METHOD OF CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND INTERACTIVE SERVER

A method of controlling an electronic apparatus is provided. The method includes: inputting a user message; comparing the input user message with stored information; and outputting a response message and one of a plurality of inquiry messages in response to the input user message and based on a result of the comparing, wherein the outputting the one of the plurality of inquiry messages is also based on a plurality of priorities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain exemplary embodiments are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, like drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements, even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments. However, exemplary embodiments can be practiced without those specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the exemplary embodiments with unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1is a view illustrating a control system1000according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 1, the control system1000includes an electronic apparatus100and a server200.

The electronic apparatus100receives a user message from a user and outputs a response message in response to the user message. In this case, the electronic apparatus100may output one of a plurality of inquiry messages according to priorities based on a result of the response message. Here, the electronic apparatus100may be a portable phone such as a smart phone, but this is only exemplary. Therefore, the electronic apparatus100may be realized as various types of apparatuses such as a portable phone, a TV, a desktop personal computer (PC), a notebook PC, a navigation system, a tablet PC, etc.

The server200receives the user message from the electronic apparatus100and transmits a response message corresponding to the user message to the electronic apparatus100. In this case, the server200may be an interactive server but is not limited thereto.

In detail, the electronic apparatus100receives the user message from the user, converts the user message into a signal that may be processed by the electronic apparatus100and the server200, and transmits the signal to the server200. In this case, the user message may be input into the electronic apparatus100through a voice of the user, but this is only exemplary. The user message may be input through various types of other input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pen, a touch screen, etc. The server200receives the converted signal and transmits a signal to a response message about the converted signal to the electronic apparatus100, and the electronic apparatus100may convert the signal into a format that may be recognized by the user and output the signal. For example, the format of the signal may be a voice format and/ or a text format.

The server200may store the signal received from the electronic apparatus100. In this case, the server200may store a response message preferred by the user. Therefore, the server200may transmit an inquiry message preferred by the user according to the received user message. This will be described in further detail later.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of the electronic apparatus100, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 2, the electronic apparatus100includes an input unit110, a communicator120, an output unit130, a storage unit140, and a controller150.

The input unit110receives a user message from a user and converts the user message into a message signal using the controller150. In this case, the user message may be a voice signal of the user, and the message signal may be an electrical signal into which a voice signal is converted. For example, if the input unit110inputs a user message: “Make an appointment at 1 PM today,” the input unit110may convert the user message into a message signal such as: “theme=set schedule and date=June, 31 and time=13 o'clock and object=appointment.”

The controller150transmits the message signal to the communicator120, and the communicator120transmits the message signal to the server200. The communicator120receives a response message and/or inquiry message to the message signal from the server200and transmits the response message and/or inquire message to the controller150. The controller150transmits the response message and/or inquiry message to the output unit130.

The output130outputs the response message and/or inquiry message, which are received from the server200, to the user. In this case, the response message and/or inquiry message may be output in at least one of voice and text formats. Accordingly, the output unit130may include a speaker and display unit. In detail, the display unit may be realized as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a plasma display panel (PDP), or the like to provide various types of screens that may be provided through the electronic apparatus100. In particular, the display unit may display a response message corresponding to the voice of the user in a text or image format.

The storage unit140may be a realized as a storage medium, e.g., a memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), or the like, that stores various types of programs necessary for operating the electronic apparatus100. For example, the storage unit140may include a read only memory (ROM) that stores a program for performing an operation of the controller150, a random access memory (RAM) that temporarily stores data acquired according to a performance of the operation of the controller150, etc. The storage unit140may further include an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEROM) that stores various types of reference data.

FIG. 3is a block diagram of an interactive server200, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 3, the interactive server200includes a communicator210, a controller230, and a storage unit220.

The communicator210communicates with the electronic apparatus100. In detail, the communicator210may receive a user message from the electronic apparatus100and transmit a response message and/or inquiry message corresponding to the user message to the electronic apparatus100. Accordingly, the communicator210may include various types of communication modules.

The storage unit220stores a record of a conversation with the user. In detail, the storage unit220stores the user message and information corresponding to the user message. The stored information includes a response message, an inquiry message, and an additional user message corresponding to the user message. For example, if the user message is a command to set a schedule, the response message may be an acceptable response or unacceptable response to the command to set the schedule. The inquiry message may be an inquiry about whether the schedule has been set at another time, an inquiry about whether all schedules of a corresponding date have been suggested, an inquiry about whether presetting of a schedule has been cancelled, or the like. The additional user message may be a response message that is input by the user with respect to one of a plurality of inquiry messages. However, the user message, the response message, the inquiry message, and the additional user message are only examples and thus there may be various types of other messages. The storage unit220may be a relational database (DB) or a Non-Structured Query Language (SQL) memory DB (e.g., a NoSQL memory DB).

The controller230controls an overall operation of the interactive server200. In detail, if the user message is received from the electronic apparatus100, the controller230may control the communicator210to generate a response message and/or inquiry message corresponding to the user message and transmit the response message and/or inquiry message to the electronic apparatus100. If the additional user message to the inquiry message is received from the electronic apparatus100, the controller230may control the communicator210to perform processing with respect to the additional user message.

In particular, the controller230may control the communicator210to transmit the response message and/or inquiry message to the electronic apparatus100based on the record of the conversation in the storage unit220. For example, if the user message is a command to set a new schedule that is not stored in the storage unit220, the controller230may control the communicator210to transmit a response message accepting the user message to the electronic apparatus100. In this case, since the response message accepting the user message is generated, the controller230may control the communicator210not to generate the inquiry message. In other words, the controller230may control the communicator210to transmit a response message: “Yes. The schedule has been set” to the electronic apparatus100. However, if the user message is a command to set the same schedule as that stored in the storage unit220, the controller230may control the communicator210to transmit a response message indicating that the user message is not accepted, to the electronic apparatus100. In this case, since the response message indicating that the user message is not accepted is generated, the controller230may control the communicator210to generate an inquiry message. In other words, the controller230may control the communicator210to generate a response message: “The schedule may not be set,” and an inquiry message: “Do you want to know another time?”, “Do you want to know a schedule of that day?”, or “Do you want to cancel the stored schedule?” The controller230may control the communicator210to transmit the response message and/or inquiry message to the electronic apparatus100.

The controller230may control the communicator210to transmit the inquiry message in order of preferences of the user. In detail, if the inquiry message is generated, the controller230may control the communicator210to transmit the inquiry message to the electronic apparatus100according to the order of preferences of the user. In this case, the preference for the inquiry message may be determined based on the additional user message of the user in response to the inquiry message. The user message, the response message to the user message, and the additional user message to the response message may be stored in the storage unit220. This will be described in further detail later with reference toFIG. 10.

FIG. 4is a flowchart illustrating a control method according to an exemplary embodiment.FIG. 5is a flowchart illustrating the control method ofFIG. 4in detail. A method of controlling the electronic apparatus100will now be described with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown inFIG. 4, the control method according to the present exemplary embodiment includes: inputting a user message; comparing the input user message with stored information; and outputting a response message and an inquiry message according to priorities.

In operation S510, the electronic apparatus100receives a user message. In this case, the electronic apparatus100may be realized as various types of apparatuses such as a portable phone, a TV, a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a navigation system, a tablet PC, etc. The electronic apparatus100may receive the user message, which is a voice signal, through a microphone. However, this is only exemplary, and thus the user message may be input through various types of means such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pen, a touch screen, etc. The input user message may be converted into a signal that may be recognized by the electronic apparatus100and the interactive server200. Therefore, the input user message may be transmitted and/or received and controlled as the converted signal by the electronic apparatus100and the interactive server200and may be referred to as a user message for convenience of description herein.

The electronic apparatus100transmits the input user message to the server200. In this case, the electronic apparatus100and the interactive server200may be connected to each other through a communication network. There may be one or more communication networks connecting the electronic apparatus100and the interactive server200. Additionally, the electronic apparatus100and the interactive server200may share various types of communication networks.

In operation S520, the interactive server200receives the user message from the electronic apparatus100and compares the user message with stored information. If the user message is acceptable based on the stored information, the interactive server200generates a response message accepting the user message. However, if the user message is unacceptable based on the stored information, the interactive server200generates a response message indicating that the user message is unacceptable. In this case, the interactive server200may generate an inquiry message along with the response message indicating that the user message is unacceptable. The inquiry message may be a message that is related to the user message to request a response from the user and may be pre-stored in the server200. The inquiry message may be generated according to order of preferences of the user. In other words, inquiry messages may be generated in order of a plurality of inquiry messages selected the most by the user.

In operation S530, the interactive server200transmits the response message and/or inquiry message to the electronic apparatus100, and the electronic apparatus100outputs the response message and/or inquiry message. In this case, the electronic apparatus100may output the response message and/or inquiry message through a speaker and/or a display panel. The control method will now be described in further detail with reference toFIG. 5.

FIG. 5is a flowchart illustrating the control method ofFIG. 4in further detail.

Referring toFIG. 5, in operation S610, the electronic apparatus100receives a user message from a user. As described above, the user message is transmitted to the interactive server200through a communication network.

In operation S620, the interactive server200that has received the user message determines whether the user message matches with stored information. In other words, if the user message does not match with the stored information in operation S620, the interactive server200generates and outputs a response message accepting the user message in operation S635-1.

For example, if the user message is: “Make an appointment with a friend at 1 PM today,” and the stored information is: “The appointment with the friend has been set at 5 PM today,” the user message is acceptable. Therefore, the interactive server200may generate the response message: “Yes. The appointment with the friend has been set at 1 PM today,” accepting the user message.

If the user message matches with the stored information in operation S620, the interactive server200generates and outputs a response message not accepting the user message and one of a plurality of inquiry messages in operation S630-1. If the stored information is: “The office appointment has been set at 1 PM today,” the user message is unacceptable. Therefore, the interactive server200may generate a response message: “The schedule may not be set” that does not accept the user message or a response message: “No. The office picnic has already been set at 1 PM today.” Simultaneously, the interactive server200may generate an inquiry message that prompts the user to input another user message. Therefore, the interactive server200may generate one of a plurality of inquiry messages such as: “Do you want to know another settable time?”, “Do you want to know a schedule of that day?”, “Do you want to cancel a stored schedule?”, etc. The response message and the inquiry message may be pre-stored in the interactive server200. In particular, the inquiry message may be generated according to the order of preferences of the user.

If the user accepts a first inquiry message in operation S640-1, the interactive server200outputs a response message accepting the first inquiry message in operation S635-2. In the previous exemplary embodiment, if a user message: “Yes” is input with respect to a first inquiry message: “Do you want to know another settable time?”, the interactive server200may generate and output a response message: “Today's settable times are 11 AM, 3 PM, and 7 PM,” in operation S635-2.

If the user does not accept the first inquiry message in operation S640-1, the interactive server200may generate and output a second inquiry message in operation S630-2. In the previous exemplary embodiment, if a user message: “No” is input with respect to the first inquiry message: “Do you want to know another settable time?”, the interactive server200may generate and output a second inquiry message: “If then, do you want to know a schedule of that day?”

If the user accepts the second inquiry message in operation S640-2, the interactive server200may output a response message accepting the second inquiry message in operation S635-3. However, if the user does not accept the second inquiry message in operation S640-2, the interactive server200may generate and output a third inquiry message.

If the number of inquiry messages pre-stored in the interactive server200is n, the interactive server200generate and output an nthinquiry message in operation S630-n.If the user accepts the nthinquire message in operation S640-n,the interactive server200generates and outputs a response message accepting the nthinquiry message in operation S635-(n-1). If the user does not accept the nth inquiry message in operation S640-n,the interactive server200generates and outputs a response message indicating that the input of the user message is to be cancelled in operation S650.

FIGS. 6 through 9are views illustrating an operation of a control system according to an exemplary embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 6, a user inputs a user message: “Make an appointment with a friend at 1 PM tomorrow” into the electronic apparatus100. The electronic apparatus100that has input the user message transmits the user message to the interactive server200. Since another appointment is already set at the same date and the same time and pre-stored in the interactive server200before receiving the user message, the user message is unacceptable. Therefore, the interactive server20transmits a response message indicating that the user message is unacceptable, to the electronic apparatus100, and the electronic apparatus100receives the response message and outputs the response message as a signal: “Another appointment has been set,” that may be recognized by the user. In this case, the response message may be output as a voice signal through a speaker or may be output an image signal or a text signal through a display panel.

Referring toFIG. 7, a plurality of inquiry messages are stored in the interactive server200. In this case, the plurality of inquiry messages may have priorities according to preferences of the user, and inquiry messages having high priorities may be generated and output before inquiry messages having low priorities. The priorities of the inquiry messages will be described in further detail later with reference toFIG. 10. InFIG. 7, the inquiry message: “Suggest an available time,” among the plurality of inquiry messages has the top priority, and priorities are set in order of an inquiry message: “Suggest a schedule of the day,” an inquiry message: “Cancel a corresponding event,” etc. Therefore, in the present exemplary embodiment, since the user message is unacceptable, the electronic apparatus100may receive a first inquiry message: “Do you want to know an available time?” having a top priority from the interactive server200and output the first inquiry message.

Referring toFIG. 8, the user inputs a response message: “No” to the first inquiry message to input a first additional user message not accepting the first inquiry message into the electronic apparatus100. The electronic apparatus100that has input the first additional user message transmits the first additional user message to the interactive server200. The interactive server200does not perform processing with respect to the first inquiry message according to the first additional user message, and generates and outputs a second inquiry message. In this case, the second inquiry message is an inquiry message having a priority one step lower than the first inquiry message. Therefore, the electronic apparatus100may receive a second inquiry message: “If then, do you want to know a schedule of tomorrow?” from the interactive server200and output the second inquiry message.

Referring toFIG. 9, the user inputs a response message: “Yes” to the second inquiry message to input a second additional user message accepting the second inquiry message into the electronic apparatus100. The electronic apparatus100transmits the second additional user message to the server200. The interactive server200performs processing with respect to the second inquiry message according to the second additional user message to output a response message indicating that processing is performed with respect to the second inquiry message. In other words, the interactive server200may output a response message: “An office attendance has been reserved at 8 AM tomorrow, an office picnic has been reserved at 1 PM tomorrow, and a closing hour has been reserved at 6 PM tomorrow.”

FIG. 10is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the interactive server200, according to an exemplary embodiment. A method of setting priorities according to preferences for a plurality of inquiry messages will now be described.

A plurality of inquiry messages may be pre-stored in the interactive server200. Also, a user message may be set as an inquiry message. For example, if a user message: “Let me know another available appointment time” is input into the interactive server200, the interactive server200may change the user message into an inquiry message and store the user message as an inquiry message: “Do you want to know another available appointment time?”

Referring toFIG. 10, in operation S1110, the interactive server200outputs a first inquiry message that is one of the plurality of inquiry messages. If a user accepts the first inquiry message in operation S1115, a preference for the first inquiry message increases in operation S1120. However, if the user does not accept the first inquiry message in operation S1115, the preference for the first inquiry message decreases in operation S1125.

If the user does not accept the first inquiry message, the interactive server200outputs a second inquiry message in operation S1125. If the user accepts the second inquiry message in operation S1130, a preference for the second inquiry message increases in operation S1135. However, if the user does not accept the second inquiry message in operation S1130, the preference for the second inquiry message decreases in operation S1140.

If the user does not accept the second inquiry message, the interactive server200outputs a third inquiry message in operation S1140. Here, the user may accept or may not accept the second inquiry message. In this case, the preference for the second inquiry message may increase or decrease according to the same method as that described above. Also, a preference for an nthinquiry message may also increase or decrease according to the same method as that described above.

According to this method, preferences for inquiry messages may be calculated, and thus priorities of the inquiry messages may be determined. Also, a plurality of inquiry messages, which respectively has priorities at a time when the user message is input, may be sequentially output to the user.

If a user does not accept any of the inquiry messages stored in the interactive server200, the interactive server200outputs a response message indicating that an input of the user message is to be canceled in operation S1190.

According to the various exemplary embodiments described above, a personalized service may be provided to a user, and thus convenience of the user may be improved.