METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CONTENT IN MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20120131150A1
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: JEONG, Bong Soo
• Granted Patent: US 8,683,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing users with electronic book (e-book) content by means of a mobile terminal is provided. The method includes receiving an e-book from a provider server; transmitting a character request message containing identity information of the e-book to the provider server; receiving character information corresponding to the identity information from the provider server; displaying a character according to the character information; and outputting, when a page having a link to an event, the event by means of the character. A user may enjoy various activities such as collecting characters, promoting character level, and uploading character as well as reading e-books.

Claims

1. A method for providing content in a mobile terminal, comprising:

receiving an electronic book from a provider server;

transmitting a character request message containing identity information of the electronic book to the provider server;

receiving character information corresponding to the identity information from the provider server;

displaying a character according to the character information; and

outputting, the event by means of the character, when a page contains a link to an event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information related to the electronic book from the provider server; and

outputting the electronic book-related information by means of the character.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a delete command input for deleting the electronic content;

displaying a message asking whether to delete the character information;

deleting, when a character information delete command is input, the character information; and

maintaining, when a character information maintain command is input, the character information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity information of the electronic book includes an Internal Standard Book Number (ISBN).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting comprises:

turning to a page in response to a user input;

determining whether a current page has supplementary information to be displayed in addition to content of the electronic book; and

displaying, when the current page has supplementary information, the supplementary information by means of the character.

6. A method for providing content in a system including a provider server, an electronic book content database, a character database, and a mobile terminal, comprising:

requesting, by the mobile terminal, the provider server for an electronic book;

transmitting, by the provider server, the electronic book retrieved in the electronic book content database to the mobile terminal;

transmitting, by the mobile terminal, a character request message containing identity information of the electronic book to the provider server;

transmitting, by the provider server, character information corresponding to the identity information to the mobile terminal, the character information being retrieved from the character database; and

displaying, when the electronic book is executed, a character according to the character information.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, by the mobile terminal, whether a current page has supplementary information to be displayed in addition to content of the electronic book;

displaying, when the current page has supplementary information, the supplementary information by means of the character.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, by the provider server, whether electronic book-related information is updated;

transmitting, when the electronic book-related information is updated, the updated electronic book-related information to the mobile terminal; and

displaying, by the mobile terminal, the updated electronic book-related information by means of the character.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, by the provider server, whether a delete command for deleting the electronic book is input;

displaying, by the mobile terminal when the delete command is input, a message asking whether to delete the character information; and

deleting/maintaining the character information according to whether the delete command is input.

10. A content provision system comprising:

an electronic book database which stores a plurality of electronic books having unique identity information;

a character database which stores a plurality of characters having the identity information of the electronic books;

a provider server which sends a recipient an electronic book requested by the recipient and retrieved from the electronic book database and a character information corresponding to the identity information, which is transmitted by the recipient, and retrieved from the character database; and

a mobile terminal which downloads the electronic book from the provider server, sends the provider server a character request message including the identity information of the downloaded electronic book, displays, when the electronic book is executed, a character indicated by the character information received from the provider server, and presents supplementary information by means of the character.

11. A method for providing content in mobile terminal, comprising:

creating a character;

receiving an electronic book from a provider server;

analyzing property information of the electronic book;

transforming the character according to the property information;

animating the character according to a reading status of the electronic book and whether reading the electronic book finishes.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising verifying a reading fulfillment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein verifying a reading fulfillment comprises:

determining whether a page-turning command is input;

determining whether a reading time during which a current page is presented is greater than or equal to a threshold duration;

determining, when the reading time is greater than or equal to the threshold duration, that reading the current page is fulfilled;

recording, when the reading time is shorter than the threshold duration, the current page as an unread page;

turning, when the current page is not the last page, to a next page; and

displaying, when the current page is the last page, a message notifying of completion of reading the electronic book.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein verifying a reading fulfillment comprises:

presenting a quiz prompting an answer on a current page;

detecting a page-turning command input;

determining whether the answer entered to the quiz is correct;

determining, when the answer entered to the quiz is correct, that reading the current page is fulfilled;

recording, when the answer entered to the quiz is incorrect, the current page as an unread page;

turning, when the current page is not the last page, to a next page; and

displaying, when the current page is the last page, a message notifying of completion of reading the electronic book.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein verifying a reading fulfillment comprises:

presenting a specific item on a current page;

detecting a page-turning command input;

determining whether the specific item is selected;

determining, when the specific item is selected, that reading the current page is fulfilled;

recording, when the specific item is not selected, the current page as an unread page;

turning, when the current page is not the last page, to a next page; and

displaying, when the current page is the last page, a message notifying of completion of reading the electronic book.