Abstract:
According to the present invention, a user device can obtain together, from an advertisement server for providing an advertisement service, via a neighbor access point device, update condition information on advertisement information in the course of obtaining the advertisement information. In addition, if the update condition information is satisfactory, the user device requests the advertisement information from the advertisement server via an AP and stores the advertisement information received in response to the request, thereby being capable of updating the advertisement information.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an advertisement service and, more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for efficiently updating advertisement information stored in a user device. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    The 802.11u standard corresponds to the standard defined for the purpose of discovering information on an external network connected to an AP (Access Point). Particularly, the 802.11u standard allows a user device to discover network information and a network without a connection with the AP.  FIG. 1  illustrates an operation in which the user device discovers a network with an external advertisement server according to a protocol of 802.11u. 
         [0003]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a user device  10  receives a beacon message broadcasted by an AP  20  in step  51 , transmits/receives a probe request and response message to/from the AP  20  in steps  53  and  55 , and acquires information indicating provision of advertisement service through the AP  20  in an AP scan process. Thereafter, the user device  10  transmits an advertisement service request message to the AP  20  in step  57  and, accordingly, the AP  20  makes a request for the advertisement service to an advertisement server  30  in step  59 . The advertisement server  30  transfers advertisement information to be transmitted to the user device  10  to the AP  20  in response to the request of the AP  20  in step  61 . The advertisement information may include information corresponding to each of a plurality of advertisement items. The AP  20  transmits an advertisement service response message including advertisement information to the user device  10  in step  63 , and the user device  10  provides a user with the received advertisement information. Thereafter, when a predetermined scan period passes in step  64 , the user device  10  repeatedly perform the AP scan process using the probe request and response message in steps  53  and  55 , and the advertisement information request process using the advertisement service request and response message in steps  57  to  63 . 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0004]    When advertisement information is updated by an advertisement server based on the conventional 802.11u standard, updating the corresponding advertisement information through a periodic AP scan process and advertisement service request process by the user device  10  becomes a problem. That is, even though the advertisement information is not updated in the side of the advertisement server  30 , the terminal should periodically identify whether the advertisement information is updated. Such an operation is unnecessary, which increases current consumption of the user device  10  and applies a larger load to the advertisement server  30 . Since the user device  10  cannot stay in a sleep state in order to periodically perform the AP scan process, current consumption relatively increases, which reduces a usable time when the user device  10  is a portable device. When a plurality of user devices transmit an advertisement service request message to the advertisement server  30 , larger loads applied to the advertisement server  30  and thus a response time becomes longer. 
         [0005]    Secondly, the biggest problem of the prior art illustrated in  FIG. 1  is that the user device  10  cannot accurately grasp a time point when an update of advertisement information is required. That is, the user device  10  triggers the AP scan process and the advertisement service request process merely to update the advertisement information according to a predetermined period. As described above, since the corresponding advertisement information is updated through a predetermined period within the user device  10  regardless of the advertisement server  30 , the time point of the update of the advertisement information of the user device  10  is somewhat different from an actual time point of the update of the advertisement information on the advertisement server  30 . Accordingly, it is required to transfer the update advertisement information to the user without any delay. 
         [0006]    Thirdly, the problem of the prior art illustrated in  FIG. 1  is that the user device  10  should always load all pieces of advertisement information through the advertisement service request process. Even though only some of the advertisement information changes in the same advertisement server  30 , the advertisement server  30  transfers all pieces of the advertisement information, which causes an exchange of unnecessary packets, thereby causing a response delay. The plurality of user devices receive all pieces of advertisement information to update the advertisement information every time, so that the delay may increase due to the load of the advertisement server  30 , the network load, and unnecessary data processing in the user device. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0007]    In order to resolve the above described problems, the present invention provides a method and an apparatus for actively performing a scan process and an advertisement service request process by determining a time point when an update of advertisement information is required by a user device. 
         [0008]    The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for reducing power consumption of the user device to acquire advertisement information. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for reducing loads of an advertisement server according to provision of advertisement information. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for acquiring advertisement information without any delay. 
         [0011]    Meanwhile, according to the present invention, a method of updating advertisement information by a user device in an advertisement service system including an advertisement server that services advertisement information of service contents provided from a content provider, at least one access point linked with the advertisement server, and at least one user device are provided. The method includes: scanning for an access point device; transmitting an advertisement service request message that makes a request for advertisement information to the access point device; receiving an advertisement service response message including at least one piece of advertisement information and update condition information corresponding to the at least one piece of advertisement information from the access point; and determining whether to update the at least one piece of advertisement information by using the update condition information and updating the at least one piece of advertisement information. 
         [0012]    According to the present invention, the update condition information may include validity term information indicating a validity term corresponding to each of the at least one piece of advertisement information, and the updating of the at least one piece of advertisement information may include: matching and storing the at least one piece of advertisement information and the validity term information in a storage unit; detecting expired advertisement information in the at least one piece of advertisement information; and transmitting an advertisement service request message of the expired advertisement information. 
         [0013]    According to the present invention, the update condition information may include location identification information indicating a valid area of each of the at least one piece of advertisement information, and the updating the at least one piece of advertisement information may include: matching and storing the at least one piece of advertisement information and the location identification information; when a predetermined scan period passes, transmitting a probe request message; receiving a probe response message; detecting location identification information included in the probe response message; and when the detected location identification information is different from the stored location identification information, transmitting an advertisement service request message. 
         [0014]    According to the present invention, an apparatus for updating advertisement information in an advertisement service system including an advertisement server that services advertisement information of service contents provided from a content provider, at least one access point linked with the advertisement server, and at least one user device are provided. The apparatus includes: a short-range communication module that performs short-range wireless communication with a neighboring access point device; a storage unit; and a controller that scans for an access point device by controlling the short-range communication module, transmits an advertisement service request message that makes a request for advertisement information to the access point device, receives an advertisement service response message including at least one piece of advertisement information and update condition information corresponding to the at least one piece of advertisement information from the access point, stores the at least one piece of advertisement information and the update condition information in the storage unit, determines whether to update the at least one piece of advertisement information by using the update condition information, and updates the at least one piece of advertisement information. 
         [0015]    According to the present invention, the update condition information may include validity term information indicating a validity term corresponding to each of the at least one piece of advertisement information, and the controller may match and store the at least one piece of advertisement information and the validity term information in the storage unit, detect expired advertisement information in the at least one piece of advertisement information, and transmit an advertisement service request message of the expired advertisement information through the short-range communication module. 
         [0016]    According to the present invention, the update condition information may include location identification information indicating a valid area of each of the at least one piece of advertisement information, and the controller may match and store the at least one piece of advertisement information and the location identification information in the storage unit, transmit a probe request message through the short-range communication module when a predetermined scan period passes, receive a probe response message, detect location identification information included in the probe response message and, when the detected location identification information is different from the stored location identification information, transmit an advertisement service request message through the short-range communication module. 
       Effects of the Invention 
       [0017]    According to the present invention, a user device can determine a time point when an update of advertisement information is required and actively perform a scan process and an advertisement service request process. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce power consumption of the user device for acquiring advertisement information and reduce a load of an advertisement server according to provision of the advertisement information. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to acquire advertisement information without delay. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional process of transferring advertisement information; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a configuration of a service system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a configuration of a user device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates an operation process of the user device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a process of transferring advertisement information according to various embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate an operation process of the user device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same reference numerals and symbols denotes the identical structural elements although the structural elements are depicted in another drawing. Further, in the description of the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known functions or structures causes a confusion in the subject matter of the present invention, the description will be omitted. 
         [0025]    A user device according to various embodiments of the present invention may be a device with a communication function. For example, the electronic device may be a combination of one or more of a smartphone, a tablet personal computer, a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop personal computer, a laptop personal computer, a netbook computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), an MP3 player, a mobile medical device, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronic appcessory, a camera, a wearable device, an electronic clock, a wrist watch, a home appliance (e.g., a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a cleaner, an oven, a microwave oven, a washing machine, a vacuum cleaner, etc.), an artificial intelligent robot, a Television (TV), a Digital Video Disk (DVD) player, an audio player, various medical machines (e.g., a Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a Computed Tomography (CT), a tomography camera, a sonography device, etc.), a navigation device, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, an Event Data Recorder (EDR), a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), a set-top box, a TV box (e.g., SamSung HomeSync™, Apple TV™, or Google TV™), an electronic dictionary, a vehicle infotainment device, electronic equipment for a ship (e.g., navigation equipment for a ship, a gyrocompass, etc.), avionic equipment, a security device, an electronic cloth, an electronic key, a camcorder, a game console, a Head-Mounted Display (HMD), a flat panel display device, an electronic frame, an electronic album, a furniture or a part of a building/structure including a communication function, an electronic board, an electronic signature receiving device, a projector, etc. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that user devices according to various embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above described devices. 
         [0026]    According to the present invention, a user device may acquire update condition information of advertisement information in a process of acquiring the advertisement information from an advertisement server that provides an advertisement server through a neighboring access point (hereinafter, referred to as “AP”). Further, when the user device becomes a state that meets the update condition information, the user device may make a request for advertisement information to the advertisement server through the AP and store the received advertisement information in response to the request, so as to update the advertisement information. 
         [0027]    An example of a service system to which the present invention is applied is illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a configuration of a service system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the service system may include a user device  100 , an AP  200 , a wired/wireless network  400 , and an advertisement server  300 . In the following description, it is assumed that the user device  100  is located within an area in which communication of the AP  200  is possible. 
         [0028]    The advertisement server  300  illustrated in  FIG. 2  may transfer advertisement information of various service contents, which are provided by one or more content providers, to the user device through at least one AP. Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when providing the advertisement information to the user device, the advertisement server  300  may also transfer update condition information to allow the user device to update advertisement data at a proper time point. 
         [0029]    The service contents may be, for example, coupons, tickets, product introduction, company introduction, store introduction, or the like. The advertisement information corresponds to brief guide information on the service contents. In the following description, it is assumed that one piece of advertisement information corresponds to one service content to assist understanding of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Server identification information (hereinafter, referred to as “AS ID”) for identifying the advertisement server is allocated to the advertisement server  300 . The advertisement server  300  may match and store content provider identification information (hereinafter, referred to as “venue ID”) for identifying a content provider, advertisement information related to the corresponding content provider, and update condition information. The update condition information corresponds to information indicating an update condition of the advertisement information and may include at least one of validity term and location identification information (location ID) according to various embodiments of the present invention. The validity term corresponds to information indicating a valid period of the advertisement information. The location identification information corresponds to information indicating a geographical area in which the advertisement information or relevant service contents are valid. The location identification information may be, for example, an actual location coordinate or a particular number corresponding to any region or area. The update condition information may be transferred to the user device along with the advertisement information. As described above, as the advertisement server  300  transfers information on the valid term or valid area of the advertisement information to the user device, the user device may update the advertisement information at a proper time point. 
         [0031]    In the following description, according to various embodiments of the present invention, a first embodiment in which the update condition information includes only time information, a second embodiment in which the update condition information includes only location identification information, and a third embodiment in which update condition information includes validity term information and location identification information will be described as examples. 
         [0032]    The AP  200  is a device that communicates with the user device  100  through short-range communication and is connected to one or more external networks included in the wired/wireless network  400 . Further, the AP  200  is a device that provides an advertisement service to the user device  100  through a link with the advertisement server  300 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the AP  200  may store an AS ID of the linked advertisement server and a venue ID of a content provider related to the linked advertisement server. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the AP  200  may additionally store the location identification information. When the location identification information is stored, the AP  200  may insert the location identification information into a beacon message and a probe response message used in an AP scan process of the user device. 
         [0033]    In order to scan for an AP of the user device located within a communicable area, the AP  200  periodically broadcasts a beacon message including information indicating that the advertisement service is possible through short-range communication. Alternatively, when the AP  200  receives a probe request message for the AP scan from the user device, the AP  200  transmits a probe response message including advertisement service-possible information to the corresponding user device. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the user device performs the AP scan process, the AP  200  may transfer the AS ID and the venue ID to the user device. 
         [0034]    Further, when the AP  200  receives an advertisement request message from the user device, the AP  200  transfers the advertisement request message to the advertisement server  300  and receives update condition information from the advertisement server  300  along with the advertisement information in response to the advertisement request message. The AP  200  transmits the advertisement information and the update condition information to the corresponding user device. 
         [0035]    The user device  100  is a device that can perform short-range wireless communication with the AP and supports the advertisement service. The user device  100  may scan for the AP  200  that supports the advertisement service and may make a request for and receive advertisement information provided through the AP  200  from the scanned for AP  200 . Further, the user device  100  may determine a proper update time point of the advertisement information by using the update condition information transferred along with the advertisement information and make a request for the advertisement information, so as to update the advertisement information. 
         [0036]    A configuration of the user device  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the configuration of the user device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the user device  100  (hereinafter, also referred to as a ‘device’) may be connected with an external device (not shown) using a mobile communication module  120 , a sub communication module  130 , and a connector  165 . The “external device” includes another device (not shown), a mobile phone (not shown), a smart phone (not shown), a tablet PC (not shown), and a server (not shown). Referring to  FIG. 3 , the device  100  includes a touch screen  190  and a touch screen controller  195 . Further, the device  100  may include a multimedia module  140 , a camera module  150 , a GPS module  157 , an input/output module  160 , a sensor module  170 , a power supply unit  180 , and a storage unit  175 . The device  100  may include the mobile communication module  120  and the sub communication module  130 . The sub communication module  130  may include a WLAN module  131 , and may further include a short-range communication module  132 . The multimedia module  140  includes at least one of a broadcast communication module  141 , an audio reproduction module  142 , and a video reproduction module  143 . The camera module  150  includes at least one of a first camera  151  and a second camera  152 , and the input/output module  160  includes at least one of a button  161 , a microphone  162 , a speaker  163 , a vibration motor  164 , a connector  165 , and a keypad  166 . 
         [0037]    The controller  110  may include a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  111 , a Read-Only Memory (ROM)  112  which stores a control program for controlling the device  100 , and a Random Access Memory (RAM)  113  which stores signals or data input from the outside of the device  100 , or is used as a storage region for operations performed by the device  100 . The CPU  111  may include single core, dual core, triple core, quadruple core, or five or more cores. The CPU  111 , the ROM  112 , and the RAM  113  may be mutually connected through an internal bus. 
         [0038]    The controller  110  may control the mobile communication module  120 , the sub communication module  130 , the multimedia module  140 , the camera module  150 , the GPS module  157  the input/output module  160 , the sensor module  170 , the power supply unit  180 , the storage unit  175 , the touch screen  190 , and the touch screen controller  195 . 
         [0039]    The mobile communication module  120  connects the external device to the device  100  through mobile communication by using one or more antennas (not shown) under a control of the controller  110 . The mobile communication module  120  transmits/receives a radio signal for a voice call, a video call, a Short Message Service (SMS), or a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) to/from a mobile phone (not shown), a smart phone (not shown), a tablet PC, or another device (not shown) having a phone number input into the device  100 . 
         [0040]    The sub communication module  130  may include the WLAN module  131 , and may further include the short-range communication module  132 . 
         [0041]    The WLAN module  131  may be connected to the Internet in a place where a radio AP is installed according to a control of the controller  110 . The WLAN module  131  supports a wireless LAN standard (IEEE802.11x) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). At this time, it may be assumed that the WLAN module  131  according to various embodiments of the present invention supports an advertisement service function according to the specification of IEEE 802.11u. Accordingly, the controller  110  according to various embodiments of the present invention may search for a neighboring AP according to a predetermined time period by repeating channel scan, listen, and search of IEEE 802.11 through the sub communication module  130 . 
         [0042]    The short-range communication module  132  may wirelessly perform short-range communication between the device  100  and an image forming device (not shown) according to a control of the controller  110 . The sub communication scheme may include Bluetooth and Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication. 
         [0043]    The device  100  may include at least one of the mobile communication module  120  and the sub communication module  130  according to a capability thereof. For example, the device  100  may include a combination of the mobile communication module  120  and the sub communication module  130  according to a capability thereof. 
         [0044]    The multimedia module  140  may include the broadcast communication module  141 , the audio reproduction module  142  or the video reproduction module  143 . The broadcast communication module  141  may receive a broadcasting signal (for example, a TV broadcasting signal, a radio broadcasting signal, or a data broadcasting signal) or broadcasting additional information (for example, Electric Program Guide (EPS) or Electric Service Guide (ESG)) which are transmitted from a broadcasting station through a broadcasting communication antenna (not shown) under the control of the controller  110 . The audio reproduction module  142  may reproduce a stored or received digital audio file (for example, a file having a file extension of mp3, wma, ogg, or way) under a control of the controller  110 . The video reproduction module  143  may reproduce a digital video file (for example, a file having a file extension of mpeg, mpg, mp4, avi, mov, or mkv) stored or received, under a control of the controller  110 . The video reproduction module  143  may reproduce a digital audio file. 
         [0045]    The multimedia module  140  may include the audio reproduction module  142  and the video reproduction module  143  except for the broadcast communication module  141 . Further, the audio reproduction module  142  or the video reproduction module  143  of the multimedia module  140  may be included in the controller  110 . 
         [0046]    The camera module  150  may include at least one of the first camera  151  and the second camera  152  which photograph a still image or a moving image under the control of the controller  110 . Further, the first camera  151  or the second camera  152  may include an auxiliary light source (for example, a flash (not shown)) for providing a light amount required for the photographing. The first camera  151  may be disposed on a front surface of the device  100 , and the second camera  152  may be disposed on a rear surface of the device  100 . 
         [0047]    The GPS module  157  may receive radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites (not shown) in Earth&#39;s orbit and may calculate a position of the device  100  by using Time of Arrival from the GPS satellites to the device  100 . 
         [0048]    The input/output module  160  may include at least one of a plurality of buttons  161 , a microphone  162 , a speaker  163 , a vibration motor  164 , a connector  165 , and a keypad  166 . 
         [0049]    The buttons  161  may be disposed on a front surface, a side surface or a rear surface of a housing of the device  100 , and may include an electric power/lock button (not shown), a volume control button (not shown), a menu button, a home button, a back button, and a search button  161 . 
         [0050]    The microphone  162  receives a voice or a sound to generate an electrical signal under a control of the controller  110 . 
         [0051]    The speaker  163  may output sounds corresponding to various signals (for example, a wireless signal, a broadcasting signal, a digital audio file, a digital video file, photographing, and the like) of the mobile communication module  120 , the subcommunication module  130 , the multimedia module  140  or the camera module  150  to the outside of the apparatus  100  under a control of the controller  110 . The speaker  163  may output sounds (for example, a button operation sound or a ringtone corresponding to a voice call) corresponding to functions which the apparatus  100  performs. One or more speakers  163  may be formed on a suitable position or positions of the housing of the device  100 . 
         [0052]    The vibration motor  164  may convert an electrical signal into a mechanical vibration under the control of the controller  110 . For example, when the device  100  in a vibration mode receives a voice call from another device (not shown), a vibration motor  164  is operated. One or more vibration motors  164  may be formed within the housing of the device  100 . The vibration motor  164  may operate in response to a touch operation of a user who touches the touch screen  190 , and a continuous movement of a touch on the touch screen  190 . 
         [0053]    The connector  165  may be used as an interface which interconnects the device  100  and an external device (not shown) or a power source (not shown). Data stored in the storage unit  175  of the device  100  may be transmitted to the external device (not shown) or received from the external device (not shown) through a wired cable connected to the connector  165  under the control of the controller  110 . Power may be input from a power source (not shown) or a battery (not shown) may be charged, through the wired cable connected to the connector  165 . 
         [0054]    The keypad  166  may receive a key input from a user in order to control the device  100 . The keypad  166  includes a physical keypad (not shown) formed in the device  100  or a virtual keypad (not shown) displayed on the touch screen  190 . The physical keypad (not show) formed on the device  100  may be excluded according to the capability or structure of the device  100 . 
         [0055]    The sensor module  170  includes at least one sensor for detecting a status of the device  100 . For example, the sensor module  170  may include a proximity sensor which detects proximity of a user to the device  100  or proximity of a finger, a pen, or the like to the screen, an illuminance sensor (not shown) which detects an amount of light around the device  100 , an acceleration sensor which detects an operation (for example, a rotation of the device  100 , or acceleration or vibration applied to the device  100 ) of the device  100 . At least one sensor may detect a status including the orientation and inclination of the device  100 , generate a signal corresponding to the detection, and transmit the signal to the controller  110 . The sensors of the sensor module  170  may be added or omitted according to the capability of the device  100 . 
         [0056]    The power supply unit  180  may supply power to at least one battery (not shown) arranged at the housing of the device  100  according to a control of the controller  110 . At least one battery (not shown) supplies power to the device  100 . Further, the power supply unit  180  may supply, to the device  100 , power input from an external power source (not shown) through a wired cable connected to the connector  165 . 
         [0057]    The storage unit  175  may store signals or data which input/output in accordance with an operation of the mobile communication module  120 , sub communication module  130 , the multimedia module  140 , the camera module  150 , the GPS module  157 , the input/output module  160 , the sensor module  170 , the touch screen  190 , and a status information client under the control of the controller  110 . The storage unit  175  may store control programs and applications for controlling the device  100  or the controller  110 . 
         [0058]    The term “storage unit” includes the storage unit  175 , the ROM  112  and the RAM  113  within the controller  110 , or a memory card (not shown) (for example, an SD card or a memory stick) mounted to the device  100 . Further, the ROM  112  and the RAM  113  within the controller  110  may be omitted, and the ROM  112  or the RAM  113  may be included in the storage unit  175 . The storage unit may include a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a Solid State Drive (SDD). Further, the storage unit  175  may match and store advertisement information received from the AP  200 , the AS ID, the venue ID, and the update condition information according to a control of the controller  110 . 
         [0059]    The touch screen  190  may provide a user with a user interface corresponding to various services (for example, a voice call, data transmission, broadcasting, and photographing). The touch screen  190  includes a touch panel and a display panel, and the touch panel is mounted onto an upper portion of the display panel. 
         [0060]    The touch screen controller  195  displays various pieces of data input by the controller  110  on the display panel by driving the display panel according to a control of the controller  110 . The display panel may be a panel such as an LCD or an AMOLED, and may display various operation statuses of the device  100 , and various images according to an application execution and a service. 
         [0061]    The touch panel corresponds to a panel which may receive at least one touch through various objects, for example, a user&#39;s body (for example, fingers including a thumb) or a touch input means, for example, an electronic pen (stylus pen). Further, the touch panel may receive successive motions of one touch among one or more touches. The touch panel may transmit an analog signal corresponding to the trace of touch according to the successive motions of the input touch to the touch screen controller  195 . 
         [0062]    In the present invention, the touch is not limited to contact between the touch screen  190  and the user&#39;s body or the touch input means, and may include non-contact. A distance from the touch screen  190  that can be detected may be changed according to the capability or the structure of the device  100 . The touch screen  190  may be implemented, for example, in a resistive type, a capacitive type, an infrared type, an Electro Magnetic Resonance (EMR) type or an acoustic wave type, and also may be implemented in a combination of one or more thereof. 
         [0063]    The process in which the user device  100  configured as described above receives and stores advertisement information and updates the stored advertisement information as necessary is illustrated in  FIG. 4  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  illustrates an operation process of the user device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the controller  110  of the user device  100  scans for a neighboring AP by using the sub communication module  130  and, when there is the found AP, makes a request for advertisement information to the corresponding AP in step  501 . The scanning for the neighboring AP is performed as the user device  100  receives a beacon message periodically broadcasted by the AP or probe request and response messages are transmitted and received between the user device  100  and the AP. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the beacon message and the probe response message may include an AS ID of the advertisement server linked with the AP and a venue ID of the content provider related to the advertisement information. When the AP  200  is scanned for through the AP scan process, the controller  110  of the user device  100  makes a request for the advertisement information by transmitting an advertisement service request message to the AP  200  through the sub communication module  130 . 
         [0065]    The AP  200  having received the request for the advertisement information transmits an advertisement request to the advertisement server  300 , and the advertisement server  300  transmits at least one piece of advertisement information and update condition information related to each piece of the advertisement information to the AP  200  in response to the advertisement request. The AP  200  transmits the advertisement information and the update condition information to the user device  100  and, accordingly, the controller  110  of the user device  100  receives the advertisement information and the update condition information through the sub communication module  130  in step  503 . The update condition information may be at least one of validity term and location identification information (location ID) of the advertisement information according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0066]    The controller  110  of the user device  100  matches the advertisement information, the update condition information, and the AS ID and the venue ID acquired in the AP scan process and stores the matched information in the storage unit  175 , and then identifies whether the current situation meets the update condition of one piece of advertisement information in step  505 . When the update condition is met, the controller  110  determines that the corresponding advertisement information is required to be updated, and makes a request for the advertisement information to the AP  200  through the sub communication module  130  in step  507 . 
         [0067]    According to a first embodiment of the present invention, when the update condition information corresponds to the validity term, the controller  110  may set a timer for the validity term of each piece of advertisement information and identify whether the validity term has expired, so as to determine whether the update condition is met. When it is identified that the validity term has expired, the controller  110  transmits a probe request message. Further, the controller  110  compares an AS ID and a venue ID included in a probe response message received from the AP  200  in response to the probe request message with the AS ID and the venue ID of the advertisement information of which the validity term has expired and, when the AS IDs and the venue IDs match each other, makes a request for the corresponding advertisement information to the advertisement server  300  through the AP  200 . 
         [0068]    According to a second embodiment of the present invention, when the update condition information corresponds to the location identification information, the controller  110  periodically transmits the probe request message to the AP  200  and compare location identification information include in the probe response message received from the AP  200  with location identification information stored in the storage unit  175  in response to the probe request message, so as to determine whether the update condition is met. When the two pieces of location identification information do not match, the controller  110  makes a request for the advertisement information to the advertisement server  300  through the AP  200 . 
         [0069]    According to a third embodiment of the present invention, when the update condition information includes both the validity term and the location identification information, the controller  110  identifies both the validity term and the location identification information and determine whether the update condition is met. 
         [0070]    The AP  200  having received the request for the advertisement information transmits an advertisement request to the advertisement server  300 , and the advertisement server  300  transmits the advertisement information and update condition information related to the advertisement information to the AP  200  in response to the advertisement request. The AP  200  transmits the advertisement information and the update condition information to the user device  100  and, accordingly, the user device  100  receives the advertisement information and the update condition information in step  509 . Further, the controller  110  of the user device  100  updates the advertisement information by storing newly received advertisement information in the storage unit  175  in step  511 . At this time, the update condition information may be also stored in the storage unit  175  along with the newly received advertisement information, so that a reference of the update condition may be changed. 
         [0071]    Next, the first embodiment to the third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7B .  FIG. 5  illustrates a process of updating advertisement information when update condition information corresponds to the validity term according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  illustrates a process of updating advertisement information when update condition information corresponds to location identification information according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , communication between the user device  100  and the AP  200  is short-range wireless communication, and an operation of the user device  100  is performed under a control of the controller  110 .  FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a process of updating advertisement information when update condition information includes both validity term information and location identification information according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0072]    The first embodiment of the present invention is first described with reference to  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the user device  100  enters a communicable area of the AP  200 , the user device  100  may receive a beacon message broadcasted from the AP  200  in step  601  and scan for the AP  200 . The beacon message may include information indicating that an advertisement service can be performed by the AP  200 , an AS ID of the advertisement server  300  linked with the AP  200 , and a venue ID corresponding to identification information of a content provider related to the advertisement server  300 . 
         [0073]    Alternatively, as the user device  100  transmits a probe request message to a neighboring AP, the AP  200  may receive the probe request message in step  603  and the user device  100  may receive a probe response message from the AP  200  in response to the probe request message, so that the AP  200  can be scanned for. At this time, the probe response message may include information indicating that an advertisement service can be performed by the AP  200 , an AS ID of the advertisement server  300  linked with the AP  200 , and a venue ID corresponding to identification information of a content provider related to the advertisement server  300 . 
         [0074]    The user device  100  may identify that the AP  200  is an AP, which supports the advertisement service, through serviceable information included in the received beacon message or probe response message. Accordingly, the user device  100  makes a control to transmit an advertisement service request message to the AP  200  in step  607 . The AP  200  having received the advertisement service request message transmits an advertisement service request to the advertisement server  300  in step  609 . The advertisement server  300  transmits an advertisement service response including at least one piece of advertisement information and validity term corresponding to each piece of the advertisement information to the AP  200  according to the advertisement service request in step  611 . The AP  200  transmits an advertisement service response message including at least one piece of advertisement information and validity term corresponding to each piece of the advertisement information to the user device  100  in step  613 . 
         [0075]    The controller  110  of the user device  100  detects the advertisement information and the validity term corresponding to each of the advertisement information from the received advertisement service response message, matches each piece of the advertisement information, the AS ID, and the venue ID, and stores the matched information and IDs in the storage unit  175 . Further, the controller  110  sets a validity term of each piece of the advertisement information in step  617 . Thereafter, the controller  110  counts the validity term of each piece of the advertisement information and identifies whether there is advertisement information having an expired validity term in step  619 . When there is advertisement information having the expired validity term, it is determined that the corresponding advertisement information is required to be updated. Accordingly, the controller  110  makes a control to transmit the probe request message in step  621 . 
         [0076]    When the AP  200  receives the probe request message in step  621 , the AP  200  transmits a probe response message to the user device  100  in step  623 . 
         [0077]    The controller  110  of the user device  100  detects an AD ID and a venue ID included in the probe response message received in step  623 . Further, the controller  110  compares whether the detected AS ID and venue ID match the stored AS ID and venue ID which have matched the advertisement information having the expired validity term. When they match each other based on a result of the comparison, the controller  110  makes a control to transmit an advertisement service request message of the advertisement information having the expired validity term to the AP  200  in step  627 . In other words, the user device  100  makes a request for transmitting new advertisement information only with respect to the advertisement information having the expired validity term without making a request for re-transmitting all the advertisement information received in step  613 . 
         [0078]    When the AP  200  receives the advertisement service request message in step  627 , the AP  200  transmits an advertisement service request for the advertisement information having the expired validity term to the advertisement server  300  in step  629 . The advertisement server  300  transfers an advertisement service response including updated advertisement information and validity term to the AP  200  in step  631 . The AP  200  transmits an advertisement service response message including the updated advertisement information and the validity term received from the advertisement server  300  to the user device  100  in step  633 . 
         [0079]    When the controller  110  of the user device  100  receives the advertisement service response message in step  635 , the controller  110  detects the advertisement information and the validity term included in the received advertisement service response message. Further, the controller  110  stores the detected advertisement information instead of the advertisement information having the expired validity term identified in step  619  and resets the validity term, so as to update the advertisement information in step  639 . 
         [0080]    Meanwhile, the user device  100  may receive the probe response message from another AP which is not linked with the advertisement server  300  in response to the probe request message transmitted in step  621 . In this case, the AS ID and the venue ID included in the probe response message received from the other AP may be different from the AS ID and the venue ID corresponding to the advertisement information having the expired validity term identified in step  619 . Alternatively, probe response messages received from the AP  200  may have different AS IDs and different venue IDs. As described above, when the AS ID and the venue ID detected from the probe response message are different from the AS ID and the venue ID corresponding to the advertisement information having the expired validity term, it is determined that the update of the advertisement information having the expired validity term is impossible at present. Accordingly, the controller  110  may provide the user with a guideline on the expiration of the validity term of the corresponding advertisement information. Further, the controller  110  identifies whether there is advertisement information that matches the AS ID and the venue ID detected from the probe response message in the advertisement information stored in the storage unit  175 . When there is no advertisement information that matches the AS ID and the venue ID detected from the probe response message based on a result of the identification, the controller  110  transmits a general advertisement service request message to the corresponding AP. In other words, the controller  110  transmits the advertisement service request message that makes a request for all pieces of advertisement information, which can be provided through the corresponding AP, without making a request for only the advertisement information having the expired validity term. 
         [0081]    As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the user device  100  may update the advertisement information at a proper time point by acquiring validity term information of the advertisement information along with the advertisement information. Further, the user device  100  may update only the advertisement information having the expired validity term by managing the validity term according to each piece of advertisement information. 
         [0082]    Next, the second embodiment according to the present invention is described with reference to  FIG. 6 . The second embodiment of the present invention describes a process of updating advertisement information when update condition information corresponds to location identification information (location ID). 
         [0083]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , when the user device  100  enters a communicable area of the AP  200 , the user device  100  may receive a beacon message broadcasted by the AP  200  in step  701  and scan for the AP  200 . The beacon message may include information indicating that an advertisement service can be performed by the AP  200 , an AS ID of the advertisement server  300  linked with the AP  200 , a venue ID corresponding to identification information of a content provider related to the advertisement server  300 , and location identification information. Alternatively, as the user device  100  transmits a probe request message to a neighboring AP, the AP  200  may receive the probe request message in step  703  and the user device  100  may receive a probe response message from the AP  200  in response to the probe request message, so that the AP  200  can be scanned for. At this time, the probe response message may include information indicating that an advertisement service can be performed by the AP  200 , an AS ID of the advertisement server  300  linked with the AP  200 , a venue ID corresponding to identification information of a content provider related to the advertisement server  300 , and location identification information. 
         [0084]    According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the AP  200  may store in advance location identification information corresponding to information on an area in which advertisement information received from the advertisement server  300  and provided to the user device can be effectively used, and the location identification information may be transferred to the user device through the beacon message and the probe response message. 
         [0085]    The user device  100  may identify that the AP  200  is an AP, which supports the advertisement service, through serviceable information included in the received beacon message or probe response message. Accordingly, the user device  100  makes a control to transmit an advertisement service request message to the AP  200  in step  707 . The AP  200  having received the advertisement service request message transmits an advertisement service request to the advertisement server  300  in step  709 . The advertisement server  300  transmits an advertisement service response including at least one piece of advertisement information and location identification information corresponding to the advertisement information to the AP  200  according to the advertisement service request in step  711 . The AP  200  transmits an advertisement service response message including at least one piece of advertisement information and location identification information corresponding to the advertisement information to the user device  100  in step  713 . 
         [0086]    The controller  110  of the user device  100  detects the advertisement information and the location identification information in the received advertisement service response message, matches each piece of the advertisement information, the AS ID, and the venue ID, and stores the matched information and IDs in the storage unit  175  in step  715 . Further, the controller  110  counts a predetermined scan period in step  717  and, when the scan period passes, makes a control to transmit a probe request message in step  719 . 
         [0087]    When the AP  200  receives the probe request message in step  721 , the AP  200  transmits a probe response message to the user device  100  in step  723 . 
         [0088]    The controller  110  of the user device  100  detects an AS ID, a venue ID, and location identification information included in the probe response message received in step  723 . Further, in step  725 , the controller  110  matches the detected location identification information with the location identification information which has matched the advertisement information and stored in step  715 . When the location identification information is the same as each other based on a result of the comparison, the controller  110  determines that the advertisement information is not required to be updated and counts the scan period again in step  717 . 
         [0089]    However, when it is identified that the location identification information is different from each other based on a result of the comparison of step  723 , the controller  110  determines that the advertisement information is required to be updated. 
         [0090]    The difference in the location identification information means that the user device  100  is not located in an area in which the advertisement information stored in the user device  100  can be effectively used. Accordingly, the controller  110  makes a control to transmit the advertisement service request message that makes a request for new advertisement information to the AP  200  in step  725 . 
         [0091]    When the AP  200  receives the advertisement service request message in step  725 , the AP  200  transmits an advertisement service request to the advertisement server  300  in step  727 . The advertisement server  300  transmits an advertisement service response including new advertisement information and relevant location identification information to the AP  200  according to the request in step  729 . The AP  200  transmits an advertisement service response message including the new advertisement information and the location identification information received from the advertisement server  300  to the user device  100  in step  731 . 
         [0092]    When the controller  110  of the user device  100  receives the advertisement service response message in step  731 , the controller  110  detects advertisement information and location identification information included in the received advertisement service response message. Further, in step  733 , the controller  110  matches and stores the advertisement information, the location identification information, and the AS ID and the venue ID detected in step  721 . 
         [0093]    As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the user device  100  may update the advertisement information at a proper time point by acquiring the location identification information of the advertisement information along with the advertisement information. 
         [0094]    Next, the third embodiment according to the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B . The third embodiment of the present invention describes a process of updating advertisement information when update condition information includes both validity term information and location identification information (location ID).  FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate an operation process of the user device  100  according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0095]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , the controller  110  transmits a probe request message to scan for a neighboring AP in step  801 . The AP having received the probe request message transmitted from the user device  100  transmits a probe response message in response to the probe request message. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the AP  200  receives the probe request message. Accordingly, the user device  100  receives the probe response message from the AP  200  in step  803 , so that the AP  200  is scanned for. At this time, the probe response message may include information indicating that an advertisement service can be performed by the AP  200 , an AS ID of the advertisement server  300  linked with the AP  200 , a venue ID corresponding to identification information of a content provider related to the advertisement server  300 , and location identification information. The user device  100  may scan for the AP  200  by receiving a beacon message broadcasted by the AP  200 . The beacon message may include information indicating that an advertisement service can be performed by the AP  200 , an AS ID of the advertisement server  300  linked with the AP  20 , a venue ID corresponding to identification information of a content provider related to the advertisement server  300 , and location identification information. 
         [0096]    According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the AP  200  may store in advance location identification information corresponding to information on an area in which advertisement information received from the advertisement server  300  and provided to the user device can be effectively used, and the location identification information may be transferred to the user device through the beacon message and the probe response message. 
         [0097]    The user device  100  may identify that the AP  200  is an AP, which supports the advertisement service, through serviceable information included in the received beacon message or probe response message. Accordingly, the controller  110  makes a control to transmit an advertisement service request message to the AP  200  in step  805 . The AP  200  having received the advertisement service request message transmits an advertisement service request to the advertisement server  300 . The advertisement server  300  transmits an advertisement service response including at least one piece of advertisement information, location identification information corresponding to each piece of advertisement information, and validity term information to the AP  200  according to the advertisement service request. The AP  200  transmits an advertisement service response message including at least one piece of advertisement information, location identification information corresponding to each piece of advertisement information, and validity term information to the user device  100 . 
         [0098]    The controller  110  of the user device  100  receives the advertisement service response message in step  807 . Further, the controller  110  detects advertisement information, and location identification information and validity term information corresponding to each piece of advertisement information in the advertisement service response message, matches each piece of advertisement information, the AS ID, and the venue ID, and stores the matched information and IDs in the storage unit  175  in step  809 . Further, the controller  110  sets a validity term of each piece of advertisement information in step  811 . 
         [0099]    Thereafter, the controller  110  counts the validity term of each piece of the advertisement information and identifies whether there is advertisement information having an expired validity term in step  813 . When there is advertisement information having the expired validity term, it is determined that the corresponding advertisement information is required to be updated. Accordingly, the controller  110  makes a control to transmit the probe request message in step  815 . 
         [0100]    When the AP  200  receives the probe request message, the AP  200  transmits a probe response message to the user device  100  in response to the probe request message. 
         [0101]    The controller  110  of the user device  100  detects an AS ID, a venue ID, and location identification information included in the received probe response message. Further, the controller  110  compares whether the detected AS ID, venue ID, and location identification information match the AS ID, the venue ID, and the location identification information corresponding to the advertisement information having the expired validity term in step  819 . When they match each other based on a result of the comparison, the controller  110  makes a control to transmit an advertisement service request message of the advertisement information having the expired validity term to the AP  200  in step  823  of  FIG. 7B . In other words, the controller  110  makes a request for transmitting new advertisement information only with respect to the advertisement information having the expired validity term. 
         [0102]    When the AP  200  receives the advertisement service request message, the AP  200  transmits an advertisement service request for the advertisement information having the expired validity term to the advertisement server  300 . The advertisement server  300  transfers an advertisement service response including updated advertisement information, validity term, and location identification information to the AP  200  according to the request. The AP  200  transmits an advertisement service response message including the updated advertisement information, the validity term, and the location identification information received from the advertisement server  300  to the user device  100 . 
         [0103]    When the controller  110  of the user device  100  receives the advertisement service response message in step  825 , the controller  110  detects advertisement information, validity term, and location identification information included in the received advertisement service response message. Further, the controller  110  stores the detected advertisement information instead of the identified advertisement information having the expired validity term and resets the validity term in step  827 , so as to update the advertisement information, and proceeds to step  813  of  FIG. 7A  to repeat the above process. 
         [0104]    Meanwhile, when it is identified that the AS, ID, venue ID, and location identification information detected in the probe response message received in step  817  do not match the AS ID, venue ID, and location identification information corresponding to the advertisement information having the expired validity term in step  819  of  FIG. 7A , the controller  110  proceeds to step  821 . 
         [0105]    The user device  100  may receive the probe response message from another AP which is not linked with the advertisement server  300  in response to the probe request message transmitted in step  815 . In this case, the AS ID and the venue ID included in the probe response message received from the other AP may be different from the AS ID and the venue ID corresponding to the advertisement information having the expired validity term. Alternatively, probe response messages received from the AP  200  may have different AS IDs and different venue IDs. Alternatively, even though the AS IDs and the venue IDs are the same, location identification information may be different. In this case, it is determined that the update of the corresponding advertisement information is impossible at present. Accordingly, the controller  110  may provide the user with a guideline on the expiration of the validity term of the corresponding advertisement information. 
         [0106]    The controller  110  identifies whether the advertisement information having the same AS ID, venue ID, and location identification information as the AS ID, venue ID, and location identification information detected in the probe response message received in step  817  exist in the storage unit  175  and, when the advertisement information exists in step  821 , proceeds to step  813 . However, when the advertisement information having the same AS ID, venue ID, and location identification information as the detected AS ID, venue ID, and location identification information do not exist in the storage unit  175 , the controller  110  makes a control to transmit the advertisement service request message that makes a request for new advertisement information in step  805 , so as to acquire new advertisement information. 
         [0107]    As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the user device  100  may update the advertisement information at a proper time point by acquiring the validity term information and the location identification information of the advertisement information along with the advertisement information. Further, the user device  100  may update only the advertisement information having the expired validity term by managing the validity term according to each piece of advertisement information. 
         [0108]    Although specific embodiments are described in the above description of the present invention, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention shall not be determined by the above-described embodiments, and is to be determined by the following claims and their equivalents.