WO2005088993A1

WO2005088993A1 - Method and system for providing contents service to instant messenger program installed mobile communication terminal by using virtual talking companions

Info

Publication number: WO2005088993A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/002097
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seokwoong Chang
Original assignee: Sk Telecom Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-03-17
Filing date: 2004-08-20
Publication date: 2005-09-22

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a system for providing a contents service to a mobile communication terminal storing an instant messenger program by means of a virtual talk partner which provides information. The system provides a mobile communication terminal for using a mobile instant messenger service through a wireless Internet network, the mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program having a function of a virtual talk partner providing information; a mobile messenger service server for providing a list of virtual talk partners to the mobile communication terminal, receiving and transmitting selection information for a selected virtual talk partner from the mobile communication terminal, receiving a response message including a contents item constructed by a text message corresponding to the selected virtual talk partner, and transmitting the response message to the mobile communication terminal through the wireless Internet network; and a virtual talk partner server for collecting contents items by manual input or automatic search, generating the response message by means of the selection information received from the mobile messenger service server, and transmitting the response message to the mobile messenger service server. According to the system, it is possible to receive conveniently and quickly information for various contents such as stock, news, advertisements, shopping, sports and education by means of a mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program having a function of a virtual talk partner (a kind of an informative buddy).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONTENTS SERVICE TO INSTANT MESSENGER PROGRAM INSTALLED MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL BY USING VIRTUAL TALKING COMPANIONS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a contents service to a mobile communication terminal storing an instant messenger program by means of a virtual talk partner which provides information. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for providing a contents service by means of a virtual talk partner in a mobile communication terminal including an instant messenger, in which contents items such as information, advertisements and goods sale are set as the virtual talk partner, and a service corresponding to one of the contents items for which a talk has been requested is provided through a response talk.

Background Art

With the soaring increase of Internet users, World

Wide Web (WWW) applications based on a ΗyperText Markup

Language (hereinafter, referred to as HTML) have been developed, so that various Internet businesses and cyber culture can be created on a cyber space. In particular, various instant messenger services have been developed and used such as in forming cyber communities on the Internet. These instant messenger services are free Internet community services capable of providing all Internet users with talk functions, realtime message transmission functions, file transfer functions, etc. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the conventional construction of an Internet communication network 100 for use of a messenger between users (Internet users) connected to the Internet in an Internet site. The Internet communication network 100 includes a web server 110 for managing each Internet site, and an application server 140 connected to the web server 110 through the Internet 120 for providing an instant messenger to the corresponding Internet site. A plurality of user terminals 130, which acquire information through the Internet site and use the instant messenger through the application server 140, are connected to the web server 110 and the application server 140 through the Internet 120. In the Internet communication network 100 as illustrated in FIG. 1, the web server 110 for managing each Internet site provides an icon for a program (instant messenger program) for use of the instant messenger so that the user terminals 130 can be connected to the application server 140 through the Internet 120 and download the program, and the users can select and use the program on the homepage. An Internet user sends a website access request by means of the user terminal 130 in order to access a website to which the instant messenger is connected, and the web server 110 approves the access to the website by the Internet users by transmitting an HTML document to the user terminal 130. Herein, the web server 110 requests transmission of the instant messenger to the application server 140 and the application server 140 transmits the instant messenger to the user terminal 130. That is, the instant messenger program is downloaded from the web server 110 to the user terminals 130 and is then installed and executed in the user terminals 130, so that the instant messenger operates in the user terminal 130 and the user is added to a user list on the instant messenger. Herein, when the user is a member of the website, the user is expressed by a registered member ID. In contrast, when the user is not the member of the website, the user is automatically expressed by a guest ID. In this way, the user is added to the user list. Then, when communication is performed between the user terminal 130 and the application server 140, the user terminal 130 is connected to the application server 140 through an instant messenger dedicated channel and enters into a state where messages may be exchanged with the application server 140. When the user clicks the icon provided from the web server 110 and displayed on a screen of the user terminals 130, an independent interface through which the instant messenger may be modified is displayed. Then, the list of other users is displayed through the independent interface in realtime, so that the status of the users can be checked and a state where messages may be exchanged is formed. User options include realtime talk of one-to-one or one-to-many users, channel searching, channel shift, channel set-up, nickname change, etc. In a case where the realtime talk is performed, when the user selects and clicks a specific user in the user list, a modifiable independent interface is generated for one-to-one message transmission. Therefore, messages may be transmitted in realtime and an immediate response may be checked. A service provider providing the instant messenger service by means of a wire communication network, a computer, etc., as described in FIG. 1 make profits by providing a separate tab to an execution window of the_instant messenger. FIGs. 2a and 2b are diagrams showing an initial execution window of an instant messenger executed in a computer and a tab execution window when a specific tab is selected. The initial execution window of FIG. 2a is a window displayed when the instant messenger installed on the computer operates, which has a plurality of tabs 210 arranged in a row on the left of the window. The initial execution window basically displays a list of ^Λfriend' registered as users, which shows if the users have logged onto the instant messenger and the current status. The tabs 210 displayed in the initial execution window are hyper- linked to specific web pages providing their respective services. Accordingly, when the user selects one of the tabs 210, a hyper-linked web page corresponding to the selected tab is displayed. FIG. 2b is a diagram showing a display of the web page hyper-linked to the selected tab. Sometimes, a separate web browser screen may be displayed through a pop-up window. In this way, the hyper-linked tab scheme is used, so that the user can conveniently use various Internet services including shopping, news, advertisements, education, games, music, etc., through the instant messenger. In the meantime, with the recent development of terminal technology, data transmission technology, wireless communication network technology, a mobile instant messenger service providing an instant messenger service through a mobile communication terminal has been widely spread. The mobile instant messenger service can conveniently use some of functions provided by a wire instant messenger service at any time regardless of a user' s position by overcoming disadvantages of a wire instant messenger service provided at a fixed position. Mobile instant messengers installed on the mobile communication terminals also provide online services including shopping, advertisements, news, games, etc., through the hyper-linked tab scheme, similarly to wire instant messengers installed on a computer, etc. However, the tab scheme in the mobile instant messenger has the following problems. First, because a Liquid Crystal Display (hereinafter, referred to as LCD) screen of a mobile communication terminal has a size much smaller than that of a computer monitor screen, the LCD screen is not sufficient for indicating a separate user interface such as the tab scheme. Next, even though the tab scheme has been applied to the mobile instant messenger, the mobile instant messenger having been already executed may close as a result of displaying a hyper-linked wireless web page. Last, when the mobile instant messenger ends and surfing is performed on the operated wireless web page, several steps must be inconveniently performed to change to a specific web page, differently from a web browser installed on a computer, etc. Therefore, web surfing on the mobile communication terminal requires much effort and time, so that communication time may increase. Consequently, service charges may increase.

Disclosure of the Invention Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for providing a contents service by means of a virtual talk partner in a mobile communication terminal including an instant messenger, in which contents items such as various information, advertisements and goods sale are set as the virtual talk partner, and a service corresponding to one of the contents items for which a talk has been requested is provided through a response talk in response to the talk request. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing an instant messenger service to a mobile communication terminal by means of a virtual talk partner, the system comprising: the mobile communication terminal capable of exploiting a mobile instant messenger service through a wireless Internet network, the mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program having a function of a virtual talk partner for use in providing information; a mobile messenger service server for providing a list of virtual talk partners to the mobile communication terminal, receiving and transmitting selection information for a selected virtual talk partner from the mobile communication terminal, receiving a response message including a contents item composed of a text message corresponding to the selected virtual talk partner, and transmitting the response message to the mobile communication terminal through the wireless Internet network; and a virtual talk partner server for collecting contents items by way of manual input or automatic search, generating the response message by means of the selection information received from the mobile messenger service server, and transmitting the response message to the mobile messenger service server. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a mobile instant messenger service through a mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program, a mobile messenger service server and a virtual talk partner server, the mobile messenger service server receiving selection information for a selected virtual talk partner from the mobile communication terminal through a wireless Internet network, the virtual talk partner server transmitting a text message corresponding to the selection information as a response message, the method comprising the steps of: a) authenticating the mobile communication terminal by means of an ID and a password received in the mobile messenger service server; b) providing a virtual talk partner list including at least one virtual talk partner to the mobile communication terminal; c) receiving selection information for a specific virtual talk partner from the mobile communication terminal, and transmitting the received selection information to the virtual talk partner server; and d) receiving the text message corresponding to the selection information from the virtual talk partner server, and transmitting the received text message to the mobile communication terminal through a talk window. According to further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing an instant messenger service by means of a virtual talk partner, the system comprising: a mobile communication terminal for storing a mobile instant messenger program having a function of a virtual talk partner, and setting an update contents notification function for at least one virtual talk partner by means of the mobile instant messenger program; a mobile messenger service server for receiving update contents notification setup information from the mobile communication terminal through a wireless Internet network, setting an update contents notification, storing the set update contents notification in user information for management and managing the stored update contents notification, receiving an update contents when a contents of said at least one virtual talk partner is updated, and transmitting the received update contents to the mobile communication terminal; and a virtual talk partner server for managing at least one contents item represented by said at least one virtual talk partner, and transmitting update fact and an update contents to the mobile messenger service server when a contents of said at least one contents item is updated. According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a mobile instant messenger service through a mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program, a mobile messenger service server and a virtual talk partner server, the mobile messenger service server receiving update contents notification setup information from the mobile communication terminal through a wireless Internet network, the virtual talk partner server transmitting an update contents to the mobile messenger service server when a contents of at least one contents item stored in the virtual talk partner server is updated, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving and storing the update contents notification setup information from the mobile communication terminal; b) confirming a corresponding mobile communication terminal having set an update contents notification for the update contents when the update contents is received from the virtual talk partner server; c) determining if the corresponding mobile communication terminal is in connection and transmitting a talk request message to the corresponding mobile communication terminal when the corresponding mobile communication terminal is in connection; and d) transmitting the received update contents to the corresponding mobile communication terminal when an approval message for the talk request message is received from the corresponding mobile communication terminal. Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the conventional construction of an Internet communication network for use of a messenger between users connected to the Internet in an Internet site; FIGs . 2a and 2b are diagrams showing an initial execution window of an instant messenger executed in a computer and a tab execution window when a specific tab is selected; FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a system for providing a contents service to a mobile communication terminal including an instant messenger by means of a virtual talk partner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGs. 4a and 4b are diagrams showing an initial execution window and a talk window with a virtual talk partner of a mobile instant messenger program according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for providing a mobile instant messenger service by means of a virtual talk partner according to one embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for setting update contents notification for a virtual talk partner and receiving an update contents according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is noted that the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements as those shown in other drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known configurations and functions incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a system for providing a contents service to a mobile communication terminal including an instant messenger by means of a virtual talk partner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The technical idea of the present invention lies in a method for using or providing information contents by means of a mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program additionally having a function of a virtual talk partner (a kind of informative buddy) . A virtual talk partner registered or displayed in a user's mobile communication terminal displays text information of the virtual talk partner in the executed mobile instant messenger program when the virtual talk partner is selected, that is, talk is requested. The system for providing the contents service to the mobile communication terminal according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the mobile communication terminal 310, a Radio Access Network (hereinafter, referred to as RAN) 320, a Mobile Station Center (hereinafter, referred to as MSC) 330, a wireless gateway 340, a mobile messenger service server 350, a virtual talk partner server 360, etc. The mobile communication terminal 310 represents a terminal using a mobile instant messenger service through a wireless communication network, which stores a mobile instant messenger program according to the embodiment of the present invention. The mobile instant messenger program provides functions for registering virtual talk partners, displaying a list of the registered virtual talk partners, deleting the registered virtual talk partners, editing the registered virtual talk partners according to each group, etc. Herein, the virtual talk partner, which is a predetermined contents item registered in the mobile messenger service server 350, transmits a response message including information stored in the virtual talk partner in response to talk request, similarly to the friend as described above. This virtual talk partner is constructed by internal text data. That is, when talk request is received from a user, the virtual talk partner transmits stored text data to the mobile communication terminal 310 in response to the received talk request. The user may access to the mobile messenger service server 350 by using the mobile communication terminal 310, and download and install the mobile instant messenger program. Herein, a predetermined wireless Internet browser for wireless Internet access may be installed on the mobile communication terminal 310 in order to download the mobile instant messenger program. The wireless Internet browser installed on the mobile communication terminal 310 may include a Wireless Application Protocol (hereinafter, referred to as WAP) browser coded with a Wireless Markup Language (WML) , a mobile explorer coded with a Microsoft- HTML (m-HTML) , a compact netfront coded with a Compact-HTML (c-HTML), etc. The mobile communication terminal 310 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a Personal

Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a Personal

Communication Service (PCS) phone, a Global System for

Mobile (GSM) phone, a Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access

(W-CDMA) phone, a CDMA-2000 (IX, lx EV-DO/DV) phone, a Mobile Broadband System (MBS) phone, etc. The MBS phone represents a cell phone to be used in a 4G system being currently discussed. The RAN 320 receives and processes a wireless Internet access request signal from the mobile communication terminal 310, processes handoff, manages radio resources, etc. Further, the RAN 320 transmits a talk message from the mobile communication terminal 310, in which the mobile instant messenger program is executed, to the mobile messenger service server 350 through the MSC 330 and the wireless gateway 340. In addition, the RAN 320 receives a response message for the talk message from the mobile messenger service server 350 through the MSC 330 and the wireless gateway 340 and transmits the response message to the mobile communication terminal 310. The RAN 320 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a base transceiver station 322 and a base station controller 324, and supports both a synchronous and a synchronous mobile communication system. In a synchronous mobile communication system, the base transceiver station 322 represents a Base Transceiver Station (hereinafter, referred to as BTS) and the base station controller 324 represents a Base Station Controller (hereinafter, referred to as BSC) . In an asynchronous mobile communication system, the base transceiver station 322 represents a Radio Transceiver Substation (RTS) and the base station controller 324 represents a Radio Network Controller (RNC) . Further, the RAN 320 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to a CDMA mobile communication network, which may also include a GSM network and an access network of a 4G mobile communication system (All-IP communication network) for which standardization is currently in progress. In the following description, the terms BTS and BSC will be used instead of the terms RTS and RNC, for convenience of description. The BTS 322 receives the wireless Internet access request signal, the talk message, etc., from the mobile communication terminal 310 through a traffic channel of signal channels and transmits the wireless Internet access request signal, the communication message, etc., to the BSC 324. The BSC 324 controls the BTS 322, assigns and releases radio channels for the mobile communication terminal 310, controls transmit power of the mobile communication terminal 310 and the BTS 322, determines soft handoff and hard handoff, etc. Further, the BSC 324 transfers the wireless Internet access request signal, the talk message, etc., to the MSC 330. The MSC 330 includes a plurality of electromagnetic switches and performs a processing function of a basic service and a supplementary service, a processing function of an incoming call and an outgoing call of a user, a processing function of a location registration procedure and a handoff procedure, an inter-working function with a different network, etc. The MSC 330 according to the embodiment of the present invention supports both an IS-95 A/B/C system in a synchronous and a synchronous mobile communication network and a 3G and a 4G mobile communication network. For this, the MSC 330 includes an Access Switching

Subsystem (ASS) for processing a distributed call, an Interconnection Network Subsystem (INS) for processing a centralized call, a Central Control Subsystem (CCS) for taking charge of a centralization function of management and preservation, a Location Registration Subsystem (LRS) for storing and managing information for a mobile user, etc. Further, the MSC 330 may include an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switch in order to improve transmission speed and efficiency of circuit use by transmitting packet data by the cell when a wireless Internet service is provided to the mobile communication terminal 310. The wireless gateway 340 performs a data conversion function of an Inter-Working Function (IWF) performing a cooperation function between a mobile communication network and a wire Internet network, and a function of switching a circuit line and a data line by the cell in order to process packet data directly connected by the cell, in a current mobile communication system. The wireless gateway 340 performs a connection function with a different communication network such as the Internet, a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a Public Switched Data Network (PSDN) , an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a Broad ISDN (B-ISDN) , an Intelligent Network (IN) and a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) . Further, the wireless gateway 340 also includes a WAP gateway for supporting a WAP communication scheme employed as a standard of a wireless Internet, which converts text file data on the Internet into binary codes. That is, when an Internet service request signal based on a WAP protocol is received from the mobile communication terminal 310, the WAP gateway converts the Internet service request signal according to a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol and transmits the converted signal to the mobile messenger service server 350. Further, the WAP gateway receives a response message based on the TCP/IP protocol from the mobile messenger service server 350, converts the response message according to the WAP protocol, and transmits the converted message to the mobile communication terminal 310. The RAN 320, the MSC 330 and the wireless gateway 340 are elements of a wireless Internet network, which are included in the wireless Internet network. The mobile messenger service server 350 provides the mobile communication terminal 310 with the mobile instant messenger service similar to the wire instant messenger service. That is, the mobile messenger service server 350 provides the mobile communication terminal 310 with the instant messenger service including a friend registration, talk of one-to-one or one-to-many persons, a file transmission/reception, making a phone call, etc. Herein, the word ^friend' represents users included in a specific user group. Accordingly, the user group including the friend automatically shares information regarding if the users has logged onto the mobile instant messenger, states of the users, etc., through the mobile instant messenger service. This information is registered and managed in the mobile messenger service server 350. The mobile messenger service server 350 provides the mobile communication terminal 310 with the list of the virtual talk partners. When the user selects a specific virtual talk partner, the mobile messenger service server 350 notifies the virtual talk partner server 360 of selection information regarding the selection by the user. The selection information transmitted to the virtual talk partner server 360 is information regarding the selected virtual talk partner, which represents identification information such as predetermined identification codes, etc.

The mobile messenger service server 350 receives a response message from the virtual talk partner server 360 and transmits the response message to the wireless gateway 340. The mobile messenger service server 350 inter-operates with a user database 352 and authenticates users logging onto the mobile instant messenger. Further, the mobile messenger service server 350 understands information regarding if users registered as a friend by the authenticated user have logged onto the mobile instant messenger, and current states of the users, and provides the user with the understood information. The virtual talk partner server 360 stores and manages a plurality of contents items (i.e., virtual talk partners), and receives the selection fact and the selection information for the virtual talk partner selected by the user from the mobile messenger service server 350. The virtual talk partner server 360 recognizes the received selection information for the selected virtual talk partner, extracts a corresponding contents item, and transmits a response message including the extracted corresponding contents item to the mobile messenger service server 350. Herein, the contents item transmitted from the virtual talk partner server 360 includes text-type data. Further, the virtual talk partner server 360 periodically or non-periodically collects web pages, etc., which are basic materials of the contents items, by means of a search engine, etc., and stores the collected web pages in a contents item database 362. The virtual talk partner server 360 may also store text information manually inputted by an operator, etc., as the contents item. Then, the virtual talk partner server 360 extracts text data from one or more information data included in the collected web page, generates a new contents item constructed by the extracted text data, and stores the generated contents item in the contents item database 362. Moreover, the virtual talk partner server 360 also provides the mobile communication terminal 310 with a bidirectional contents item transmitted/received in two opposite directions in addition to a single directional contents item (e.g., news, advertisement, stock information) transmitted in a single direction. The bi-directional contents item refers to a question-answer contents item used when the mobile communication terminal 310 responds to the information provided from the virtual talk partner server 360 or the virtual talk partner server 360 sequentially provides corresponding information based on the response from the mobile communication terminal 310. The bidirectional contents item may be representatively used in a goods sale service, an education service, etc. In the meantime, the user may set an 'update contents notification' for the contents item registered as the virtual talk partner by means of the mobile communication terminal 310. Herein, a function for setting the 'update contents notification' represents a function of allowing update fact and update information to be automatically reported to the mobile communication terminal 310 including the executed the mobile instant messenger program when an update of information has been performed for the contents item for which the 'update contents notification' has been set . When the user sets the 'update contents notification' for one or more registered virtual talk partners by means of the executed mobile instant messenger program, corresponding information for the setting is transmitted to the mobile messenger service server 350 through the RAN 320, the wireless gateway 340, etc. The mobile messenger service server 350 writes the received information for the setting of the update contents notification in user information of the corresponding user, and stores the received information in the user database 352. The information for the setting of the update contents notification relates to identification information, a notification method, etc., of the contents item for which the 'update contents notification' has been set. The notification method is a method for reporting the update contents, which may be in various ways. For example, the notification method may include a notification when the mobile instant messenger program is executed, a realtime notification, a notification after the contents has been updated and a predetermined time has passed, etc. FIGs. 4a and 4b are diagrams showing an initial execution window and a talk window with a virtual talk partner of the mobile instant messenger program according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4a, one can see that the initial execution window is similar to that executed in the wire instant messenger program as described in FIG. 2a. However, one can see that the initial execution window shown in FIG. 4a does not have a separate tab for a user interface, in contrast with the initial execution window shown in FIG. 2a. Further, a 'virtual talk partner' item is separately added to the mobile instant messenger program and a list of registered virtual talk partners is displayed. The virtual talk partner shown in FIG. 4a is an informative buddy for providing various information including shopping, news, stock, sports, education, games, and advertisements. In addition to the list of the virtual talk partners registered by the user, the list of the virtual talk partners registered in the mobile messenger service server 350 may also be separately displayed. When the user selects a specific virtual talk partner from the initial execution window of FIG. 4a, fact and information for the selection of the virtual talk partner are transmitted to the virtual talk partner server 360 through the mobile messenger service server 350. FIG. 4b shows the talk window when the specific virtual talk partner is selected from the list of the virtual talk partners of FIG. 4a, which shows a case where a bi-directional contents item is selected. The talk window with the virtual talk partner of FIG. 4b is constructed by text data. In the talk window, the user responds to a message provided from the virtual talk partner server 360 and the virtual talk partner server 360 provides information of the next step according to a response message of the user. When a single directional contents item is selected instead of the bi-directional contents item, corresponding information may be displayed as a rare occurrence according to a request of the user. In case of the bi-directional contents item, the user may register a desired step as a virtual talk partner and conveniently use the service as illustrated in FIG. 4b, instead of proceeding to the desired step via each step each time. Consequently, the talk window with the virtual talk partner is used as illustrated in FIG. 4b, so that it is possible to solve the conventional problem in that the executed conventional mobile instant messenger program ends when the tab is selected in the mobile instant messenger program. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for providing a mobile instant messenger service by means of a virtual talk partner according to one embodiment of the present invention. A user who wants to use the mobile instant messenger service by means of the virtual talk partner according to one embodiment of the present invention executes the mobile instant messenger program stored in the mobile communication terminal 310 (S500). The user having executed the mobile instant messenger program inputs and transmits an ID and a password (S502), and the mobile messenger service server 350 having received the ID and the password determines if member authentication is succeeded (S504). When the mobile messenger service server 350 determines that member authentication has been succeeded as a result of the determination in step 504, the mobile messenger service server 350 approves access of the mobile communication terminal 310 (S506) . The mobile messenger service server 350 having approved the access of the mobile communication terminal 310 searches the user database 325 and provides a friend list of the corresponding user and a list of virtual talk partners (S508). The mobile messenger service server 350 continuously checks if selection information for a specific virtual talk partner selected by the user is transmitted to the mobile messenger service server 350 (S510) . The selection of the specific virtual talk partner is similar to a talk request for a specific partner by the general wire instant messenger program. When the selection information has been transmitted to the mobile messenger service server 350 as a result of the checking in step 510, the mobile messenger service server 350 transmits the selection fact and the selection information to the virtual talk partner server 360 (S512) . The virtual talk partner server 360 understands the selected contents item by means of the received selection information (S514), and extracts a contents of the contents item and transmits the extracted contents to the mobile communication terminal 310 through the mobile messenger service server 350 and the wireless Internet network. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for setting update contents notification for a virtual talk partner and receiving an update contents according to another embodiment of the present invention. A user executes the mobile instant messenger program stored in the mobile communication terminal 310 and sets an update contents notification function supported by the mobile instant messenger program (S600) . Then, information for the setting of the update contents notification inputted by the user is transmitted to the mobile messenger service server 350 through the wireless Internet network. The mobile messenger service server 350 writes the received information in a corresponding user information area and stores the information in the user database 352 (S602). The virtual talk partner server 360 determines in realtime if contents of one or more contents items being provided are updated (S604) . When it is determined that the contents of one or more contents items have been updated, the virtual talk partner server 360 notifies the mobile messenger service server 350 of the fact for the updating (S606) . The mobile messenger service server 350 having received the fact finds out mobile communication terminals of users, who have set the update contents notification for the update contents item, by means of the user database 352 (S608) . The mobile messenger service server 350 determines if the mobile communication terminals founded out in step 608 have logged onto mobile instant messengers (S610), and transmits talk request messages to the mobile communication terminals having logged onto the mobile instant messengers (S612) . Further, the mobile messenger service server 350 determines if response messages transmitted from the mobile communication terminals are approval messages for the talk request (S614). When it is determined that the response messages are the approval messages for the talk request as a result of the checking in step 614, the mobile messenger service server 350 receives the update contents from the virtual talk partner server 360 an transmits the update contents to the mobile communication terminals through the wireless Internet network (S616) . Description of steps 612 and 614 in FIG. 6 discusses the process in which the mobile messenger service server 350 transmits the talk request messages to the mobile communication terminals having logged onto the mobile instant messengers, and transmits the update contents when the approval messages for the talk request have been received in the mobile messenger service server 350. However, the mobile messenger service server 350 may directly transmit the update contents to the corresponding mobile communication terminals without passing through the process as described above. While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to receive conveniently and quickly information for various contents such as stock, news, advertisements, shopping, sports and education by means of a mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program having a function of a virtual talk partner (a kind of an informative buddy) . Further, according to the present invention, a contents item in a step desired by a user is registered as a virtual talk partner, so that the user can shift to the desired step even without sequentially passing through several steps, thereby quickly using a corresponding service. Consequently, service charges can be reduced.

Claims

1. A system for providing an instant messenger service to a mobile communication terminal by means of a virtual talk partner, the system comprising: the mobile communication terminal capable of exploiting a mobile instant messenger service through a wireless Internet network, the mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program having a function of a virtual talk partner for use in providing information; a mobile messenger service server for providing a list of virtual talk partners to the mobile communication terminal, receiving and transmitting selection information for a selected virtual talk partner from the mobile communication terminal, receiving a response message including a contents item composed of a text message corresponding to the selected virtual talk partner, and transmitting the response message to the mobile communication terminal through the wireless Internet network; and a virtual talk partner server for collecting contents items by way of manual input or automatic search, generating the response message by means of the selection information received from the mobile messenger service server, and transmitting the response message to the mobile messenger service server.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual talk partner, which is the contents item including the text message, provides the text message to the mobile communication terminal in response to talk request or a talk message from the mobile communication terminal.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the text message is transmitted/received between the mobile communication terminal and the mobile messenger service server through a transmission/reception function of the text message provided by the mobile instant messenger program.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection information includes identification information provided to the selected virtual talk partner.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile instant messenger program provides at least one of functions for registering the virtual talk partner, displaying a list of the registered virtual talk partner, deleting the registered virtual talk partner, and editing the registered virtual talk partner according to each group.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless Internet network includes at least one of a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a wireless gateway, the Radio Access Network including a base transceiver station and a base station controller, and the wireless gateway including a Mobile Station Center (MSC) and a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) gateway.

7. A method for providing a mobile instant messenger service through a mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program, a mobile messenger service server and a virtual talk partner server, the mobile messenger service server receiving selection information for a selected virtual talk partner from the mobile communication terminal through a wireless Internet network, the virtual talk partner server transmitting a text message corresponding to the selection information as a response message, the method comprising the steps of: a) authenticating the mobile communication terminal by means of an ID and a password received in the mobile messenger service server; b) providing a virtual talk partner list including at least one virtual talk partner to the mobile communication terminal; c) receiving selection information for a specific virtual talk partner from the mobile communication terminal, and transmitting the received selection information to the virtual talk partner server; and d) receiving the text message corresponding to the selection information from the virtual talk partner server, and transmitting the received text message to the mobile communication terminal through a talk window.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the virtual talk partner, which represents a contents item including the text message, provides the text message to the mobile communication terminal in response to talk request or a talk message from the mobile communication terminal.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the virtual talk partner includes at least one of a single directional contents item and a bi-directional contents item, said single directional contents item representing the text message transmitted once in response to the talk request from the mobile communication terminal, said bi-directional contents item representing a text message selected and transmitted in each step of repeating a question-answering process with the mobile communication terminal.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in step b) , the mobile messenger service server finds out virtual talk partners registered by an authenticated user, and provides a list of the registered virtual talk partners to the mobile communication terminal.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in step b) , the mobile instant messenger program provides a function of registering said at least one virtual talk partner in the virtual talk partner list as a virtual talk partner for a user.

12. A system for providing an instant messenger service by means of a virtual talk partner, the system comprising: a mobile communication terminal for storing a mobile instant messenger program having a function of a virtual talk partner, and setting an update contents notification function for at least one virtual talk partner by means of the mobile instant messenger program; a mobile messenger service server for receiving update contents notification setup information from the mobile communication terminal through a wireless Internet network, setting an update contents notification, storing the set update contents notification in user information for management and managing the stored update contents notification, receiving an update contents when a contents of said at least one virtual talk partner is updated, and transmitting the received update contents to the mobile communication terminal; and a virtual talk partner server for managing at least one contents item represented by said at least one virtual talk partner, and transmitting update fact and an update contents to the mobile messenger service server when a contents of said at least one contents item is updated.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the update contents notification function is a function for transmitting the update contents the mobile communication terminal according to a preset notification method when a contents of a contents item represented by a virtual talk partner registered in the mobile communication terminal is updated.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the notification method is for notifying the update fact and the update contents of the contents item, which includes at least one of a notification when the mobile instant messenger program is executed, a realtime notification the moment the contents of the contents item is updated, a notification after the contents of the contents item has been updated and a predetermined time has passed.

15. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mobile messenger service server finds out at least one user having set the update contents notification for the updated contents item and transmits the update contents to a mobile communication terminal of the corresponding user, when the update contents is received from the virtual talk partner server.

16. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wireless Internet network includes at least one of a Radio Access

Network (RAN) and a wireless gateway, the Radio Access Network including a base transceiver station and a base station controller, and the wireless gateway including a Mobile Station Center (MSC) and a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) gateway.

17. A method for providing a mobile instant messenger service through a mobile communication terminal storing a mobile instant messenger program, a mobile messenger service server and a virtual talk partner server, the mobile messenger service server receiving update contents notification setup information from the mobile communication terminal through a wireless Internet network, the virtual talk partner server transmitting an update contents to the mobile messenger service server when a contents of at least one contents item stored in the virtual talk partner server is updated, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving and storing the update contents notification setup information from the mobile communication terminal; b) confirming a corresponding mobile communication terminal having set an update contents notification for the update contents when the update contents is received from the virtual talk partner server; c) determining if the corresponding mobile communication terminal is in connection and transmitting a talk request message to the corresponding mobile communication terminal when the corresponding mobile communication terminal is in connection; and d) transmitting the received update contents to the corresponding mobile communication terminal when an approval message for the talk request message is received from the corresponding mobile communication terminal.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein, in step a), the update contents notification setup information includes at least one of identification information and information on a notification method for the contents item for which the update contents notification has been set, and the notification method is for notifying update fact and the update contents of the contents item, the notification method including at least one of a notification when the mobile instant messenger program is executed, a realtime notification the moment the contents of the contents item is updated, a notification after the contents of the contents item has been updated and a predetermined time has passed.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein, in step b) , the mobile messenger service server confirms the corresponding mobile communication terminal by comparing the received update contents with update contents notification setup information stored in a user database inter-operating with the mobile messenger service server.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein, in step c) , the mobile messenger service server checks if the corresponding mobile communication terminal performs connection to the mobile messenger service server when it is determined that the corresponding mobile communication terminal is not in connection, and transmits the update contents to the corresponding mobile communication terminal when the corresponding mobile communication terminal performs the connection the mobile messenger service server.

21. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein, in step c) or d) , the mobile messenger service server directly transmits the update contents to the corresponding mobile communication terminal through a talk window without passing through a separate process when it is determined that the corresponding mobile communication terminal is in connection.