Messaging service method and apparatus

Abstract

To provide a method and a device for a messaging service.SOLUTION: A method for operating a terminal in which an application for a messaging service according to an embodiment is installed includes the steps of: switching an input mode of a chat interface to a secretary mode to call up a secretary function; receiving the call-up of the secretary function; and displaying a secretary interface corresponding to the called-up secretary function.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following embodiments relate to a messaging service method and apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a terminal in which an application for a messaging service is installed and a server that provides a secretary function linked to the application for the messaging service.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, with the development of mobile smart devices, the use of online platform services for communicating with other users via a network has been increasing. Representative examples of online platform services for communicating with other users include social networking services (SNS), which are online platforms that generate and strengthen social relationships through communication between users, information sharing, and expansion of personal networks, and instant messaging services (IMS), which are online platforms for real-time content communication between two or more users.

[0003] While such communication through mobile devices has been increasing, online platform services support functions for sharing various types of data and assisting communication, not just one-to-one text communication with other users.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide, according to the following embodiments, a messenger application that performs not only a message transmission and reception function but also a secretary function for assisting a user's life, such as user schedule management.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an interfacing method for efficiently providing a message function and a secretary function through a region of a limited size such as a display of a mobile terminal according to the following embodiments.

[0006] However, the technical problems are not limited to the above-described technical problems, and further technical problems may exist.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] An operation method of a terminal in which an application for a messaging service according to an embodiment is installed includes: identifying a type of a chat room of the application; displaying an interfacing object for calling a secretary function based on the identified type of the chat room; receiving a call of the secretary function through the interfacing object; and displaying a secretary interface corresponding to the called secretary function.

[0008] The secretary function may include at least one of a search function through a chat room, a schedule management function, a to-do management function, and a reserved message management function.

[0009] The step of switching to the secretary mode may include at least one of: displaying a search window linked to a search server in the chat interface; and changing a message input window of the chat interface to the search window.

[0010] The step of switching to the secretary mode may include displaying a secretary function menu including at least one interfacing object for calling a secretary function in the chat interface.

[0011] The step of switching to the secretary mode may include the step of displaying an interfacing object for calling a secretary function activated in the secretary mode based on the type of chat room where the execution request for the secretary mode has occurred.

[0012] The step of displaying an interface corresponding to the called secretary function may include the step of displaying the secretary interface including information about the chat room based on the type of chat room where the execution request for the secretary mode has occurred.

[0013] The secretary interface can be displayed to replace the message input window of the chat interface.

[0014] The operation method of the terminal may further include the step of removing the display of the secretary interface and displaying a message input window in response to the input mode of the chat interface being switched to a chat mode for message input.

[0015] The operation method of the terminal may further include the step of receiving a service corresponding to the called secretary function via the secretary interface.

[0016] The step of receiving a service corresponding to the called secretary function may include the step of receiving a service associated with the chat room where the execution request for the secretary mode has occurred based on the called secretary function.

[0017] A terminal installed with an application for a messaging service according to an embodiment responds to a request to execute a secretary mode received via a chat interface of the application, identifies the type of chat room in which the request to execute the secretary mode occurred, and based on the identified type of chat room, switches the input mode of the chat interface to a secretary mode for calling a secretary function. The chat interface that has been switched to the secretary mode receives a call to the secretary function, and includes at least one processor that displays a secretary interface corresponding to the called secretary function via a partial area within the chat interface.

[0018] The secretary function can include at least one of a search function through a chat room, a schedule management function, a to-do management function, and a reservation message management function.

[0019] When switching to the secretary mode, the processor can perform at least one of an operation of displaying a search window linked to a search server on the chat interface and an operation of changing the message input window of the chat interface to the search window.

[0020] When switching to the secretary mode, the processor may display a secretary function menu including at least one interfacing object for calling a secretary function on the chat interface.

[0021] When switching to the secretary mode, the processor can display an interfacing object for calling a secretary function activated in the secretary mode based on the type of chat room in which the request to execute the secretary mode occurred.

[0022] The secretary interface can be displayed in place of the message input window of the chat interface.

[0023] In response to the input mode of the chat interface being switched to a chat mode for message input, the processor can remove the display of the secretary interface and display a message input window.

[0024] The processor can receive a service corresponding to the called secretary function via the secretary interface.

[0025] When receiving a service corresponding to a call request for the secretary function, the processor can receive a service linked to the chat room in which a request to execute the secretary mode has occurred based on the called secretary function.

Advantages of the Invention

[0026] According to the following embodiments, it is possible to provide a messenger application that performs not only a message sending and receiving function but also a secretary function for assisting the user's life such as user schedule management.

[0027] According to the following embodiments, it is possible to provide an interfacing method for efficiently providing a message function and a secretary function via a region of a limited size such as a display of a mobile terminal.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 5C

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0029] The following specific structural or functional descriptions of the embodiments are disclosed for illustrative purposes only and can be modified in various forms. Therefore, the embodiments are not limited to the specific disclosed forms, and the scope of this specification includes modifications, equivalents, or alternatives included in the technical idea.

[0030] Terms such as "first" or "second" may be used to describe a plurality of components, but such terms should only be construed for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be named the first component.

[0031] When it is mentioned that any component is "coupled" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it is directly coupled or connected to the other component, but there may be other components in between.

[0032] Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as "including" or "having" are intended to indicate the presence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should not be construed as precluding the possibility of the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0033] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When describing with reference to the drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals regardless of the reference signs, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0034] FIG. 1 is an operation flowchart of a terminal in which an application for a messaging service according to an embodiment is installed.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, a method for operating a terminal on which an application for a messaging service is installed includes step S110 of identifying the type of a chat room in which a request to execute the secretary mode has occurred, step S120 of switching the input mode of the chat interface to a secretary mode for calling the secretary function, step S130 of receiving a call to the secretary function, and step S140 of displaying a secretary interface corresponding to the called secretary function.

[0036] The terminal is one of electronic devices such as a computer, a portable computer, a wireless phone, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a web tablet, a wearable device, etc., and means all devices capable of installing and executing an application. Here, the terminal can be provided with services and / or contents provided by a server via an application. For example, the terminal can perform operations of all services such as configuration of a service screen, data input, data transmission and reception, data storage, etc. under the control of an application. For example, the terminal can process a user interface or a user interaction via a processor, and output the processing result via an output device of the terminal or transmit it to a server.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the application installed on the terminal may include an application for a messaging service or a messenger application. The terminal provides a messaging service via the messenger application. The messaging service may receive messages from users who have subscribed to the service or send messages to users, and is a service that sends notification messages to subscribed users. For example, it may include an instant messaging service based on instant messages.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the messaging server may receive messages from users who have subscribed to the messaging service or send messages to users, and may provide a messaging service that sends notification messages to subscribed users. The messaging server generates a user account related to the messaging service in response to a user's messaging service subscription request. The user account corresponds to a unit for identifying a user who has subscribed to the service on the messaging server. The terminal logged in to the user account can use the messaging service provided by the messaging server. Hereinafter, the terminal means a terminal logged in to a user account generated by subscribing to the messaging service.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the messaging service can be provided to the terminal via a chat interface. The chat interface is an interface for the message sending and receiving functions provided by the messaging service. For example, it may include an interface that provides a function of sending messages via a chat room in which at least one user account participates and displaying received messages. The chat interface corresponds to a chat room that is a virtual space in which at least one user account participates and chatting between participants takes place.

[0040] As an example, the chat interface may include an interfacing object that supports the function of sending and receiving messages through a chat room. The interfacing object is an object realized to perform a specific function through interaction with a user, and may include, for example, buttons, input fields, switches, etc. As an example illustration of the chat interface, the screen 310 shown in FIG. 2 can be cited. For example, referring to FIG. 2, the chat interface may include a chat window 311 for displaying messages transmitted and received through a chat room, a message input window 312 for inputting text to be transmitted to the message, and / or interfacing objects such as buttons 313, 314, 315 for requesting specific functions or services, which support functions related to the messaging service.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the terminal identifies the type of chat room in which the execution request for the secretary mode has occurred in response to the execution request for the secretary mode received through the chat interface of the application (S110).

[0042] According to one embodiment, the secretary mode corresponds to an input mode for calling a secretary function as a type of input mode of the chat interface. The secretary function includes, in addition to functions related to sending and receiving messages in the messenger application, functions provided to enhance user convenience, such as at least one of a search function through a chat room, a schedule management function, a to-do management function, and a reserved message management function. For example, the secretary function may include at least one of a schedule management function, a to-do management function, and a reserved message management function and a search function through a chat room. The schedule management function means a function of registering schedule items with a specified period in a calendar subordinate to the user account and being able to inquire about the registered schedules by date. The to-do management function means a function of registering "to-do" items that must be done within a specified period and being able to check whether the to-do items are completed through a to-do list corresponding to the specified period. The reserved message function means a function of sending a message created in advance according to the user's request to a determined target at a determined time. The secretary function may be provided to the messaging server or may be provided to a separate server linked to the messaging server. As an example, different secretary functions may be provided to different servers. The secretary function will be described in detail below.

[0043] According to one embodiment, based on the input mode of the chat interface, the type of input received via the chat interface and / or the manner in which the input is processed can be determined. For example, the input mode of the chat interface may include a chat mode and a secretary mode. The chat mode corresponds to an input mode for inputting messages to be sent to chat room participants. For example, the chat interface corresponding to the chat mode may receive text input via a message input window, and the input text may be sent as a message. The secretary mode is an input mode for calling a secretary function. For example, the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode can receive input of a search term via a search window. In response to the input of the search term through the search window, a search function through the chat room may be called. Also, for example, the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode can receive input for calling at least one of a schedule management function, a to-do management function, and a reservation message management function via a secretary function menu.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the chat interface can be set to any one type of input mode. As an example, when a request to execute the secretary mode is received via a chat interface with no input mode set, the input mode of the chat interface may be set to the secretary mode. The input mode set for the chat interface may be switched to a different type of input mode. As an example, when a request to execute the secretary mode is received via a chat interface in a mode other than the secretary mode (e.g., the chat mode), the input mode of the chat interface may be switched from a mode other than the secretary mode (e.g., the chat mode) to the secretary mode.

[0045] According to an embodiment, the terminal identifies the type of the chat room in which the execution request for the secretary mode has occurred in response to the received execution request for the secretary mode (S110). As an example, the terminal may determine the type of the corresponding chat room based on the identifier of the chat room in which the execution request for the secretary mode has occurred.

[0046] The type of chat room according to an embodiment can be determined based on at least one of the number of user accounts included in the chat room and the method of participating in the chat room. As an example, the types of chat rooms may include a chat room with just me without other user accounts, a 1:1 chat room including one other user account, and a group chat room including two or more other user accounts. Also, as an example, the types of chat rooms may include a general chat room and an anonymous chat room. A general chat room is a chat room generated by designating other user accounts registered with account information in a messenger application as participants of the chat room. A user of the messenger application can register identification information regarding a user account, such as a phone number or ID, with the account information of a user who is a friend. A general chat room means a chat room including other user accounts registered with the messenger application or registered as a friend relationship as participants. An anonymous chat room means a chat room that can be participated in via link information regardless of whether it is a friend relationship in the messenger application. As an example, the anonymous chat room service may include the Open Chat (registered trademark of Kakao Corporation, the applicant) service provided by Kakao, the applicant, specifically, the non-acquaintance-based open chat service provided in the applicant's KakaoTalk application, and the anonymous chat room means a chat room (or a chat room) of the Open Chat service provided by Kakao, the applicant. The Open Chat service provided by Kakao is just an example of the anonymous chat room service and is not limited thereto, and the anonymous chat room service may include a service that provides a chat room participated in via a temporary profile that is not an account based on a real name.

[0047] According to an embodiment, the terminal switches the input mode of the chat interface to a secretary mode for calling a secretary function based on the identified type of chat room (S120).

[0048] Step S120 according to one embodiment includes the step of adding an interfacing object corresponding to the secretary mode to the chat interface. As an example, step S110 of switching to the secretary mode may include at least one of the steps of displaying a search window linked to a search server on the chat interface and changing the message input window of the chat interface to the search window. The search window is linked to the search server and corresponds to an interface for transmitting a search query using the input text as a search term to the search server. The search server can provide the terminal with the search results of the search engine for the search query. As an example, the search server may provide the search results to the terminal via a messaging server. Embodiments in which the search server provides the search results to the terminal will be described in detail below.

[0049] Also, as an example, step S110 of switching to the secretary mode may include the step of displaying a secretary function menu including at least one interfacing object for calling the secretary function on the chat interface. The interfacing object for calling the secretary function is an object realized to call the secretary function through interaction with the user. For example, it may include a button realized to output a secretary interface for providing the secretary function in response to a user's selection input. The secretary function menu may be displayed in at least a partial area of the chat interface. For example, the secretary function menu may be displayed adjacent to the area where the search window is displayed.

[0050] As an example of a chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode, the screen 320 shown in FIG. 3A is cited. Referring to FIG. 3A, the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode includes a secretary function menu 321, a search window 322, and a button 323 for requesting a search. The chat interface according to the input mode will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B below.

[0051] Step S120 according to one embodiment includes a step of displaying an interfacing object for calling a secretary function activated in the secretary mode based on the type of the chat room in which a request to execute the secretary mode has occurred. In other words, the secretary function activated in the secretary mode can be determined based on the type of the chat room in which a request to execute the secretary mode has occurred.

[0052] According to one embodiment, it can be determined whether or not the secretary function is activated according to the type of the chat room. For example, in a first type of chat room (e.g., a general chat room, a chat room with me), all secretary functions may be activated, and in a second type of chat room (e.g., an anonymous chat room), some secretary functions may be deactivated. The chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode includes an interfacing object for calling a secretary function determined to be activated according to the type of the chat room, and may not include an interfacing object for calling a secretary function determined to be deactivated.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the server can determine whether to activate each secretarial function according to the type of chat room where the execution request for the secretarial mode occurs, and provide the terminal with a chat interface corresponding to the secretarial mode according to the determination result. As an example, when an execution request for the secretarial mode occurs in a chat room of the first type, the server can provide the terminal with a chat interface corresponding to the secretarial mode that includes an interface object for calling all secretarial functions. Also, as an example, when an execution request for the secretarial mode occurs in a chat room of the second type, the server can provide the terminal with a chat interface corresponding to the secretarial mode that includes an interfacing object for calling the secretarial functions activated in the chat room of the second type and does not include an interfacing object for calling the deactivated secretarial functions. The chat interface corresponding to the secretarial mode according to the type of chat room will be described in detail below.

[0054] A terminal according to one embodiment receives a call for a secretarial function via a chat interface switched to the secretarial mode (S130). For example, the terminal may call a secretarial function corresponding to the selected interfacing object in response to receiving an input for selecting an interfacing object of the secretarial function menu. Also, for example, the terminal may request a search server for search results for a search term in response to a search request for the search term entered in the search window.

[0055] A terminal according to an embodiment displays a secretary interface corresponding to a secretary function called through a partial area within a chat interface (S140). The secretary interface is an interface for providing the called secretary function. For example, the secretary interface may include an interface for providing a search function through a chat room (hereinafter, a search interface), an interface for providing a schedule management function (hereinafter, a schedule management interface), an interface for providing a to-do management function (hereinafter, a to-do management interface), and / or an interface for providing a reservation message management function (hereinafter, a reservation message management interface). The secretary interface will be described in detail below.

[0056] According to an embodiment, a secretary interface for providing a secretary function can be added to the chat interface. For example, the secretary interface may be displayed in a partial area of the chat interface or may be overlaid on the chat interface.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the secretary interface can be displayed in the area where the interfacing object corresponding to the chat mode is displayed. As an example, the secretary interface may be displayed in place of the message input window included in the chat interface corresponding to the chat mode. In other words, the display of the message input window of the chat interface may be removed, and the secretary interface may be displayed instead of the message input window. For example, when a search function is called via the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode, the search window included in the search interface may be displayed in place of the message input window. When any one of the schedule management function, to-do management function, and reserved message management function is called via the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode, the display of the message input window may be removed, and the secretary interface corresponding to the called secretary function may be displayed. Also, as an example, the secretary interface may be displayed in the area where the message input window and / or virtual keyboard within the chat interface corresponding to the chat mode is displayed.

[0058] Step S140 according to one embodiment includes the step of displaying a secretary interface including information about the chat room based on the type of the chat room in which the execution request for the secretary mode has occurred. As an example, when a sharing request for a search result page is received, the search interface may display the identification information of the chat room in which the execution request for the secretary mode has occurred in the chat room to which the search result page is shared. The participants of the schedule or to-do, the recipients of the reserved messages, and information about the chat room may not be displayed based on the type of the chat room, for example.

[0059] According to an embodiment, in response to the input mode of the chat interface being switchable to a chat mode for message input, the terminal can remove the display of the secretary interface and display a message input window. In other words, when the input mode is switched to the chat mode, the display of the secretary interface is removed, and an interface corresponding to the chat mode is displayed.

[0060] The method of operating a terminal according to an embodiment may further include the step of receiving a service corresponding to a secretary function called via a secretary interface. The terminal may receive a service corresponding to a secretary function called via a chat interface. The service corresponding to the secretary function can be provided to the server via a secretary interface added to the chat interface. The secretary interface may be determined based on the called secretary function. The secretary interface and the service corresponding to the secretary function provided via the secretary interface according to an embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0061] The step of receiving a service corresponding to a called secretary function according to an embodiment includes the step of providing a service associated with a chat room where a request for execution of the secretary mode has occurred based on the called secretary function. As an example, when a search function through a chat room is called, a service may be provided to share a search result page for the input search term via the chat room where the request for execution of the secretary mode has occurred. Also, as an example, when a schedule management function is called, a service may be provided to set the participants of the chat room where the request for execution of the secretary mode has occurred as invitees for the schedule generated by the schedule management function. Also, as an example, when a reserved message management function is called, a service may be provided to set the chat room where the request for execution of the secretary mode has occurred as the recipient for the reserved message generated by the reserved message management function. The service corresponding to the secretary function will be described in detail below.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a screen of a chat interface corresponding to a chat mode according to an embodiment, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating screens of a chat interface corresponding to a secretary mode according to an embodiment.

[0063] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a chat interface screen 310 corresponding to a chat room provided to a terminal in response to connection to the chat room. As described above, the chat interface includes a chat window 311 for displaying messages transmitted and received via the chat room, a message input window 312 for inputting text to be transmitted to the message, and / or interfacing objects such as buttons 313, 314, 315 for requesting specific functions or services from the server to assist functions related to the messaging service.

[0064] According to an embodiment, the input mode of the chat interface can be set to the chat mode. As an example, referring to FIG. 2, when an input for selecting the message input window 312 is received, the input mode of the chat interface may be switched to the chat mode. Also, as an example, the input mode of the chat interface may be set with the chat mode as the default. When the input mode of the chat interface is set to the chat mode, a virtual keyboard area for inputting a message is displayed in the message input window 312. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the chat interface corresponding to the chat mode may include an interfacing object for requesting message transmission of the text input in the message input window 312. The terminal can transmit a request to the server to transmit the text input in the message input window 312 as a message in response to the input received by the interfacing object for requesting message transmission.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the terminal can receive an input for determining an input mode via a chat interface. For example, the chat interface may include a button 315 for requesting a switch to the secretary mode. When an input for selecting the button 315 is received, the input mode of the chat interface is switched to the secretary mode. As an example, in response to the input for selecting the button 315, it may be switched to a chat interface screen 320 corresponding to the secretary mode in FIG. 3A. The form of the button 315 included in the screen 310 is merely an example of an interfacing object for requesting a switch to the secretary mode and is not limited thereto. For example, the button 315 may be displayed in other forms (e.g., a separate secretary mode icon), or may be implemented as other types of objects that are not buttons.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 3A, the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode includes a secretary function menu 321 for calling a secretary function and a search window 322. As an example, the message input window 312 included in the chat interface before being switched to the secretary mode may be changed to the search window 322, and the secretary function menu 321 may be added. As an example, an icon 324 for instructing the search window 322 to be distinguished from the message input window 312 is displayed in the search window 322. The form of the search window 322 shown in FIG. 3A is merely an example, and the search window 322 may be implemented in various forms different from the form of the message input window. The secretary function menu 321 may include buttons for calling a secretary function. As an example, the secretary function menu 321 may be displayed via a layer in a partial area within the chat interface. The chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode may also include the search window 322 and a button 323 for a search request for the search term input into the search window 322.

[0067] According to one embodiment, when an input for selecting button 323 for a search request is received, the terminal can send the search term entered in search window 322 to the search server as a search query. The input for selecting button 323 for a search request means an input for invoking the search function among the secretary functions.

[0068] According to one embodiment, when an input for selecting a button included in secretary function menu 321 is received, the terminal can invoke the secretary function corresponding to the selected button. In other words, the input for selecting a button included in secretary function menu 321 means an input for invoking at least one secretary function.

[0069] The secretary interface corresponding to the invoked secretary function according to one embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the server can provide the terminal with a chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode based on the type of chat room in which a request to execute the secretary mode has occurred. For example, in a first type of chat room, all secretary functions can be activated. Referring to screen 320 shown in FIG. 3A, when all secretary functions are activated, the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode may include an interfacing object for invoking all secretary functions. For example, the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode corresponding to a first type of chat room may include search window 322 for invoking the search function and secretary function menu 321 including interfacing objects for invoking a schedule management function, a to-do management function, and a reservation message function. As an example, secretary function menu 321 can be implemented to receive an input (e.g., a swipe input, a drag input, etc.) for navigation of a plurality of interfacing objects and display a list of the plurality of interfacing objects.

[0071] On the other hand, in the second type of chat room, some secretary functions may be deactivated. For example, when the chat room where a request to execute the secretary mode has occurred is identified as the second type where some functions of the secretary mode are restricted, the screen 330 in FIG. 3B is displayed.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 3B, when the type of the chat room where a request to execute the secretary mode has occurred is identified as the second type, only the search function among the secretary functions is activated, and the remaining secretary functions (for example, the schedule management function, the to-do management function, and the reservation message function) are deactivated. The chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode may not include an interfacing object for calling the deactivated secretary functions. As an example, the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode provided in the second type of chat room may include a search window 331 for calling the search function, and may not include a secretary function menu for calling other secretary functions.

[0073] Unlike the example shown in FIG. 3B, when the search function among the secretary functions is deactivated in a specific type of chat room, the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode may include a message input window instead of the search window 331, and an interfacing object for calling the activated secretary functions may be added. In other words, based on the type of the chat room where a request to execute the secretary mode has occurred, the activation or deactivation of each secretary function can be determined. The chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode may include an interfacing object for calling the secretary functions activated based on the type of the chat room, and may not include an interfacing object for calling the deactivated secretary functions.

[0074] FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating screens of a search interface according to an embodiment.

[0075] Referring to the screen 410 shown in FIG. 4A, when the search function is called via the chat interface switched to the secretary mode, the search interface is displayed in a partial area within the chat interface. Text input through the search window corresponds to the invocation of the search function. The search interface is an interface for providing the search function via the chat room, and includes a search window 411 where a search term is input, a button 412 for requesting a search for the search term, and a suggestion area 413 for the search term. In the suggestion area 413 for the search term, past search records of the user account and / or related search terms related to the input search term are displayed.

[0076] As an example, when an input for selecting the button 412 for the search request is received via the search interface, the terminal may send a search request including "this week's weather" input in the search window 411 as a search query to the search server. The search server can provide a search result page to the terminal. Referring to the screen 420 shown in FIG. 4B, the search interface includes a view 421 for displaying a search result page corresponding to the search query. When a search request input for the search term is received via the search interface, the search interface may be expanded to display the search result page. The search result page received from the search server via the view 421 may be displayed in a partial area of the chat interface. As an example, the transmission of the search query and the transmission and reception of data for the search function such as the search result page between the terminal and the search server may be relayed by the server.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the search interface can provide a function to share the search result page to a chat room. As an example, the search interface includes a button 422 for requesting the sharing of the search result page. The user may request the server to share the search result page by an input selecting the button 422. The sharing request of the search result page can be transmitted to the server via the search server. For example, when a search request for a search term input via a search window is sent to the search server, the search server provides information regarding the search result page for the search term to the server. The information regarding the search result page provided to the server may include information for providing the search result page to the terminal in the form of a message. The server can transmit a message connected to the search result page via the chat interface to the terminal where the search request occurred based on the information regarding the search result page.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the search result page can be shared to a chat room in the form of a message. The chat room to which the search result page is shared may be the chat room where a request for executing the secretary function occurred. On the other hand, the search result page may be shared not only to the chat room where a request for executing the secretary function occurred but also to different chat rooms in which the user account participates.

[0079] Referring to the screen 430 shown in FIG. 4C, the search result page can be shared to a chat room in the form of a message 431. When a sharing request of the search result page is received, a message 431 including a path connected to the search result page is generated at the server. The terminal can connect to the search result page provided by the search server via the message 431 corresponding to the search result page. For example, when an input selecting the message 431 is received, the terminal can connect to the search result page based on the path included in the selected message 431.

[0080] FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating screens of a schedule management interface according to one embodiment.

[0081] Referring to screen 510 shown in FIG. 5A, when the schedule management function is called via the chat interface switched to the secretary mode, the schedule management interface may be displayed in a partial area within the chat interface. As an example, an input for selecting the "Schedule Registration" button in the secretary function menu 321 shown in FIG. 3A corresponds to the call of the schedule management function. The schedule management interface provides a function for registering a new schedule and functions for querying and editing the registered schedule. For example, the user may input information regarding a new schedule (e.g., the name of the schedule and the time of the schedule) via the schedule management interface. The user may request the server to generate a schedule by an input of selecting the "Register" button 511 of the schedule management interface. The server can generate the requested schedule and register it in the calendar subordinate to the user's account.

[0082] According to an embodiment, at the time of generating a schedule, the user can set a target to be invited to the schedule generated via the schedule management interface. The target to be invited to the schedule may include at least one user account and / or at least one chat room. When a chat room is set as the target to be invited to the schedule, the user accounts participating in the chat room may be set as the invitation targets.

[0083] The server according to one embodiment can automatically input chat room information to the target (or invite target) invited to the schedule based on the type of chat room where the request for the schedule management function occurred. As an example, when the request for the schedule management function occurs via a general chat room in which two or more user accounts participate, the user accounts participating in the corresponding chat room may be automatically input to the target invited to the schedule. The user who requested the schedule generation may make modifications such as deleting the automatically input invite target or adding a new invite target via the schedule management interface. As an example, when the request for the schedule management function occurs via an anonymous chat room or a chat room with me, the user accounts participating in the corresponding chat room may not be automatically input to the target invited to the schedule. The user who requested the schedule generation may input, as invite targets, the user accounts registered as friends and / or the participant accounts of the chat rooms in which the user is participating via the schedule management interface.

[0084] According to one embodiment, a user can request to query the schedules registered via the schedule management interface. For example, the user can request to query the schedules registered in the server by inputting a selection of the "View Schedule List" button 512 of the schedule management interface. In response to the received schedule query request, the interface screen 510 displayed on the terminal is switched to the interface screen 520 for schedule query shown in FIG. 5B. Referring to the screen 520 shown in FIG. 5B, at least one schedule list registered in the user account corresponding calendar via the schedule management interface is displayed.

[0085] Referring to the screen 530 shown in FIG. 5C, the schedule generated via the schedule management interface may be shared with the chat room in the form of a message 531. When a request to share the schedule generated via the schedule management interface is received, a message 531 for accessing the data regarding the schedule generated by the server is generated. The terminal can connect to a page where it can query the schedule generated via the message 531 corresponding to the schedule. For example, when an input selecting the message 531 is received, the terminal may connect to a page where it can query the schedule generated based on the route included in the selected message 531.

[0086] According to an embodiment, at the time of generating a schedule, the user can set a target (or sharing target) for sharing the schedule generated via the schedule management interface. As concepts that are distinguished from each other, the sharing target of the schedule and the invitation target of the schedule described above may be set independently of each other. The target for sharing the schedule may include at least one user account and / or at least one chat room. When a specific chat room is set as the target for sharing the schedule, a message corresponding to the schedule is sent to the corresponding chat room. When a specific user account is set as the target for sharing the schedule, a message corresponding to the schedule can be sent to the chat room with the corresponding user account.

[0087] The server according to one embodiment can automatically input chat room information as a target for sharing a schedule based on the type of the chat room where a request for a schedule management function has occurred. As an example, when a request for a schedule management function occurs via a general chat room in which two or more user accounts participate, the corresponding chat room or the user accounts participating in the corresponding chat room may be automatically input as a target for sharing the schedule. The user who requested the schedule generation may make modifications such as deleting the automatically input sharing target or adding a new sharing target via the schedule management interface. On the other hand, when a request for a schedule management function occurs via an anonymous chat room or a chat room with me, the corresponding chat room information may not be automatically input as a target for sharing the schedule. The user who requested the schedule generation may input, as a sharing target, the user accounts registered as friends and / or the chat rooms in which the user is participating via the schedule management interface.

[0088] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating screens of a to-do management interface according to one embodiment.

[0089] Referring to the screen 610 shown in FIG. 6A, when the "to-do" management function is called via the chat interface switched to the secretary mode, the "to-do" management interface is displayed in a partial area within the chat interface. As an example, an input of selecting the "Register to-do" button 321 in the secretary function menu 321 shown in FIG. 3A corresponds to the call of the "to-do" management function. The "to-do" management interface provides functions for registering new "to-do" items and querying and editing the registered "to-do" items. For example, the user may input information regarding a new "to-do" item (e.g., the name of the "to-do", the deadline of the "to-do", and the number of repetitions) via the "to-do" management interface. The user requests the server to generate a "to-do" item by selecting the "Register" button 611 of the "to-do" management interface. The server can generate a "to-do" item including information regarding the new "to-do" item in response to the user's request and register it in the "to-do" database subordinate to the user's account.

[0090] According to an embodiment, the user can request a query of the registered "to-do" items via the "to-do" management interface. For example, the user may request the server to query information regarding the registered "to-do" items by selecting the "View to-do list" button 612 of the "to-do" management interface. In response to the received query request, the interface screen 610 displayed on the terminal is switched to the interface screen 620 for querying information regarding the "to-do" items shown in FIG. 6B. Referring to the screen 620 shown in FIG. 6B, a list including at least one "to-do" item registered in the "to-do" database corresponding to the user account may be displayed via the "to-do" management interface.

[0091] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating screens of a reservation message management interface according to an embodiment.

[0092] Referring to the screen 710 shown in FIG. 7A, when the reservation message management function is called via the chat interface switched to the secretary mode, the reservation message management interface can be displayed in a partial area within the chat interface. As an example, an input for selecting the "Reserve Message" button in the secretary function menu 321 shown in FIG. 3A corresponds to the invocation of the reservation message management function. The reservation message management interface provides a function for registering a new reservation message and functions for querying and editing the registered reservation messages. For example, the user may input information regarding a new reservation message (e.g., the content of the reservation message, the transmission date and time of the reservation message, the recipient of the reservation message, and the notification settings regarding the reservation message) via the reservation message management interface. The user may request the generation of a reservation message to the server by an input for selecting the "Register" button 711 of the reservation message management interface. The server can generate the requested reservation message and register it in the reservation message database subordinate to the user's account.

[0093] According to an embodiment, at the time of generating a reservation message, the user can set the recipient (or, the recipient) of the reservation message generated via the reservation message management interface. The recipient of the reservation message may include at least one user account and / or at least one chat room. When a chat room is set as the recipient of the reservation message, the corresponding chat room and / or the user accounts participating in the corresponding chat room may be set as the recipient of the reservation message.

[0094] The server according to an embodiment can automatically input chat room information into the sending target of a reservation message based on the type of chat room where a request for the reservation message management function has occurred. As an example, when a request for the reservation message management function occurs via a general chat room in which two or more user accounts participate, the corresponding chat room or the user accounts participating in the corresponding chat room may be automatically input into the sending target of the reservation message. As an example, when a request for the reservation message management function occurs via a chat room with me, the account of the user who requested the generation of the reservation message may be automatically input into the sending target of the reservation message. The user who requested the generation of the reservation message makes modifications such as deleting the sending target of the automatically input reservation message or adding a new sending target of the reservation message via the reservation message management interface. As an example, when a request for the reservation message management function occurs via an anonymous chat room, the corresponding chat room information may not be automatically input into the sending target of the reservation message. The user who requested the generation of the reservation message can input, via the reservation message management interface, the user accounts registered as friendship relationships and / or the chat rooms in which the user is participating as the sending targets of the reservation message.

[0095] According to an embodiment, a user can request an inquiry of the reservation messages registered via the reservation message management interface. For example, the user can request an inquiry of the reservation messages registered in the server by an input of selecting the "View Reservation List" button 712 of the reservation message management interface. In response to the received request for an inquiry of the reservation messages, the interface screen 710 displayed on the terminal is switched to the interface screen 720 for inquiring about the reservation messages shown in FIG. 7B. Referring to the screen 720 shown in FIG. 7B, a list of at least one reservation message registered in the reservation message database corresponding to the user account via the reservation message management interface may be displayed.

[0096] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a secretary interface screen provided via a messenger application according to an embodiment.

[0097] A messenger application according to an embodiment can provide a terminal with a secretary interface for calling a secretary function through various entry points in addition to a request for executing the secretary mode through a chat room. As an example, when a request for executing the secretary mode is received through various entry points in the messenger application, the secretary interface screen 810 shown in FIG. 8 is output via the terminal. The secretary interface includes interfacing objects 811, 812, 813 for calling secretary functions (e.g., a schedule management function, a to-do management function, and a reserved message function).

[0098] According to an embodiment, an input for selecting the interfacing objects 811, 812, 813 corresponds to the same call of the secretary function as an input for selecting the "Schedule Registration", "To-Do Registration", and "Message Reservation" buttons included in the secretary function menu 321 included in the chat interface corresponding to the secretary mode shown in FIG. 3A. The secretary interface provided in response to the input for selecting the interfacing objects 811, 812, 813 may be displayed through the entire area where the screen of the messenger application is output instead of being displayed through a partial area within the chat interface.

[0099] A terminal installed with an application for a messaging service according to an embodiment includes a processor, a memory, and an input / output device.

[0100] The processor of the terminal according to one embodiment can perform the operations of at least one terminal described above with reference to FIG. 1. For example, the processor of the terminal may perform at least one of the operations of switching the input mode of the chat interface to a secretary mode for calling the secretary function, receiving a call of the secretary function, and displaying a secretary interface corresponding to the called secretary function.

[0101] The memory of the terminal according to one embodiment may store data necessary for performing the operations described above with reference to FIG. 1 and / or data generated by executing the operations described above with reference to FIG. 1. The memory may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory.

[0102] According to one embodiment, the memory of the terminal can store a program in which the operation method of the terminal described above with reference to FIG. 1 is embodied. The processor of the terminal executes the program stored in the memory to control the terminal. The code of the program executed by the processor of the terminal may be stored in the memory.

[0103] The terminal according to one aspect is connected to an external device (for example, a personal computer or a network) via an input / output device and exchanges data. For example, the terminal may receive a user's touch input, text input, and / or voice input via the input / output device, and output a screen of an interface provided via an application.

[0104] The embodiments described above are implemented by hardware components, software components, or a combination of hardware components and software components. For example, the devices and components described in this embodiment can be implemented using one or more general-purpose computers or special-purpose computers, such as a processor, a controller, an ALU (arithmetic logic unit), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, an FPA (field programmable array), a PLU (programmable logic unit), a microprocessor, or different devices that execute and respond to instructions. The processing device executes an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications executed on the operating system. Also, the processing device accesses, stores, manipulates, processes, and generates data in response to the execution of the software. For convenience of understanding, the processing device may be described as being one, but those skilled in the art will understand that the processing device may include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing device may include multiple processors or one processor and one controller. Also, other processing configurations, such as a parallel processor, are possible.

[0105] Software includes a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of them, and can configure a processing device to operate as desired, or command the processing device independently or in combination. Software and / or data can be permanently or temporarily embodied in any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual device, computer storage medium or device, or signal wave being transmitted, in order to be interpreted by the processing device or provide instructions or data to the processing device. Software can be distributed on a computer system connected to a network and stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data can be stored in one or more computer-readable recording media.

[0106] The method according to this embodiment is embodied in the form of program instructions implemented via various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The recording medium includes program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The recording medium and program instructions may be specially designed and configured for the purpose of the present invention, or may be known and usable to those skilled in the art of computer software technology. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy (registered trademark) disks, and magnetic tapes, optical recording media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROMs, RAMs, flash memories, etc. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

[0107] The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to execute the operations shown in the present invention, and vice versa.

[0108] Although the embodiments have been described with reference to the limited drawings as described above, those of ordinary skill in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above description. For example, the described technology may be executed in an order different from the described method, and / or the components such as the described system, structure, device, circuit, etc. may be combined or assembled in a form different from the described method, and appropriate results can be achieved even if they are replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents.

[0109] Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims also fall within the scope of the claims described hereinafter.

Claims

1. A method for operating a terminal having an application for a messaging service installed thereon, comprising: identifying a type of chat room of the application; displaying an interfacing object for invoking a secretary function determined to be activated based on the identified chat room type; receiving, via said interfacing object, an invocation of said secretary function; displaying a secretary interface corresponding to the invoked secretary function; Including, The secretary function determined to be activated includes at least one of a search function through a chat room, a schedule management function, a to-do management function, and a reservation message management function; The secretary function determined to be activated in the first type chat room and the secretary function determined to be activated in the second type chat room are at least partially different from each other; The type of the chat room includes the first type corresponding to a general chat room determined based on a method of joining the chat room, and the second type corresponding to a chat room that can be joined via link information.

2. The step of displaying the interfacing object includes: displaying a search window in a chat interface of the application in conjunction with a search server; changing a message input window of the chat interface to the search window; The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:

3. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the interfacing objects includes the step of displaying a secretary function menu in a chat interface of the application, the secretary function menu including at least one interfacing object for invoking a secretary function.

4. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying an interfacing object includes the step of displaying an interfacing object for invoking a secretary function activated based on the type of the chat room.

5. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying a secretary interface corresponding to the invoked secretary function comprises displaying the secretary interface including information about the chat room based on a type of the chat room.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secretary interface is displayed in place of a message input window of a chat interface of the application.

7. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing the display of the secretary interface and displaying a message input window in response to an input mode of a chat interface of the application being switched to a chat mode for message input.

8. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving, via said secretary interface, a service corresponding to said invoked secretary function.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of receiving a service corresponding to the called secretary function includes the step of receiving a service linked to the chat room based on the called secretary function.

10. A computer program stored on a medium for performing, in combination with hardware, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A terminal having an application for a messaging service installed thereon, Identifying a type of chat room for the application; displaying an interfacing object for invoking a secretary function determined to be activated based on the identified chat room type; receiving an invocation of said secretary function via said interfacing object; displaying a secretary interface corresponding to the invoked secretary function; at least one processor; The secretary function determined to be activated includes at least one of a search function through a chat room, a schedule management function, a to-do management function, and a reservation message management function; The secretary function determined to be activated in the first type chat room and the secretary function determined to be activated in the second type chat room are at least partially different from each other; The type of the chat room includes the first type corresponding to a general chat room determined based on a method of participating in the chat room, and the second type corresponding to a chat room that can be joined via link information, the terminal.

12. The processor, In displaying the interfacing object, displaying a search window linked to a search server in a chat interface of the application; changing a message input window of the chat interface to the search window; The terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

13. The processor, In displaying the interfacing object, 12. The terminal of claim 11, further comprising: a chat interface for displaying a secretary function menu including at least one interfacing object for invoking a secretary function in the chat interface of the application.

14. The processor, In displaying the interfacing object, 12. The terminal of claim 11, further comprising: a display of an interfacing object for invoking a secretary function activated based on the type of the chat room.

15. The terminal of claim 11 , wherein the secretary interface is displayed in place of a message input window of a chat interface of the application.

16. 12. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the processor, in response to an input mode of a chat interface of the application being switched to a chat mode for message input, removes the display of the secretary interface and displays a message input window.

17. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the processor receives a service corresponding to the invoked secretary function via the secretary interface.

18. The processor, In receiving a service corresponding to a request to call the secretary function, The terminal of claim 17, further comprising: a terminal configured to receive a service associated with the chat room based on the invoked secretary function.

Images