U.S. patent application number 14/887569 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-11 for system and method for providing information interactively by instant messaging application.
The applicant listed for this patent is LINE CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Dongri JIN, Hyuk JUNG, Euivin PARK, Heechan YANG.
Application Number | 20160043975 14/887569 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48524808 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160043975 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Euivin ; et
al. |
February 11, 2016 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION INTERACTIVELY BY
INSTANT MESSAGING APPLICATION
Abstract
A method that uses a processor to provide information, the
method includes establishing a conversation session between a
terminal and a software bot through an instant messaging
application executed in the terminal for an instant messaging
service; displaying a map on a screen of the terminal; transmitting
a request to the software bot through the conversation session for
querying information associated with at least one point selected in
the map on the screen of the terminal by an user of the terminal or
a region corresponding to the at least one point; receiving the
information associated with the at least one point or the region
from the software bot through the conversation session; and
displaying the received information the screen of the terminal.
Inventors: |
PARK; Euivin; (Seongnam-si,
KR) ; YANG; Heechan; (Seongnam-si, KR) ; JUNG;
Hyuk; (Seongnam-si, KR) ; JIN; Dongri;
(Seongnam-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LINE CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
48524808 |
Appl. No.: |
14/887569 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13548936 |
Jul 13, 2012 |
|
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14887569 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/30 20130101;
H04L 67/325 20130101; H04L 51/02 20130101; H04L 65/40 20130101;
H04L 51/046 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/58 20060101
H04L012/58 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 1, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0127669 |
Claims
1. A method that uses a processor to provide information, the
method comprising: establishing a conversation session between a
terminal and a software bot through an instant messaging
application executed in the terminal for an instant messaging
service; displaying a map on a screen of the terminal; transmitting
a request to the software bot through the conversation session for
querying information associated with at least one point selected in
the map on the screen of the terminal by an user of the terminal or
a region corresponding to the at least one point; receiving the
information associated with the at least one point or the region
from the software bot through the conversation session; and
displaying the received information the screen of the terminal.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with
the at least one point or the region includes weather information
of the at least one point or the region, traffic information of the
at least one point or the region, accommodation information of the
at least one point or the region, radiation level information of
the at least one point or the region and schedule information of
the user of the terminal associated with the at least one point or
the region.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the request
comprises transmitting a message including position identification
information corresponding to the at least one point or the region
to an information providing system providing the instant messaging
service in conjunction with the instant messaging application, and
wherein receiving the information comprises receiving a result,
from the information providing system, searched by the information
providing system through a database associated with the software
bot.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the received
information comprises displaying the received information within
the conversation session.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information
comprises receiving the information through a push alarm of the
terminal, between the terminal and the software bot provided from
the instant messaging application of the terminal.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the software bot is one of a
plurality of software bots capable of being registered to the
messaging application and the received information associated with
the at least one point or the region is different based on a type
of the software bot.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting time
identification information inputted or selected by the user of the
terminal to the software bot through the conversation session,
wherein receiving the information comprises receiving information
corresponding to the time identification information among the
information associated with the at least one point or the
region.
8. A method that uses a processor to provide information, the
method comprising: receiving a request from a terminal, through a
conversation session established between the terminal and a
software bot using an instant messaging application executed in the
terminal for an instant messaging service, for querying information
associated with at least one point selected in a map on a screen of
the terminal by an user of the terminal or a region corresponding
to the at least one point; retrieving the information associated
with the at least one point or the region from a database; and
transmitting the retrieved information to the terminal.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information associated with
the at least one point or the region includes weather information
of the at least one point or the region, traffic information of the
at least one point or the region, accommodation information of the
at least one point or the region, radiation level information of
the at least one point or the region and schedule information of
the user of the terminal associated with the at least one point or
the region.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the database is a database
associated with the software bot among a plurality of
databases.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the software bot is one of a
plurality of software bots capable of registering to the messaging
application and the retrieved information associated with the at
least one point or the region is different based on a type of the
software bot.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the retrieved
information comprises transmitting to the terminal over a network
to be displayed through a push alarm of the terminal.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving the request
comprises further receiving time identification information
inputted or selected by the user of the terminal from the terminal,
wherein retrieving the information comprises further retrieving
information corresponding to the time identification information
among the information associated with the at least one point or the
region.
14. A system to provide information, the system comprising: a
memory having computer-readable instructions stored thereon; and at
least one processor configured to execute the computer-readable
instructions which configure the processor to, receive a request
from a terminal, through a conversation session established between
the terminal and a software bot using an instant messaging
application executed in the terminal for an instant messaging
service, for querying information associated with at least one
point selected in a map on a screen of the terminal by an user of
the terminal or a region corresponding to the at least one point,
retrieve the information associated with the at least one point or
the region from a database, and transmitting the retrieved
information to the terminal.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the information associated with
the at least one point or the region includes weather information
of the at least one point or the region, traffic information of the
at least one point or the region, accommodation information of the
at least one point or the region, radiation level information of
the at least one point or the region and schedule information of
the user of the terminal associated with the at least one point or
the region.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the database is a database
associated with the software bot among a plurality of
databases.
17. The system of claim 14, wherein the software bot is one of a
plurality of software bots capable of registering to the messaging
application and the retrieved information associated with the at
least one point or the region is different based on a type of the
software bot.
18. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further
configured to transmit the retrieved information to the terminal
over a network to be displayed through a push alarm of the
terminal.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further
configured to receive time identification information inputted or
selected by the user of the terminal from the terminal and
retrieving information corresponding to the time identification
information among the information associated with the at least one
point or the region.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/548,936 filed on Jul. 13, 2012,
which claims the benefit of priority of Korean Patent Application
No. 10-2011-0127669, filed on Dec. 1, 2011, the entire contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a
system and method for providing information to a user through an
instant messaging application connected over a network. Exemplary
embodiments of the present invention also relate to a system and
method for providing new user experience (UE) so that the user may
receive information while is conversing with a virtual friend on a
message transmission application.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Background
[0005] With distribution of information technology (IT) terminals
including a touch sense display, for example, a smart phone, a
tablet personal computer (PC), and the like, various applications
may provide an instant messaging service in a mobile user terminal.
In addition, many users have also increasing interest and thus, the
messaging service is quickly replacing an existing short message
service (SMS) or a multimedia messaging service (MMS).
[0006] In an instant messaging service, a user may add a
conversation friend using contact information of a user terminal,
or may add a friend through a user selection. The user may open a
conversation session with added friends to transmit and receive
messages.
[0007] Even though the related art has proposed a service of
providing an appropriate response by employing a user input message
as a query in the SMS whereas the instant messaging application has
not provided the above concept. There is no service that may
provide information by adding, as a friend, a software bot that is
a virtual artificial intelligent software program and thereby
enabling a user to converse with a virtual friend.
[0008] The above information disclosed in this Background section
is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the
invention and therefore it may contain information that does not
form any part of the prior art nor what the prior art may suggest
to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an
information providing system and method that may provide
information by providing a conversation typed is response to a user
input message through an instant messaging application which may be
executed in various types of communicable terminals, for example, a
smart phone, a tablet personal computer (PC).
[0010] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide
an information providing system and method that may provide
information required by a user in an interactive form through an
instant messaging application using position information.
[0011] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide
information providing system and method that may selectively obtain
a variety of information required by a user by providing various
software bots.
[0012] Additional features of the invention will be set forth in
the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from
the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention.
[0013] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a
method of providing information by using a processor through a
messaging application. The method includes receiving, from a
terminal, a request for adding a software bot as a friend. The
method further includes registering the software bot as the friend,
transmitting, by the software bot terminal, an input request
message to the terminal, receiving a reply message in response to
the input request message, and storing the reply message as
database information associated with the terminal. The method also
includes retrieving a response to a query from the database by
inputting the reply message as the query, and transmitting the
response to the terminal.
[0014] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also disclose
a method of providing information through a messaging application.
The method includes recommending a terminal for at least one
software bot registered as a friend. The method further includes
receiving, from the terminal, a request for adding, as the friend
of the terminal, a software bot, and registering the software bot
as the friend of the terminal, initiating a conversation session
with the software bot, transmitting, by the software bot, an input
request message to the terminal within the conversation session.
The method also includes receiving a reply message from the
terminal within the conversation session in response to the input
request message, storing the reply message as terminal information
associated with the terminal, retrieving a response to a query from
a database by inputting the reply message as the query, and
transmitting the response to the terminal.
[0015] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also disclose
a system for providing information through a messaging application.
The system includes an access manager configured to manage an
access of a terminal over a network, and to receive a reply message
that is transmitted from a terminal to a software bot in response
to an input request message of the software bot. The system also
includes an information storage unit configured to store and manage
information associated with the software bot added by the terminal
and information associated with a conversation session between the
terminal and the software bot, and a processor configured to
retrieve a response to a query from a database by inputting the
reply message as the query. The access manager may configured to
control the software bot to transmit the input request message to
the terminal, which may receive the reply message through the
conversation session, and may transmit the response to the
terminal. The reply message may be stored in the information
storage unit.
[0016] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also disclose
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable
program, which when executed, perform a method of providing
information through a messaging application. The method includes
receiving, from a terminal, a request for adding a software bot as
a friend. The method further includes registering the software bot
as the friend of the terminal, transmitting, by the software bot
terminal, an input request message to the terminal, receiving a
reply message from the terminal in response to the input request
message, and storing the reply message as information database. The
method also includes retrieving a response to a query from the
database by inputting the reply message as the query, and
transmitting the response to the terminal.
[0017] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also disclose
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising an executable
program, which when executed, perform a method of providing
information through a messaging application. The method includes
recommending a terminal for at least one software bot for
registering as a friend. The method further includes receiving,
from the terminal, a request for adding, as the friend of the
terminal, a software bot of the recommended at least one software
bot, registering the software bot as the friend of the terminal,
initiating a conversation session with the software bot,
transmitting, by the software bot, an input request message to the
terminal within the conversation session. The method also includes
receiving a reply message input by the terminal within the
conversation session in response to the input request message,
storing the reply message as information database, retrieving a
response to a query from the database by inputting the reply
message as the query, and transmitting the response to the
terminal.
[0018] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of
the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention, and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration
between an information providing system and user terminals
according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an information
providing system according to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a user interface displaying icons of an instant
messaging application associated with an information providing
method, on a user terminal according to exemplary embodiments of
the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a user interface for providing a friend add
function in an instant messaging application according to exemplary
embodiments of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a user interface displaying software bots included
in a registered friend list in an instant messaging application
according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12,
FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16 are user interfaces for
providing a user with information in an interactive form through a
conversation session with a software bot in an instant messaging
application according to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a user interface displaying a conversation
session with a software bot generated in an instant messaging
application according to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 18 is a user interface displaying software bots addable
in an instant messaging application according to exemplary
embodiments of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an information providing
method according to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] The invention is described more fully hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary
embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough,
and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled
in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers
and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals
in the drawings denote like elements.
[0030] It will be understood that, although the terms first,
second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements,
components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements,
components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited
by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one
element, component, region, layer or section from another region,
layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer
or section discussed below could be termed a second element,
component, region, layer or section without departing from the
teachings of the present invention.
[0031] Spatially relative terms, such as "beneath", "below",
"lower", "above", "upper" and the like, may be used herein for ease
of description to describe one element or feature's is relationship
to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures.
It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are
intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use
or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the
figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over,
elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or
features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or
features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both an
orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise
oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the
spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted
accordingly.
[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms, "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "includes" and/or "including", when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It
should be understood that for the purposes of this disclosure, "at
least one of X, Y, and Z" can be construed as X only, Y only, Z
only, or any combination of two or more items X, Y, and Z (e.g.,
XYZ, XYY, YZ, ZZ).
[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such
as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be
interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be
interpreted in an idealized or is overly formal sense unless
expressly so defined herein.
[0034] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0035] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration
between an information providing system and user terminals
according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, in a diagram 100, the information
providing system 110 may provide an instant messaging service over
a network 104. The instant messaging service may be provided from
the information providing system 110 through instant messaging
applications installed in the user terminals 101, 102, and 103.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the information
providing system according to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0038] FIG. 2 describes information providing system 110 of FIG. 1
in detail. An access manager 210 may be understood as a
communication module that may manage connection between the
information providing system 110 and various user terminals 101,
102, and 103 over the network 104, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0039] Messages received from the user terminals 101, 102, and 103
may be transferred to a processor 230 via the access manager 210.
When the processor 230 provides a message of a software bot to
perform conversation between the software bot and a user, the
message may be transferred to the user terminals 101, 102, and 103
via the access manager 210.
[0040] A user information storage unit 220 may refer to any types
of physical logical configurations that may store and manage
various user subscription information, information associated with
a software bot added as a friend, information associated with a
conversation is session with a user, and the like.
[0041] The processor 230 may receive a user message in a service of
a conversation scheme between a user and a software bot, for
example, a one-to-one chatting scheme, and may generate and provide
an answer of the software bot in response to the message. In
addition to a response to the user message, the answer may also
include any types of message determinations, for example, a query,
a notice, and the like, that the software bot transfers to the
user. It will be further described later.
[0042] In FIG. 2, a database 240 may store information used by the
processor 230 to perform the conversation between the software bot
and the user. For example, in association with a software bot for
guiding weather, weather information for each region/date may be
stored. The database 240 may include any types of physical and
logical data storage configurations that may provide at least one
answer to a predetermined query.
[0043] Hereinafter, various operations or applications performed by
the information providing system 110 will be described. Even though
configurations of the access manager 210, the user information
storage unit 220, the processor 230, and the database 240 are not
particularly specified, content that may be clearly understood and
be predicted by those skilled in the art may be understood as a
general embodiment and the scope of the present invention is not
limited to or restricted by a name of a predetermined configuration
or physical/logical structure.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a user interface displaying icons of an instant
messaging application associated with an information providing
method, on a user terminal according to exemplary embodiments of
the present invention.
[0045] The instant messaging application 310 may be distributed in
an application store or market as one of a plurality of
applications to be installed in a user terminal.
[0046] When a user executes the instant messaging application 310,
the user may open a conversation session with registered friends
and may transmit and receive messages to and from the friends. A
software bot that is a virtual artificial intelligent software
program may be added as a friend.
[0047] Hereinafter, a process of adding a friend and providing
information after executing the instant messaging application 310
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a user interface to provide a friend add function
in the instant messaging application according to exemplary
embodiments of the present invention.
[0049] The instant messaging application 310 of FIG. 3 may
automatically access a contact list of a user terminal to add, to a
friend list, friends having installed the same application, and may
also directly add a friend using the user interface of FIG. 4.
[0050] Content in which a friend may be manually added through an
ID search may be applied to the conventional instant messaging
application. According to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention, it is possible to add a friend through near field
communication and motion sensing using a quick response (QR)
code.
[0051] In the instant messaging application 310, the user may
selectively add, as a friend, various types of software bots
provided from the information providing system 110.
[0052] The various software bots may be provided through a friend
recommendation function of the information providing system 110,
and may also be provided from a separately provided software bot
store. Addition of software bots will be further described
hereinafter with reference to FIG. 18.
[0053] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention will be described by employing a predetermined software
bot as an example.
[0054] FIG. 5 is a user interface displaying software bots
registered friend list in an instant messaging application
according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 5, for example, "LINE weather friend" that
is a software bot for providing weather information and "LINE
Japanese interpretation friend" that is a software bot for
providing interpretation between English and Japanese may be
included in a friend list.
[0056] A user may add the above software bots as friends equivalent
to actual users, or may delete the software bots from the friend
list. A process of opening a conversation session with the software
bots and thereby performing one-to-one chatting may be the same as
chatting with friends that are actual users.
[0057] Accordingly, since the user may treat virtual users, for
example, the software bots as if the virtual users are the actual
friends, the user interface according to the exemplary embodiment
of the present invention is different from an information search
interface in conventional instant messaging services.
[0058] Hereinafter, a process of providing information according to
exemplary embodiments of the present invention, for example, by
opening a conversation session with a software bot "LINE weather
friend" and transmitting and receiving messages in a one-to-one
chatting form will be further described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0059] FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12,
FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 are user interfaces for
providing a user with information in an interactive form through a
conversation session with a software bot in an instant messaging
application according to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0060] FIG. 6 shows an example of initially performing one-to-one
chatting with "LINE is weather friend" after adding the software
bot "LINE weather friend" as a friend through a method of accepting
a friend recommendation when the friend recommendation is received,
a method of retrieving a software bot and adding the retrieved
software bot as a friend, and the like.
[0061] The software bot "LINE weather friend" may transmit a
message from the database 240 to a user according to a
predetermined scheme.
[0062] A brief address and a simple guidance about how to use the
software bot may be introduced. Other notices may also be provided
in an interactive form of an instant messaging service.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 7, to set a basic region about the
corresponding user, the software bot "LINE weather friend" may
transmit, to the user, an input request message requesting the user
to input a region to be set as the basic region.
[0064] The user may input a region of interest (ROI), for example,
"Seoul" in a message transmission form of one-to-one chatting. A
reply message input by the user may be stored as information
associated with the user in the user information storage unit 220
of FIG. 2.
[0065] The user may perform conversation as if the user one-to-one
chats with a friend in the instant messaging application being
executed in a user terminal. Content of a message to be transmitted
to the user, including a response to be transmitted in response to
the user input during the conversation, may be determined by the
information providing system 110 connected through the instant
messaging application and/or the network.
[0066] The software bot "LINE weather friend" may receive the
response from the information providing system 110, and may provide
today's weather of "Seoul" that is input as the basic region.
[0067] In addition to simply retrieving a response in response to a
user query and providing the retrieved response, the above
operation in the conversation session of the software bot "LINE
weather friend" may aggressively guide a function and induce a user
input in order to induce the usage of various functions that may be
employed by the user.
[0068] For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the software bot "LINE
weather friend" may guide the user about that the user may set a
weather guide alarm service, and may also guide the user about a
specific command when the user requests a help. The above content
may be provided in a one-to-one chatting form in the instant
messaging application.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 9, when the user reads a function guide
and inputs "new" to set a weather alarm, the software bot "LINE
weather friend" may prepare alarm setting.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 10, the software bot "LINE weather friend"
may guide the user about alarm options and may receive a user
input. As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the software bot "LINE
weather friend" may receive a user input on the region and may
receive a user input on an alarm time.
[0071] Based on the designated alarm option and region/time
setting, the software bot "LINE weather friend" may receive weather
information from the database 240 and provide the user with the
weather information in an interactive form and/or a push alarm form
in the user terminal. As described above, according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to store a
reply message of a user as user information, and to periodically
transmit a response through a messaging application of the user
terminal.
[0072] FIG. 13 shows a user interface in which a user requests
weather information in a conversation session with a software bot
"LINE weather friend" at an arbitrary time.
[0073] When the user requests information associated with today's
weather, the software bot "LINE weather friend" may ask the user
about a desired region, for example, a ROI. When the region is not
input, the software bot "LINE weather friend" may inform the user
about weather of a region that is set as a basic region. However,
it is only an example and thus, may be differently set based on
various embodiments.
[0074] For example, it is possible to inform the user about weather
around a current user position using global positioning system
(GPS) information of the user terminal, and to inform the user
about weather of a point/region selected by the user on a map
screen. In FIG. 13, the software bot "LINE weather friend" guides
the user about today's weather when the user manually inputs
"Seoul" as the ROI.
[0075] Meanwhile, when the software bot "LINE weather friend"
cannot find, from the user input message, appropriate content used
to provide weather information even by referring to data of the
database 240, the software bot "LINE weather friend" may induce the
user to perform an input associated with a service provided by the
corresponding software bot as shown in FIG. 14.
[0076] Accordingly, the user may perform a meaningful input, for
example, input of a region/date, and the like, on an input window.
FIG. 15 shows a user interface in which the software bot "LINE
weather friend" provides today's weather and tomorrow's weather of
Jeju island with respect to an input "Jeju-do".
[0077] When a region range input by the user does not match a
providing range of the database 240, the software bot "LINE weather
friend" may guide the user about a range most similar to the user
input.
[0078] For example, as shown in FIG. 16, when the user inputs
"Gangnam", the software bot "LINE weather friend" may guide the
user about the weather of "Seoul" that is the most is similar
region range including "Gangnam".
[0079] The user may terminate and then restart the above
conversation session at any time.
[0080] FIG. 17 is a user interface displaying a conversation
session with a software bot generated in an instant messaging
application according to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0081] When conversation sessions are provided as a list, the user
may continue conversation with a predetermined software bot by
selecting a single conversation session from the list.
[0082] As described above with reference to FIG. 4, various
software bots may be provided in a friend recommendation or bot
store/market page form.
[0083] FIG. 18 is a user interface displaying software bots that
may be added in an instant messaging application according to
exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0084] "LINE weather friend" and "LINE Japanese interpretation" are
described above.
[0085] A software bot "LINE secretary" enables the user to store
schedules, or to use a predetermined alarm function in an
interactive form. A software bot "LINE KnowledgeIN" enables the
user to retrieve general information in interaction with a
KnowledgeIN service of a portal site and the like.
[0086] A software bot "LINE radiation level" may provide in real
time information associated with a radiation level for each region.
A software bot "LINE shopping friend" may recommend an item that
the user desires to shop, or may provide price comparison
information, and the like.
[0087] A software bot "LINE traffic information" may provide the
user with real-time is traffic information of each region in a
one-to-one chatting form. A software bot "LINE travel agency" may
provide travel region information, and make a reservation of
transportation, an accommodation, and the like.
[0088] In addition to "LINE Japanese interpretation", a software
bot for interpreting other languages, for example, "LINE Chinese
interpretation" and the like may be provided.
[0089] Various software bots may not be understood to limit the
scope of the present invention and may be understood to describe a
portion of various embodiments of the present invention.
[0090] For example, the software bots are not limited to
information providing software bots and thus, software bots having
various extended functions for games, entertainment, and the like
may be provided.
[0091] The user interface for introducing the above software bots
so that the user may selectively add the software bots as friends
may be provided in a form of a friend recommendation page as shown
in FIG. 18, and may also be provided in form of a separate
store/market page.
[0092] Such store/market pages may be provided so that developers
may upload interesting software bots developed by the developers.
In the store/market pages, the software bots may be provided free
of charge or as paid items.
[0093] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an information providing
method according to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
[0094] In operation 1910, a message input by a user through a
conversation session of an instant messaging application may be
input to the information providing system 110.
[0095] In operation 1920, the information providing system 110 may
determine whether is the received message relates to an actual user
or a software bot, for example, a LINE bot.
[0096] In operation 1950, when the received message relates to the
general user, the information providing system 110 may process the
received message by pushing the received message to a counter party
as in a conventional instant messaging service. On the contrary,
when the received message relates to the software bot, the
information providing system 110 may retrieve a response by
inputting the received message as a database query in operation
1930. In operation 1940, the information providing system 110 may
transmit the response to a user terminal.
[0097] Even though operations shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19 are
briefly described, the information providing method may be extended
and modified depending upon various embodiments with reference to
FIG. 1 through FIG. 18, and may be included within the spirit of
the present invention without departing from the scope of the
present invention.
[0098] The exemplary embodiments according to the present invention
may be recorded in non-transitory computer-readable media including
program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a
computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with
the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the
like. The media and program instructions may be specially designed
and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they
may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill
in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media
include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and
magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVD;
magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices
that are specially configured to store and perform program
instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory
(RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions
include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and
files containing higher level code that may be executed by the
computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may
be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to
perform the operations of the above-described embodiments of the
present invention.
[0099] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention,
it is possible to enhance user convenience and interest by
providing information in an interactive form using a response to a
user input message.
[0100] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention,
the system and method of the present invention is applicable to
various types of communicable terminals such as a smart phone, a
table PC, and the like, and to employ various functions of a
terminal such as position information, a push alarm, and the like.
Therefore, various applications or extensions may be possible.
[0101] According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention,
it is possible to add various software bots as conversation friends
in a messaging application. A user may selectively add a software
bot as a friend of the user and converse with the added software
bot.
[0102] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variation can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *