WO2002051079A1

WO2002051079A1 - Matching of users for message distribution filtering

Info

Publication number: WO2002051079A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/002203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong Min Hahm
Original assignee: Wisepost
Priority date: 2000-12-21
Filing date: 2001-12-19
Publication date: 2002-06-27
Also published as: AU2002216456A1; KR20020070958A; KR20020050669A; KR100430142B1

Abstract

In a server, that is called the MMTS, the Match Message Transfer Server (System), by this application, message recipients in advance establish their individual profiles and preference criteria for determining which providers' messages the recipients are interested in. Any user who has subscribed to the above MMTS can be a message provider and/or a message recipient. To the above MMTS server a user sends a message including a receiving criterion for determining which recipients should receive their messages from the viewpoint of the provider. And then the MMTS server compares recipients' individual profiles and preference criteria with the provider's receiving criterion in the way of bit pattern matching. Preferably, only the modified header part of the message is distributed to matching recipients. Additionally, recipients' individual profiles and preference criteria and providers' receiving criteria should be converted into bit patterns and stored in a database for archives or in a matching queue for comparison.

Description

Title of Invention

MATCHING OF USERS FOR MESSAGE

DISTRIBUTION FILTERING

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system and a method of transmitting and receiving a message via data communications networks such as the internet.

Background Art

A method of transmitting and receiving a message via the internet includes an e-mail, an instant messaging, and so on. In order to designate a destination of a message, the conventional method of transmitting and receiving a message via

the internet uses an address, a designated number or a name, which is defined

and allocated by a standardization organization or a certain company. Such an

address, a designated number or a name (hereinafter, referred to as "address") is

comprised of a letter string, a number string, or a combination string thereof. Even

in service such as a mailing listing, a transmission of a message among a plurality

of users is performed using an e-mail address.

However, the conventional method of transmitting and receiving a

message via the internet has a problem in that a message can be transmitted only

in case that a user knows an address of a message receiver. If a user does not

know an address of a message receiver, a user cannot transmit a message to a message receiver.

Also, in conventional method of transmitting and receiving a message via

the internet, even though a user does not want to receive the message, the user cannot but receive a message sent by a person who knows his/her address.

For example, in order to send a television sales message to an unspecified number of the general public who want to buy a television, a television seller must know addresses of all of the unspecified number of the general public. However, there is no method that extracts only addresses of persons who wants to buy a television, and thus it is impossible to transmit a television sales message. As a result, the television sales message is transmitted even to persons who do not want to buy a television, and the television sales message is liable to be regarded as a spam message. In addition, even though a user wants to receive only a message of a television manufacturer which he/she wants, there is a strong possibility that the user can receive messages of other manufacturers.

Furthermore, since a typical web mail service restricts a capacity of received mails, when mails of the same content are transmitted to a plurality of users, mails of duplicated contents are accumulated in a databse of a mail server, whereupon there are many difficulties in managing efficiently the database of the mail server. Disclosure of the Invention

To overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a system and a method of transmitting and receiving a message in which a message sender can send a message to those who want to receive the message, and a message receiver can receive a desired message.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of systemically matching a message transmitting condition to a message receiving condition.

It is a still object of the present invention to provide a method of transmitting and receiving a message which can transmit or receive a message without requiring an address and which provides an information mediating service that an intention of a message sender and/or a message receiver is reflected.

It is a still yet object of the present invention to provide a method of transmitting and receiving a message that a user sets a message receiving condition to be provided with an information matched to the message receiving condition without an internet surfing. It is a still yet object of the present invention to provide a method of transmitting and receiving a message that only a mail header is provided to a user and a mail content is provided to a user by a user' choice, thereby efficiently using a hardware.

In order to achieve the above object, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a method of transmitting and receiving a message, comprising: a) receiving a plurality of message receiving conditions set by a plurality of message receivers; b) storing the message receiving conditions; c) receiving a message transmitting condition set by a message sender and a message made by the message sender; d) extracting the message receiving condition(s) matched to the message transmitting conditon from the plurality of the message receiving conditions; and e) transferring the message to the message receivers) of the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition. The message receiving condition includes a message receiver information and a message sender condition, and the message transmitting condition includes a message sender information and a message receiver condition.

The method further comprises, after the step of (e), transmitting directly a reply message to the message sender using the message sender information.

The message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition include at least one condition field, the condition field selected from a plurality of identification codes previously designated.

The step of (b) further includes converting the condition field of the message receiving condition into a first identication code.

The step of (d) further includes d1 ) converting the condition field of the message transmitting condition into a second identication code; d2) determining whether the first identification code is matched to the second identification code or not; and d3) selecting the message receiving condition corresponding to the first identification code when matched.

The identification code has an only one value in a certain condition field and has a predetermined bit.

The step of (d2) further includes determining whether the first identification code and the second identification code are matched or not using an AND logic, an OR logic, or both.

The message includes a message header and a message content. The message header includes the message transmitting condition. The message header is stored in different space from the message content. The step of (d) further includes producing a link information of linking the message header to the message content. The link information is stored in the same space as the message header. The step of (e) is performed in such a way that at least one message box storing the message header is provided to the message receivers) of the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition, and the message receiver reads the message using the link information of the message header. The message receiving condition can be added, deleted or changed by the message receiver. The condition field and the identification code of both the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition are varied according to a type of a service. In at least one of the steps (b), (d) and (e), at least one of a match only database system and a typical database system is used. In the step of (a), the message receiving condition is extracted from text strings input by the message receiver by using a natural language processing algorithm, and is a word corresponding the condition field previously set and a field value. In the step of (c), the message transmitting condition is extracted from text strings input by the message sender by using a natural language processing algorithm, and is a word corresponding the condition field previously set and a field value.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention further provides a method of matching a message transmitting condition and a message receiving condition, comprising: a) converting the message transmitting condition into a first bit string; b) converting the message receiving condition into a second bit string; c) producing a query using the first bit string; d) determining whether the second bit string is matched to the first bit string by using the query; and e) selecting the message receiving condition when matched, wherein the message transmitting

condition and the message receiving condition are converted into the first bit string and the second bit string by a service schema previously set, respectively.

The service schema is set to include at least one condition field, at leat one field value corresponding to the condition field, an identification code

corresponding to the field value, and a match object. The identification code is an

only one value in a certain condition field and has a predetermined bit. The first bit string and the second bit string include the identification code. The step of (d) is performed by ANDing and/or ORing the first bit string and the second bit string

using the match object.

The present invention further provides a message transmitting and

receiving system, comprising: a means for receiving a plurality of message

receiving conditions set by a plurality of message receivers; a means for storing

the message receiving conditions; a means for receiving a message transmitting condition set by a message sender and a message made by the message sender;

a means for extracting the message receiving condition matched to the message

transmitting condition from the plurality of the message receiving condition; and a

means for transferring the message to the message receiver of the message

receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition. The present invention further provides a message transmitting and

receiving system, comprising: a memory storing a program; and a processor

executing the program to perform a) receiving a plurality of message receiving

conditions set by a plurality of message receivers, b) storing the message receiving conditions, c) receiving a message transmitting condition set by a message sender and a message made by the message sender, d) extracting the message receiving condition(s) matched to the message transmitting conditon from the plurality of the message receiving conditions, and e) transferring the message to the message receivers) of the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition.

The present invention further provides a system of matching a message transmitting condition and a message receiving condition, comprising: a memory storing a program; and a processor executing the program to perform a) converting the message transmitting condition into a first bit string, b) converting the message receiving condition into a second bit string, c) producing a query using the first bit string, d) determining whether the second bit string is matched to the first bit string by using the query, and e) selecting the message receiving condition when matched, wherein the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition are converted into the first bit string and the second bit string by a service schema previously set, respectively. Brief Description of the Drawings

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a message transmitting and receiving system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a concept of an information mediating service according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a match message

transfer system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a process of setting a message receiving condition according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 shows a service selecting screen according to the preferred

embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a message receiving condition setting screen according to

the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a process of transmitting a message composed by a message sender to a message receiver according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a message list interface and a message read interface

according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A shows a service schema database portion for a TV transaction

information mediating service exemplarily according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B shows a service schema database portion of a

girlfriend/boyfriend-asking service exemplarily according to the preferred

embodiment of the present invention;

FIGs. 10A and 10B show examples of a bit string and a match index table

according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGs. 11A and 11 B shows a method of producing a query using an AND

logic and an OR logic according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12A shows a process of finding the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition using the query of FIG. 11A; and

FIG. 12B shows a process of finding the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition using the query of FIG. 11 B. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the present invention, example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a message transmitting and receiving system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the message transmitting and receiving system includes an internet terminal 100a to 100h (hereinafter 100) and a match message transfer system (hereinafter referred to as simply "MMTS") 105a to 105c (hereinafter, 105). A user can be provided with a message transmitting and receiving service according to the present invention by contacting the MMTS 105 via the internet terminal 100.

The internet terminal 100 includes a computer, a wireless phone, an internet TV, and other internet appliances which can contact the internet. If the internet terminal 100 is a wireless phone, a user can be provided with the message transmitting/receiving service regardless of a time and a place.

The MMTS 105 includes a plurality of message boxes MBOX and a match index database portion 123 so as to store message receiving conditions set by message receivers. A configuration of the MMTS 105 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

The communication network is based on an internet protocol (IP), and

includes both a cable communication network and a wireless communication

network. The internet protocol provides an interface which support various graphics as well as letters.

A user can transmit or receive a message when a message transmitting

condition and a message receiving condition are matched to each other.

A message transmitting condition is transferred together with a message to the MMTS 300, and a message receiving condition is transferred to the MMTS 300. The MMTS 105 determines whether the message transmitting condition is

matched to the message receiving condition or not. The message is transferred only to a message receiver who suggests the message receiving condition

matched to the message transmitting condition.

The message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition are set by a user, but can be set automatically by a natural language processing

algorithm. In this case, when a user inputs a text string, the MMTS 105 extracts words corresponding to condition fields and/or field values, which are set

previously, by a natural language processing algorithm to automatically set the

message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition. A message transmitted from a message sender can be transferred from

the MMTS 105 to which a user belongs to other MMTS 300. The MMTS 105 receiving the message performs the same operation described above. Accordingly,

the message transmitting and receiving system 100 can transfer the message to

all persons who suggest a message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition of the message sender.

Meanwhile, the message transmitting and receiving system 100 can transfer a message using a user address. For example, after a message of a message sender is transferred to a message receiver who suggest a message receiving condition matched to a message transmitting condition set by the message sender, the message receiver can transfer a message directly to the message sender using an information of the message sender such that a header of a message made by the message receiver is directly inserted in the message box MBOX of the message sender. Namely, a user can designate a message receiver who will receive his/her message without setting the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition. Therefore, it is preferred that the message receiving condition includes a message receiver information, and the message transmitting condition includes a message sender information.

It can performed by comparing only certain condition fields or field values of the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition with each other to determine whether the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition are matched or not.

The message transmitting and receiving system 100 can be applied to various types of information mediating services. The information mediating service includes, for example, a shopping, a transaction of used goods, an information providing, a consulting, and an interest/meeting.

An example of the information mediating service for a shopping includes a sale and a purchase of home appliances. In this case, the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition can include a product, a purpose (sale or purchase), a manufacturer, an item, a size, a price, a life span, a state,

etc., respectively.

The product includes a television, a VTR, a DVD, a refrigerator, a washing machine, an air conditioner, a camcorder, an audio, a light equipment, a camera, a

used product thereof, etc. A user selects a product which he/she wants to sell or buy, and a product selected by the user is used to define a group of persons who

want to transact the product. It is preferred that various items are provided to

satisfy a user's taste. For example, an item of the refrigerator includes a kimchi-

refrigerator, a refrigerator for a household, a refrigerator for a business, a

refrigerator for a vehicle, and so on.

Meanwhile, various functions can be added in order to improve a reliability

of a transaction. For example, a matching grade function can be added that shows

a match accuracy between the message transmitting condition and the message

receiving condition by analyzing a content of a message. A real name authentication function can further be added.

A seller makes a sale-related message together with a message

transmitting condition and sends it to the MMTS 300, and the sale-related

message is transmitted to purchasers who suggest a message receiving condition

corresponding to the message transmitting condition.

Conversely, a purchaser makes a purchase-related inquiry message

together with a message receiving condition and sends it to the MMTS 300, and

the purchase-related inquiry message is transmitted to sellers who send a

message transmitting condition matched to the message receiving condition.

Accordingly, the seller can transmit a sale-related message only to persons who want to buy, and the purchaser can receive only a desired message.

An example of an information providing service includes a bid information providing service. In this case, the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition can include a type of a bid, a place of order, a bid time, and so on, respectively.

An information provider makes a bid-related message having a message transmitting condition and sends it to the MMTS 300, and the bit-related message is transmitted to information demanders who suggest a message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition. Conversely, when an information demander makes a bid-related inquiry message having a message receiving condition and sends it to the MMTS 300, and the bid-related inquiry message is transmitted to information providers who suggest a message transmitting condition matched to the message receiving condition. An example of a consulting service includes a medical consulting service.

In this case, the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition can include a medical department, a name of a disease, a consulting method, and so on, respectively.

A consulting provider makes a medical-related message having a message transmitting condition and sends it to the MMTS 300, and the medical- related message is transmitted to consulting demanders who suggest a message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition.

Conversely, a consulting demander makes a medical-related inquiry message having a message receiving condition and sends it to the MMTS 300, and the medical-related inquiry message is transmitted to consulting providers who suggest a message transmitting condition matched to the message receiving condition.

An example of the information mediating service for an interest/meeting includes a service of arranging a meeting of a male and a female (hereinafter, a girlfriend/boyfriend-asking service). In this case, the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition can include a personal profile such as a sex, an age, a height, an occupation, a residence, and so on, respectively.

When the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition are matched to each other, a message sender and a message receiver can meet a girlfriend desired by him or a boyfriend desired by her.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a concept of the information mediating service according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, an information brokerage can perform the message transmitting/receiving service by connecting message senders 400a such as the seller, the information provider, and the consulting provider to the MMTS 300a to which the information brokerage belongs. The message receiver 400b such as the purchaser, the information demander, and the consulting demander can receive the message transmitting/receiving service by contacting the MMTS 300b of, e.g., a portal site via the internet terminal 200.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the MMTS according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the MMTS 105 includes a schema server 110, a match server 120, and a message processing server 130. The schema server 110 includes a service schema management portion 111 and a service schema database portion 112.

The service schema management portion 111 opens a new service, or closes or changes an existing service, and performs a detail setting for a certain service by an operator. For example, the number of condition fields, a name and a type of a condition field, a kind of an identification code, a match type, etc, are set by the service schema management portion 111.

In greater detail, let us assume that an operator of the MMTS 105 wants to open a service entitled "home appliance transaction". The service "home appliance transaction" can be opened by the service schema management portion 111.

Fields such as "product", "manufacturer", "size", and "price" can be set as a condition field of the service "home appliance transaction".

The match type to determine whether the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition are matched or not includes an extract match, a keyword match, and a range match. The extract match is one which determines a truth when a content of the corresponding field is perfectly matched to a condition value. The keyword match is one which determines a truth when the corresponding field includes a content of a condition value. The range match is one which determines a truth when the corresponding field is in a condition value range. Here, a match of the condition fields "product", "manufacturer", "size", and "price" is performed by the extract match, and a match of the condition field "price" is performed by the range match. The match type is set by a person who plans the service.

In case of the extract match, an identification code is given to each of field values of the condition fields. Thus, when the given identification codes are matched, it is determined that corresponding condition fields are matched. The keyword match and the range match determine a match or a mismatch by a method well-known to those skilled person, and thus their description is omitted. Finally, it can be performed by using an "AND" logic or an "OR" logic to determine whether the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition are matched or not.

The contents set by the service schema management portion 111 are stored in the service schema database portion 112. The match server 120 includes a match index management portion 121 , a match processor 122, and a match index database portion 123.

The match index management portion 121 stores a message receiving condition set by a message receiver in the match index database portion 123 in the form of an index table. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an index of respective condition fields for the message receiving condition is referred to as a first identification code, and a combination of indexes of respective condition fields for the message receiving condition is referred to as a first bit string.

The first bit strings are stored in an index table of the match index database portion 123.

The match processor 122 retrieves the index table of the match index database portion 123 by using the message transmitting condition as a keyword to transfer a message box address of users corresponding to an index of the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition to the message processing server 130.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an index of respective condition fields for the message transmitting condition is referred to as a second identification code, and a combination of indexes of respective condition fields for the message transmitting condition is referred to as a second bit string.

The match index database portion 123 stores the message receiving condition in the index table thereof together with a message box address of a corresponding index. The match index database portion 123 can also be constructed by a conventional database system such as an oracle and a SQL server.

The message processing server 130 includes a message browser 131, a web server 132, a message transmitting/receiving processor 133, a message management portion 134, a message database portion 135, and a message storing portion 139. The message browser 131 provides an interface between a user and an internet and an interface-related functions, and is made of a HTML, a script, or other programming languages which operate in an internet. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the message browser 131 can be applied to various types of internet terminals which support, for example, a wireless application protocol (WAP) and a comptible hypertext markup language (CHTML).

The web server 132 is a web server which supports a typical internet standard.

The message transmitting/receiving processor 133 transfers the message receiving condition set by the user to the match server 120 and stores it as an index in the match index database portion 123. The message transmitting/receiving processor 133 also transfers a message transmitting condition set by the message sender and a message made by the message sender to the message management portion 134. Further, the message transmitting/receiving processor 133 transfers a message having a message transmitting condition to other MMTSs 105 or to the message management portion 134 so that the message can be transmitted to other users of the MMTS 105 to which a user belongs. The message transmitting/receiving processor 133 transfers a message transferred from other MMTSs 105 to the message management portion 134.

The message management portion 134 generates a message box of a service selected by a user. The message receiving condition set by a user in the process of producing the message box is transferred to the message transmitting/receiving processor 133 and stored in the match index database portion 123 of the match server 120. It is preferred that an interface for setting a detail condition of the message receiving condition is displayed after a production of the message box.

The message management portion 134 receives a message having the message transmitting condition from the message transmitting/receiving processor 133 and inserts the message transmitting condition in a match queue 140. Thereafter, the message transmitting condition is transferred from the match queue 140 to the match server 120. Respective fields of the message transmitting condition inserted in the match queue 140 are analyzed by the match processor 122, and certain condition fields are converted into the identification codes and are reconstructed in the form of a bit string of a previously defined standard so as to be compared to a content of the match index database portion 123 and retrieved. The match server 120 retrieves a message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition, and transfers the message box addresses of the message receivers who suggest the retrieved message receiving condition to the message management portion 134.

The message management portion 134 stores a header information of the message in the message box corresponding to the message box address transferred from the match server 120. A message content and attached files are stored in the message storing portion 139.

When the message header information is stored in the message box of a receiver who suggests the message receiving condition corresponding to the message transmitting condition, the message receiver can read the header information of the message by approaching his/her message box on a web page. The message header information includes a message sender information such as a name, a sex, and an age of the message sender, a title of the message, etc., and is not limited to this enumeration. The message header information can further include a link information which provides a link between the message header and a text (i.e., content) of the message and/or the attached files. In this case, when the user selects or clicks a message title of the message header information on the web page, a content of a message corresponding to the header information is output from the message storing portion 139, whereby the user can read the message content. The message header is stored in the message box table 136, and the link information for a location of the message text and the attached files is stored in a real message table 137. The link information serves to link the message header to the message content and the attached files which are stored in the message storing portion 139. Since the real message table 137 stores the link information, the message box gets to have only the header information which is shown to a user on the web page, and the real message is accessed by selecting or clicking the header of the message which a user wants.

A direct message table 138 stores a link information required to directly transfer a message between the message sender and the message receiver without comparing the message transmitting condition with the message receiving condition, for example, when a message is transmitted or received by an ID or a nickname. In other words, the direct message table 138 stores the link information which links the header information of the message stored in the message box of a designated user to the real message stored in the message storing portion 139. Also, when sending a reply to the message sender after the message receiver receives a message, since the message receiver cannot be designated, the direct message table 138 is used.

The message database portion 135 can be configured by various methods. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the message database portion 135 include the message box table 136, the real message table 137, and the direct message table 138. The message box table 136 includes a plurality of the message boxes, and the message box is allocated to each user through an interface of the message browser 131.

The header of the message corresponding to the message transmitting condition matched to the message receiving condition of the user is stored in the message box of each user. Therefore, the match server 120 provides the message

box address of the user as a match processing result. The message box of the

user is produced by selecting a function "make match folder" on the web page.

The real message table 137 and the direct message table 138 have a link

information which links the message header to the message content, and their storage information and usage are described above.

A type and the number of the tables that form the message box are not

limited in the present invention.

The message storing portion 139 stores a content of a message made by

the message sender and an attached file provided by the message sender. The message content and the attached file are linked to a link information contained in

the message header. The message content and the attached file can be stored

using a conventional database system, but are preferably stored in the form of a file.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a process of setting the message

receiving condition. When a user contacts the MMTS 105 using the internet

terminal 100 so as to set the message receiving condition, interfaces showing

functions of the message transmitting and receiving system 100 are provided by

the message browser 131 and the web server 132 of the MMTS 300.

Referring to FIG. 4, a user authentication is performed (S step S405). The

user authentication can be performed by, for example, inserting a user ID and a

password into the MMTS 300.

The authenticated user selects a desired service using an provided

interface, and selects or writes a desired message receiving condition on a message receiving condition setting form for the selected service. Such a message receiving condition includes various condition fields, and the user can set at least one value for respective condition fields (step S410). The message receiving condition form and the condition fields can be varied according to a type of a service.

For example, when a user selects a "girlfriend/boyfriend-asking" service using a service selecting information displayed on a screen of the internet terminal 200, the user can set his/her profile and a desired girlfriend/boy friend's profile such as a height, an age and an occupation as a message receiving condition. FIG. 5 shows a service selecting screen. The service selecting screen 500 of FIG. 5 provides an interface to select a type of a service. The type of a service is newly opened, closed or changed by an operator of the MMTS 105 through the service schema management portion 111. Detail settings of a selected service are also opened newly, closed or changed through the service schema management portion 111.

For example, when a user selects a "girlfriend/boyfriend-asking" service, a user profile input interface 510 in which a user's profile is input is displayed. If the user is a male, a match folder "girlfriend-asking" is produced. If the user is a female, a match folder "boyfriend-asking" is produced. An interface to set a message receiving condition is provided after a match folder "girlfriend/boyfriend- asking" is produced.

FIG. 6 shows a message receiving condition setting screen. When a user selects a condition such as a TV, an audio, and a DVD on a product selecting interface 600, a condition delete and detail setting change interface 610 is displayed that can delete or change the selected condition and the detail setting of respective conditions.

When a user clicks a button "a detail setting change" corresponding to a condition "TV" in the condition delete and detail setting change interface 610, a detail setting interface 620 is displayed that can set condition fields such as a manufacturer, an item, a price, and so on. Subsequently, when a user clicks a button "next" in the detail setting interface 620, a confirm interface 630 is displayed that displays a detail setting set finally in the detail setting interface 620. As described above, a message receiving condition can be deleted or changed even after a match folder is produced.

Subsequently, when a message box for a service selected by the user does not exist in the message database portion 135, a message receiving condition is set for an existing message box (step S415). Thereafter, a process can be added that transfers the corresponding message receiving condition to the match index management portion 121 through the message transmitting/receiving processor 133.

The match index management portion 121 which receives the message receiving condition analyzes respective fields of the message receiving condition using the service schema database portion 112, and converts certain condition fields into the first identification codes to make them in the form of the first bit string which is a bit string of previously defined standard that can be stored in the match index database portion 123 (step S420).

Finally, the corresponding bit string is stored in the index table of the match index database portion 123 (step S425). The match index database portion 123 is renewed periodically because the message receiving condition can be deleted or changed. The step S440 can include a process of notifying a setting completion of the message receiving condition to the user.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a process of transmitting a message composed by the message sender to the message receiver. In the process of transmitting a message composed by the message sender to the message receiver of FIG. 7, the user can use the message transmitting and receiving system through an interface provided by the message browser 131 and the web server 132 of the MMTS 105 by the internet terminal 200. Steps 700 and 705 of the flow chart of FIG. 7 are identical to the steps 400 and 405 of FIG. 4, and thus their description is omitted to avoid a redundancy.

The authenticated user composes a message for a desired service (step S710). When a new message is composed, a message transmitting condition is set by writing a title and a text of the message or attaching a desired file. The message transmitting condition can be set by selecting or writing desired message transmitting conditions on a message transmitting condition setting form of the selected service.

The message transmitting condition includes a plurality of condition fields, and the user can set at least one value for respective fields. The message transmitting condition setting form and the condition fields can be varied according to a type of a service. In a single service, the message transmitting condition has a field configuration corresponding to the message receiving condition.

The message composed by the user is transferred to the message transmitting/receiving processor 133, and thereafter is transferred to the message management portion 134 of the MMTS 105 to which the user belongs or other MMTS 105 (step S715).

The message management portion 134 extracts a header of the message and stores it in the message database portion 135, and stores the rest portion of the message except the header such as a text and an attached file in the message storing portion 139. The message transmitting condition is inserted into the match queue 140 (step S720).

The match processor 122 takes the message transmitting condition from the match queue 140, and analyzes respective fields of the message transmitting condition and converts the certain condition fields into the second identification codes to make them in the form of the second bit string which is a bit string of an previously defined standard that can be compared with a content of the match index database portion 123 and retrieved (step S725). Here, the step S725 can further includes a process of producing a query which is formed by using an AND logic, an OR logic or a combination thereof according to a relationship between the condition fields.

Thereafter, a series of the second bit strings are compared with the first bit string by the query, thereby drawing the match comparison result (step S730). In the step S730, in case of comparing condition fields which are not converted by an identification code, the match comparison result can be drawn by a general numerical formula or a logic comparison. The match comparison result includes an address of the message box of the matched user. The steps 725 and 730 can be performed by a single process.

Thereafter, the match comparison result (i.e., an address of the message box) is transferred to the message management portion 134 (step S735). The message management portion 134 determines whether the address of the message box transferred from the message processor 122 exists or not (step S 740). When the address of the message box does not exist, the process is finished. When the address of the message box exists, the message management portion 134 inserts the header of the message transmitting condition in the message box of the message database portion 135, and thereafter the process is finished (step S745). In other words, not the message but the message header which is a virtual message is inserted in the message box of the user. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, all forms (e.g., message header) which are not a real message but indicate and is linked to a real message are referred to as a virtual message. The message header includes a link information for a location of a message text and an attached file.

Different interfaces can be provided for a user to easily differentiate a message transferred by a match comparison between the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition from a message transferred by an address.

FIG. 8 shows a message list interface and a message read interface. A message box interface can be provided that a user who receives a message of a message sender directly sends a reply message to the message sender.

Referring to FIG. 8, when a user clicks a message entitled "registered now, click here (only man)" in a message list interface 800, a message read interface 810 which shows a content of the message is displayed.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an interface having the same form as an e-mail or a modified form thereof can be provided to the user.

FIG. 9A shows a service schema database portion for the TV transaction

information mediating service exemplarily.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the service schema database portion of the TV

transaction information mediating service includes a condition field, a match type,

a field value, an identification code, and a match object, which can be added,

deleted or changed as described above.

The condition field includes a manufacturer, an item and a price. The match type includes an extract match, a keyword match, and a range match. In the

service schema database portion of FIG. 9A, the manufacturer and the item are

set to belong to the extract match, and the price is set to belong to the range

match. The match type is set by a person who plans the service.

The field values of the condition field "manufacturer" includes companies A, B, C, and others. The identification codes of the companies A, B, C, and others are "0001", "0010", "0100", and "1000", respectively. The identification code is a 4-

bit because a field value is a four-digit number, and has an only one value in the

corresponding condition field. If the field value of the condition field is a five-digit

number, five identification codes are provided: "00001", "00010", "00100", "01000",

and "10000".

The field values and the identification code of the condition field "item" are

similar to those of the condition field "manufacturer", and thus their description is

omitted to avoid a redundancy. A description of the match object is also omitted

because the match object is identical to the condition field.

FIG. 9B shows a service schema database portion of the girlfriend/boyfriend-asking service exemplarily.

Referring to FIG. 9B, like that of FIG. 9A, the service schema database portion of the girlfriend/boyfriend-asking service includes a condition field, a match type, a field value, an identification code, and a match object, which can be added, deleted or changed as described above.

Differently from that of FIG. 9A, the service schema database portion of FIG. 9B includes a match object different from a condition field. FIG. 9B shows a service schema database in which a user information is used as the condition field. In the case that the user information is used as a condition field, values of the conditions to be matched are not values of conditions input by the message sender or the message receiver, but are an information of the other person. Therefore, values of the object to be matched is required. That is, the match object is needed because it differs from the condition field.

For example, the condition field "my sex" corresponds to the match object "a sex of the other person", the condition field "my residence" corresponds to the match object "a residence of the other person", and the condition field "a residence of the other person" corresponds to the match object "my residence". As described above, the operator can change the match object.

The condition field includes a user information, i.e., a personal information. That is, by setting the user information (e.g., my residence and my age) as the condition field, the message sender information becomes the message transmitting condition, and the message receiver information becomes the message receiving condition. Also, the message sender condition (e.g., residence and age of the other person) becomes the message receiving condition, and the message receiver condition (e.g., residence and age of the other person) becomes the message transmitting condition.

The user information can be input directly by a user, but a user information input when registered is used as a user information. FIGs. 10A and 10B show examples of a bit string and a match index table according to the present invention.

In FIG. 10A, a bit string 1001 (hereinafter, second bit string) and a match index table 1003 (hereinafter, first bit string index table) of the message receiving condition are for the TV transaction information mediating service of FIG. 9A. Here, let us assume that as the message receiving condition, a manufacturer is set to "Samsung", an item is set to 25" to 29" or 30" to 34", and a price is set to "unlimited".

The second bit string 1001 is values obtained by converting the manufacturer 'Samsung' and the item '25" to 29"' or '30" to 34"' using the service schema database 112. In greater detail, 'Samsung' is converted to '0001', and '25" to 29"' or '30" to 34"' is converted to '0110', and thus the second bit string 1001 is

"01100001". '01100001' denotes F8'F7'F6'F5^,F4'F3'F2'F1'.

The first bit string index table 1003 is formed such that a plurality of the message receiving conditions C1 to Cn are converted by the above-described method and then stored in the match index database 123.

For example, the first message receiving condition C1 is '01100011' and thus shows that the first bit string is '01100011', and the manufacturer is "Samsung" or "LG", and the item is '25" to 29"' or '30" to 34"'. '01100001' denotes F8F7F6F5F4F3F2F1. In FIG. 10B, a bit string 1005 (second bit string) and a match index table

1007 (first bit string index table) of the message receiving condition are for the girlfriend/boyfriend-asking service of FIG. 9B. The second bit string 1005 and the first combination index table 1007 can be understood with reference to a description of FIG. 10A, and thus their description is omitted.

Here, let us assume that the message receiving condition is set as follows: a sex "male", my residence "Seoul", a residence of the other person "Seoul" or "Pusan", my age "28", and an age of the other person "25 to 28". In this case, a sex is '01', my residence is '001', a residence of the other person is '0011', and thus the second bit string is '0011000101'. '0011000101' denotes F10'F9'F8'F7'F6'F5'F4'F3'F2'F1'.

For example, the second message receiving condition C2 of the first match index table 1007 is '0111000101' and thus shows that a sex is "male", my residence is "Seoul", a residence of the other person is "Seoul", "Pusan", or "Taegu". '0111000101 ' denotes F10F9F8F7F6F5F4F3F2F1.

FIGs. 11A and 11B shows a method of producing a query using an AND logic and an OR logic.

Referring to FIG. 11 A, first, F1\ F6' and F7' corresponding to a truth are extracted from the second bit string which stands for the message receiving condition of the TV transaction information mediating service of FIG. 10A. Thereafter, the match objects F1 , F6 and F7 corresponding F1', F6' and F7' are extracted. Here, a condition field of F1 is a manufacturer, and a condition field of F6 and F7 is an item. A query is produced such that values of a single condition field are logically calculated by an OR logic, and values of different condition field are logically calculated by an AND logic. Therefore, a query is "F1 AND (F6 OR

F7)".

Referring to FIG. 11 B, in the message receiving condition of the girlfriend/boyfriend-asking service of FIG. 10B, a query "F2 AND F7 AND (F3 OR F4)" is produced by the same method as described in FIG. 11 A. In this case, the match objects F2, F7, F3, and F4 corresponding F1', F3', F7', and F8' are

extracted.

FIG. 12A shows a process of finding the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition using the query of FIG. 11A, and

FIG. 12B shows a process of finding the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition using the query of FIG. 11 B.

Referring to FIG. 12A, a message receiving condition string 1201

corresponding to F1 is "1110...00", a message receiving condition string 1203

corresponding F6 is "1000...10", and a message receiving condition string 1205 corresponding to F7 is "1101...00". A resulting string 1207 of the query "F1 AND

(F6 OR F7)" is "1100...00". Accordingly, the message receiving condition

corresponding to a truth is C1 and C2. The message receiving conditions C1 and

C2 are converted into the message box address and then are transferred to the

message management portion 134.

Referring to FIG. 12B, a message receiving condition string 1209 corresponding to F2 is "1010...00", a message receiving condition string 1211

corresponding to F3 is "1100...01", a message receiving condition string 1213

corresponding to F4 is "0010...00", and a message receiving condition string 1215

corresponding to F7 is "1110...10". A resulting string 1217 of the query "F2 AND F7 AND (F3 OR F4)" is "1010...00". Accordingly, the message receiving condition corresponding to a truth is C1 and C3. The message receiving conditions C1 and C3are converted into the message box address and then are transferred to the message management portion 134. When a message is transmitted or received by matching the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition by using the internet- based message transmitting and receiving method described above, the message sender and the message receiver can perform the information mediating service using their address, respectively. As described herein before, using the system and the method of transmitting and receiving a message according to the present invention, the user can transmit/receive a message to/from an specified number of the general public without using an address, and an intention of the user can be directly reflected.

The system and the method of transmitting and receiving a message according to the present invention can be applied to various types of information mediating services such as a shopping, consulting, etc. For example, a product seller can transmit a sales message including a product information to a product purchaser, and the purchaser can receive a desired product information without an information retrieval. That is, an intention of the seller and the purchaser can be reflected.

In system and the method of transmitting and receiving a message applied to the information mediating service according to the present invention, a new service can be opened, or an existing service can be deleted or changed. Also, the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition can be freely set, changed or deleted. Therefore, the information mediating service can satisfy the user' taste.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting and receiving a message, comprising: a) receiving a plurality of message receiving conditions set by a plurality of message receivers; b) storing the message receiving conditions; c) receiving a message transmitting condition set by a message sender and a message made by the message sender; d) extracting the message receiving condition(s) matched to the message transmitting conditon from the plurality of the message receiving conditions; and e) transferring the message to the message receivers) of the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message receiving condition includes a message receiver information and a message sender condition, and the message transmitting condition includes a message sender information and a message receiver condition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, after the step of (e), transmitting directly a reply message to the message sender using the message sender information.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition include at least one condition field, the condition field selected from a plurality of identification codes previously designated.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of (b) further includes converting the condition field of the message receiving condition into a first identication code.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of (d) further includes d1 ) converting the condition field of the message transmitting condition into a second identication code; d2) determining whether the first identification code is matched to the second identification code or not; and d3) selecting the message receiving condition corresponding to the first identification code when matched.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the identification code has an only one value in a certain condition field and has a predetermined bit.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of (d2) further includes determining whether the first identification code and the second identification code are matched or not using an AND logic, an OR logic, or both.

9. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the message includes a message header and a message content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the message header includes the message transmitting condition.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the message header is stored in different space from the message content.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of (d) further includes producing a link information of linking the message header to the message content.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the link information is stored in the same space as the message header.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of (e) is performed in such a way that at least one message box storing the message header is provided to the message receivers) of the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition, and the message receiver reads the message using the link information of the message header.

15. The method of calim 13, wherein the message receiving condition can be added, deleted or changed by the message receiver.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the condition field and the identification code of both the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition are varied according to a type of a service.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein in at least one of the steps (b), (d) and (e), at least one of a match only database system or a general database system is used.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of (a), the message receiving condition is extracted from text strings input by the message receiver by using a natural language processing algorithm, and is a word corresponding the condition field previously set and a field value.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of (c), the message transmitting condition is extracted from text strings input by the message sender by using a natural language processing algorithm, and is a word corresponding the condition field previously set and a field value.

20. A method of matching a message transmitting condition and a message receiving condition, comprising: a) converting the message transmitting condition into a first bit string; b) converting the message receiving condition into a second bit string; c) producing a query using the first bit string; d) determining whether the second bit string is matched to the first bit

string by using the query; and e) selecting the message receiving condition when matched, wherein the message transmitting condition and the message receiving

condition are converted into the first bit string and the second bit string by a service schema previously set, respectively.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the service schema is set to include at least one condition field, at leat one field value corresponding to the condition field,

an identification code corresponding to the field value, and a match object.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the identification code is an only one

value in a certain condition field and has a predetermined bit.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first bit string and the second bit string include the identification code.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of (d) is performed by ANDing

and/or ORing the first bit string and the second bit string using the match object.

25. A message transmitting and receiving system, comprising:

a means for receiving a plurality of message receiving conditions set by a

plurality of message receivers; a means for storing the message receiving conditions;

a means for receiving a message transmitting condition set by a message

sender and a message made by the message sender;

a means for extracting the message receiving condition matched to the

message transmitting condition from the plurality of the message receiving condition; and a means for transferring the message to the message receiver of the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition.

26. A message transmitting and receiving system, comprising: a memory storing a program; and a processor executing the program to perform a) receiving a plurality of message receiving conditions set by a plurality of message receivers, b) storing the message receiving conditions, c) receiving a message transmitting condition set by a message sender and a message made by the message sender, d) extracting the message receiving condition(s) matched to the message transmitting conditon from the plurality of the message receiving conditions, and e) transferring the message to the message receivers) of the message receiving condition matched to the message transmitting condition.

27. A system of matching a message transmitting condition and a message receiving condition, comprising: a memory storing a program; and a processor executing the program to perform a) converting the message transmitting condition into a first bit string, b) converting the message receiving condition into a second bit string, c) producing a query using the first bit string, d) determining whether the second bit string is matched to the first bit string by using the query, and e) selecting the message receiving condition when matched, wherein the message transmitting condition and the message receiving condition are converted into the first bit string and the second bit string by a service schema previously set, respectively.