the message from the server (wherein the reply message is generated by another user terminal), which is performed after the step of displaying the hidden message, and a step of displaying the reply message together with the message.

[0012] The method further includes the steps of: acquiring a display interaction for the hidden message; and substituting the hidden message for the message and displaying it in response to the display interaction.

[0013] Also, the step of displaying the hidden message may be performed depending on whether the user terminal has approved a setting to display the hidden message in the messenger service.

[0014] In addition, the step of displaying the hidden message includes a step of identifying restricted text in the text information that corresponds to the preset condition, and a step of displaying text in the message excluding the restricted text.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user terminal for displaying a message in a messenger service may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute instructions included in the memory, and the processor may be configured to execute each of the above steps. Specifically, the processor may be configured to execute the steps of receiving the message from a server, receiving a hiding command for the message from the server if text information extracted from the message satisfies a preset condition, and displaying a hidden message corresponding to the message in a chat room of the messenger service based on the hiding command.

[0016] A computer program according to an embodiment of the present invention may be stored on a medium to be combined with hardware to perform the above-described method.

[0017] A method for restricting display of a message in a messenger service by a server according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of receiving the message from a second user terminal, transmitting the message to a first user terminal, determining whether text information extracted from the message satisfies a preset condition, and transmitting a hidden command corresponding to the message to the first user terminal if the text information satisfies the preset condition.

[0018] Also, the step of transmitting the message may be performed when the text information satisfies the preset condition.

[0019] Also, the step of transmitting the message may be performed in response to receiving a request for message transmission from the first user terminal.

[0020] In addition, the step of determining whether the text information extracted from the message satisfies a preset condition may be performed based on whether a restriction setting for a chat room corresponding to the message is activated.

[0021] Also, determining whether the text information extracted from the message satisfies a preset condition includes determining whether the text information includes a preset keyword.

[0022] In addition, the step of determining whether the text information includes a preset keyword may include a step of determining restricted text that matches the preset keyword in the text information, and the hidden command may be a command to cause the second user terminal to display text in the message excluding the restricted text.

[0023] The method may further include a step of identifying whether a determination as to whether the text information satisfies the preset condition is completed within a critical time, and the step of transmitting the message may be performed if a determination is made that the text information satisfies the preset condition and / or if the determination has not been made by the critical time.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a server for restricting display of messages in a messenger service may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute instructions contained in the memory, and the processor may be configured to execute the steps of receiving the message from a second user terminal, transmitting the message to a first user terminal, and transmitting a hidden command corresponding to the message to the first user terminal if text information extracted from the message satisfies a preset condition. Effect of the Invention

[0025] The present invention has an advantage in that it can improve the satisfaction of service users by restricting the display of messages containing harmful words in a messenger service.

[0026] In addition, the present invention has an advantage in that it can improve the satisfaction of service users by controlling the delay time that may occur when restricting the display of messages containing harmful words in a messenger service to a certain level or less. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an example of a network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a first user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3]13 illustrates a first screen for inputting a message and a second screen for displaying a hidden message in a second user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 11 illustrates an example of a screen in which a first user terminal and a second user terminal display a message in a synchronization manner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 11 illustrates an example of a screen in which a first user terminal and a second user terminal display a message in an asynchronous manner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 13 illustrates an example of a screen in which a first user terminal displays a hidden message and an original message according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 13 illustrates another screen in which the first user terminal displays a hidden message and an original message according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 13 illustrates another screen in which a first user terminal displays a push message according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 13 illustrates an example of a screen when a first user terminal enters a chat room according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 4 is a flow chart of operations between devices in a synchronization manner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 4 is another flowchart of operations between devices in a synchronization scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 4 is a flowchart of operations between devices in an asynchronous manner according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 1 is a flowchart of operations between devices in a hybrid system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or similar components will be given the same reference numerals regardless of the drawing numbers, and duplicated descriptions thereof will be omitted. In addition, when a detailed description of related known technologies in describing the embodiments disclosed herein is determined to make the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein unclear, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] Terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the above components are not limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another component.

[0030] A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0031] In this application, the steps described may be performed in any order relative to the order listed, unless a specific causal relationship dictates that the steps be performed in the order listed.

[0032] In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" and the like are intended to specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof set forth in the specification, but should be understood as not precluding the presence or additional possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0033] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] The network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 may include a server 10, a first user terminal 20 and a second user terminal 30.

[0036] The server 10 is a device that provides a messenger service to user terminals. User terminals exemplified by a first user terminal 20 and a second user terminal 30 are devices that use the messenger service provided by the server 10.

[0037] The messenger service may be a service that allows multiple users to send or receive messages between each other through a platform provided by the server 10. Here, a message may be understood to include any transmittable data such as text, photos, videos, audio files, emoticons, etc.

[0038] The network is not limited by the communication method, and may include not only communication methods using a communication network (e.g., a mobile communication network, a wired Internet, a wireless Internet, and a broadcasting network) but also short-range wireless communication.

[0039] The server 10 may be embodied as a computer device or multiple computer devices that provide instructions, codes, files, contents, services, etc. The server 10 may be a server 10 that can communicate with a user terminal through a network and transmit and receive information.

[0040] The server 10 may include a processor 11 , a memory 12 and a communication unit 13 .

[0041] The processor 11 controls the overall operation of the memory and communication unit 13 and can provide a messenger service to the user terminal.

[0042] The memory 12 functions as a storage medium and can store a number of application programs run by the server 10, and data and instructions for the operation of the server 10. In one embodiment, the memory 12 can store an application related to a messenger service.

[0043] Such memory 12 may be provided as hardware in the form of various storage devices such as ROM, RAM, flash drive, hard drive, etc., and / or in the form of web storage.

[0044] The communication unit 13 can communicate with a user terminal via a network in a wired or wireless manner.

[0045] The server 10 of the present invention receives a message from a first user terminal 20, transmits the message to a second user terminal 30, extracts text information from the message, determines whether the text information satisfies a preset condition, and transmits a hidden command for the message to the second user terminal if the text information satisfies the preset condition.

[0046] Here, the message may be a message entered by the first user in a chat room of the messenger service through the first user terminal 20. The chat room to which the message is entered may be a chat room in which the first user and the second user participate. The message may include at least one piece of text information.

[0047] Here, the text information may be at least one character information acquired from an input device of the first user terminal. The text information may constitute at least a part of a message. For example, if a message includes a sentence and an emoticon, the text information of the message may be a sentence excluding the emoticon.

[0048] In addition, the text information may have at least one meaning in the message, either by itself or in combination, where the at least one meaning may include swear words, slang, and inappropriate expressions that may cause offense to the recipient (hereinafter, "restrictive expressions").

[0049] Here, the pre-set condition may be a condition for determining whether or not a restrictive expression is included in the text information. More specifically, the server 10 may determine whether or not a restrictive expression exists in the text information based on a pre-stored list of restrictive expressions or a matching algorithm for filtering restrictive expressions (hereinafter, "dictionary information"), etc. The server 10 may simply compare the dictionary information with the text information to determine whether or not there is a match, and / or may determine the similarity between the dictionary information and the text information based on a pre-defined similarity determination criterion. Depending on whether or not the similarity is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the server 10 may determine whether or not a restrictive expression is included in the text information.

[0050] Here, the hidden command may be a command to control a message generated by the first user terminal 20 to be converted into a hidden message and displayed in a chat room of the messenger service. Here, the hidden message may be another message in which a part or all of the message is not displayed. When the server 10 transmits the hidden command to the second user terminal 30, the second user terminal 30 may display a hidden message corresponding to the message in the chat room. If a message is already displayed in the chat room, the hidden message may be displayed in place of the already displayed message.

[0051] Here, the operation of the server 10 transmitting the message to the second user terminal 30 and the operation of determining whether the text information satisfies a preset condition may be performed in any order.

[0052] The first user terminal 20 is a terminal device that receives an original message or hidden command from the server 10 and obtains a display input from a user. The first user terminal 20 may include a communication unit 21, an input unit 22, an output unit 23, a memory 24 and a processor 25.

[0053] The communication unit 21 can communicate with the server 10 or other terminals in a wired or wireless manner.

[0054] The input unit 22 can receive various information through user operations and input actions, and can be a touch screen module, a keyboard, a mouse, a button, a camera, a stylus, a microphone, and the like.

[0055] The first user terminal 20 can receive an input of a user's interaction through the input unit 22. An interaction means that a user operates the input unit 22 to input information reflecting the user's selection or intention, etc., into the first user terminal 20. For example, an interaction can be a touch on a touch screen, a click on a mouse, typing on a keyboard, inputting a sound into a microphone, taking an image with a camera, recognizing the operation of a motion sensor, etc.

[0056] The output unit 23 can output various information. The output unit 23 can be a display device, a speaker, a vibration generating device, a tactile generating device, etc. In some cases, the output unit 23 can be a device (e.g., a Bluetooth earphone) that is connected to a user terminal via wired or wireless communication (e.g., short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth®) and receives and outputs a signal.

[0057] The memory 24 functions as a storage medium and can store a plurality of application programs run on the user terminal, and data and commands for the operation of the first user terminal 20. Such memory can be provided as hardware in the form of various storage devices such as ROM, RAM, flash drive, hard drive, etc., and / or in the form of web storage. In one embodiment, the memory 24 can store an application (hereinafter, "application") related to a messenger service.

[0058] The processor 25 controls the overall operations of the communication unit 21, the input unit 22, the output unit 23 and the memory 24 to execute applications.

[0059] The first user terminal 20 of the present invention receives a message from the server 10, and if text information extracted from the message satisfies a preset condition, receives a hidden command for the message from the server 10, and displays a hidden message corresponding to the message in a chat room of the messenger service based on the hidden command.

[0060] The second user terminal 30 is a terminal device corresponding to the second user in the present invention, and is the same or similar to the first user terminal 20. The second user is a user who participates in the same chat room as the first user. The second user terminal 30 may include a communication unit 31, an input unit 32, an output unit 33, a memory 34, and a processor 35. Each detailed component included in the second user terminal 30 performs substantially the same function as each detailed component included in the first user terminal 20. The second user terminal 30 can receive and display messages generated by the first user terminal 20 from the server 10.

[0061] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the operation of the first user terminal 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] 2 may be performed in any order except where a particular causal relationship requires that the steps be performed in the order listed, however, for ease of explanation, the following description will be made assuming that the steps are performed in the order listed.

[0063] In step S110, the first user terminal 20 receives a message from the server 10.

[0064] The message may be a message including text information entered by the second user in a chat room of the messenger service through the second user terminal 30. Here, the chat room may be a chat room in which the first user has participated. Hereinafter, the message may be referred to as an original message to distinguish it from a hidden message.

[0065] In step S120, the first user terminal 20 receives a hiding command for the message from the server 10 if the text information extracted from the message meets a preset condition.

[0066] The hiding command may be a control command for restricting the display of an original message. The hiding command may allow the first user terminal 20 to not display the original message from the beginning, but to display a hidden message for the original message, and / or to display the original message once and then replace it with the hidden message.

[0067] The operation of extracting text information from the original message or the operation of determining whether the extracted text information corresponds to a preset condition may be performed by the server 10. The order in which steps S110 and S120 are performed may vary depending on the embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] According to the first embodiment of the present invention, step S110 may be performed after the server 10 determines whether the text information corresponds to a preset condition in step S120. For example, if the text information of the message corresponds to the preset condition, the server 10 may transmit the message together with a hidden command to the first user terminal 20. Conversely, if the text information of the message does not correspond to the preset condition, the server 10 may transmit the message to the first user terminal 20 without transmitting the hidden command.

[0069] Therefore, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the first user terminal 20 can receive a message after determining whether the text information of the message satisfies a preset condition. Also, if the text information satisfies the preset condition, the hidden command can be received together. The first embodiment can be called a "synchronous method." A detailed description of the first embodiment will be provided below with reference to FIG. 10.

[0070] According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the operation of step S110 may be performed even before the server 10 determines in step S120 whether the text information corresponds to a preset condition.

[0071] For example, if the server 10 receives a message from the second user terminal 30, it can transmit the corresponding message to the first user terminal 20 regardless of whether step S120 is performed or completed. Then, if the text information included in the corresponding message satisfies a preset condition according to step S120, it can transmit a hidden command to the first user terminal 20.

[0072] Therefore, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the first user terminal 20 first displays a message received from the server 10 in a chat room of the messenger service, and then performs a subsequent operation of replacing the message with a hidden message in response to receiving a hidden command from the server 10. The second embodiment can be called an "asynchronous method." A detailed description of the second embodiment will be provided below with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0073] According to the third embodiment of the present invention, step S110 may be performed in response to obtaining an input for the hidden message displayed by the first user terminal 20 in step S130. More specifically, the first user terminal 20 may display the hidden message and not receive the original message from the server 10 in step S130, which will be described later. Thereafter, if a trigger condition for obtaining the original message is satisfied in the first user terminal 20, step S110 may be performed. The third embodiment may be applied only in the case of the "synchronous method". A detailed description of the third embodiment will be provided below with reference to FIG. 11.

[0074] In step S130, the first user terminal 20 displays a hidden message corresponding to the message in a chat room of the messenger service according to the hidden command.

[0075] The operation of displaying a hidden message corresponding to a message may be performed differently depending on whether the message has already been displayed in the chat room. In particular, if the message has already been displayed in the chat room, the operation of step S130 may include an operation of replacing the message with a hidden message and displaying it. If the message has not been displayed in the chat room from the beginning, the operation of step S130 may be performed as an operation of simply displaying a hidden message.

[0076] The case where the message is already displayed in the chat room means that the message has been transmitted to the terminal device of at least one user who has participated in the chat room, and may not mean that the message is simply displayed as “transmitting” on the screen of the first user terminal 20.

[0077] The hidden message may contain "restrictive expressions" that may cause discomfort to others, and may include explanatory text that indicates that the message is restricted from being displayed.

[0078] FIG. 3 illustrates a first screen 300a for inputting a message and a second screen 300b for displaying a hidden message in the second user terminal 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] The first screen 300a and the second screen 300b are screens for a chat room of the messenger service displayed on the second user terminal 30. The chat room may be a chat room in which the first user and the second user participate. Preferably, the chat room may be a public chat room that is managed by the creator of the corresponding chat room and in which multiple users can participate.

[0080] The second user can input a message 310 on the first screen 300a through the second user terminal 30. The message 310 can include at least one piece of text information. Referring to FIG. 3, the text information included in the message 310 inputted on the first screen 300a can include a restrictive expression ("damn"). When the second user inputs a message to a chat room through the second user terminal 30 and transmits it to the server 10, the server 10 can determine whether the text information included in the input message satisfies a preset condition. In more detail, the server 10 can determine whether a restrictive expression exists in the text information included in the message 310. For example, the server 10 can identify "damn" corresponding to a hidden command in at least one piece of text information included in the message 310.

[0081] If the server 10 determines that the text information included in the message 310 satisfies a preset condition, the server 10 may provide a hidden command to replace the message 310 with a hidden message 330 and display it. Here, the hidden command provided by the server 10 may be transmitted to the user terminals of all users included in the chat room. For example, the server 10 may transmit the hidden command to the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 3, the second user terminal 30 can display a hidden message 330 in a chat room based on a hidden command provided by the server 10.

[0083] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a screen on which the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 display a message in a synchronous manner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 4, after the second user inputs a message, the second user terminal 30 may display a 2-1 screen 410a and a 2-2 screen 410b, and the first user terminal 20 may display a 1-1 screen 430a and a 1-2 screen 430b.

[0085] The 2-1 screen 410a and the 1-1 screen 430a may be screens displayed at the same time on the second user terminal 30 and the first user terminal 10, respectively. Also, the 2-2 screen 410b and the 1-2 screen 430b may be screens displayed at the same time on the second user terminal 30 and the first user terminal 10, respectively.

[0086] According to the above-mentioned synchronization method, the server 10 can refrain from transmitting the message to another user terminal until it is determined whether the text information included in the message transmitted by the second user terminal 30 satisfies a preset condition (hereinafter, "filtering operation"). Here, the other user terminal can be a terminal device of a user who has participated in the chat room where the message was input, but is not the second user.

[0087] Before the server 10 completes the filtering operation, the message input by the second user terminal 30 has not been transmitted to the first user terminal 20, so the corresponding message may not be displayed on the 1-1 screen 430a of the first user terminal 20. Also, at the same time, an icon (e.g., a paper airplane) indicating that transmission of the corresponding message 411 has not been completed may be displayed together with the message on the 2-1 screen 410a of the second user terminal 30.

[0088] Thereafter, when the filtering operation of the server 10 is completed and the text information included in the corresponding message satisfies a preset condition, the server 10 can transmit a hidden command to the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30. Also, the server 10 can transmit the original message together with the hidden command to the first user terminal 20.

[0089] Conversely, if the text information included in the corresponding message does not satisfy the preset condition after the filtering operation of the server 10, the server 10 may transmit the original message to the first user terminal 20.

[0090] 4, the server 10 can transmit a hidden command to the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 through a filtering operation, and the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 can display hidden messages 433, 413 on the 1-2 screen 430b and the 2-2 screen 410b based on the hidden command. The hidden message 413 on the 2-2 screen 410b can be displayed in a form replacing the message 411 on the 2-1 screen 410a.

[0091] In this way, in the case of the synchronous method, the first user terminal 20 can not display the original message unless the first user chooses to display it, even if the first user knows that the original message contains a restrictive expression that the first user finds unpleasant.

[0092] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a screen on which the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 display a message in an asynchronous manner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 5, after a second user inputs a message, a 2-1 screen 510a and a 2-2 screen 510b may be displayed on the second user terminal, and a 1-1 screen 530a and a 1-2 screen 530b may be displayed on the first user terminal.

[0094] The 2-1 screen 510a and the 1-1 screen 530a may be screens displayed at the same time on the second user terminal 30 and the first user terminal 10, respectively. Also, the 2-2 screen 510b and the 1-2 screen 530b may be screens displayed at the same time on the second user terminal 30 and the first user terminal 10, respectively.

[0095] The asynchronous method allows the server 10 to transmit a message to other user terminals even before the server 10 has completed a filtering operation.

[0096] Even before the server 10 completes the filtering operation, the message entered by the second user terminal 30 is transmitted to the first user terminal, so that the corresponding messages 531, 511 can be displayed on the 1-1 screen 530a of the first user terminal 20 and the 2-1 screen 510a of the second user terminal 30.

[0097] Thereafter, the filtering operation of the server 10 is completed, and if the text information contained in the corresponding message satisfies a preset condition, the server 10 can transmit a hidden command to the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30.

[0098] 5, the server 10 can transmit a hidden command to the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 through a filtering operation, and the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 can display hidden messages 533, 513 on the 1-2 screen 530b and the 2-2 screen 510b based on the hidden command. Here, the operation of displaying the hidden message can be understood as an operation of replacing and displaying the original message conventionally displayed on the 2-1 screen 510b and the 2-2 screen 530b.

[0099] In this way, the asynchronous method can quickly transmit the original message, but even if the original message includes a restrictive expression, the original message can be temporarily exposed in the first user terminal 20.

[0100] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a screen on which the first user terminal 20 displays a hidden message and an original message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0101] If a message entered by a second user in a chat room satisfies a preset condition, the message may be replaced with a hidden message 610 and displayed on the screen of the first user terminal 20. The hidden message 610 may include a preset phrase instead of the text information included in the original message. For example, the explanatory phrase may be a phrase explaining that the original message contains inappropriate expressions and is being restricted from being displayed, or a guide for inputting information to display the original message.

[0102] The first user may provide an interaction related to the hidden message 610 to the first user terminal 20. In this case, the interaction may include touching the area where the hidden message 610 is displayed and / or inputting a specified short command.

[0103] In response to receiving the interaction, the first user terminal 20 can display the hidden message 610 instead of the original message 650. Specifically, the first user terminal 20 can display at least one item 630 to perform a preset action associated with the hidden message 610 according to the interaction.

[0104] In some cases, the original message 650 displayed by the first user's interaction may be replaced by a hidden message again when the information displayed in the chat room is refreshed. For example, when the first user closes the chat room and returns to the chat room list, and then calls up the chat room screen again, and / or when the screen in the chat room on which the original message is displayed is scrolled and the original message is no longer displayed on the screen, the original message displayed by the first user's interaction may be replaced by a hidden message again.

[0105] FIG. 7 illustrates another example of a screen in which the first user terminal 20 displays a hidden message and an original message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] If the text information included in the message entered by the second user (e.g., Steve) in the chat room satisfies a preset condition, the first user terminal 20 can display the hidden message 710 according to a hidden command from the server 10.

[0107] In order for the first user to check the original message corresponding to the hidden message 720, an interaction can be provided to the first user terminal 20 according to the embodiment of FIG.

[0108] Also, other users (e.g., Jenny) who have participated in the chat room can view the original message corresponding to the hidden message 710 through their own user terminals and enter a reply message corresponding to the original message. In this case, even if the first user does not provide an interaction, the first user terminal 20 can display the reply message 730 including the original message.

[0109] FIG. 8 illustrates another screen on which the first user terminal 20 displays a push message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0110] Referring to FIG. 8, the operation of the first user terminal 20 to display a push message may be performed in an asynchronous manner.

[0111] The push message may be a notification message displayed on the screen of the first user terminal 20 when the first user terminal 20 receives a new message in a state in which the chat room screen is not displayed on the first user terminal 20. The push message may include text information included in the message. The state in which the chat room screen is not displayed on the first user terminal 20 may include a state in which the first user terminal is in an idle mode, is not running an application related to a messenger service, and / or is not in a state in which the user has entered the corresponding chat room.

[0112] When the first user terminal 20 is not displaying the chat room screen, if a second user (e.g., Steve) enters a message in the corresponding chat room through the second user terminal 30, the entered message can be displayed on the first user terminal 20 as a push message.

[0113] For example, when the first user terminal is in lock mode and the second user enters a message including text information such as "Damn, I didn't bring an umbrella..." in the chat room, the message entered by the second user may be displayed as a push message 810 on the lock screen of the first user terminal 20. The first user can view the message entered by the second user through the push message 810 without entering the chat room.

[0114] The server 10 can transmit a message input by the second user to the first user terminal 20 (hereinafter, a "transmission operation") and determine whether the text information included in the message satisfies a preset condition (hereinafter, a "filtering operation"). In an asynchronous state, the server 10 can perform the transmission operation and the filtering operation independently.

[0115] When it is determined through the filtering operation that the text information included in the corresponding message satisfies a preset condition, the server 10 can transmit a hidden command to the first user terminal 20 .

[0116] In response to the hidden command, the first user terminal 20 may display a hidden push message 830 replacing the push message 810. The hidden push message 830 may correspond to a hidden message. The first user terminal 20 may display the hidden push message 830 and retrieve the push message 810 that has already been displayed.

[0117] Therefore, the first user terminal 20 displays the push message 810 only before it is collected, and after the push message 810 is collected, the hidden push message 830 is displayed instead of the push message 810.

[0118] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a screen when the first user terminal 20 enters a chat room according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0119] 9, a chat room may be a group chat room open to multiple users. A first user may determine a group chat room he or she wishes to join and enter the group chat room by providing a participation interaction to the first user terminal 20. For example, the first user may provide a participation interaction for a participation interface 910 on a chat room explanation screen 900a displayed on the first user terminal 20. In response to the first user's participation interaction, the first user terminal 20 may display a screen 930 requesting the first user's consent according to the restriction expression setting of the corresponding group chat room.

[0120] Here, the restricted expression setting may be a setting for displaying a message instead of a hidden message if the text information contained in the message displayed or scheduled to be displayed in the corresponding group chat room satisfies a preset condition.

[0121] Since the restricted expression setting is a setting for a group chat room, the restricted expression setting for the group chat room may be activated or deactivated based on the input of the creator of the group chat room or an external input. Referring to FIG 9, a screen 930 for requesting consent may be displayed when the restricted expression setting for the corresponding group chat room is activated.

[0122] The first user can enter the corresponding group chat room by providing an interaction with the "Agree and Join" interface on the consent-seeking screen 930.

[0123] When the first user joins a group chat room, messages acquired by the server 10 from the terminal devices of the participants in the group chat room can be displayed on the screen 900b of the group chat room after the first user joins. In addition, the first user terminal 20 can display an explanation for setting a restrictive expression on the screen 900b of the group chat room upon entering the group chat room. The explanation can be an explanation that informs the participants in the group chat room that if a restrictive expression is included in a message they have entered, it can be displayed instead of a hidden message.

[0124] 10 to 13 are flowcharts showing operations between devices constituting a network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operations between the devices can be performed differently according to a synchronous method, an asynchronous method, and a hybrid method.

[0125] The consent method may be a method in which the server 10 analyzes a message received from the first user terminal 20 and transmits information related to the message to the first user terminal 20 according to the analysis result.

[0126] The asynchronous method may be a method in which the server 10 transmits a message received from the second user terminal 30 to the second user terminal 30 without waiting for the analysis result, and then transmits subsequent information to the first user terminal 20 according to the analysis result.

[0127] The hybrid method may be a method in which the server 10 transmits the message received from the second user terminal 30 to the first user terminal 20 if the analysis result is not calculated within a predetermined critical time, and transmits information related to the message to the first user terminal 20 according to the analysis result if the analysis result is calculated within the predetermined critical time.

[0128] FIG. 10 is a flow chart of operations between devices in a synchronization method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0129] 10, the second user terminal 30 may transmit 1010 an original message to the server 10, and the server 10 may analyze 1020 the original message. The analysis operation of the server 10 may include an operation of determining whether text information included in the original message satisfies a preset condition.

[0130] If the server 10 determines that the text information of the original message meets the preset conditions according to the analysis operation, it transmits 1030 the original message and hidden command to the first user terminal 20, and if it determines that the corresponding conditions are not met, it can transmit the original message to the first user terminal (not shown).

[0131] The first user terminal 20 receives the original message, but does not display the original message, and can only display a hidden message corresponding to the original message based on the received hiding command (1040). After that, if the first user terminal 20 acquires a display input requesting display of the original message from the first user (1050), the first user terminal 20 can convert the hidden message into the original message (1060) and display it.

[0132] 10, in the case of the synchronous method, a time t11 may be required from the time when the second user terminal 30 transmits the original message k to the time when a message (e.g., a hidden message) related to the original message is displayed on the first user terminal 20. Here, t11 may be a time including the time required for the server 10 to analyze the original message.

[0133] Also, when the server 10 transmits (1030) not only the hidden command but also the original message to the first user terminal 20, the server can store the original message received from the second user terminal 30 for a time period p1.

[0134] FIG. 11 is another flowchart of operations between devices in a synchronization scheme according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0135] 11, the second user terminal 30 may transmit 1110 an original message to the server 10, and the server 10 may analyze 1120 the original message. The analysis operation of the server 10 may include an operation of determining whether text information included in the original message meets a preset condition.

[0136] If the server 10 determines that the text information of the original message satisfies a preset condition according to the analysis operation, it transmits 1030 a hidden command to the first user terminal 20. Here, unlike the description with reference to Fig. 10, the original message is not transmitted, but only the hidden command is transmitted. If it is determined that the corresponding condition is not satisfied, the original message can be transmitted to the first user terminal (not shown).

[0137] The first user terminal 20 can display (1140) a hidden message corresponding to the original message based on the received hidden command. Thereafter, if the first user terminal 20 acquires (1150) a display input requesting display of the original message from the first user, it can request (1160) the original message from the server 10.

[0138] Thereafter, if the server 10 responds to the request for the original message and transmits (1170) the original message to the first user terminal 20, the first user terminal 20 can convert (1180) the hidden message into the original message and display it.

[0139] 11, in the case of the synchronous method, a time of t12 may be required from the time when the second user terminal 30 transmits the original message to the time when a message (e.g., a hidden message) related to the original message is displayed on the first user terminal 20. Here, t12 may be a time including the time required for the server 10 to analyze the original message.

[0140] In addition, when the server 10 transmits only a hidden command without transmitting an original message to the first user terminal 20 (1130), the server 10 can store the original message received from the second user terminal 30 for a time of p2. In this case, the time for which the server 10 must store the original message may be longer in the synchronization method of FIG. 11 than in the synchronization method of FIG. 10 (p1 <p2)。

[0141] FIG. 12 is a flow chart for operations between devices in an asynchronous manner.

[0142] 12, the second user terminal 30 may transmit 1210 an original message to the server 10, and the server 10 may transmit 1220 the received original message to the first user terminal 20 for analysis. The server 10's transmission 1220 operation may be performed prior to or simultaneously with the analysis 1230 operation. The analysis operation may include an operation of determining whether text information included in the original message satisfies a preset condition.

[0143] The first user terminal 20 may display 1240 the received original message. Although Fig. 12 illustrates the first user terminal 200 displaying 1240 the original message after the server 10 parses 1230 the message, the first user terminal 20 may display 1240 the original message before the server 10 parses 1230 the message.

[0144] If the server 10 determines, according to the analysis operation, that the text information of the original message satisfies the preset conditions, it transmits 1250 a hidden command to the first user terminal 20, and if it determines that the preset conditions are not met, it can terminate the procedure or communicate to the first user terminal 20 the result that the preset conditions are not met.

[0145] The first user terminal 20 can convert (1260) the displayed original message into a hidden message and display it based on the hiding command received from the server 10. Thereafter, if the first user terminal 20 acquires (1270) a display input requesting display of the original message from the first user, it can convert (1280) the hidden message back into the original message and display it.

[0146] 12, in the asynchronous method, a time period t2 may be required from the time the second user terminal 30 transmits the original message to the time a message (e.g., the original message) related to the original message is displayed on the first user terminal 20. Here, t2 may be a time period unrelated to the time required for the server 10 to analyze the original message.

[0147] FIG. 13 is a flow chart of operations between devices in a hybrid system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0148] 13, the second user terminal 30 may transmit 1310 an original message to the server 10, and the server 10 may analyze 1330 the original message. The analysis operation of the server 10 may include an operation of determining whether text information included in the original message satisfies a preset condition.

[0149] If the server 10 determines through the analysis operation that the text information of the original message satisfies a preset condition (hereinafter, the "hidden condition"), it transmits the original message and the hidden command to the first user terminal 20, and if it determines that the original message does not satisfy the hidden condition, it can transmit the original message to the first user terminal (not shown).

[0150] Here, the operation of transmitting the original message and the hidden command to the first user terminal 20 may be performed together as described below and / or sequentially according to a predetermined criterion.

[0151] The server 10 may determine 1350 whether a result from analyzing the message is calculated within the critical time T. If the result is calculated within the critical time T and the original message satisfies the hiding condition, the server 10 may transmit 1351 the original message and the hiding command to the first user terminal 20.

[0152] The first user terminal 20 may not display the original message, but may display a hidden message corresponding to the original message based on the received hiding command (1353). Thereafter, if the first user terminal 20 receives a display input requesting display of the original message from the first user (1370), the first user terminal 20 may display (1390) the original message.

[0153] If the result calculation is not performed until the critical time T is reached, the server 10 transmits the original message to the first user terminal 20, and the first user terminal 20 can display (1354) the original message received from the server 10. Thereafter, if the original message satisfies the hiding condition according to the calculation result after the critical time T has elapsed, the server 10 transmits (1356) a hiding command for the original message to the first user terminal 20, and the first user terminal 20 can convert (1358) the displayed original message into a hidden message and display it based on the hiding command received from the server 10. Thereafter, if the first user terminal 20 acquires (1370) a display input requesting the display of the original message from the first user, it can convert (1390) the hidden message into the original message and display it.

[0154] The critical time T may be determined based on the delay time that a user of a chat room of a messenger service feels inconvenienced when using the chat room. According to the hybrid method, the server 10 first obtains information about the critical time that a user feels a delay, and if the message analysis operation is completed before the critical time, the server 10 follows the synchronous method, and if the message analysis operation is not completed until the critical time is reached, the server 10 follows the asynchronous method of preferentially transmitting the original message.

[0155] Therefore, by switching between the synchronous and asynchronous methods based on the critical time T, the hybrid method can mutually compensate for the problems of the asynchronous method, such as the temporary display of restrictive expressions that may cause discomfort to others, and the problems of the synchronous method, such as the inconvenience of use due to delay times.

[0156] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0157] The server 10 of FIG. 14 can operate in a hybrid manner, selectively performing a synchronous or asynchronous manner based on a critical time.

[0158] In step S210, the server 10 receives a message from the second user terminal 30.

[0159] The above step S210 should be understood as a step corresponding to step S110 in FIG.

[0160] In step S220, the server 10 extracts text information from the message, and analyzes whether the extracted text information satisfies a preset condition.

[0161] Here, the preset condition may be a condition for determining whether a restrictive expression is included in the text information. More specifically, the server 10 may determine whether a restrictive expression exists in the text information based on a list of restrictive expressions previously stored or a matching algorithm for filtering restrictive expressions (hereinafter, "dictionary information"), etc.

[0162] In step S230, the server 10 checks whether the message parsing operation of step S220 is completed within a critical time.

[0163] The critical time may be determined based on the delay time that causes inconvenience to users who use chat rooms of the messenger service. For example, if the critical time is T (sec), the server 10 may determine whether the result of message analysis is obtained within T (sec) after disclosing the message analysis. If the analysis result is not obtained even after T (sec) has elapsed after disclosing the message analysis, the server 10 may determine that the message analysis operation is not completed within the critical time. If the analysis result is obtained before T (sec) is reached after disclosing the message analysis, the server 10 may determine that the message analysis operation is completed within the critical time.

[0164] If the server 10 completes the message analysis within the critical time s, it performs the operation of step S250, otherwise it performs the operation of step S240.

[0165] In step S240, the server 10 transmits a message to the first user terminal 20. At this time, the transmitted message may be a message transmitted from the second user terminal 30 to the server 10. The first user terminal 20 may display the message received from the server 10.

[0166] The server 10 may obtain the analysis result of the message after transmitting the message to the first user terminal 20. When the server 10 obtains the analysis result of the message, the server 10 may perform step S241.

[0167] In step S241, the server 10 determines whether the text message included in the message satisfies a preset condition (hereinafter, "hidden condition") based on the message analysis result. If the message satisfies the hidden condition, the server 10 performs step S243, and if the message does not satisfy the hidden condition, the server 10 ends the procedure.

[0168] In step S 243 , the server 10 transmits a hidden command to the first user terminal 20 .

[0169] The first user terminal 20 can replace the displayed message with a hidden message based on the hidden command received from the server 10 .

[0170] In step S250, the server 10 judges whether the message satisfies the hidden condition according to the analysis result obtained within the critical time. If the message satisfies the hidden condition, the server 10 performs step S251, and if the message does not satisfy the hidden condition, the server 10 performs step S253.

[0171] In step S251, the server 10 may transmit a message and a hidden command to the first user terminal 20. The first user terminal 20 may display a hidden message corresponding to the message based on the received hidden command.

[0172] In step S253, the server 10 may transmit a message to the first user terminal 20. The first user terminal may display the received message.

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

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

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

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

Claims

1. A method for displaying a message in a messenger service by a user terminal, comprising: receiving the message from a server; displaying said message in a chat room of said messenger service; receiving a hidden command for the message from the server; displaying a hidden message corresponding to the message in the chat room based on the hidden command; the step of displaying the message in the chat room occurs before the step of receiving the hidden command; The hidden message is displayed in place of the message.

2. 10. The method of claim 1 , displaying a push message corresponding to the message; The method further includes a step of displaying the push message instead of a hidden push message corresponding to the hidden message based on the hidden command.

3. 10. The method of claim 1 , receiving a reply message from the server subsequent to the step of displaying the hidden message, the reply message being generated by another user terminal; and displaying the reply message together with the message.

4. A method for a user terminal to display a message in a messenger service, comprising: receiving the message from a server; receiving a hidden command for the message from the server; displaying a hidden message corresponding to the message in a chat room of the messenger service according to the hidden command; obtaining a display interaction for the hidden message; and displaying the hidden message in place of the message in response to the display interaction.

5. A method for a user terminal to display a message in a messenger service, comprising: receiving the message from a server; receiving a hidden command for the message from the server; displaying a hidden message corresponding to the message in a chat room of the messenger service based on the hidden command; The method, wherein the step of displaying the hidden message is performed depending on whether the user terminal has approved a setting to display the hidden message in the messenger service.

6. 10. The method of claim 1 , The step of displaying the hidden message includes: identifying restrictive text corresponding to a predefined condition in the text information extracted from the message; and displaying text of the message excluding the restricted text.

7. A user terminal that limits and displays messages in a messenger service, Memory, a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute instructions contained in the memory; A user terminal, wherein said processor is configured to execute the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A method for restricting display of messages in a messenger service by a server, comprising: receiving the message from a second user terminal; transmitting the message to a first user terminal; determining whether text information extracted from the message satisfies a predefined condition; If the text information satisfies the preset condition, transmitting a hidden command corresponding to the message to the first user terminal; determining whether the text information extracted from the message satisfies a preset condition is performed according to whether a restriction setting for a chat room corresponding to the message is activated; method.

9. A method for restricting display of messages in a messenger service by a server, comprising: receiving the message from a second user terminal; transmitting the message to a first user terminal; determining whether text information extracted from the message satisfies a predefined condition; transmitting a hidden command corresponding to the message to the first user terminal when the text information satisfies the preset condition; and identifying whether a determination as to whether the text information satisfies the preset condition is completed within a critical time; A method, wherein the step of transmitting the message occurs if a determination is made that the text information satisfies the pre-defined condition and / or if the determination has not been made by the critical time.

10. The method according to claim 8 or claim 9, The method, wherein the step of transmitting the message occurs if the text information satisfies the preset condition.

11. 11. The method of claim 10, The step of transmitting the message includes: The method is performed in response to obtaining a request to transmit a message from the first user terminal.

12. The method according to claim 8 or claim 9, The method, wherein determining whether the text information extracted from the message satisfies a predetermined condition includes determining whether the text information includes a predetermined keyword.

13. 13. The method of claim 12, determining whether the text information includes a predetermined keyword includes determining a restriction text that matches the predetermined keyword in the text information; The method, wherein the hidden instructions are instructions that cause the second user terminal to display text in the message excluding the restricted text.

Images