MARKETPLACE SERVER AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF

A marketplace server including a communication interface configured to receive advertisement sale information including personal information, advertisement area information, and advertisement use information from a user device; a database configured to store the advertisement sale information; and a controller configured to receive an advertisement purchase request for the advertisement sale information from an advertiser service server, and transmit advertisement purchase confirmation information including a user reward to the user device according to the received advertisement purchase request.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2023-0075924, filed in the Republic of Korea on Jun. 14, 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a marketplace server providing an advertising service.

Discussion of the Related Art

In the existing advertising market, there are various intermediate platforms from advertiser to publisher that post advertisement, and a lot of cost is actually consumed in the distribution stage. That is, in the current advertising market, the advertiser must use many relay platforms to show an advertisement to user, and accordingly, relay commissions of about 50% or more are generated.

In addition, due to the complex relationship between relay platform, fraud exists during the advertisement distribution, and an advertisement effect cannot be confirmed in real time, so advertising expenses are unconditionally spent within the contract period. In addition, for accurate advertisement targeting, user data is used by service companies or advertisement platform companies, but there is no user revenue.

In accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act, it is expected that it will be difficult to use personal information for advertisement targeting, and it is impossible to measure the effectiveness of advertisement in real time due to the increase in complexity caused by the use of relay platform. In this way, although the number of advertising media continues to increase due to the increase in various device and service, the network for distributing advertisements is very complex, resulting in high costs and pain points for all involved parties such as advertisers and publishers. Blockchain technology is being used to solve this problem, but user participation is low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present disclosure is to directly register an advertisement area (ad displayable) and data in a basic home screen, such as a launcher app in a user's device, in a marketplace by using blockchain technology.

In addition, an object of the present disclosure is to allow an advertiser to directly purchase an advertisement area of a user registered in a marketplace to check an advertisement effect in real time, save a relay platform cost, and block fraud at the source.

A marketplace server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include a communication interface configured to receive advertisement sale information including personal information, advertisement area information, and advertisement use information from a user device, a database configured to store the advertisement sale information and a controller configured to receive an advertisement purchase request for the advertisement sale information from an advertiser service server and transmit advertisement purchase confirmation information including a reward to the user device according to the received advertisement purchase request.

An operation method of a marketplace server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include receiving advertisement sale information including personal information, advertisement area information, and advertisement use information from a user device; storing the advertisement sale information; receiving an advertisement purchase request for the advertisement sale information from an advertiser service server; and transmitting advertisement purchase confirmation information including a compensation to the user device according to the received advertisement purchase request.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, accurate targeted advertisements are possible, efficient advertisement cost execution is possible through real-time advertisement measurement, and there is no cost loss due to fraud.

In addition, it is possible to efficiently operate advertisement by daily/monthly/hourly instead of quarterly advertisement purchase contract. In addition, it is possible to respond to follow-up marketing activity by checking the customer's feedback after watching the advertisement in real time. Monetization can be possible in exchange for providing advertising area and data directly from the user's point of view.

An operator operating a marketplace server can create a new source of revenue by developing a new advertisement distribution platform. In addition, in the case of selling the company's device, a program that gives a monthly discount to the device sale cost if the user agrees to this advertisement service can be operated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments relating to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The suffixes “module” and “unit” for component used in the description below are assigned or mixed in consideration of easiness in writing the specification and do not have distinctive meaning or role by themselves.

A user device according to an embodiment of the present invention is, for example, an intelligent user device in which a computer support function is added to a broadcast receiving function, and an Internet function is added while being faithful to the broadcast receiving function, such as a handwriting input device, a touch screen, and the like. Alternatively, a more user-friendly interface such as a space remote control can be provided. In addition, by being connected to the Internet and a computer by supporting a wired or wireless Internet function, functions such as e-mail, web browsing, banking, or game can be performed. A standardized universal OS can be used for these various functions.

Accordingly, since various applications can be freely added or deleted in the user device described in the present invention, for example, on a general-purpose OS kernel, various user-friendly functions can be performed. The user device can be, for example, a network TV, HBBTV, smart TV, LED TV, OLED TV, etc., and can also be applied to a smartphone (mobile terminal or user equipment).

FIG.1Ais a diagram illustrating an advertisement system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG.1Bis a diagram illustrating an advertisement system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.1A, the advertisement system1can include a user device10, a marketplace server20, an advertisement service server30, and an advertisement delivery platform server40. The user device10can display a service screen for registering an advertisement area. The user device10can obtain advertisement sale information including personal information, advertisement area information, and advertisement use information through a service screen.

Further, the user device10can transmit the obtained advertisement sale information to the marketplace server20through the communication circuit110(FIG.2). The marketplace server20can register the received advertisement sale information in a database. Also, the advertisement service server30can transmit advertisement purchase information to the marketplace server20.

In addition, the marketplace server20can obtain a user list suitable for advertisement purchase information based on a set of advertisement sale information stored in a database according to the received advertisement purchase information. The marketplace server20can then transmit the user list to the advertisement service server30and receive an advertisement purchase request from the advertisement service server30.

Also, the marketplace server20transmits advertisement purchase confirmation information to the user device10according to the received advertisement purchase request, and the user device10can display advertisement contract conclusion information based on the block purchase confirmation information. In addition, the marketplace server20can transmit a control signal to the advertisement distribution platform server40to transmit advertisement to the user device10.

Further, the advertisement distribution platform server40can transmit an advertisement to the corresponding user device10during the posting period of the advertisement according to reception of the control signal. The blockchain network can record advertisement sale registration of the user device10, advertisement purchase registration of the advertiser service server30, and advertisement area transaction history. Also, the user device10, the marketplace server20, the advertiser service server30, and the advertisement distribution platform server40can communicate with each other through an Internet connection.

Referring toFIG.1B, an advertisement system2according to another embodiment of the present disclosure can include a user device10(seeFIG.1), a publisher50, a marketplace server20, and an advertisement distribution platform server40. The publisher50can be client software that registers the advertisement area of the user device10with the marketplace server20for sale.

The marketplace server20can register the advertisement area and personal information of the user device10and conduct a transaction with the advertisement service server30. If the sale of the advertisement area is completed, the marketplace server20can transmit the cost to the user device10in the form of points or encrypted currency. In addition, the blockchain network can record sale registration, sale history, and advertisement viewing history of advertising area. Further, the advertisement distribution platform server40can transmit advertisement content to the user device10and receive an event.

Next,FIG.2is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a user device10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The user device10can be implemented a fixed or movable device such as a projector, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation device, a tablet PC, a wearable device, a set-top box (STB), a DMB receiver, radio, desktop computer, or TV.

Referring toFIG.2, the user device10can include a communication circuit110, an input interface120, a memory130, a display140and a processor190. The communication circuit110can transmit/receive data with external devices such as other user device or server using wired/wireless communication technology. Also, the communication circuit110can perform communication using one communication standard of GSM (Global System for Mobile communication), CDMA (Code Division Multi Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), 5G, WLAN (Wireless LAN), Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity), Bluetooth, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), ZigBee, or NFC (Near Field Communication).

In addition, the input interface120can include a camera for inputting a video signal, a microphone for receiving an audio signal, and a user input unit for receiving information from a user. Here, a camera or microphone can be treated as a sensor, and signal obtained from the camera or microphone can be referred to as sensing data or sensor information.

Further, the memory130can store various software and data related to the operation of the user device10. Also, the display140can display an image signal received from the outside, and the processor190can control overall operation of the user device10. The processor190can generate a control signal for controlling the external device and transmit the generated control signal to the external device if linkage of the external device is required to perform the operation of the user device10.

In addition, the processor190can control at least some of the components of the user device10in order to drive an application program stored in the memory130. The processor190can also combine and operate two or more of the components included in the user device10to drive an application program.

Next,FIG.3is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a marketplace server20according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.3, the marketplace server20can include a communication interface210, a database230and a controller290. The communication interface210can perform internet communication with the user device10or the advertiser service server30. The communication interface210can include a communication circuit for Internet communication. Also, the database230can store advertisement sale information received from the user device10and advertisement purchase information received from the advertisement service server30. The controller290controls the overall operation of the marketplace server20.

Next,FIG.4is a ladder diagram for explaining a method of operating an advertisement system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.4, the processor190of the user device10can display a service screen on the display140(S401). In an embodiment, the service screen can provide a service of selling an advertisement area on the display140of the user device10.

In addition, the processor190of the user device10can obtain advertisement sale information including personal information, advertisement area information, and advertisement usage information through the service screen (S403). The personal information can include one or more of the user's gender, age, place, content or advertisement viewing history, text message history received from the user device10, and use history of the user's home appliance.

Further, the user can set the open range (or provision range) of personal information through the service screen. That is, the user can open some or all of personal information. Advertisement area information can include one or more of a type of screen on which an advertisement is to be displayed, a size of an advertisement area, a type of advertisement desired by a user, and a type of target advertisement. Also, the advertisement use information can include one or more of an advertisement period during which an advertisement is to be posted in an advertisement area and a sales cost according to advertisement display. The sale cost can be a coin used on the blockchain platform.

Next,FIGS.5and6are diagrams illustrating a process of setting personal information and advertisement area information through service screens according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Each screen ofFIGS.5and6can be a service screen. Referring toFIG.5, the user device10can display an initial screen510on the display140according to execution of an advertisement service application. The advertisement service application can provide a service for obtaining compensation through the sale of an advertisement area. The advertisement service application can be installed in the user device10.

After the initial screen510, a personal information setting screen520can be displayed. The personal information setting screen520can be for setting whether the user of the user device10agrees to collect personal information and setting an open range of personal information. Also, the first and second advertisement area selection screens530and540can be for setting an advertisement area of the display140.

In more detail, the first advertisement area selection screen530can include an always-on-display screen, a home screen, and a smart board screen, and the second advertisement area selection screen540can include a second display screen and a widget screen. Further, the user device10can select an advertisement area to be sold through the first and second advertisement area selection screens530and540.

Next,FIG.6illustrates screens providing a service of editing an advertisement area according to a user's taste. The first editing screen610is for editing the style (or type) of an advertisement area, the size of an advertisement area, and the type of a target advertisement on an always-on-display screen. The screen style can include a banner type, notification type, and VOD type. In addition, the size of the advertisement area can include small, medium, and large. Also, the type of the target advertisement can include a target AD type indicating that only the targeted advertisement is displayed in the advertisement area and all type. The second editing screen620is a screen for editing the style (or type) of an advertisement area, the size of an advertisement area, and the type of a target advertisement on the smart board screen.

In addition, the screen style can include a banner type, notification type, and VOD type. The size of the advertisement area can include small, medium, and large. Also, the type of the target advertisement can include a target AD type indicating that only the targeted advertisement is displayed in the advertisement area and all type.

As described above, if the advertisement area information and advertisement use information are set, the wallet creation completion screen630can be displayed. In more detail, the wallet creation completion screen630can be a blockchain wallet to receive compensation to be obtained due to the sale of the advertisement area. The advertisement posting screen640can also show a state in which the advertisement area of the actual user device100is sold by the advertisement buyer and the advertisement is displayed.

In particular, the advertisement posting screen640can include an advertisement area641in which advertisement is displayed on the always-on-display screen of the user device100. As described above, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a user can edit the style, size, etc. of an advertisement area, and thus can receive a user-customized advertisement.

In addition, the user device10can transmit the advertisement sale information405to the marketplace server20by including it in meta data of a human NFT (Non-Fungible Token). In more detail,FIG.7is a diagram illustrating a human NFT according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in which a user can issue a Human NFT. That is, the user device10can generate a human NFT through an advertisement service application. The human NFT also identifies a user, and the meta data of the human NFT can include advertisement sale information including personal information, advertisement area information, and advertisement use information.

In addition, the meta data of the human NFT can further include information directly input by the user. The user device10can also encrypt the human NFT including advertisement sale information and transmit the encrypted human NFT to the marketplace server20. Further, the marketplace server20can identify the user of the user device10through the human NFT and obtain advertisement sale information of the identified user. The marketplace server20can also decrypt the encrypted human NFT.

Referring again toFIG.4, the processor190of the user device10can transmit the obtained advertisement sale information to the marketplace server20through the communication circuit110(S405). The processor190can transmit the human NFT to the marketplace server20by including the advertisement sale information in the Huma NFT ofFIG.7.

In addition, the processor190can register advertisement sale information in the marketplace server20through a smart contract of a blockchain platform. That is, transmitting the advertisement sale information to the marketplace server20can be a smart contract subscription process. Further, the controller290of the marketplace server20can register the received advertisement sale information in the database230(S407).

Also, the controller290of the marketplace server20can store the received advertisement sale information in the database230. The database230can store an advertisement sale information set including advertisement sale information received from each of a plurality of user devices. In addition, the advertisement service server30transmits advertisement purchase information to the marketplace server20(S409).

The advertisement service server30can be operated by an advertiser or an advertisement agency and can transmit advertisement purchase information for purchasing an advertisement area provided through the user device10to the marketplace server20. Further, the advertisement purchase information can include a target segment (a group of customers who will watch the target advertisement), an advertisement posting cost, and an advertisement posting period.

Next,FIG.8is a diagram illustrating advertisement purchase information800according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.8, the advertisement purchase information800can include a target segment including a target age group and a target advertisement type, and advertisement posting cost and posting time.

Referring again toFIG.4, the controller290of the marketplace server20obtains a user list suitable for the advertisement purchase information based on the advertisement sale information set stored in the database230according to the received advertisement purchase information (S411). In more detail, the controller290can compare the advertisement sale information set with the advertisement purchase information, and obtain a user list including at least one advertisement sale information corresponding to the advertisement purchase information according to a comparison result.

Next,FIG.9is a diagram illustrating a user list according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the user list900can include a first user item910including personal information, advertisement area information, and advertisement use information on the first user A, and a second user item930including personal information, advertisement area information, advertisement use information on the second user B.

Also, the marketplace server20can extract a user list900corresponding to the advertisement purchase information800from the database230using the advertisement purchase information800shown inFIG.8. In addition, the controller290of the marketplace server20transmits the user list to the advertisement service server30through the communication interface210(S413) and receives an advertisement purchase request from the advertisement service server30(S415).

Further, the advertisement service server30can display a user list and select advertisement sale information corresponding to a user who wants to purchase an advertisement from the user list. The advertisement service server30can also select a user item to purchase an advertisement from the user list900and transmit an advertisement purchase request including the selected user item to the marketplace server20. That is, the advertisement purchase request can be an action of purchasing an advertisement area of a selected user item. In addition, the marketplace server20can receive an advertisement purchase request through a smart contract of a blockchain platform. In particular, the advertisement purchase request can be an acceptance process in response to a smart contract subscription.

As shown inFIG.4, the controller290of the marketplace server20transmits advertisement purchase confirmation information to the user device10according to the received advertisement purchase request (S417), and the user device10can display an advertisement contract conclusion information based on the advertisement purchase confirmation information on the display140(S419). For example, if the first user item910ofFIG.9is a purchase target of an advertiser, the marketplace server20can transmit advertisement purchase confirmation information to the user device10corresponding to the first user item910.

Also, the marketplace server20can automatically transmit advertisement purchase confirmation information to the user device10through a smart contract according to the advertisement purchase request received from the advertisement service server30. In more detail, the advertisement purchase confirmation information can include an action to approve advertisement sale information provided by the user device10and a coin according to advertisement purchase. That is, the reward included in the advertisement purchase confirmation information can be automatically deposited into the blockchain wallet of the user device10according to the smart contract. According to the smart contract, the reward included in the advertisement purchase confirmation information can be recorded on the blockchain network.

In addition, the controller290of the marketplace server20transmits a control signal to the advertisement distribution platform server40to transmit advertisement to the user device10(S421). The control signal can include identification information of the user device10, type of advertisement, posting period of the advertisement, and information about the advertisement area of the user device10.

Further, the control signal can include identification information of the user device10, advertisement area information, and advertisement use information. Also, the advertisement distribution platform server40can transmit an advertisement to the corresponding user device10during the posting period of the advertisement according to reception of the control signal. In addition, the user device10can display the advertisement received from the advertisement distribution platform server40in the set advertisement area during the posting period.

Next,FIGS.10and11are diagrams illustrating examples of providing advertisement in advertisement area of user devices in various forms according to embodiments of the present disclosure. InFIGS.10and11, it is assumed that a contract for use of an advertising area is concluded between a user and an advertiser or an advertising agency through a smart contract as inFIG.4.

Referring toFIG.10, the home screen1010of the user device10includes an advertisement area1011on a position corresponding to an application icon. As shown, the advertisement area1011includes advertisement content1013transmitted by the advertisement distribution platform server40. Further, the advertising content1013can be an image of a product or an icon corresponding to a recommended application.

Space utilization of the display area of the user device10can increase as the area of the application icon is used as an advertisement area. In addition, the smart board screen1030can include a card banner area1031representing an advertisement area and a widget area1033. Also, the size of each of the card banner area1031and the widget area1033can be adjusted according to user setting.

If the size of each of the card banner area1031and the widget area1033is different, the cost for posting an advertisement can be different. The card banner area1031can also be a card type advertisement area. Further, the widget area1033can include an advertisement that induces user participation. Also, the user participation inducing advertisement can be an advertisement that induces a user input such as a quiz advertisement or research.

Next,FIG.11illustrates an example in which an advertisement is provided if the display140of the user device10has a dual screen. Referring toFIG.11, on the first screen1110of the user device10, a video playback area1111, a first advertisement area1112, a video information area1113, a second advertisement area1114, and other video information area1115can be included.

In this state, if the display140of the user device10is expanded to a dual screen, the first advertisement area1112and the second advertisement area1114are displayed on the second screen1130, and the second advertisement area1114is displayed. A video playback area1111, a video information area1113, and another video information area1115can also be displayed on one screen1110. That is, according to the embodiment ofFIG.11, the area where the advertisement is displayed and the area where the content is played can be separated through the dual screen, so that the user can view the advertisement more intuitively.

Next,FIG.12is a diagram for explaining a process in which a user device determines a user's advertisement preference according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.12, the TV1200is playing an advertisement video1210for a product. The user device10can receive information about the advertisement video1210from the TV1200through wireless communication. Information on the advertising image1210can include one or more of the name of a product being advertised in the advertising image1210and the type of product. In addition, the user device10can display a pop-up window1230on the display140in response to receiving information about the advertisement video1210.

Further, the pop-up window1230can be for determining the preference of an advertisement currently being viewed on the TV1200. The user device10can collect advertisement viewed by the user and preference for advertised product through the pop-up window1230. In addition, the collected preferences can be included in the personal information obtained in step S403ofFIG.4.

Next,FIGS.13and14are diagrams illustrating a process of trading an advertisement area between a manufacturer of a user device and an advertiser through a marketplace. In particular,FIG.13illustrates the user device10is a mobile device, andFIG.14illustrates the user device10is a TV.

Referring toFIG.13, a manufacturer1310of a mobile device can be a seller of an advertisement area. All of the following processes can be performed by the smart contract of the blockchain platform. That is, the manufacturer1310of the mobile device can load launcher apps into the mobile device. The manufacturer1310of the mobile device can set an area corresponding to any one of the launcher apps as an advertisement area.

For example, the mobile device manufacturer1310can set an area corresponding to the fourth icon on the home screen as an advertisement area, and can additionally set the period, cost, and number of devices for the advertisement area. The marketplace server20can also register advertisement offer information1330including the location of the advertisement area on the mobile device (app 4), advertisement period, advertisement cost, and number of devices provided to the manufacturer1310of the mobile device.

In addition, an advertiser or an advertising agency can be an advertisement buyer1350. The advertisement buyer1350can purchase a corresponding advertisement offer by referring to advertisement offer information1330registered in the marketplace server20. In this instance, advertisement content provided by the advertisement buyer1350can be displayed in an area corresponding to the fourth app of the mobile device.

Referring toFIG.14, a TV manufacturer1310can be a seller of an advertisement area. All of the following processes can be performed by the smart contract of the blockchain platform. That is, the manufacturer1410of the TV can mount launcher apps on the TV. The TV manufacturer1410can set an area corresponding to any one app among launcher apps or content areas representing each of the launcher apps as an advertisement area.

In addition, the content area can be an area where thumbnail images of content provided by the launcher app are displayed. For example, the TV manufacturer1410can set an area corresponding to the second content area on the home screen as an advertisement area, and can additionally set the period, cost, and number of devices for the advertisement area. The marketplace server20can also register advertisement offer information1430including the location of the advertisement area on the TV (second content area), advertisement period, advertisement cost, and number of devices provided to the TV manufacturer1410.

Further, an advertiser or an advertising agency can be an advertisement buyer1450. The advertisement buyer1450can purchase a corresponding advertisement offer by referring to advertisement offer information1430registered in the marketplace server20. In this instance, advertisement content provided by the advertisement buyer1450can be displayed in the second content area of the TV.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the above-described method can be implemented as a processor-readable code in a medium on which a program is recorded. Examples of media readable by the processor include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like. The configuration and method of the above-described embodiments are not limitedly applicable to the user device described above, but the above embodiments can be configured by selectively combining all or part of each embodiment so that various modifications can be made.