DE10243566A1 - Automatic data conversion and availability depending on the capabilities of the recipient - Google Patents

Abstract

The method determines information from data sources connected to a communication network. Here, a user enters a request to determine information on a user interface. The request is transmitted to a server using a protocol. The server saves the request, evaluates it and searches / determines the information requested, stores the determined information, evaluates it and compiles it in a document, determines the communication skills of the user, adjusts the information compiled in the document to the determined communication skills of the user and delivers it to the user via an appropriate communication medium.

Description

In today's information age becomes a huge wealth of information offered. The steadily increasing range of information also makes it so increasingly difficult to find out the information that is needed or to search and put together.

So far it has been common and known that delivery of information to a user or recipient via newspaper, magazine, Letters, faxes or phone calls.

Over the past few years now the communication and information options through email, mobile phone and Internet expanded considerably. In doing so, information is provided by E-mails or SMS delivered or with a computer on the Internet searched. When searching the internet you can use common internet search engines such as Google, Yahoo, etc., internet portals or special information services, such as flight or hotel booking systems.

In the near future, multimedia communication terminals, PDA devices, the above a data connection can be reachable practically all the time, or a new generation of mobile devices that use advanced and communication options compared to today's mobile phones are gaining in importance.

In addition, it is becoming increasingly important today the information requested by users is timely and suitable for the subscriber terminal to send. There is little point in not sending video information to one video-capable terminal e.g. Mobile phone to send. On the other hand, you lose display quality and content, as well as the possibility a profitable charge, if there are subscriber terminal options not used, e.g. when connected to a multimedia-capable terminal only text messages are sent.

The object of the present invention is now a process for identifying and delivering To design information so that the information requested by the recipient put together in a user-friendly manner and in one of the respective options of the receiving device adapted form can be sent and presented.

This task is accomplished through a process according to the characteristics of claim 1 solved.

According to the invention, information is proposed for one Users, based on the terms entered by the user, in several or various sources to search for the information found to combine or put together in a document, the compiled Adapt information or data to the communication skills of the user or to convert and transmit this.

The advantage of the invention is in that the annoying to the user Finding and compiling information in multiple sources the information is collected in a uniform document , Furthermore, the information is presented to the user in a Communication medium adapted format transmitted.

Advantageous further developments of Invention are in the subclaims specified.

In an advantageous further training According to the invention, the information determined is by means of search algorithms or so-called agents again and so a redundancy and irrelevance reduction of information reached.

In a further advantageous development of the Invention is made through the communication skills of users a protocol is determined. This has the advantage that it depends on to disposal standing terminal the data always with the maximum possible information content be delivered.

In another advantageous development the available data depends selected or selected from the location of the user. this has the advantage that data adapted to the location of the user is transmitted become and that for irrelevant data about the location even before transmission repressed become.

The following is the method according to the invention or this service as "Capability Adaptive News + Information Supply ", CANIS for short.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention is explained using the drawing.

The figure shows an arrangement In order to explain of the method according to the invention.

The figure shows a user interface NU, that about a communication connection, not shown, such as an Internet connection, with a Server CS is connected. The server CS, on the other hand, has a connection with the Internet IN or another data network or a data storage device, like a database system, and connections over at least one communication network to a mobile phone MT, a multimedia terminal MMT and one so-called Personal Digital Assistant PDA. Likewise, a normal telephone, fax, pager or other communication terminal devices his. The illustration is intended to illustrate the basic connection to communication devices.

A user who is at the user terminal NU enters an inquiry AF there, which is transmitted to the server CS by a protocol, such as SIP or HTML over IP. The server saves this request, evaluates it and determines the desired information through a data search DS in the data network / Internet IN. The information is selected on the server by a selection SL, converted by a conversion KV and summarized in a document DOK.

The server CS performs an AB query with regard to the respective communication skills of the individual communication terminals through, adapts the document to the communication skills of the respective communication terminal and carries out a transfer UB to the communication terminal of the user. The query can be a normal contact be, e.g. when establishing a connection using the SIP Protocol.

The following are the individual Steps explained further.

A user defines the information that interests him or data through a request made via any user interface NU is entered. This can e.g. an HTML based web form be on the server of the service provider that is connected to the user interface via a Transfer IP connection becomes. Here you can, similar to in an Internet search engine, specified terms in search masks be entered. You can also Inquiries are sent via Short Message Service, short SMS. This are limited to 160 characters, what a specific request enough, e.g. for a hotel in a city. A request can also be made via the session Initiation protocol, SIP for short. For example, about a SIP message of the type MESSAGE, SUBSCRIBE, INVITE, NOTIFY, which in the Data part contains a request. The compilation of the data part can be done via a PC program, on a mobile phone or a PDA with customized user programs. The user program can a graphical user interface with menu tours exhibit. Moreover can be entered through a so-called "Voice Recognition Server", which is by phone is called and user voice input translated into text, which then the service provider via HTML, SIP, or another protocol contacted.

After the request is entered and transmitted to the server the service provider searches via the web-based server the information you want on the Internet IN from different sources and stores with her for the user. The service provider can do this on behalf of the user occur in order with a previously configured user data Authentication to a possibly chargeable service with which the user is registered in order to access the data available there to get. The service provider itself can also be a so-called "information broker" in which the User as a so-called "single point of contact " is. Alternatively, the service provider can rely on existing "information broker" systems where the user independently is logged in by the service provider, and access this information pick up. The server itself can be a database or a directory which is independent is created and updated from the requests made. This can often queried information includes, such as price requests for current Products, hotel and flight information. The server can access available information services access on the Internet, such as the flight or hotel booking system AMADEUS, etc. It can Internet search engines are addressed by e.g. the URL syntax for searches transmitted directly to the search engine and the results of the search engine are evaluated. Requests can also be placed on database systems, for example with SQL and PHP. Access via DATEX-P is possible.

The information obtained is saved per user and the server or service provider uses this various data, which are available in different formats and versions, to compile a uniform document for the user as follows:
In response to its requests, the server receives documents in a specific format, for example as a website, HTML or XML. The format is known because the information was addressed and queried via a known interface. These documents are searched or "parsed" for key terms. Intelligent and learnable search algorithms, so-called "agents", can extract the desired information and add it to a dynamic database that was created for this search query. After the determined information has been extracted from the search results and incorporated into the database, it is selectively summarized using an evaluation program. A document is created in a standard format, such as XML. The evaluation program can generate document formats specially tailored to the target transmission and display medium of the subscriber terminal, such as text messages for SMS and Internet pages in HTML for email transmission to a personal computer or for a multi-media or HTML-capable subscriber terminal.

For example, Prices different Provider for certain products are juxtaposed in a single document become clear or news on a certain topic be processed. You can also undesirable Content such as advertisements are filtered out. From many data sources becomes a single document with exactly the content that the user required becomes.

To the communication skills of the Nut To determine zers, the server contacts a user terminal at which the user wants to receive the information about his request by establishing a connection to the user terminal and querying the communication options. This is done using communication protocols such as H.323, SIP or MGCP. A data-capable multimedia terminal replies that it has the "text + voice + video" capability. A traditional mobile phone only answers with "speech + text" and a PDA may only answer with "text". This answer is analyzed and saved. These capabilities can also be found in the standard messages of the H.323 or SIP communication protocols, so that you may not need your own special reply message. The sending of a specially specified and used message or a message type is also conceivable. In the following, the information to be delivered can then be transmitted in a suitable format.

After the user has been contacted and is also known in which format or in which way he wants to receive the information, is from the evaluation program created standard format, e.g. XML, the target format, e.g. HTML, created. Alternatively, the evaluation program can immediately set the target format create.

Can the user e.g. only voice & text messages received, the evaluation program is removed from the compiled Information the pictures and videos. The user is only able to Voice & text & picture messages To receive, the evaluation program generates, for example, single images the videos. information for a PDA will be converted to a plain text format, while for a multimedia terminal also the transmission of video data possible is.

In addition, the server of the Service providers recognize where the user is currently. This can e.g. from the IP address, from the sender address, from which one Request was sent from the phone number or the GSM radio cell be determined. Also a combination with GPS or other navigation systems, like GLONASS, ARPS, Galileo or GNSS, is possible. From an address of Form User@Anbieter.de can possibly on the current location closed by the user. So-called location based Services are used.

With the location data, the determined information revised e.g. with those already mentioned Search and evaluation mechanisms, such as parsers or agents. Thereby location-based information can be provided. So, based on the location, redundant and irrelevant Information removed by another evaluation program. the Users can locally useful Information available be asked like the next one Hotel etc.

Those of communication skills of the user terminal Adapted or converted information or data are then transmitted via the previously established connection when sending the connection request or delivered the built-up channel. It can also create a new connection or a new channel can be set up. Also can be obtained from the Answers a suitable connection can be selected exclusively.

Any user of the service provider can create a user profile with various contact options on the server invest. Here you can SIP addresses, email addresses, PSTN / ISDN phone numbers etc. stored his. Alternatively, you can this information is requested from another server, such as SIP registrar, ENUM server, etc. Especially with SIP, regardless of Server, multiple SIP devices be registered with the SIP registrar. The order from the server is then automatically sent to all registered subscriber devices without the server having to do anything. Through the user profiles Contact channels, individually per user, are queried to determine the contact options and, if applicable, terminal capabilities to get.

The following is supplementary explanation another practical embodiment is shown.

A user or participant gives either over the described web interface or via specific, standardized SIP protocol messages, such as SUBSCRIBE, are known to have information about 4 stars Hotels in Paris looking for conference facilities.

The server abstracts this wish e.g. by searching for keywords such as "hotel", "flight", etc., filler words such as "the", "the", "the" can be neglected. These keywords will be as input for uses the following information search algorithms and converts them into one Semantics translated, the for Internet searches are appropriate. Relevant search engines, Hotel information systems and own databases created for this purpose according to the desired Information asked.

• – nur Textbeschreibungen enthalten, wie Hotel Astor, 200 Zimmer, 3 Konferenzräume mit Beamer,
• – zusätzlich Photos über Hotel oder Ausstattung enthalten, wie "Zimmeransicht", "Blick in die Konferenzräume" oder
• – eine kurze Videosequenz der hoteleigenen Videokamera bzw. Webcam enthalten.

In response, the server receives some documents that:

• - only contain text descriptions, such as Hotel Astor, 200 rooms, 3 conference rooms with projector,
• - additionally contain photos of the hotel or facilities, such as "room view", "view of the conference rooms" or
• - contain a short video sequence of the hotel's own video camera or webcam.

The server prepares in the next step a "results document" that shows the results of the requests in a document clearly summarizes and contrasts. Here go e.g. tabular the hotel facilities and the price easily visible.

The service provider now sends a message to the user via SIP standard messages, such as INVITE. The SIP server used is derived from the SIP address, which allows a conclusion to be drawn about the current location of the user. Its SIP-based devices answer this request and also share their skills:
The mobile phone resp. Cell phone answers with "text".
The SIP phone answers with "language".
The PDA answers with "text + graphics".
The new business mobile phone answers "text + graphics + small video".
The multimedia phone answers with "Text + graphics + speech".
The multimedia terminal answers "text + graphics + high quality video + voice".

Depending on the response received, the server now converts the document into a suitable format:
The document is delivered in "full quality" for the multimedia terminal.
Graphics and videos are omitted for the phone and text is translated into speech using a "text-to-speech" converter, such as SURPASS Vox-Portal.

This conversion can of course also preventive before contacting be made. The converted document is then delivered to the subscriber terminal.

• – Mehrfachkonversion der Informationen und Zustellung an alle Endgeräte im jeweils passenden Format.
• – Zustellung an das erste erfolgreich kontaktierte Gerät.
• – Zustellung an das Gerät, das in einem vorher definierten Nutzerprofil mit einer höheren Priorität versehen wurde.
• – Zustellung an das Gerät, das am besten dem Profil des Ergebnisdokumentes entspricht.

If several end devices register as potential recipients on the first request, there are various options:

• - Multiple conversion of the information and delivery to all end devices in the appropriate format.
• - Delivery to the first successfully contacted device.
• - Delivery to the device that has been given a higher priority in a previously defined user profile.
• - Delivery to the device that best matches the profile of the result document.

If no device answers, so can the message is cached by the server and later be delivered. At certain intervals you can try again be started. For example, when a status change by the user signals that it is now reachable as it is from a SIP based presence Service can be offered.

Alternatively, the result document could also be delivered by email.

Claims (10)

Information gathering and delivery procedures from data sources connected to a communication network in which a user makes a request to ascertain information at a user interface inputs the request to a server using a protocol who saves the request, evaluates and requested information searches for / ascertains, saves, evaluates and ascertained information compiled in a document, communication skills of the user and the information compiled in the document adapts to the determined communication ability and via a delivers the appropriate communication medium to the user. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the request is entered on a user interface that as an HTML-based web form, SMS interface, SIP interface or voice recognition Server running will and the inquiries about the protocols IP, SIP or SMS transmitted become. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that one submitted to the server Request is processed in such a way that with the entered in the request A search in a database assigned to the server and / or a search on the Internet and / or a search via a Internet search engine performed is and the information determined thereby stored and in be summarized in the document. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized marked that requests and information per user on the Servers are saved. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the determined and stored on the server Information again using search algorithms or agents keywords searched or parsed and the results of the search stored in a dynamic database. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that to determine communication skills at least one communication link from the server a communication terminal of the user is built. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized that the identified communication skills include at least the attributes text, language, image and video and the sharing or combinations thereof to deliver the information be used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information determined for a user or the document compiled for the user is adapted to and by the determined communication skills according to one of the attributes or combinations of the attributes text, language, image, video at least one determined communication ability of the user is transmitted to the user. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the communication ability of a terminal of the User determined by the communication protocol H.323, SIP or MGCP becomes. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized marked that the location of the user is determined or queried will and the for the information determined by the user is filtered in such a way that only location-relevant information is selected and this in one Document summarized, this document to the communication skills of the subscriber terminal the user is adapted and transmitted to the user on his subscriber terminal.