Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a terminal device which transmits information to a web server through Internet and receives information provided from the web server, and more particularly, to a terminal device which collects status information generated in real life to transmit the status information to a web server in real time and receive the status information provided from the web server.  
           [0002]    Recently, with increase of the number of portable terminal devices such as a cellular phone and the number of Internet users, various apparatuses and methods for providing information based on wire/wireless communication networks have been provided. In this respect, information collected by a record tool on a web, a phone, and a still camera has been conventionally provided to information users through a web site. Alternatively, information collected on on-line or off-line has been provided to information users through a web site after editing and processing steps.  
           [0003]    The inserted tables in the following are comparison tables of conventional sites that provide information users with information.  
                                               CNN.com   Selftv.com               Information   User who enjoys news   User who desires to receive       user       individual internet broadcasting       Types of   News special channel   Making individual broadcasting       information       Station       Information   800 overseas collaborators, 24   A number of unspecified persons       provider   international correspondent   having camcorder and USB           offices, CNN reporters of 37   camera, interested in private           branch offices   broadcasting       Information   After collecting news using   After transmitting or recording       collecting   camera and recorder by a small   present condition by private       method   number of specified   editing program, transmit present           persons(reporters) draft news and   condition to editing program           transmit them through E-mail       Editing   DG broadcasting equipment,   Editing tool mounted on PC(cha-       method   editing system, live relay system   nnel selection-recording-storing-               file conversion-transmission)       Business   Provide charged information   Install video terminal, rental fee,       types   related to advertisement and news   and sell contents       Contents   Refined news of press   Individual documentary       style       Point   Wide network   Participation of a number of               unspecified persons                   Townews.com   Roadi.co.kr               Information   User who desires to know area   Driver and person concerned       user   information       Types of   Area information close to real life   Real time traffic information       information       Information   Area information manager of a   CC TV, taxi driver unspecified       provider   small number of specified persons   provider       Information   Directly and periodically enter   Provide screen to CC TV with       collecting   writings on E-mail, notice board,   oral by taxi driver and       method   morgue, or program by a small   information provider using           number of area residents   mobile terminal/handset       Editing   Edit editing materials with digital   After processing materials,       method   editing equipment by specialist   display materials in CC TV screen           (web planner and web designer)   transmitting system and digital           and edit materials on web site by   editing system           information provider       Business   Advertisement order of area   ARS service, PDA service, and       types   information manager and   traffic information service on           electronic transaction of area   vehicle terminal           special product       Contents   Subdivision of existing contents   Refined information such as road       style   such as geography, restaurant, and   and specialized traffic           life information, in accordance           with area       Point   Subdivision of area information   Information of present condition                  
 
           [0004]    Referring to the comparison tables, respective sites are constituted in such a manner that a small number of specified persons provide information with a limited theme, and a separate editing means for editing and processing information is required even in case of information obtained by a number of unspecified persons.  
           [0005]    In other words, to open information and materials obtained by the public for a number of unspecified information users, it is necessary to edit the information using a separate editing program mounted on a personal computer (PC). Alternatively, it is necessary to request expert editing institutes such as Internet company, in which specialists edit information using an editing equipment, to edit corresponding information. In this case, separate expenses have been required.  
           [0006]    Furthermore, even in case of news collected by a small number of specified persons such as news reporters not the public, the news are collected for a certain time period and then opened or transmitted to a number of information users at one time through a separate editing step. In this case, a problem arises in that the respective news cannot be provided in real time.  
           [0007]    That is, after real-time information such as news flash or event accident is collected, edited and processed, the information is provided to information users using a means such as web or E-mail at one time. For this reason, the time needed for an information user to receive corresponding information increases.  
           [0008]    As described above, the related art method for providing information has several problems. That is, a problem arises in that it is difficult to provide customers who desire to obtain information of various kinds more quickly with such information, due to limitation in collecting and editing information. For this reason, the information users had to obtain limited information only. This makes the information users difficult to timely obtain the information, thereby reducing the value of news or information. Moreover, no methods for easily opening various kinds of information obtained by a number of unspecified persons have been suggested.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a portable terminal device for processing status information that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
           [0010]    An object of the present invention is to provide to portable terminal device for processing status information in which after information such as video data, audio data, and text data is collected, the information is edited as status information data indicative of temporal status information on an area in which the information is collected and theme of the collected information and then transmitted to a web server in real time.  
           [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to an apparatus for processing status information in which information such as video data, audio data, and text data collected by a separate collecting means is edited to be transmitted to a web server in real time.  
           [0012]    Other object of the present invention is to a method for processing status information in which after information such as video data, audio data, and text data is collected, the information is edited and transmitted to a web server in real time.  
           [0013]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings.  
           [0014]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a portable terminal device for processing status information according to the present invention includes: a data collector for collecting video data, audio data, and text data on an arbitrary area and theme; a data combiner for combining the video data with at least one of the audio data and the text data and setting the generated temporal information of the combined data by the time at which the video data is collected; a data editor for adding code information on a theme and an area selected by a user to the video data collected by the data collector and the collected temporal information of the video data or the combined data generated by the data combiner so as to generate status information data indicative of temporal status information on an arbitrary area and theme; a data transmitter for transmitting the status information data to a web server; a data outputting unit for outputting the status information and indicating communication state between the portable terminal device and the web server; a user interface unit for inputting the user&#39;s external manipulation signal to generate the status information data; and a controller for controlling the operation of the data collector, the data combiner, the data editor, the data transmitter, and the data outputting unit in response to the users&#39; manipulation signal input through the user interface unit.  
           [0015]    In another aspect, an apparatus for processing status information according to the present invention includes: a portable terminal device for collecting at least one of video data, audio data, and text data on an arbitrary area and theme through a data collector, and outputting the collected data together with its temporal information; and a data processor for generating status information data indicative of temporal status information on an arbitrary area and theme based on the collected data from the portable terminal device and transmitting the generated status information data to a web server.  
           [0016]    In other aspect, a method for processing status information according to the present invention includes the steps of: a) collecting at least one of video data, audio data, and text data on an arbitrary area and theme using a portable terminal device; b) combining the video data with at least one of the audio data and the text data and setting the generated temporal information of the combined data by the time at which the video data is collected; c) adding code information on a theme and area selected by a user to the video data collected in the step a) and the collected temporal information of the video data or the combined data generated in the step b) so as to generate status information data indicative of temporal status information on an arbitrary area and theme; and d) transmitting the status information data to a web server.  
           [0017]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0019]    In the drawings:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 shows a portable terminal device for processing status information according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram showing a portable terminal device for processing status information according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram showing a data generator according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is an internal block diagram showing a data outputting unit according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is an internal block diagram showing an apparatus for processing status information according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 6A and 6B are exemplary tables showing data structures that manage area and theme codes according to the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a schematic view of status information data generated in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a processing method for generating status information data in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a processing method for providing information users with status information data in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10 is an exemplary view showing web page screens for providing an information user with status information data in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11 is an exemplary view showing a real-time information managing system based on an apparatus of the present invention; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a method for transmitting an information file from a portable terminal device to a server by the real-time information managing system of FIG. 11. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1 shows a portable terminal device for processing status information according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a portable terminal device  100  for processing status information according to the present invention includes a digital camera  11  for inputting a video signal, and a display unit  12  for outputting the video signal, and a keypad  13  for inputting an external manipulation signal.  
         [0034]    The portable terminal device  100  collects or displays an arbitrary video as the digital camera  11  or the display unit  12  is operated by the keypad  13  being manipulated by a user.  
         [0035]    Meanwhile, the portable terminal device  100  may further include a mike, a speaker, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. That is to say, the portable terminal device  100  collects audio data using the mike, outputs audio data using the speaker, and performs data communication with a PC or a separate editor using the USB port.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram showing a portable terminal device for processing status information according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, a portable terminal device  100  for processing status information according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a data generator  100 , a data transmitter  120 , a user interface unit  130 , a controller  140 , a data receiver  150 , and a data outputting unit  160 .  
         [0037]    The data generator  110  collects at least one of video data, audio data, and text data on an arbitrary area and theme, and generates status information data indicative of temporal status information on a corresponding area and theme.  
         [0038]    The data transmitter  120  transmits the status information data generated by the data generator  110  to a web server. At this time, the data transmitter  120  is connected with separate communication equipments such as cellular phones and PCs using a serial port or a USB port to transmit the status information data to the web server. Alternatively, the data transmitter  120  directly transmits the status information data to the web server through a wireless communication system. Also, when transmitting the status information data, the data transmitter  120  may transmit the status information data to which an identification number of the portable terminal device, current temporal information and user information are added, at the web server&#39;s request.  
         [0039]    The user interface unit  130  inputs a user&#39;s external manipulation signal to generate the status information data.  
         [0040]    The controller  140  controls the operation of the data generator  110 , the data transmitter  120 , the data receiver  150 , and the data outputting unit  160  in response to the user&#39;s manipulation signal input through the user interface unit  130 .  
         [0041]    The data receiver  150  receives the status information data from the web server and outputs the same through the data outputting unit  160 .  
         [0042]    The data outputting unit  160  outputs the status information data received by the data receiver  150  and indicates communication state between the portable terminal device  100  and the web server. If the data receiver  150  receives the status information data, the data outputting unit  160  analyzes the received status information data and separates the video data, the audio data or the text data included in the status information data to respectively output them in accordance with types of the data.  
         [0043]    Meanwhile, the status information data essentially should include its corresponding area and theme information. Area and theme codes corresponding to each area and theme may be managed by an internal memory of the unit for processing status information or may be transmitted from the web server when transmitting the status information data. In more detail, if the area code and the theme code are included in the internal memory, the data generator  110  generates the status information data in itself referring to the area code and the theme code stored in the internal memory. However, if the area code and the theme code are not included in the internal memory, the data generator  110  receives code information on an arbitrary theme and area transmitted from the web server through the data receiver  150  to generate the status information data.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram showing the data generator  110  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the data generator  110  includes a video signal inputting unit  111 , an audio signal inputting unit  113 , a text signal inputting unit  115 , buffers  112 ,  114  and  116 , a data combiner  117 , a memory  118 , and a data editor  119 . The video signal inputting unit  111 , the audio signal inputting unit  113 , and the text signal inputting unit  115  respectively collect video data, audio data or text data on an arbitrary area and theme under the control of the controller  140 , and perform pre-processing of the respective data. Each of the buffers  112 ,  114  and  116  temporarily stores the respective data processed through the video signal inputting unit  111 , the audio signal inputting unit  113 , and the text signal inputting unit  115 .  
         [0045]    If the audio data and/or the text data are input to the data combiner  117  through the audio signal inputting unit  113  and/or the text signal inputting unit  115 , the data combiner  117  combines the video data input through the video signal inputting unit  111  with the audio data and/or the text data, and outputs the combined data. At this time, the data combiner  117  sets generated time information of the combined data based on the time at which the video data is collected.  
         [0046]    The memory  118  stores and manages an identification number of the unit for processing status information, theme and area codes, and its temporal information.  
         [0047]    The data editor  119  adds theme and area codes selected by a user to input data to generate status information data indicative of temporal status information on an arbitrary area and theme. At this time, the data input to the data editor  119  is the video data and the collected temporal information data of the video data stored in the buffer  112  after being input by the video signal inputting unit  111 , or the data combined by the data combiner  117 .  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 4 is an internal block diagram showing the data outputting unit  160  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the data outputting unit  160  includes a data analyzer  161 , a video signal processor  162 , a video signal outputting unit  163 , an audio signal processor  164 , and an audio signal outputting unit  165 .  
         [0049]    The data analyzer  161  analyzes the status information data transferred through the data receiver  150  to separate video data, audio data or text data included in the status information data from one another under the control of the controller  140 .  
         [0050]    The video signal processor  162  generates a video output signal of the video data and the text data separated by the data analyzer  161  and displays the same. The audio signal processor  164  generates an audio output signal of the audio data separated by the data analyzer  161 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5 is an internal block diagram showing an apparatus for processing status information according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the apparatus for processing status information according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a data collector  210  for collecting at least one of video data, audio data, or text data on an arbitrary area and theme, and a data processor  220  for processing the data collected by the data collector  210 .  
         [0052]    The data collector  210  has a portable terminal type separated from the data processor  220 .  
         [0053]    The data processor  220  adds area information and theme information to either the video data collected by the data collector  210  or combined data obtained by combining the video data with the text data or the audio data, so as to generate status information data. Then, the data processor  220  transmits the generated status information data to the web server. At the request of an information user, the data processor  220  receives the status information data from the web server and provides a corresponding information user with the received status information data.  
         [0054]    Furthermore, a PC that is provided with a program for processing corresponding data and can be connected with Internet may be used as the data processor  220 . The data processor  220  includes a data combiner  221 , a data editor  222 , a data transmitter  223 , a controller  224 , a data receiver  225 , a data analyzer  226 , a video signal processor  227 , a video signal outputting unit  228 , an audio signal processor  229 , an audio signal outputting unit  230 , and a memory  231 .  
         [0055]    The data combiner  221  combines the video data with the data collected by the data collector  210 . That is, the data combiner  221  outputs the combined data obtained by combining the video data with the audio data or the text data. At this time, generated time information of the combined data is set based on the time at which the video data is collected.  
         [0056]    The data editor  222  adds area and theme codes selected by the user to the video data collected by the data collector  210  and the collected temporal information of the video data, or the combined data generated by the data combiner  221 , so as to generate status information data indicative of temporal status information on an arbitrary area and theme.  
         [0057]    The data transmitter  223  transmits the status information data to the web server.  
         [0058]    If the status information data is transmitted from the web server to the data receiver  225  in response to a data request message input by a terminal user, the data receiver  225  receives the status information data. The data analyzer  226 , the video signal processor  227 , the audio signal outputting unit  228 , the audio signal processor  229 , and the audio signal outputting unit  230  respectively act in the same manner as the data analyzer  161 , the audio signal processor  162 , the audio signal outputting unit  163 , the audio signal processor  164 , and the audio signal outputting unit  165  shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly, their description will be omitted.  
         [0059]    The memory  231  stores and manages an identification number of the apparatus for processing status information, theme and area codes, and its temporal information.  
         [0060]    Meanwhile, the controller  224  outputs a control signal to respective elements of the data processor  220  to perform the above processing steps.  
         [0061]    The area and theme codes of the status information data generated by the apparatus for processing status information of the present invention and stored/managed in the web server may be managed by the apparatus for processing status information or may be provided from the web server if necessary.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIGS. 6A and 6B are exemplary tables showing data structures that manage area and theme codes according to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0063]    To generate status information data, the data generator  110  for generating the status information data in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention adds corresponding area and theme information to the status information data based on area and theme codes sorted and stored as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.  
         [0064]    For example, if arbitrary status information data is on a theater near Hongik University, ‘05’ is recorded in an area information memory field of the status information data and ‘004’ is recorded in its theme information memory field.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the status information data generated in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, data managed by the apparatus for processing status information in accordance with the present invention includes a header field  710  that is an identifier field of corresponding data, an area information field  720  indicative of area information corresponding to status information data, a temporal information field  730  indicative of temporal information when the status information data is generated, a theme field  740  indicative of a theme of the status information data, a data field  750  indicative of at least one combined data of video data, audio data and text data which are contents of the status information data, and a transmitting information field  760  indicative of information of an information provider which generates the status information data. At this time, the data field  750  is formed by combining one or more fields among a video data field  751  for video data, an audio data field  752  for audio data, and a text data field  753  for text data, with one another. The respective data fields have a variable length in accordance with the combining state.  
         [0066]    At this time, the temporal information field  730  stores temporal information when the video data stored in a corresponding data field is generated.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a processing method for generating status information data in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0068]    First, if at least one data among video data, audio data and text data is externally input by the data collecting step, pre-processing is performed in accordance with types of the data and the data is temporarily stored in accordance with type of the data in steps s 805 , s 810 , and s 815 .  
         [0069]    If the data collecting step on a corresponding area and theme ends, either the video data or the combined data obtained by combining the video data with the audio data or the text data is output. Codes of the corresponding area and theme are added to the video data or the combined data to generate status information data on the area and theme in steps s 820  to s 830 .  
         [0070]    When the video data is combined with the audio data or the text data, generating time of the combined data is set at generating time of the video data.  
         [0071]    Meanwhile, code information on the corresponding area and theme included in the status information data may be managed by an apparatus for processing status information or may be transmitted from a server which stores and manages the status information data, if necessary. That is, when transmitting the status information data, code information on the corresponding area and theme is transmitted from the server.  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a processing method for providing information users with status information data in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0073]    First, if a request message that desires to use status information data managed by an external server is input from an information user to the apparatus for processing status information in step s 905 , the apparatus for processing status information transmits the request message to the external server in step s 910 . If the apparatus for processing status information receives the status information data from the external server in response to the request message in step s 915 , the apparatus for processing status information analyzes the received status information data in step s 920  and sorts video data, audio data, or text data in accordance with types of data included in the status information data to output the sorted data to the information user in step s 925 .  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 10 is an exemplary view showing web page screens for providing an arbitrary information user with status information data in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 10, an example of a method for outputting arbitrary status information from the apparatus for processing status information of the present invention is shown.  
         [0075]    As shown in FIG. 10, if an information user requests status information on a certain ‘CAFÉ’ within a certain area, the latest status information data on the café, such as cafe name, generating time of data, text data, and video data, is provided. At this time, if the audio data is included in the status information data, the audio data is output through a speaker.  
         [0076]    Meanwhile, the information user can request previous or next status information data on the cafe using a ‘PREVIOUS’ or ‘NEXT’ button located on the bottom of the status information provided.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 11 is an exemplary view showing a real-time information managing system based on an apparatus of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, the real-time information managing system includes a portable terminal device  1110  which generates status information data on an arbitrary area and theme, a web server  1140  which stores and manages the status information data generated by the portable terminal device  1110 , and a communication equipment (for example, a PC  1120  or a cellular phone  1130 ) which transmits the status information data generated by the portable terminal device  1110  to the web server  1140 . At this time, a communication function provided by the PC  1120  or the cellular phone  1130  may be constituted by separate equipment or may incorporated into the portable terminal device  1110 . The web server  1140  can provide information users, who use a portable terminal device  1110  or a separate terminal device  1160  connected to the Internet  1150 , with corresponding data.  
         [0078]    In more detail, after a number of unspecified persons generate status information data on a theme in an area where they are located, using a portable terminal device  1110 , they transmit the status information data to the web server  1140  using a communication equipment such as the PC  1120  or the cellular phone  1130 . The web server  1140  stores and manages the status information data. Also, if a number of unspecified persons request arbitrary data using the portable terminal device  1110  or the separate terminal device  1160  connected to the Internet  1150 , the web server  1140  retrieves corresponding data to provide corresponding information users with them.  
         [0079]    [0079]FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a method for transmitting an information file from the status information processing apparatus  1170  (the portable terminal device for processing status information illustrated in FIG. 2 or the apparatus for processing status information illustrated in FIG. 5) to the web server  1140 . Referring to FIG. 12, to transmit arbitrary status information data to the web server  1140  using the status information processing apparatus  1170 , the status information processing apparatus  1170  transmits a service menu request message to the web server  1140  in step s 1201 . Then, the web server  940  receives the request message in step s 1202  and transmits a service menu in response to the request message in step s 1203 .  
         [0080]    After the status information processing apparatus  1170  receives the service menu, the status information processing apparatus  1170  displays contents of the received service menu in step s 1204  and transmits a response message (‘YES’) in step s 1205 .  
         [0081]    In accordance with the response message, the web server  1140  acknowledges that the status information processing apparatus  1170  has received the service menu, in step s 1206 . Then, the web server  1140  transmits an area code list containing code information on each area to the status information processing apparatus  1170  in step s 1207 .  
         [0082]    The status information processing apparatus  1170  receives the area code list and displays it on a screen, so that an information message that instructs input of a desired area code (‘INPUT AREA CODE’) is displayed in step s 1208 . Then, the status information processing apparatus 1170 is on standby until the user inputs the area code. If the user inputs the area code, such as ‘SHINCHON 02’, the status information processing apparatus  1170  transmits the code information to the web server  1140  in step s 1209 .  
         [0083]    After the web server  1140  processes the area code in step s 1210 , the web server  1140  transmits a theme code list containing code information on each theme to the status information processing apparatus  1170  in step s 1211 .  
         [0084]    The status information processing apparatus  1170  receives the theme code list and displays it on the screen, so that an information message that instructs input of a desired theme code (‘INPUT THEME CODE’) is displayed in step s 1212 . Then, the status information processing apparatus  1170  is on standby until the user inputs the theme code. If the user inputs the theme code, such as ‘KELI CAFE 003’, the status information processing apparatus  1170  transmits the code information to the web server  1140  in step s 1213 .  
         [0085]    After the web server  1140  processes the theme code in step s 1214 , the web server  1140  transmits an opening window for file selection to the status information processing apparatus  1170  to select a file containing information to be provided by the status information processing apparatus  1170  in step s 1215 .  
         [0086]    After the status information processing apparatus  1170  receives the opening window and displays it on the screen in step s 1216 , the status information processing apparatus  1170  is on standby until the users selects a desired file. If the user selects a desired file, the status information processing apparatus  1170  transmits the selected file information to the web server  1140  in step s 1217 .  
         [0087]    The web server  1140  acknowledges the file information selected by the status information processing apparatus  1170  in step s 1218  and transmits a transmission acknowledgement message for a corresponding file in step s 1219 .  
         [0088]    The status information processing apparatus  1170  receives the transmission acknowledgement message (for example, ‘KELI CAFE IN SHINCHON, TRANSMISSION?’) and displays it on the screen in step s 1220 . Then, the status information processing apparatus  1170  is on standby until the user responds to the message. If the user inputs ‘YES’ in response to the message, the status information processing apparatus  1170  transmits the response message ‘YES’ to the web server  1140  in step sl 221 .  
         [0089]    After the web server  1140  receives the response message in step s 1222 , the web server  1140  transmits a transmission reception message to the status information processing apparatus  1170  in step s 1223 .  
         [0090]    The status information processing apparatus  1170  displays the transmission reception message from the web server  1140  on the screen in step s 1224  and transmits a corresponding file in step s 1225 .  
         [0091]    The web server  1140  receives the file in step s 1226 . If transmission of the file is completed, the web server  1140  transmits a transmission completion message to the status information processing apparatus  1170  in step s 1227 , and collects and processes the received information in step s 1230 .  
         [0092]    After the status information processing apparatus  1170  receives the transmission completion message in step s 1228 , the status information processing apparatus  1170  disconnects the web server  1140  in step s 1229 .  
         [0093]    As aforementioned, the apparatus and method for processing status information has the following advantages.  
         [0094]    Unlike the related art method for providing newspapers and broadcasting information through a separate editing step after collecting materials, status information data generated by simple editing step are directly provided to the web server with collecting separate materials, so that the time needed to provide services after collecting the materials can be reduced. Accordingly, the information users can timely use various and vivid news or information data at desired time, thereby improving the value of the news.  
         [0095]    Furthermore, information of various kinds obtained in real life by a number of unspecified persons can easily be provided to a number of information users.  
         [0096]    While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 4