WO2008069365A1

WO2008069365A1 - Toy robot using 'personal media' website

Info

Publication number: WO2008069365A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/000577
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyong Sok Chang; Doo Ah Choi; Jae Beom Park
Original assignee: Simlab Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-12-04
Filing date: 2007-02-02
Publication date: 2008-06-12
Also published as: KR100756344B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toy robot. More specifically, the invention relates to a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website. The toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website is wiredly or wirelessly connected to a user terminal and operates and/or outputs multimedia signals in response to control signals of the user terminal, wherein the user terminal comprises: a network communication for enabling network communication; a web access program unit for accessing and driving the 'personal media' website; a web assistance program unit for downloading multimedia contents posted on the 'personal media' website and editing messages to convert the multimedia contents into toy robot control signals; and a communication program unit for converting the multimedia contents edited by the web assistance program unit into the control signals and outputting the converted control signals to the toy robot in order to control the toy robot. According to the toy robot configured as described above, emotional expressions corresponding to instant messages are outputted in the forms of videos, audios, and three-dimensional motions, and thus realistic mutual communication is accomplished.

Description

Description TOY ROBOT USING 'PERSONAL MEDIA' WEBSITE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a toy robot. More specifically, the invention relates to a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website. Background Art

[2] Recently, along with the rapid spread of the use of the Internet, computer users use a variety of Internet services, such as an e-mail, web surfing, chatting, and the like. Further, websites are recently utilized in a variety of ways, such as a blog and a mini- home page that are called a 'personal media' .

[3] The range of utilizing instant messengers and 'personal media' websites tends to be expanded day by day. Not only texts but also emoticons or the like that express feelings, and even multi-contents (videos, images, audios, and the like) are used.

[4] However, such an emotional expression utilizing emoticons or utilization of multi- contents is accomplished within a user terminal connected to a service server through the Internet, or accomplished by an additional apparatus that downloads the emoticons or multi-contents from the user terminal. Therefore, there are limitations in transferring counterpart's feelings, music or the like further realistically and vividly. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the invention to provide a toy robot, which outputs emotional expressions in the forms of motions and/or sounds according to messages or emoticons transferred through a 'personal media'website.

[6] Another object of the invention is to provide a toy robot, in a method of outputting information of transferred messages or emoticons in the forms of emotional expressions, which converts the information into predetermined commands (bit signals) and/or audio signals (a frequency bandwidth) and outputs user's diverse emotional expressions in the forms of videos, audios, and three-dimensional motions.

Technical Solution

[7] In order to accomplish the above objects of the invention, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website, which is wiredly or wirelessly connected to a user terminal Al and operates or outputs multimedia signals in response to control signals of the user terminal Al, wherein the user terminal Al comprises: a network communication for enabling network communication; a web access program unit for accessing and driving the 'personal media' website; a web assistance program unit for downloading multimedia contents posted on the 'personal media' website and editing messages to convert the multimedia contents into toy robot A2 control signals; and a communication program unit for converting the multimedia contents edited by the web assistance program unit into the control signals and outputting the converted control signals to the toy robot A2 in order to control the toy robot A2.

[8] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website, which is wiredly or wirelessly connected to a user terminal Al and operates or outputs multimedia signals in response to control signals of the user terminal Al, wherein the user terminal Al comprises: a network communication for enabling network communication; a web access program unit for accessing and driving the 'personal media' website; an instant messenger program unit for exchanging instant messages with a counterpart user terminal Bl or receiving instant messages corresponding to and converted from messages posted on the 'personal media' website by the counterpart user terminal B 1 ; and a communication program unit for converting the received instant messages into the control signals and outputting the converted control signals to the toy robot A2 in order to control the toy robot A2.

[9] Here, the web access program unit includes a web communication interface module for accessing the 'personal media' website or transmitting and receiving web documents; and a web assistance program driver module for driving the web assistance program unit or communicating with the instant messenger program unit.

[10] Here, the web access program unit further includes a web document user interface module for performing input and output of the web documents; and a web access program unit user interface module for processing user's handlings of the web access program unit.

[11] Here, the instant messenger program unit includes a message transmitting and receiving module for transmitting and receiving instant messages, and a message/ command analyzing module for analyzing the instant messages and commands.

[12] Here, the instant messenger program unit preferably further includes at least one of a message conversion module for providing compatibility of the instant messages between heterogeneous messengers, a state sensing and setting module for sensing a state of the counterpart's terminal and setting a state of its own terminal, a setting management module for setting account information of the instant messenger, emotional expression information, state control information, and the like, and a chatting counterpart management module for managing chatting counterparts of the instant messenger.

[13] Here, the converted instant messages are created such that the posted messages are converted into the instant messages by an instant message conversion program contained in a server of the 'personal media' web site, or the posted messages are converted into the instant messages by an instant message conversion program contained in the user terminal Al.

[14] Here, the toy robot A2, B 2 includes a terminal connection unit for performing network communications and a physical connection with the user terminal Al, B 1, and a control unit for controlling the overall operation of the toy robot A2, B2.

[15] Here, the toy robot A2, B2 preferably further includes at least one of a driver unit operating in response to control commands of the control unit, a multimedia output unit for outputting output signals as sound signals in response to control commands of the control unit, and an input unit for inputting external sounds or touch recognition inputs.

[16] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a toy robot A2 utilizing a 'personal media' website, which is wiredly or wirelessly connected to the 'personal media' website, includes a control unit for controlling the overall operation of the toy robot A2 and a network communication unit for communicating with the 'personal media' website server, and operates or outputs multimedia signals in response to signals transmitted through the network communication unit, wherein the 'personal media' website server comprises: a communication program unit for confirming whether the received signals are signals for controlling the toy robot A2, and if the received signals are signals for controlling the toy robot A2, converting the signals into toy robot A2 control signals and outputting the converted control signals to the toy robot A2; a toy robot authenticating and inquiring unit for authenticating and inquiring the toy robot A2; and a toy robot setting unit for setting a counterpart toy robot B2 to communicate with the toy robot A2.

[17] Here, the toy robot A2, B2 further includes at least one of a sound input unit for inputting external sounds, and a sensor input unit for inputting sensor recognition inputs, wherein if there is an input through the sound input unit or the sensor input unit of the toy robot, the input is converted into a control signal for controlling the counterpart toy robot and transferred to the counterpart toy robot through the communication program unit of the 'personal media' website server.

Advantageous Effects

[18] According to the configuration of the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a toy robot, which outputs emotional expressions in the form of motions and/or sounds according to messages or emoticons transferred using a 'personal media' website.

[19] In addition, it is possible to provide a toy robot, in a method of outputting information, e.g., transferred messages or emoticons, in the form of emotional ex- pressions, which converts the information into predetermined commands (bit signals) and/or audio signals (a frequency bandwidth), and outputs user's diverse emotional expressions in the form of videos, audios, and three-dimensional motions.

Brief Description of the Drawings [20] Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [21] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view showing a communication configuration of a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [22] FIG. 2 is a conceptual view showing a communication configuration of a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [23] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user terminal shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2; [24] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the web access program unit shown in FIG. 3; [25] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the instant messenger program unit shown in FIG. 3; [26] FIGS. 6 and 7 are block diagrams showing the process of transmitting messages shown in FIG. 2; [27] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the toy robot shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; [28] FIG. 9 is a view showing the process of converting multimedia contents into toy robot control signals; [29] FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of an instant message containing multimedia contents; [30] FIG. 11 is a conversion table showing an example of converting messages into robot control signals (bit signals) according to the present invention; [31] FIG. 12 is a graph showing frequencies of a toy robot control signal (an audio signal) converted from a message according to the present invention; and [32] FIG. 13 is a conceptual view showing a communication configuration of a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for the Invention [33] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [34] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view showing a communication configuration of a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[35] A communication system between toy robots utilizing a 'personal media' website according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a user terminal Al 110, a toy robot A2 120, the 'personal media' website server 130, and a multimedia contents information search DB 140.

[36] The user terminal Al 110 communicates with the 'personal media' website server

130 through an Internet network. While communicating, the user terminal Al downloads multimedia contents posted on the 'personal media' website server 130, converts emotional expression messages and audio signals contained in the downloaded messages into control signals for controlling the toy robot 120, and executes operations of the toy robot 120 or outputs video or audio (multimedia) signals.

[37] Here, the toy robot A2 120 can be connected to the user terminal Al 110 through a short or long distance wired/wireless communication network. In the case of a short distance communication, a universal serial bus (USB), Bluetooth, or Zigbee communication can be used, whereas in the case of a long distance communication, a wired/wireless Internet communication can be used.

[38] FIG. 2 is a conceptual view showing a communication configuration of a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[39] A communication system between toy robots utilizing a 'personal media' website according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a user terminal Al 210, a toy robot A2 220, the 'personal media' website 230, a multimedia contents information search DB 240, and a user terminal B 1 250. A toy robot B2 260 can be additionally connected to the user terminal B 1 250 through a wired/wireless communication network.

[40] The user terminal Al 210 and the user terminal Bl 250 communicate with the

'personal media' website 230 through an Internet network. While communicating, a message on a guestbook or the like of the 'personal media' website 230 posted by the user terminal B 1 250 is transmitted from the 'personal media' website 230 to the user terminal Al 210 (transmission 'A'), or the message on the guestbook or the like of the 'personal media' website 230 posted by the user terminal B 1 250 is converted into an instant message and transmitted to the user terminal Al 210 (transmission 'B').

[41] Here, a transmission method for the transmission 'A' and transmission 'B' will be described below referring to FIGS. 6a and 6b.

[42] The user terminal Al 210 converts the received message or the converted instant message into a control signal for controlling the toy robot A2 220, and executes an operation of the toy robot A2 220 or outputs a video or audio (multimedia) signal.

[43] Here, the toy robot A2 220 can be connected to the user terminal Al 210 through a short or long distance wired/wireless communication network. In the case of a short distance communication, a USB, Bluetooth, or Zigbee communication can be used, whereas in the case of a long distance communication, a wired/wireless Internet communication can be used.

[44] In addition, if an external signal is inputted through a sound input unit or a sensor input unit constructed inside the toy robot B2 260, the signal is transferred to the toy robot A2 220 through the user terminal B 1 250 in the same manner as the aforementioned process and executes an operation of the toy robot A2 220.

[45] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the user terminal

Al shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[46] As shown in the figure, besides basic components 310 of the terminal, the user terminal Al 110 or 210 includes a web access program unit 320, a web assistance program unit 330, an instant messenger program unit 340, a communication program unit 350, a network communication unit 360, a connection unit 370, and a multimedia contents information search module 380.

[47] Here, the web assistance program unit 330 is a mandatory component for implementing the first embodiment, but not a mandatory component for implementing the second embodiment. The instant messenger program unit 340 is a mandatory component for implementing the second embodiment, but not a mandatory component for implementing the first embodiment. However, it is assumed that the user terminal Al 110 or 210 includes all the components in order to implement both the first and the second embodiments of the present invention.

[48] The web connection program 320 is connected to and drive a web connection browser (a web browser), which will be described in detail referring to FIG. 4.

[49] The web assistance program unit 330 of the user terminal Al 110 in the communication system shown in FIG. 1 downloads multimedia contents posted on the 'personal media' website, divides the multimedia contents into operation signals and multimedia signals, and edits the signals into control signals of the toy robot A2 120.

[50] The instant messenger program unit 340 exchanges instant messages through the network communication unit 360 or analyzes the instant messages/commands and transfers the analyzed instant messages/commands to the communication program unit 350. In the communication system shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal Bl 250 receives messages posted on the guestbook of the 'personal media' website server 230 (a web server providing the 'personal media' website of the user terminal A 210), analyzes instant messages/commands (refer to FIGS. 6 and 7 for the process of converting the messages into instant messages), and transfers the analyzed instant messages/ commands to the communication program unit 350.

[51] Here, the detailed configuration of the instant messenger program unit 340 will be described below.

[52] The communication program unit 350 converts the messages received from the web assistance program unit 330 or the instant messenger program unit 340 into control signals for controlling the toy robot A2 120 or 220 and transfers the control signals to the control unit of the toy robot A2 120 or 220.

[53] Here, the control signals can be converted into bit signals or audio frequency signals. An example of converting the control signals will be described below referring to FIGS. 11 and 12.

[54] The network communication unit 360 is a module for Internet communications, and the connection unit 370 is a port physically connected to the toy robot A2 120 or 220.

[55] The multimedia contents information search module 380 is a module for searching for information from the multimedia contents information search DB.

[56] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the web access program unit shown in FIG. 3.

[57] As shown in the figure, the web access program unit 320 includes a web communication interface module 410, a web assistance program driver module 420, a web document user interface module 430, a web access program unit user interface module 440, and an internal web document 450.

[58] The web communication interface module 410 is a module for accessing the

'personal media' website server 130 or 230, and transmitting and receiving web documents, and the web assistance program driver module 420 is a module for driving the web assistance program. The web document user interface module 430 is a module for performing basic input and output of the web documents, and a web access program unit user interface module 440 is a module for processing user's handlings of the web access program unit 320.

[59] The internal web document 450 is a module for embedding the aforementioned web access program unit 320 if the toy robot A2 120 or 220 is directly connected to the 'personal media' website server 130 or 230, which can be optionally added to implement additional embodiments of the present invention.

[60] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the instant messenger program unit shown in FIG. 3.

[61] The instant messenger program unit 340 includes a message transmitting and receiving module 510, a message/command analyzing module 520, a terminal state sensing/setting module 530, a user interface module 540, a setting management module 550, a chatting counterpart management module 560, and an inter- heterogeneous messenger message conversion module 570.

[62] The message transmitting and receiving module 510 exchanges instance messages between user terminals, exchanges messages with the communication program unit 350, and receives instant massages converted from the messages posted on the guestbook or the like of the 'personal media' website server 230 through an instant message conversion program unit 610.

[63] The message/command analyzing module 520 analyzes instant messages, commands (a slash 7'), or the like and transfers the analyzed instant messages or commands to the communication program unit 350 through the message transmitting and receiving module 510.

[64] The terminal state sensing/setting module 530 senses and sets an instant messenger state of the user terminal.

[65] The user interface module 540 performs basic input and output of user's handlings, screens, and the like of the instant messenger of the user terminal.

[66] The setting management module 550 sets information on instant messenger functions and information to be transferred to the toy robot, such as account information of the instant messenger, emotional expression information, state control information, and the like of the user terminal.

[67] The chatting counterpart management module 560 manages chatting counterparts of the instant messenger, and the inter-heterogeneous messenger message conversion module 570 operates as a module for providing message compatibility between heterogeneous messengers.

[68] FIGS. 6 and 7 are block diagrams showing the process of transmitting messages shown in FIG. 2.

[69] In the communication system shown in FIG. 2, if the user terminal B 250 connects to the 'personal media' website server 230 through an Internet network and leaves a message (hereinafter, referred to as a 'personal media message') on a guestbook or the like, the message is converted into an instant message and displayed on a display window of the user terminal A 210 by the instant messenger program included in the user terminal A 210. Simultaneously, the instant message is converted into a control signal by the communication program unit included in the user terminal A 210 and controls the toy robot 220.

[70] At this point, the process of converting a 'personal media message' into an instant message and transmitting the instant message is described referring to FIGS. 6 and 7.

[71] FIG. 6 shows the process of converting a 'personal media message' into an instant message within the user terminal Al 210, and FIG. 7 shows the process of converting a 'personal media message' into an instant message within the 'personal media' website server 230 and transmitting the instant message to the user terminal Al 210. Here, the 'personal media' website server 230 is a web server providing the 'personal media' website of the user terminal Al 210.

[72] Referring to FIG. 6, the user terminal B 1 250 leaves a 'personal media message' on the guestbook or the like of the 'personal media' website (here, it can be optionally checked whether the message is transmitted to the toy robot A2 220), and the 'personal media' website server 230 transmits the 'personal media message' to the instant message conversion program 610 of the user terminal Al 210 (transmission 'A').

[73] The transmitted 'personal media message' is converted into an instant message by the instant message conversion program 610. At this point, the converted instant message is transferred to the messenger program unit 630.

[74] Referring to FIG. 7, the user terminal Bl 250 leaves a 'personal media' on the guestbook or the like of the 'personal media' website (here, it can be optionally checked whether the message is transmitted to the toy robot A2 220), and the instant message conversion program 610 of the 'personal media' website server 230 converts the 'personal media message' into an instant message. The instant message is transmitted to the instant messenger server 640 by the instant message transmission program unit 620, and transferred to the instant message messenger program unit 630. Alternatively, the instant message is directly transferred to the instant message messenger program unit 630 from the instant message transmission program unit 620.

[75] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the toy robot shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[76] As shown in the figure, the toy robot A2 120 or 220 includes a control unit 810, a terminal connection unit 820, a driver unit 830, a sensor input unit 840, a sound input unit 850, a multimedia output unit 860, and a memory unit 870.

[77] The control unit 810 performs general controls over the toy robot A2 120 or 220.

The terminal connection unit 820 is a medium that is physically connected to the user terminal, and the memory unit 870 is a module for storing and executing programs.

[78] The sensor input unit 840 and the sound input unit 850 are input units that directly receive input signals from a user, which can be additionally included in the present invention.

[79] The driver unit 830 is for driving the toy robot A2, and the multimedia output unit

860 is a speaker and a display unit for outputting sounds and screens.

[80] The driver unit 830 drives the toy robot A2 in response to a control signal transferred from the communication program unit 350 included in the user terminal, and objects to be driven can be configured in a variety of ways. That is, various parts of the toy robot A2, such as arms, legs, eyes, head, body, waist, and the like, are electrically connected to the driver unit 830, and each part can be operated by a control signal transferred from the communication program unit 350. [81] In the same manner, the multimedia output unit 860 outputs emotional expressions as sound or image signals in response to a control signal transferred from the communication program unit 350 included in the user terminal.

[82] Here, the control signal being transferred is divided into a bit signal and a frequency

(audio) signal.

[83] At this point, if the bit signal is transferred, the bit signal is divided into a signal for operating the toy robot and a signal for outputting sounds. Further, the signal for operating the toy robot is subdivided into signals for driving each part of the toy robot A2.

[84] If the frequency signal is transferred, a stereo sound channel is used. One channel is used as a sound channel for outputting sounds through the multimedia output unit 860, and the other channel is assigned for a control frequency signal and connected to the driver unit 830 to control operations of the toy robot A2.

[85] It goes without saying that the configuration of the toy robot A2 should be changed depending on whether the control signal of the toy robot is a bit signal or a frequency signal. An example of control signal conversion will be described referring to FIGS. 11 and 12.

[86] FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of converting an instant message containing multimedia contents into control signals.

[87] As shown in the figure, information 920 corresponding to multimedia contents 910 is searched for from the multimedia contents information search DB 140 or 240. The searched information 920 is converted into an instant message format 930, and only emotional expression commands and audio signals are extracted from the converted instant message format 930 and converted into toy robot control signals 940. An example of control signal conversion will be described referring to FIGS. 11 and 12.

[88] FIG. 10 is a view showing various examples of an instant message containing multimedia contents.

[89] As shown in the figure, FIG. (a) shows an instant message format containing multimedia contents, and FIG. (b) shows an instant message format containing character type multimedia contents. FIG. (c) shows an instant message format containing sound type multimedia contents, and FIG. (d) shows an instant message format containing hybrid type multimedia contents.

[90] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, multimedia contents (including a message) posted on the 'personal media' website is converted into an instant message, and the instant message is converted into a toy robot control signal, thereby operating the toy robot.

[91] FIG. 11 is a conversion table showing an example of converting messages into robot control signals (bit signals), and FIG. 12 is a graph showing frequencies of a toy robot control signal (an audio signal) converted from a message. [92] As shown in FIG. 11, the communication program unit 350 converts a signal corresponding to the message into a toy robot command, and a robot control signal is transferred to the toy robot in response to the toy robot command.

[93] An instant message/command 7HAHA' is converted into a toy robot command

'Sl', and a toy robot control signal '00 1101000' is transferred in response to 'Sl'. The toy robot is driven or a sound is outputted in response to the toy robot control signal '00 1101000'.

[94] The first two bits of the toy robot control signal indicate whether the toy robot control signal is a signal for driving the toy robot or a signal for outputting sounds. The other bits are used as a signal for driving each part of the toy robot.

[95] Referring to FIG. 12, it shows a transfer mode of frequency signals (audio signals), and a stereo channel is used here.

[96] One channel is used as a sound channel, and an audio signal is outputted as is as a sound through the multimedia output unit 860. The other channel is used for driving control signals (a first to third driving frequency signals).

[97] As for the driving control signal, an instant messenger message or a command according to user's input and UI handling is converted into a toy robot command (hereto, it is the same as the bit signal transfer mode), converted into the shown first to third driving frequency signals in response to the toy robot command, transferred to the toy robot, and controls driving the toy robot.

[98] It goes without saying that the detailed configuration of the toy robot is changed depending on the bit signal transfer mode or the frequency signal transfer mode, and details thereof are apparent to those skilled in the art and will not be described here.

[99] In addition, the converted control signals shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are simplified for explanation, and the present invention is not limited to these signals.

[100] FIG. 13 is a conceptual view showing a communication configuration of a toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[101] In the third embodiment of the present invention, differently from the first and second embodiments, a user terminal is not configured, and toy robots are directly connected to the 'personal media' website server and communicate therebetween.

[102] The toy robot A2 1320 and the toy robot B2 1360 are wiredly or wirelessly connected to the 'personal media' website server, and preferably connected through a wireless Internet network.

[103] Internal configurations of the toy robot A2 1320 and the toy robot B2 1360 are the same.

[104] The toy robot A2 1320 includes a control unit 1321 for performing general controls over the toy robot 1320, a network communication unit 1322 for communicating with the 'personal media' website server 1330, a sensor input unit 1324 and a sound input unit 1325 for receiving sensor input or sound input, a driver unit 1323 for driving the toy robot A2 1320, and a multimedia output unit 1326 for outputting audios and videos of the toy robot A2 1320. Driving the toy robot A2 1320 is the same concept as that of the first and second embodiments and will not be described hereinafter.

[105] The 'personal media' website server 1330 further includes a toy robot authenticating and inquiring unit 1331, a toy robot setting unit 1332, and a communication program unit 1333 to implement the invention.

[106] If power is supplied, the toy robots A2 and B2 1320 and 1360 connect to an independent authentication server (not shown) on the network and transmit IP addresses and authentication numbers of the toy robots A2 and B2 1320 and 1360 to the authentication server. The 'personal media' website server 1330 inquires the IP addresses of the toy robots A2 and B2 1320 and 1360 from the authentication server and allows communications between the toy robots A2 and B2 1320 and 1360. A module that performs such a function is the toy robot authenticating and inquiring unit 1331.

[107] The toy robot setting unit 1332 sets the counterpart toy robot B2 1360 to which signals of the toy robot A2 1320 are transferred, and also sets messages that are to be converted by the communication program unit 1333 from external signals inputted by the sensor input unit 1324 and the sound input unit 1325 (messages to be transferred to the toy robot B2 1360).

[108] The communication program unit 1333 performs the same functions as those of the communication program unit described in the first and second embodiments.

[109] In addition, the control signals of the toy robots A2 and B2 1320 and 1360 converted by communication program unit 1333 are transferred to the toy robots through the network communication unit 1322, and the control unit 1321 performs operations of the toy robots A2 and B2 1320 and 1360 and output multimedia signals. At this point, an example of the control signal conversion is the same as described referring to FIG. 11 and 12.

[110] Although the present invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications and variations may occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Industrial Applicability

[111] According to the configuration of the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a toy robot, which outputs emotional expressions in the form of motions and/or sounds according to messages or emoticons transferred using a 'personal media' website.

Claims

[1] A toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website, which is wiredly or wirelessly connected to a user terminal and operates or outputs multimedia signals in response to control signals of the user terminal Al, wherein the user terminal comprises: a network communication for enabling network communication; a web access program unit for accessing and driving the 'personal media' website; a web assistance program unit for downloading multimedia contents posted on the 'personal media' website and editing messages to convert the multimedia contents into toy robot Al control signals; and a communication program unit for converting the multimedia contents edited by the web assistance program unit into the control signals and outputting the converted control signals to the toy robot A2 in order to control the toy robot A2.

[2] A toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website, which is wiredly or wirelessly connected to a user terminal Al and operates or outputs multimedia signals in response to control signals of the user terminal Al, wherein the user terminal comprises: a network communication for enabling network communication; a web access program unit for accessing and driving the 'personal media' website; an instant messenger program unit for exchanging instant messages with a counterpart user terminal B 1 or receiving instant messages corresponding to and converted from messages posted on the 'personal media' website by the counterpart user terminal B 1 ; and a communication program unit for converting the received instant messages into the control signals and outputting the converted control signals to the toy robot A2 in order to control the toy robot A2.

[3] The toy robot according to claim 1, wherein the web access program unit includes: a web communication interface module for accessing the 'personal media' website or transmitting and receiving web documents; and a web assistance program driver module for driving the web assistance program unit or communicating with the instant messenger program unit.

[4] The toy robot according to claim 3, wherein the web access program unit further includes: a web document user interface module for performing input and output of the web documents; and a web access program unit user interface module for processing user's handlings of the web access program unit.

[5] The toy robot according to claim 2, wherein the instant messenger program unit includes: a message transmitting and receiving module for transmitting and receiving instant messages; and a message/command analyzing module for analyzing the instant messages and commands.

[6] The toy robot according to claim 5, wherein the instant messenger program unit preferably further includes at least one of a message conversion module for providing compatibility of the instant messages between heterogeneous messengers, a state sensing and setting module for sensing a state of the counterpart's terminal and setting a state of its own terminal, a setting management module for setting account information of the instant messenger, emotional expression information, state control information and the like, and a chatting counterpart management module for managing chatting counterparts of the instant messenger.

[7] The toy robot according to claim 2, wherein the converted instant messages are created such that the posted messages are converted into the instant messages by an instant message conversion program contained in a server of the 'personal media' web site, or the posted messages are converted into the instant messages by an instant message conversion program contained in the user terminal Al.

[8] The toy robot A2, B2 according to claim 1 or 2, including: a terminal connection unit for performing network communications and a physical connection with the user terminal; and a control unit for controlling the overall operation of the toy robot.

[9] The toy robot according to claim 8, further including at least one of a driver unit operating in response to control commands of the control unit, a multimedia output unit for outputting output signals as sound signals in response to control commands of the control unit, and a sound input unit for inputting external sounds or a sensor input unit for inputting sensor recognition inputs.

[10] The toy robot Bl according to claim 2, wherein a toy robot B2 having the same configuration as the toy robot A2 is wiredly or wirelessly connected to the counterpart user terminal B 1 and operates or outputs multimedia signals in response to control signals of the user terminal Bl.

[11] The toy robot according to claim 10, wherein the toy robots A2 and B2 includes: a terminal connection unit for performing network communications and a physical connection with the user terminal; and a control unit for controlling the overall operation of the toy robot, wherein each of the toy robots further includes at least one of a driver unit operating in response to control commands of the control unit, a multimedia output unit for outputting output signals as sound signals in response to control commands of the control unit, and a sound input unit for inputting external sounds or a sensor input unit for inputting sensor recognition inputs.

[12] The toy robot according claim 11, wherein if there is an input through the sensor input unit or the sound input unit of the toy robot A2, the input is transmitted to the counterpart user terminal B 1, or the transmitted signal is converted into a control signal for controlling the toy robot B2 and transferred to the toy robot through the communication program unit of the user terminal Bl.

[13] A toy robot utilizing a 'personal media' website, which is wiredly or wirelessly connected to the 'personal media' website, includes a control unit for controlling the overall operation of the toy robot A2 and a network communication unit for communicating with the 'personal media' website server, and operates or outputs multimedia signals in response to signals transmitted through the network communication unit, wherein the 'personal media' website server comprises: a communication program unit for confirming whether the received signals are signals for controlling the toy robot A2, and if the received signals are signals for controlling the toy robot A2, converting the signals into toy robot A2 control signals and outputting the converted control signals to the toy robot A2; a toy robot authenticating and inquiring unit for authenticating and inquiring the toy robot A2; and a toy robot setting unit for setting a counterpart toy robot B2 to communicate with the toy robot A2.

[14] The toy robot according to claim 13, further including at least one of a sound input unit for inputting external sounds and a sensor input unit for inputting sensor recognition inputs, wherein if there is an input through the sound input unit or the sensor input unit of the toy robot, the input is converted into a control signal for controlling the counterpart toy robot and transferred to the counterpart toy robot through the communication program unit of the 'personal media' website server.