Method for providing content to users and user terminal

Abstract

To provide a method for providing contents for convenient and easy use of emoticons by a user.SOLUTION: A method for providing contents to a user includes the steps of: displaying, by a user terminal, a first list including a first content belonging to a first set and a second content belonging to a second set different from the first set in a first region on a chat room screen (S110); when input of a user's interaction with the first content is received, displaying, by the user terminal, a first interface for requesting contents in the first set (S120); and when input of a user's interaction with the first interface is received, displaying, by the user terminal, an icon of the first set on the screen, and displaying a second list including at least one content belonging to the first set in the first region (S130).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a user terminal for providing content to a user, and a method and a server for providing content to a user terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] Emoticons, commonly known as emojis, are a compound word of two words, emotion and icon, and are a unique expression language on the Internet that is created by appropriately combining letters, symbols, and numbers on a computer keyboard to express various emotions, specific characters, occupations, etc.

[0003] Recently, with the development of technology, it has become easy to use messages (MMS, Multimedia Message Service) including high-resolution images on mobile devices, and the types of messaging applications that run on mobile devices have become more diverse. As a result, it has become possible to use animated emoticons that can output the image of a specific character or show the dynamic appearance of the character for a certain period of time, moving away from the traditional emoticons that use special characters.

[0004] However, in the conventional method of using emoticons, when a user does not own an emoticon but wishes to use an emoticon, the user generally downloads the emoticon.

[0005] In such a case, in order to use a desired emoticon that a user does not own in a chat room, the user can access a store that sells emoticons, select the desired emoticon set, download the selected emoticon set, and then select the desired emoticon from the list of downloaded emoticon sets to use.

[0006] As described above, the conventional method of using emoticons requires a user to go through a long process of connecting to a store, downloading, and selecting an emoticon, which makes the user's use of emoticons inconvenient and cumbersome. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a method and a user terminal for providing content to a user, and a method and a server for providing content to a user terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A method for providing content to a user according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a step of a user terminal displaying a first list including a first content belonging to a first set and a second content belonging to a second set different from the first set in a first area of ​​a chat room screen, a step of displaying a first interface requesting the first set of content when the user terminal receives a user interaction input on the first content, and a step of displaying icons of the first set on the screen and displaying a second list including at least one content belonging to the first set in the first area when the user terminal receives a user interaction input on the first interface.

[0009] In the step of displaying the first interface, the user terminal may display a preview content of the first content in a preview area on the screen, and display the first interface in the preview area.

[0010] The first set of icons may be displayed while the user terminal remains in the chat room.

[0011] When the user terminal re-enters the chat room after being released from the chat room, the first set of icons may not be displayed.

[0012] The first interface may have an image of the same character as the first set of icons.

[0013] The first set of icons is displayed in a second area different from the first area in the screen, the second area including a function tab area and a fixed tab area, the function tab area displays function icons providing at least one function of content search, recommendation search, and bookmarks, and the fixed tab area displays fixed icons providing a content set designated by the user, and the fixed icons remain displayed even when the user reconnects to the chat room after terminating a connection with the chat room, and in the step of displaying the first set of icons, the first set of icons may be located between the function tab area and the fixed tab area.

[0014] The first set of icons may include images distinct from the fixed icons.

[0015] In the step of displaying the first set of icons, when the first set of icons is displayed, the fixed icons may move in an opposite direction to the first set of icons, and then the first set of icons may be displayed between the functional icons and the fixed icons.

[0016] In the step of displaying the second list, the user terminal displays a second interface for a request to download the second list, and when the user terminal receives an input of a user's interaction with the second interface, the first set of icons is displayed as fixed icons, and the fixed icons can be maintained in display even if the user reconnects to the chat room after terminating the connection with the chat room.

[0017] The present invention may also include a computer program stored on a medium for performing the method of providing content to a user as described above in combination with hardware.

[0018] In addition, a user terminal for providing content to a user according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a memory, a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute instructions included in the memory, an input unit for receiving input of information under the control of the processor, and an output unit for outputting information under the control of the processor, The processor controls the output unit to display a first list including a first content belonging to a first set and a second content belonging to a second set different from the first set in a first area on a chat room screen, controls the output unit to display a first interface requesting the first set of content when a user's interaction with the first content is received through the input unit, and controls the output unit to display a first set of icons on the chat room screen and display a second list including at least one content belonging to the first set in the first area when a user's interaction with the first interface is received through the input unit.

[0019] Also, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing content to a user includes a step of a server providing, to a user terminal, information on a first list including a first content belonging to a first set and a second content belonging to a second set different from the first set, a step of the server receiving user selection information for the first content from the user terminal, and a step of the server providing, to the user terminal, information on a second list including at least one content belonging to the first set.

[0020] In the step of providing information about the first list, the server may provide at least one of thumbnail information, preview information, and icon information for each of the first content and the second content included in the first list to the user terminal.

[0021] In the step of providing information about the second list, the server may provide at least one of thumbnail information and preview information for each of at least one content belonging to the first set to the user terminal.

[0022] Also, according to one example of the present invention, a server providing content to a user terminal includes a memory and a processor connected to the memory and configured to execute instructions included in the memory, wherein the processor controls the user terminal to provide information about a first list including a first content belonging to a first set and a second content belonging to a second set different from the first set, controls the user terminal to receive user selection information about the first content from the user terminal, and controls the user terminal to provide information about a second list including at least one content belonging to the first set. Effect of the Invention

[0023] In the present invention, when a first list including a first content of a first set and a second content of a second set having different characters is displayed on a user's terminal, an icon of the first set to which the content desired by the user belongs in the first list is displayed in a second area, and the content belonging to the first set is displayed on the user's terminal in the second list, thereby allowing the user to use the desired content more conveniently without a separate download. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an example of a network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of a user terminal in one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method in which a user terminal provides content to a user according to an example of the present invention. [Figure 4-8] FIG. 4 is a diagram for more specifically explaining each step shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a server in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method in which a server provides content to a user terminal according to an example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the description of the present invention, if it is determined that adding a specific description of a technology or configuration already known in the relevant field may make the gist of the present invention unclear, such a description will be omitted in the detailed description. In addition, the terms used in this specification are terms used to appropriately express one embodiment of the present invention, and may differ depending on the person or practice related to the relevant field. Therefore, the definition of the terms should be based on the overall content of this specification.

[0026] The terminology used herein is merely for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0027] The meaning of "comprising" as used in the specification is to embody certain features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components and does not exclude the presence or addition of other specific features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or groups.

[0028] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] The network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

[0031] The network is not limited in the communication method, and can include not only communication methods that utilize communication networks that the network can include (for example, mobile communication networks, wired Internet, wireless Internet, and broadcasting networks), but also short-range wireless communication.

[0032] The user terminal 100 may be a fixed terminal implemented as a computer device or a mobile terminal. For example, the user terminal 100 may include a smart phone, a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a computer, a notebook computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), etc. For example, the user terminal 100 may communicate with the server 200 through a network using a wireless or wired communication method.

[0033] In this manner, the user terminal 100 can be used by a user. A user may be a user of the user terminal 100, but may also mean an account registered as a user in the instant messaging service provided by the server 200. Therefore, the meaning of the server 200 transmitting any information to a user may mean transmitting the information to the user terminal 100 through the user's account registered in the server 200.

[0034] The user terminal 100 may receive an input of a user's interaction. An interaction means that a user operates an input means to input information reflecting the user's selection or intention to the user terminal 100. Here, the input means may be provided in the user terminal 100 or connected to the user terminal 100. For example, the input means may be a touch screen module, a keyboard, a mouse, a button, a camera, a microphone, etc.

[0035] The user terminal 100 may provide a first list including a plurality of contents on a screen. Specifically, the user terminal 100 may display the first list in a first area on a screen of a chat room.

[0036] For example, the content may be an emoticon for a character, a sticker, an image, etc. The user terminal 100 receives an interaction input from a user in which the user selects one of the contents in the first list.

[0037] Based on the input interaction, the user terminal 100 can display an icon of the set to which the selected content belongs in the second area and display a second list including the content belonging to the corresponding set.

[0038] The above-mentioned first and second regions will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

[0039] Here, a set refers to a collection of one or more pieces of content. A set may include multiple pieces of content that have a common characteristic. For example, a set may include multiple pieces of content related to the same character, multiple pieces of content related to characters that are related to each other, or multiple pieces of content that share a visual concept.

[0040] Furthermore, a list refers to a collection of one or more contents that are constantly stored simultaneously in the user terminal 100. One list may include contents belonging to one set, or may include contents belonging to two or more different sets. For example, the above-mentioned first list may include contents belonging to two or more different sets, and the above-mentioned second list may include contents belonging to one set.

[0041] Thus, the operation of the user terminal 100 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

[0042] The server 200 may be embodied as a computer device or multiple computer devices that communicate with the user terminal 100 via a network and provide instructions, code, files, content, services, and the like.

[0043] The server 200 can provide content to the user terminal 100. Specifically, the server can provide information on a first list including a plurality of contents to the user terminal 100 through a chat room.

[0044] Here, the information on the list may include at least one of thumbnail information, preview information, and icon information for each content included in the list. The user terminal 100 may display the content in a first area using the thumbnail information, may display the content in a preview area using the preview information, and may display the content in a second area using the icon information.

[0045] When the server 200 receives the user selection information from the user terminal 100, the server 200 can provide information on the second list including the content according to the selection information to the user terminal 100. A detailed description of the operation of the server 200 will be given later with reference to FIG.

[0046] The server 200 can provide an instant message service to the user terminal 100. The instant message service can refer to a real-time online service in which multiple users can instantly exchange messages through a chat room in real time over a network without using an email program or a web browser.

[0047] 1, an example has been described in which the server 200 provides content together with an instant message to the user terminal 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the instant message may be provided to the user terminal 100 via a separate server, and the server 200 of the present invention may provide content to the user terminal 100.

[0048] In the following, an example will be described in which the server 200 of the present invention provides content together with an instant message.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the user terminal 100 in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 2, the user terminal 100 according to the embodiment may include a communication module 110, a processor 120, a memory 130, an output unit 140, and an input unit 150.

[0051] The communication module 110 may communicate with the server 200 in a wired or wireless manner. In one example, the communication module 110 may transmit or receive various information, data, or signals related to providing instant messaging services and content.

[0052] The input unit 150 may receive various information required for providing instant messaging services and contents from a user, and may be a touch screen module, a keyboard, a mouse, a button, a camera, a microphone, or the like.

[0053] The output unit 140 may output information required in relation to the instant messaging service and the provision of content. The output unit 140 may display a chat room screen related to the provision of content, a first list, a second list including the content, and an icon of a set to which the content belongs.

[0054] The output unit 140 may implement a touch screen by forming a mutual layer structure or being integrally formed with the input unit 150. The touch screen may provide an input interface and an output interface between the user terminal 100 and a user.

[0055] The memory 130 functions as a storage medium and can store a plurality of application programs or applications run by the user terminal 100, as well as data and commands for the operation of the user terminal 100.

[0056] In one embodiment, the memory 130 may store information necessary for providing instant messaging services and content in the form of a computer program.

[0057] Such memory 130 may be provided in the form of various storage devices such as ROM, RAM, EPROM, flash drive, hard drive, etc. in terms of hardware, or in the form of web storage that performs the storage function of memory 130 over the Internet.

[0058] The processor 120 may control the overall operation and execute applications associated with providing instant messaging services and content.

[0059] In one example, the processor 120 may execute applications related to providing content and perform the operation method of the user terminal 100 illustrated in FIG.

[0060] A method for providing content to the user terminal 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0061] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method in which a user terminal provides content to a user according to an example of the present invention, and FIG. 4 to FIG. 8 are diagrams for explaining each step shown in FIG. 3 in more detail.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 3, the method for providing content in a user terminal may include a step S110 of displaying a first list, a step S120 of displaying a first interface, and a step S130 of displaying a second list.

[0063] The above steps (S110, S120, S130) may be performed in the order shown in the drawings. However, in some cases, the order in which the steps are performed may be changed unless there is a particular causal relationship between the steps.

[0064] Hereinafter, the step S110 of displaying the first list will be described with reference to Figure 4 together with Figure 3. The step S120 of displaying the first interface will be described with reference to Figure 5 together with Figure 3. The step S130 of displaying the second list will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 together with Figure 3.

[0065] Before explaining how to provide content to a user terminal, an example of a chat room screen configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 4, the chat room screen displayed on the user terminal 100 may include a dialogue window area A1, an input window area A2, a second area A3, and a first area A4.

[0067] The dialogue window area A1 can display messages and contents exchanged between the user of the user terminal 100 and the person in the chat room, and the input window area A2 can be used by the user to input messages to be transmitted.

[0068] The second area A3 may include a function tab area A31 and a fixed tab A32. The function tab area A31 may display function icons A31a, A31b, and A31c providing at least one function of content search, recommendation search, and bookmark. The fixed tab area A32 may display a fixed icon A32i providing a set of content designated by the user. Here, the set of content designated by the user may be a set of content purchased by the user or information on the content downloaded by the user to the user terminal 100.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows an example in which a bookmark icon A31a, a recommended search icon A31c, and a search icon A31b are all displayed in the function tab area A31.

[0070] Here, when the bookmark icon A31a is selected by the user, a list of contents that have been recently used in the user terminal 100 or that have been designated as bookmarks by the user may be displayed in the first area A4.

[0071] When the search icon A31b is selected by the user, a search list for content may be displayed in the first area A4 based on the text information entered by the user in the area A2 of the input window.

[0072] When the recommended search icon A31c is selected by the user, a list of specific keywords selected by the operator may be displayed in the first area A4.

[0073] The first area A4 may be located at the bottom of the chat room screen, specifically, the first area A4 may be located below and adjacent to the second area A3.

[0074] For example, the first area A4 may be displayed in a form that covers a part or the whole of an area where a keyboard is displayed to input text in the area A2 of the input window. FIG 4 illustrates that the first area A4 is displayed in a form that covers the whole area where the keyboard is displayed. Here, FIG 4 may appear that the first area A4 replaces the area where the keyboard is displayed. However, depending on the case, the first area A4 may be displayed separately in a part other than the area where the keyboard is displayed.

[0075] In the first area A4, when the user terminal 100 receives a content selection input from a user, at least one content may be displayed in the form of a list, etc. FIG 4 illustrates that the content is displayed in the form of a list in the first area A4.

[0076] When messages and contents are displayed on the chat room screen, the region A1 of the dialogue window may be located on the entire chat room screen. However, when the user terminal 100 receives input of selection information for contents, as shown in Fig. 4, the region A1 of the dialogue window in which messages and emoticons are displayed may be located on the upper side of the chat room screen, and the region A2, the second region A3, and the first region A4 of the input window may be located in sequence below the region A1 of the dialogue window.

[0077] The step S110 of displaying the first list will now be described with reference to FIGS.

[0078] In step S110 of displaying the first list of FIG. 3, the user terminal 100 may display the first list CL1 in a first area A4 on a chat room screen.

[0079] The first list CL1 may be displayed in the first region A43 in a subsequent operation after, for example, the bookmark icon A31a, the recommended search icon A31c, or the search icon A31b is selected. For example, the first list CL1 may include contents resulting from a search after the recommended search icon A31c is selected.

[0080] In addition, when the content used by the other party in the chat room is selected by the user, the first list CL1 may be displayed based on the content used by the other party. The present invention is not limited to this, and the first list CL1 may be displayed in various other ways (for example, random search).

[0081] The first list CL1 of the present invention may include a first content C11 belonging to a first set and a second content C21 belonging to the first set. Here, the first set and the second set may correspond to different sets. The first list CL1 of the present invention is not limited to including only the first content C11 and the second content C21, but may include a plurality of contents (C11 to C81) including the first and second contents C11 and C21, and may be displayed as shown in FIG. 4.

[0082] The user terminal 100 may receive information about the first list CL1 from the server 200. The information about the first list CL1 received by the user terminal 100 may include at least some of thumbnails, preview contents, and set icons of the contents included in the first list CL1.

[0083] The user terminal 100 may display a plurality of contents included in the first list CL1 in the form of thumbnails in the first area A4 in the step S110 of displaying the first list.

[0084] FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the number of contents included in the first list CL1 is eight, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of contents included in the first list CL1 can be displayed in any number of different ways.

[0085] Here, the first and second contents C11 and C21 may be emoticons, stickers, images, etc. of characters that a user wishes to transmit to a partner in a chat room.

[0086] In addition, the first content C11 belonging to the first set and the second content C21 belonging to the second set of the present invention may have images relating to different characters.

[0087] Different characters may refer to different designs or concepts. For example, if the first content C11 included in the first set has a hippopotamus-shaped character, the second content C21 included in the second set may have a penguin-shaped character. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and as shown in FIG. 4, contents C61 and C71 having the same character may be included in the first list CL1 in some cases.

[0088] Next, the step S120 of displaying the first interface will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 3, in step S120 of displaying a first interface, when the user terminal 100 receives a user interaction input for the first content C11, it can display a first interface requesting a plurality of contents including a first set to which the first content belongs.

[0090] That is, when the user terminal 100 receives an interaction input such as a touch or click on the first content C11 among the contents displayed in the first list CL1, the user terminal 100 can display a first interface requesting a first set of content to which the first content C11 belongs.

[0091] 5, in step S120 of displaying the first interface, the user terminal 100 may receive an interaction input such as a touch or a click on the content C11 from the user, so that the user terminal 100 may display the first interface in a preview area A5 on the screen of the chat room.

[0092] The preview area A5 may be displayed by being overlaid on the dialogue area A1 within the chat room screen. Specifically, the preview area A5 may be located above the first area A4 and the second area A3. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the preview area A5 may be overlaid and located within the chat room screen so as to cover the first area A4 and the second area A3.

[0093] The first interface may be for requesting a first set of content to which the first content C11 belongs. The first interface may be displayed as a first set of icons IC1. The first set of icons IC1 may be received together with thumbnails and preview contents of the content when the user terminal 100 receives information on the first list CL1 from the server 200.

[0094] The first set of icons IC1 may be predetermined icons corresponding to the first set, so that even if the user terminal 100 receives a user interaction with a different content belonging to the first set, rather than a user interaction with the first content C11, the first interface can be displayed with the same first set of icons IC1.

[0095] In the step S120 of displaying the first interface, the user terminal 100 may display the preview content PV1 of the first content C11 together with the first interface in the preview area A5.

[0096] Next, the step S130 of displaying the second list will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 to FIG.

[0097] In the step S130 of displaying the second list, if the user terminal 100 receives an input of a user's interaction through the first interface, the user terminal 100 can display the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 in the second area A3 on the screen of the chat room.

[0098] Additionally, in the step S130 of displaying the second list, the user terminal 100 may display the second list CL2 including at least one content C11 belonging to the first set ST1 in the first area A4.

[0099] When the user terminal 100 receives an input of an interaction such as a touch or a click from the user on the first interface, the step S130 of displaying the second list is performed, and the icons IC1 of the first set ST1 and the second list CL2 can be displayed simultaneously. Also, the icons IC1 of the first set displayed on the first interface can disappear without being displayed.

[0100] 6, the user terminal 100 may display an icon IC1 of the first set ST1 in a region FT1 that is a part of the second region A3 on the chat room screen, and may display at least one content C11 belonging to the first set ST1 as a second list CL2 in the first region A4.

[0101] Alternatively, in the step S130 of displaying the second list, the user terminal 100 may display a second interface DL for a request to download the second list CL2, as shown in FIG.

[0102] A portion of the area FT1 may be located between the function tab area A31 and the fixed tab area A32. In this case, the fixed icon A32i may be displayed by moving in the opposite direction to the icon IC1 of the first set ST1. Referring to FIG. 6, since the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 is located to the left of the fixed icon A32i, the fixed icon A32i may be displayed by moving to the right.

[0103] For example, in Fig. 6, compared to Fig. 5, an icon IC1 of the first set ST1 is displayed in a partial area FT1 between the function tab area A31 and the fixed tab area A32. In addition, a fixed icon A32i located in the fixed tab area A32 may be displayed by being moved to the right of the icon IC1 of the first set ST1.

[0104] Here, when the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 is displayed in the part of the area FT1, the first interface displayed in the preview area A5 can disappear without being displayed any more.

[0105] In this case, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 displayed in one area FT1 may have the same or similar image as the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 displayed in the first interface.

[0106] FIG. 6 shows an example in which the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 displayed in the partial area FT1 is the same as the icon IC1 of the first set displayed in the first interface.

[0107] In this manner, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 displayed in the partial area FT1 may be maintained as long as the user terminal 100 maintains a state of having entered the chat room. The user terminal 100 may determine whether or not to maintain the state of having entered the chat room.

[0108] Here, the state of entering a chat room means a state in which a message can be entered through the corresponding chat room. Typically, an application that provides chat rooms can provide multiple chat rooms, and the user terminal 100 can select and enter one of the chat rooms.

[0109] Here, the state of having entered the chat room does not mean a state in which the screen of the chat room is output on the output unit of the user terminal 100. When the state of having entered the chat room is maintained, an application providing the chat room may be running in the background or the output unit may be locked. In such a case, although the screen of the chat room is not output on the output unit of the user terminal 100, it can be determined that the state of having entered the chat room is maintained.

[0110] Here, applications that provide chat rooms may include instant messaging applications that provide chat functionality as their main functionality, applications for other purposes (shopping, games, etc.) that provide chat functionality as an additional functionality, or web browsers that provide chat functionality.

[0111] Therefore, while the user terminal 100 maintains a state of entering the corresponding chat room, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 can be maintained even if an action not directly related to the first set ST1 or the second list CL2 is performed. Specifically, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 can be maintained even if another tab in the second area A3 is selected, other content other than the second list CL2 is displayed in the first area A4, or a message is input in the input window area A2 so that the first area A4 is converted to a keyboard interface.

[0112] An example of a case where the display of the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 is maintained will be described with reference to FIG. 7. When the recommended search icon A31c is selected by the user on the chat room screen of FIG. 6, the first list CL1 is displayed again in the first area A4 as shown in FIG. 7. Even in this case, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 displayed in the partial area FT1 can be maintained as it is. Also, even if a different content C81 is selected by the user in FIG. 7 and a preview content PV8 of the different content C81 is displayed in the preview area A5, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 always displayed in the partial area FT1 can be maintained as it is.

[0113] However, if the user terminal 100 is released from the state in which it entered the corresponding chat room, even if the user subsequently re-enters the corresponding chat room, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 may no longer be displayed in some area FT1.

[0114] Here, a state in which entry into the corresponding chat room has been released may include a state in which the user has left the corresponding chat room and moved to the chat room list, a state in which the user has entered another chat room, a state in which the execution of the application providing the chat room has been suspended, or a state in which the power to the user terminal 100 has been turned off.

[0115] Here, the case where the state of having entered the corresponding chat room is released may be different from the state of no longer participating in the corresponding chat room (leaving the chat room). Even if the user leaves the corresponding chat room, the user still remains as a participant of the chat room and can send outgoing messages to the corresponding chat room.

[0116] Detailed conditions related to maintaining the display of the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 can be changed and set in various ways by the application administrator or user.

[0117] For example, under conditions different from those described above, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 displayed in the part of the area FT1 may be maintained while the user terminal 100 is executing an application that provides a chat room. Here, executing an application may include both a case where a driving screen of the application is output to an output unit and a case where the application is executed in the background.

[0118] If such conditions are set, even if the user terminal 100 leaves the corresponding chat room, if the application continues to run and the user later re-enters the corresponding chat room, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 may be displayed again in a portion of the area FT1.

[0119] That is, in step S130 of displaying the second list, a portion of the area FT1 in which the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 is displayed is a variable tab that is maintained only while a preset condition (e.g., the state of entering a chat room is maintained or the application is maintained running) is met.

[0120] In contrast, the fixed icon A32i can continue to be displayed in the second area A3 even if the user terminal 100 re-executes the application that provides the chat room after terminating the application.

[0121] Various embodiments of how the second list CL2 is displayed in the first area A4 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0122] In the step S130 of displaying the second list, the user terminal 100 may display a second interface DL regarding a request to download the second list CL2, as shown in FIGS.

[0123] As a result, when the user terminal 100 receives an input of a user interaction with the second interface DL, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 is displayed in the fixed tab area A32.

[0124] When the user terminal 100 receives an input of a user's interaction with the second interface DL, the user terminal 100 can download and store at least one of thumbnail information, preview information, and icon information for each of the contents included in the second list. The user terminal 100 downloading the above information means that the user terminal 100 downloads the above information and stores it in a storage space separately from the information received to display the second list.

[0125] As a result, icon IC1 of the first set ST1 displayed in fixed tab area A32 is changed to a fixed icon, and the display is maintained even if the application providing the chat room is terminated and then re-run.

[0126] Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 displayed in the step S130 of displaying the second list may be displayed with an image that is distinguished from the fixed icon A32i.

[0127] That is, the icons IC1 of the first set ST1 displayed in the part of the area FT1 may be further displayed with a mark to distinguish them from the fixed icons A32i displayed in the fixed tab area A32.

[0128] 8, the contents included in the second list CL2 displayed in the first area A4 may have the same characters as each other. However, the second list CL2 may further include not only the contents of the first set ST1, but also a third set ST3 having the same characters as the contents of the first set ST1.

[0129] Here, the third set ST3 may be a series set of the first set ST1. The content of the third set ST3 may have the same characters as the content of the first set ST1, but may have a different theme from the first set ST1.

[0130] In one example, as shown in FIG. 7, the characters of the content included in the first set ST1 and the third set ST3 are hippopotamus-related characters, and if the theme of the first set ST1 has a theme related to the ordinary daily life of a hippopotamus, the third set ST3 may have a theme of a rough hippopotamus.

[0131] That is, the contents included in the first set ST1 and the third set ST3 all have the same characters, but the themes associated with the images of the characters included in each set may be different. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the server 200 in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0132] The server 200 of the present invention may include a communication module 210, a processor 220, and a memory 230, and the communication module 210, the processor 220, and the memory 230 may transmit and receive information or control signals therebetween through a bus.

[0133] The memory 230 may include a computer-readable recording medium such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a permanent mass storage device such as a disk drive.

[0134] In addition, the memory 230 may store an operating system and at least one program code (eg, code for an application installed and run on the user terminal 100).

[0135] The communication module 210 may provide functionality for the server 200 to communicate with the user terminal 100 over a network.

[0136] The processor 220 may be configured to process instructions of a computer program by performing basic arithmetic, logic, and input / output operations. The instructions may be provided to the processor 220 by the memory 230 or the communications module 210. For example, the processor 220 may be configured to execute instructions received from program code stored in a storage device, such as the memory 230.

[0137] The processor 220 may perform an operation for providing the user terminal 100 with information regarding the contents included in the first list CL1 and the second list CL2.

[0138] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method in which the server 200 provides content to the user terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 10, the method of the server 200 of the present invention providing content to the user terminal 100 may include step S210 of providing information for a first list, step S220 of receiving selection information, and step S230 of providing information for a second list.

[0140] As shown in FIG. 10, in step S210 of providing information on the first list, the server 200 may provide the user terminal 100 with information on the first list CL1 including a first content C11 belonging to a first set ST1 and a second content C21 belonging to a second set.

[0141] The step S210 of providing information on the first list may be performed by the server 200 in response to the provision request information when the server 200 receives provision request information on the first list CL1 from the user terminal 100.

[0142] The provision request information for the first list CL1 can be received from the user terminal 100 based on selected information when a user selects one of the recommended search icon A31c and the search icon A31b in the user terminal 100, or when the user selects content used by a conversation partner in a chat room.

[0143] Here, the information on the first list CL1 may include at least one of thumbnail information, preview information, and icon information for each content (including the first and second contents) included in the first list CL1.

[0144] For example, the server 200 may provide the user terminal 100 with information on the first list CL1, including all of thumbnail information, preview information, and icon information for each piece of content included in the first list CL1.

[0145] Here, the thumbnail information can be used by the user terminal 100 to display the contents for the first list CL1 in the first area A4 of the chat room screen.

[0146] The preview information can be used by the user terminal 100 to display the first preview content in the preview area A5 of the chat room screen.

[0147] In addition, the icon information can be used by the user terminal 100 to display an icon IC1 of the first set ST1 for the first interface in the preview area A5, or by the user terminal 100 to display an icon IC1 of the first set ST1 in the second area A3.

[0148] In the step of receiving selection information S220, the server 200 may receive user selection information for the first content C11 from the user terminal 100.

[0149] If the first interface of the preview area A5 is selected by a user on the user terminal 100 as described in Figures 3 to 5, the user terminal 100 transmits selection information for the first set ST1 to which the first content C11 belongs to the server 200, and the server 200 can receive the selection information.

[0150] Thereafter, in step S230 of providing information on the second list, the server 200 can provide the user terminal 100 with information on the second list CL2 including at least one content belonging to the first set ST1.

[0151] Here, the information on the second list CL2 may include at least one of thumbnail information and preview information for each of the contents belonging to the first set ST1.

[0152] For example, in the step S230 of providing information on the second list, the server 200 may provide the user terminal 100 with information on thumbnails and preview information of the content belonging to the first set ST1 as information on the second list CL2.

[0153] This allows the user terminal 100 to display the contents of the second list CL2 in the first area A4 using thumbnail information for the contents of the first set ST1.

[0154] In addition, when a specific content is selected by the user, the user terminal 100 can request image information for the specific content from the server 200, and the server 200 can provide the image information for the specific content to the user terminal 100 in response.

[0155] This allows the user terminal 100 to use image information for a particular content to be displayed as an emoticon in the dialog window area A1.

[0156] Alternatively, the server 200 may provide the user terminal 100 with image information for each of the contents of the first set ST1 to be displayed in the second list CL2 in advance in the step S230 of providing information for the second list.

[0157] In addition, when the server 200 receives information regarding user interaction with the second interface DL for downloading from the user terminal 100, the server 200 can provide the user terminal 100 with corresponding information regarding downloading in response to the information regarding the user interaction with the second interface DL.

[0158] As an example, (1) in step S230 of providing information on the second list, if the server 200 provides only thumbnail information and preview information for the contents of the first set ST1, the server 200 can provide the user terminal 100 with image information used in the emoticons for each of the contents of the first set ST1 as download corresponding information.

[0159] In addition, (2) in step S230 of providing information on the second list, if the server 200 provides not only thumbnail information and preview information for the contents of the first set ST1 but also image information to be used in the dialogue area A1, the server 200 can provide the user terminal 100 with information to enable the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 to be changed to a fixed icon A32i in the download correspondence information.

[0160] In this way, when a first list CL1 including a first content C11 of a first set ST1 and a second content C21 of a second set having different characters is displayed on a user's terminal, the icon IC1 of the first set ST1 to which the content desired by the user belongs in the first list CL1 is displayed in the second area A3, and the content belonging to the first set ST1 is displayed on the user's terminal in the second list CL2, thereby making it possible for the user to more conveniently use the content desired by the user without having to download it separately.

[0161] The technical features disclosed in each embodiment of the present invention are not limited to the corresponding embodiment only, and the technical features disclosed in each embodiment may be combined and applied to different embodiments, unless they are mutually incompatible.

[0162] Therefore, although each embodiment mainly describes its respective technical features, they may be combined and applied to the extent that the technical features are not mutually incompatible.

[0163] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes may be made 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]

[0164] 100: User terminal 200:Server

Claims

1. A method for providing content through an application by a user terminal, comprising: a processor of the user terminal executing an application; displaying a first list including a first content belonging to a first set and a second content belonging to a second set different from the first set on a screen of a chat room of the one application by the processor; the first set includes a plurality of pieces of content having a first characteristic in common; the second set includes a plurality of contents having a second characteristic in common; The first content and the second content each indicate a content that a user intends to transmit to a partner in the chat room, displaying a first interface requesting the first set of content when the processor receives an input of a user's interaction with the first content; and when the processor receives user interaction input on the first interface, displaying a second list on the screen in place of the first list, the second list including at least one content belonging to the first set and no content belonging to the second set.

2. 10. The method of claim 1 , The step of the processor displaying the first list on a screen of a chat room of the one application includes: The method includes the processor displaying the first list in an area of ​​a screen of a chat room of the one application.

3. 10. The method of claim 1 , The method further includes a step of the processor displaying icon information indicating the first set on a screen of a chat room of the one application.

4. 4. The method of claim 3, The step of the processor displaying icon information indicating the first set on a screen of a chat room of the one application includes: The method further includes a step of the processor displaying icon information indicating the first set in a second area different from a first area of ​​a screen of the chat room in which the first list is displayed.

5. 4. The method of claim 3, The step of the processor displaying icon information indicating the first set on a screen of a chat room of the one application includes: When the processor receives an input of a user's interaction with the first interface, The method includes a step of displaying icon information representing the first set in a second area of ​​a screen of the chat room different from a first area in which the first list is displayed.

6. 10. The method of claim 1 , When the processor receives an input of a user's interaction with the first content, The method further includes displaying a preview content of the first content in a preview area of ​​a screen of the chat room.

7. 10. The method of claim 1 , The step of displaying a first interface requesting the first set of content when the processor receives an input of a user's interaction with the first content includes: The method includes a step of displaying icon information indicating the first set on a screen of a chat room of the one application when the processor receives an input of a user's interaction with the first content.

8. 8. The method of claim 7, When the processor receives an input of a user's interaction with the first interface, removing the icon information displayed on the first interface; The method further includes the step of displaying the icon information in a second area different from a first area of ​​a screen of the chat room where the first list is displayed.

9. 5. The method of claim 4, When the processor receives an input of a user's interaction with the first interface, removing the icon information displayed on the first interface; The method further includes displaying the icon information in an area different from a second area of ​​a screen of the chat room where the first list is displayed.

10. A user terminal that provides content through an application, 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 9.

11. 11. The user terminal of claim 10, The processor, When receiving an input of an interaction of a user with respect to the first content, displaying icon information indicating the first set in a second area different from a first area of ​​a screen of the chat room where the first list is displayed; The user terminal is further configured to perform the step of removing the icon information upon receiving input of a user's interaction with the icon information displayed on the first interface, and displaying the icon information in an area different from a second area of ​​the screen of the chat room where the first list is displayed.

12. A method for a server to provide content, comprising: Providing information on a first list including a first content belonging to a first set and a second content belonging to a second set different from the first set to a user terminal (wherein the first list is displayed on a screen of a chat room); the first set includes a plurality of pieces of content having a first characteristic in common; the second set includes a plurality of contents having a second characteristic in common; The first content and the second content each indicate a content that a user intends to transmit to a partner in the chat room, receiving user selection information for the first content from the user terminal; providing, to the user terminal, icon information indicating the first set and information regarding a second list that includes at least one content belonging to the first set and does not include any content belonging to the second set (wherein the second list is displayed in place of the first list).

13. 13. The method of claim 12, The method further includes providing, to the user terminal, information regarding a preview content displayed in a preview area of ​​a screen of the chat room according to an interaction of the user with the first content.

14. 13. The method of claim 12, Icon information representing the first set includes: The method of claim 1, wherein the first list is displayed in a second area of ​​a screen of the chat room that is different from a first area of ​​the screen of the chat room in which the first list is displayed.

15. 15. The method of claim 14, Icon information representing the first set includes: A method in which a first interface requesting the first set of content is displayed in a second area of ​​the chat room screen rather than a first area, is removed upon receiving user interaction input on the first interface, and is displayed in an area different from the second area of ​​the chat room screen where the first list is displayed.

16. A server providing content, Memory, a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute instructions contained in the memory; A server, wherein the processor is configured to execute the steps of the method according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

17. 17. The server of claim 16, The processor, The server further includes providing, to the user terminal, information regarding a preview content displayed in a preview area of ​​a screen of the chat room according to an interaction of the user with the first content.

18. 17. The server of claim 16, Icon information representing the first set includes: A server, wherein the first list is displayed in a second area different from the first area of ​​a screen of the chat room in which the first list is displayed.

19. 20. The server of claim 18, Icon information representing the first set includes: A server, wherein a first interface requesting the first set of content is displayed in a second area of ​​the chat room screen rather than in a first area, is removed upon receiving input of a user's interaction with the first interface, and is displayed in an area different from the second area of ​​the chat room screen where the first list is displayed.

20. A program, A program causing a computer to execute each step of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and 12 to 15.

Images