FR2847754A1 - Information flow directing procedure for use in telecom network, involves receiving information flows addressed to user by directing system and storing flow, if transmission of flow differs, until change in current context - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure involves updating a current context with help of information provided by networks (2, 3) in a directing system (1). All information flows addressed to a user are received by the system. A communicating unit is selected if the flow is to be retransmitted immediately. The flow is transmitted to the user by the selected unit. The flow is stored, if transmission of the flow differs, until a change in the context. An Independent claim is also included for a directing system for an information flow addressed to a set of users of telecom and data transmission networks.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ROUTING INFORMATION STREAMS.

  The present invention relates to a method and system for routing

information flow.

  It applies in particular, but not exclusively to fixed and mobile telecommunications networks, as well as to transmission networks of

  data, whether public or private.

  Currently, users of communication or data transmission networks, whether in a private or professional context, each have numerous equipment or means of communication allowing them to access information or communicate with others. users. The needs of a user, in terms of communication or access to information, essentially depend on where he is and what he is doing.

  In this context, it is desirable to transmit to the user relevant information, wherever he is and whatever he is doing, in a manner suited to his situation whatever it is. This transmission must be carried out in a completely transparent manner for the user, that is to say without it being necessary for him to intervene to warn of any change of situation. For the sender of this information, which can be another person or an information broadcasting application, this transmission must also be transparent, that is to say that the sender should not have to worry about the form of the information to be transmitted and the means of transmission to be used to transmit this information.

  In patent application FR 00 17062 filed by the Applicant, a system has been described designed for a local network grouping together terminals of different natures, and making it possible to route a flow of information to the terminal of the local network most suitable for processing of this information, in

  depending on their nature and the processing capabilities of the terminal.

  However, this system does not meet the needs mentioned above, insofar as the routing of the information is carried out only within a - 2 local network, knowing that a user does not have access in permanence at the local network of his workplace. This system also does not take into account the current situation of the user who may not be present or available at the time when this information is received by the local network. Furthermore, this system is not designed to determine the relevance of this information by

  depending on the user's current situation or activity.

  The object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks by proposing a method and a system making it possible to: - group the data intended for a user, - determine the current situation of each user, in particular using information provided by the networks to which the user is connected, - determine the relevance of the information in order to transmit to the user only that which is of interest to him given his current situation, and - adapt the information to the user's current reception environment . This objective is achieved by providing a method for routing information flows intended for a user of telecommunications and data transmission networks, having at least one means of communication using one of the networks. According to the invention, this method comprises the steps consisting in: - determining and keeping up to date in a system for routing information flows a current context in which the user finds himself, using information provided by the networks to which the user's communication means, and configuration information supplied by the user, - receive by the routing system all the information flows transmitted by the networks and intended for the user , - determine by the routing system according to the current context of the user, whether the information flow must be retransmitted to the user immediately or on a delayed basis, - if the information flow must be retransmitted immediately, select by the routing system according to the current context of the user a means of communication of the user by which the flow of information must be retransmitted, - 3 - adapt by the system me routing the information flow to the selected communication medium and transmitting the information flow to the user by the selected communication means, - if the information flow is to be retransmitted, store by the system routing the information flow to a change of current context in which the information flow is immediately retransmitted. According to a feature of the invention, the routing system assigns a priority level to each information flow received by applying rules for assigning a priority level to the current context of the user and to characteristics. of the information flow, and determine according to the priority level assigned to the information flow received and the current context of the user, whether the information flow should be retransmitted to the user

immediately or deferred.

  According to another feature of the invention, this method further comprises a step consisting in determining by the routing system according to the current context of the user, whether the reception of the information flow received must be notified to the the user, and if this is the case, select by the routing system according to the current context of the user a means of communication of the user by which the notification of the reception of the information flow must be transmitted, and transmitting the notification of receipt of the information flow to the user by the communication means

selected.

  Advantageously, a flow of information stored for deferred retransmission is processed by the routing system following a change in the current context of the user, in the same way as a new flow received.

  According to yet another feature of the invention, this method comprises a step of changing the context of the user following the reception of an order to change the context received from the user by the routing system.

  According to yet another feature of the invention, this method comprises a step of reception of the user by the routing system, of an order for immediate transmission of an expected flow of information, this order designating - 4

  an information flow transmitter, and a step of assigning a maximum priority level to the information flow received if this flow comes from the designated transmitter in the order of immediate transmission.

  According to yet another feature of the invention, this method further comprises a configuration phase comprising a step of specifying a set of possible contexts in which the user can be, each context being associated with a set of conditions which must be satisfied for the context to become the current context of the user.

  Advantageously, a user context specifies for each possible priority level a communication means to be used to transmit to the user a flow of information received by the routing system.

  Preferably, the conditions associated with a context relate to data for connecting the user to one of the networks and to calendar data supplied by the user.

  The invention also relates to a system for routing information flows intended for a plurality of users of telecommunications and data transmission networks, each user having at least one means of communication using one of the networks. . According to the invention, this system comprises: - means for determining and keeping up to date a current context in which each user is located, using presence information provided by the networks to which the user's communication means is connected, and configuration information supplied by the user, - means for receiving the information flows transmitted by the networks and intended for the users, - means for determining an immediate or deferred mode of transmission of each flow d information received, to the user to whom the flow is intended, according to the current context of the user, - means for selecting a communication means for each flow of information to be retransmitted immediately, according to the current context of the user for whom the flow is intended, - adaptation means for adapting each flow of information to be retransmitted to the selected communication means, and of the methods transmission yen for transmitting the information flow to the user to whom the flow is intended by the selected communication means, and - storage means for storing the information flows to be retransmitted

delayed.

  According to a feature of the invention, this system comprises means for assigning a priority level to each information flow received by applying rules for assigning a priority level to the current context of the user to which is intended for the flow and for characteristics of the flow of information, and means for determining as a function of the priority level assigned to each flow of information received and of the current context of the user to whom the flow is intended, whether the information flow must be retransmitted to the user immediately or deferred.

  According to another feature of the invention, this system comprises means for representing to the means for determining a mode of transmission, the stored information flows to be retransmitted deferred, each time the current context of the user to which is intended the stream is changed.

  According to yet another feature of the invention, this system includes configuration means for allowing users to enter configuration information and commands from the system.

  Advantageously, each user has several means of communication belonging to the set comprising at least one electronic messaging system, an instant messaging system, a voice communication system, a warning system of the availability of a information on a network, a short message exchange system on a mobile network and a user presence management system on a

network.

  According to yet another feature of the invention, the networks are of the IP network type, or mobile or fixed telecommunications network.

  Advantageously, this system is designed to transmit and receive information flows from a user terminal, belonging to the set comprising: a personal computer connected to an IP network, a personal electronic assistant connected to an IP network, a landline phone through - 6

  SIP protocol, a mobile phone, and a personal electronic assistant communicating.

  A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 schematically represents a system for routing information flows according to the invention, integrated into a telecommunications network environment 10 providing a plurality of services and to which user terminals are connected;

  FIG. 2 represents in more detail the architecture of the information flow routing system shown in FIG. 1.

  FIG. 1 represents a transmission system comprising a set of 15 telecommunications and data transmission networks 2, 3, to which terminals 9 to 13 of users are connected and servers 4 to 8 offering specialized communication services. Reference 2 represents a set of IP (Internet Protocol) type networks, public and private, for example the Internet network and Intranet networks. The reference 3 represents a set of telephony networks of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) or mobile type, for example compliant with the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) or UMTS (Universal Mobile) standard. Telecommunication System).

  The terminals connected to the IP networks are of the personal computer 9 or personal digital assistant (PDA) type 10. They can also be mobile terminals provided with GSM and / or short range communication means such as conforming to Bluetooth or Wi standards -Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (IEEE 802.1 la or b standards), so as to be able to communicate with a local IP network of the Intranet type. The terminals connected to the telephone networks are of the fixed telephone type 13 through the SIP protocol (Session Initiation Protocol) or mobile 11 or personal assistant communicating 12 (for example provided with a GSM telecommunication function).

  Communication servers connected to IP networks 2 include 7 electronic messaging 6 and instant messaging 4 servers, broadcast servers 7 known as "push" servers, designed to warn the user when particular information is made available on a network. IP, and presence management servers 5 making it possible to determine the accessibility or reachability of users by one of the networks 2, 3. The communication servers connected to the mobile networks include short message servers 8, for example of the type SMS (Short Message Service) or MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), these servers can also be connected to an IP network to allow the transmission of messages

short from an IP terminal.

  According to the invention, this system also comprises a system or server 1 for routing information flows, designed to allow users 15 to choose the way (choice of protocol and network) in which the data flows will be transmitted to it. information intended for him. By information flow is meant not only the content of the information, but also the protocol envelope used to convey it. Thus, these information flows can be for example an electronic message, a person presence information, a voice message, a warning of the availability of information.

  expected, or an instant messaging communication.

  To this end, the server 1 is designed to allow the user to define contexts (or to choose them from predefined contexts), these contexts corresponding to situations in which the user may find himself, such as "at office and available "," at the office but busy "," in a meeting "," on the go "," at another place of work "," not reachable ", etc.

  The server 1 is also designed to allow the user to promptly request immediate communication, as soon as it is received by the system, of a particular flow, for example an electronic message or information of the presence of another user that he seeks to join. The user can thus, at any time, issue a request adapted to the context in which he finds himself, to transmit an expected flow.

  The transition from one context to another can be determined automatically or explicitly requested by the user. In the first case, the server 1 uses the information coming from the networks 2, 3, for example from management servers - 8

  presence 5 or network operators, to determine the reachability of the user (presence, availability, type of terminal accessible, calendar data, location, ...).

  The server 1 is also designed to allow the user to define criteria making it possible to classify the information flows which he is likely to receive, according to a degree of urgency: urgent, normal, non-urgent, and to define actions to be performed on these information flows according to their degree of urgency and the context in which the user is located, for example

  "notify urgent flows by SMS when the user is on the move".

  These classification criteria and associated actions can also be chosen by the user from predefined criteria and actions.

  The classification criteria are then used by the server 1 to analyze the information flows to be retransmitted.

  Generally, the user can configure the system to receive a notification of the arrival of an information flow before receiving the complete flow. Such a notification includes information such as the type of flow, the sender, the subject, the degree of urgency and the type of terminal to which it is transmitted, as well as possibly a link allowing access to the complete flow. . The complete stream is then either temporarily stored or dispatched using another means of transmission.

  It should be noted that the system 1 is designed to process only asynchronous flows, that is to say flows which do not require an immediate response unlike telephone calls for example. However, telephone messages deposited in a voice mailbox are taken into account by the server 1.

  Once activated, the server i processes all the information flows intended for

  the user, whatever the network from which these flows originate.

  To carry out the functions mentioned above, the routing server 1 concentrates all the information flows intended for a user, filters them, sorts them and adapts them so that they can then be retransmitted on a terminal chosen by the user and by which it is connected to a network. The retransmission can be carried out in real time when the information flow is judged by the relevant i server and transmissible to the user, or otherwise in -9 mode

  deferred. In the latter case, the information flow is temporarily stored until it becomes relevant due to a change in the situation or activity of the user.

  In FIG. 2, the flow routing server 1 comprises a software bus making it possible to interface with them a plurality of modules comprising: - modules 31 to 36 for intercepting or receiving flows intended for users, namely: a module 31 for receiving short messages, a module 32 for receiving voice messages, conforming to the SIP protocol, a module 33 for receiving presence information, a module 34 for receiving instant messages, a module 35 for receiving electronic messages, and a module 36 for receiving notifications of the provision of information on an IP network; modules 26 to 30 for retransmission or transmission of streams to users, namely: a module 26 for transmitting short messages, a module 27 for transmitting voice messages, a module 28 for transmitting instant messages , a module 29 for transmitting electronic messages, 20 and a module 30 for transmitting notifications of the provision of information; and - flow management modules comprising a sorting engine 23, a context management module 25, a scheduling module 21, and a service configuration module 25 37 allowing each user to adapt the

  flow routing service to its own needs.

  The server 1 also comprises a temporary storage space 22 for the streams, accessible via the scheduling module 21.

  The software bus 20 is designed to allow each module to invoke methods, that is to say commands offered by the other modules. It is for example designed in accordance with the EJB standard (Enterprise Java Beans), proposed by the company SUN Microsystems and which defines an integration model 35 of reusable software components making it possible to create, implement and manage distributed applications, independently of the system used. Other types of software bus such as "CORBA" or ".NET" can also be used - 10 The service configuration module 37 allows each user to specify a user profile grouping together: - all the parameters necessary for the service and in particular all the parameters allowing access to the various means of communication that the user is likely to use or to the presence management systems 5 with which the user is registered, - priority rules making it possible to assign to a information flow entering a priority level, and

  definitions of contexts each corresponding to a situation in which the user has planned to find himself, and identifying means of communication which can be used to reach the user according to a degree of urgency, each context being associated with a set context activation rules.

  This module also allows the user to manually activate a context, to deposit an order for immediate transmission of an expected flow, and also to access a history 24 of all the information flows processed by the server and which were intended for him. An immediate transmission order is therefore associated with a user identifier or an information flow transmitter and

  possibly a means of transmission identifier.

  The configuration module 37 is preferably accessible via an IP network 2 such as the Intemet network, via a user-friendly and ergonomic configuration interface 25, for example Internet browsing software. When the user accesses the service for the first time, he receives an identifier and a password which allow him subsequently to modify his user profile or to enter commands intended for the system.

  The context management module 25 concentrates the information likely to characterize the context in which each user of the service finds himself. This module thus receives various notifications, in particular from the module 30 for receiving presence information from presence management servers 5 or from mobile networks, or even from calendar servers which notify it of any change in user availability. From this information and from the context configuration information supplied by the users, and from any manual context changes notified by the latter, the context management module maintains a current context - 11

  in which each user is located.

  The sorting module 23 ensures the intrinsic coherence of the current contexts of the users and of the priorities specified by the latter, with the existing data. When an information flow arrives, the reception module 31 to 36 which receives this flow communicates to the module 23 the characteristics (sender, recipient, date and time of reception, object) of the flow received. The module 23 then determines a priority level to be associated with the flow and interrogates the context management module to obtain a communication means to be used for transmitting the flow to the user, taking into account the context in which the user is located. recipient of the received stream. Depending on the response of the context management module, the sorting module chooses the most appropriate action to perform: - either it decides to immediately send the received stream to a sending module, - or it stores the received stream in the storage space 22 via the scheduling module 21. In these two cases, if specified by the user in the current context, it issues a notification of arrival of the stream by another means of transmission.

indicated by the current context.

  The scheduling module 21 is informed of any change of context by the context management module 25, and following a change of context, it again presents to the sorting module 23 the characteristics of the information flow stored for the user, as a receiving module would.

  The reception modules 31 to 36 each include an interface allowing the reception of streams in the format provided for by the corresponding protocol. They are declared with the respective servers 4 to 8, to receive the corresponding information flows, intended for the users of the service, thanks to the configuration information provided by these latter. The voice reception module 29 includes a voice mailbox for each user of the service

  who can customize the mailbox announcement.

  When one of these reception modules receives a flow of information from the networks 2, 3, it notifies this reception to the sorting module 23 which chooses the appropriate action according to the current context of the user for whom the - 12

  information flow, applying priority rules.

  The transmission transmitting modules 26 to 30 each also have an interface making it possible to receive a flow from a reception module 31 to 36 or from the scheduling module 21 in any format, and to retransmit it to the network 2, 3 corresponding in the appropriate format and protocol. In addition, when they retransmit a flow, they cause the emitter of the flow to designate the corresponding user and not the flow routing server 1, by filling in the field of the message sent identifying the sender.

  To address a voice message, the voice transmitter module 27 is designed to call the corresponding user and to deliver the voice message when the user picks up his handset.

  More precisely, each user context stored by the context management module 25 gathers the following information: - a label identifying the context, for example "on the move", - a means of communication identifier associated with an address or a number of access (ex: telephone number, e-mail address), to be used for urgent messages, - an identifier of means of communication associated with an address or an access number, to be used for normal messages, an identifier of means of communication associated with an address or an access number, to be used for non-urgent messages, and - an identifier of means of communication associated with an address or a

  number, to be used to send a notification to the user.

  If this information is not specified by the user for a priority level or for notifications, the messages intended for the user are stored by the scheduler module 21 and are only transmitted to the user following '' a change of context, when in the new context a means of communication is specified.

  The context management module 25 maintains a current context for each user as a function of the manual commands for changing the context issued by the user, or of information characterizing the activity of the user which are notified to him. If the module 25 receives information relating to the activity of the user, it examines rules for changing the context specified in the profile of the user. These rules consist of one or more conditions associated with a context designated by its identifier. These conditions relate to temporal data such as for example the state of presence (present, occupied, absent) of the user on the terminals of the user (for example desktop PC, personal PC, PDA, mobile phone, etc. .), this presence state being provided by the presence reception module 33. These conditions can also apply to the current state of the user (present at the office, absent, busy), as specified in the calendar of the user who is in the profile of the user.

  If the user manually changes the context, or if information relating to the activity of the user received by the module 25 causes a change in the context of the user, the module 25 notifies the new context to the scheduler module 21 .

  As soon as a reception module 31 to 36 receives a flow of information, or that the scheduling module 21 receives a notification of change of context, they send a query to the sorting module 23 indicating the means of communication by which the information flow has been received as well as the names of the sender and the recipient, the subject and the date and time of receipt of the information flow. The sorting module compares this data to the priority rules specified in the profile of the user concerned and to the immediate transmission orders issued by the user to determine the priority level of the flow. For example, an information flow corresponding to an immediate transmission order will be associated with the "urgent" priority level.

  The sorting module 23 then interrogates the context management module 25 by transmitting the priority level thus determined to it.

  To this interrogation, the context management module responds to the sorting module by transmitting the means of communication identifier and the associated address or access number, corresponding to the priority level, as specified by the current context of the user, and if specified, the means of communication identifier and the associated address or number, to be used for transmitting

a notification.

  Using this data, the sorting module 23 responds to the query sent by the reception module 31 to 36 by asking it to perform the following action: - 14 if the context management module has not not provided with communication medium and address identifier or associated access number, the information flow is transmitted to the scheduling module 21, otherwise the information flow is transmitted for transmission to the transmission module 26 to 30 defined by the communication means and the associated address or access number, provided by the context management module. In addition, if the context management module has supplied a means of communication identifier and an associated address or number, to be used to send a notification, the information contained in the query received by the sorting module is sent for transmission to the 10 transmission module 26 to 30 defined by the specified communication means for notifications so as to send a notification to the user on the specified communication means. -

Claims (14)

  1. Method for routing information flows intended for a user of telecommunications and data transmission networks (2, 3), having at least one communication means using one of the networks, characterized in that 'It comprises the steps consisting in: - determining and keeping up to date in a system (1) for routing information flows a current context in which the user finds himself, using information supplied by the networks (2, 3) to which the user's communication means, and configuration information supplied by the user, - receive by the routing system all the information flows transmitted by the networks and intended to the user, - determine by the routing system according to the current context of the user, whether the information flow must be retransmitted to the user immediately or on a delayed basis, - if the information flow must be retransmitted immediately, select by the routing system according to the current context of the user 20 a means of communication of the user by which the flow of information must be retransmitted, - adapt by the routing system the flow of information by the selected communication medium and transmitting the information flow to the user by the selected communication medium,   - if the information flow must be retransmitted deferred, store by the routing system the information flow until a change of current context in which the information flow is retransmitted immediately.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the routing system assigns a priority level to each information flow received by applying rules for assigning a priority level to the current context of the user and characteristics of the information flow, and determine according to the priority level assigned to the information flow received and the current context of the user, whether the flow   information must be retransmitted to the user immediately or deferred.   - 16 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises a step of determining by the routing system (1) according to the current context of the user, whether the reception of the flow received information must be notified to the user, and if this is the case, select by the routing system according to the current context of the user a means of communication of the user by which the notification of receipt of the information flow must be transmitted, and transmit the notification of the reception of the information flow to the user by the selected means of communication.   4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that an information flow stored for deferred retransmission is processed by the routing system (1) following a change in the current context of the user, in the same way as a new flow received.   5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that it comprises a step of changing the context of the user following the reception of an order to change the context received from the user by the routing system (1).   6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that it comprises a step of reception of the user by the routing system (1), of an order for immediate transmission of an expected flow of information, this order designating an emitter of the flow of information, 25 and a step of assigning a maximum priority level to the information flow received if this flow comes from the designated transmitter in the order of immediate transmission.   7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that it comprises a configuration phase comprising a step of specifying a set of possible contexts in which the user may be, each context being associated with a set of conditions which must be satisfied for the context to become the user's current context.   8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that a user context specifies for each possible priority level a means of communication to be used to transmit to - 17   the user a flow of information received by the routing system.   9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the conditions associated with a context relate to data for connection of the user to one of the networks (2, 3) and to   calendar data provided by the user.   10. Information flow routing system intended for a plurality of users of telecommunications and data transmission networks (2, 3), each user having at least one means of communication using one of the networks, characterized in that it comprises: - means (25) for determining and keeping up to date a current context in which each user finds himself, using presence information 15 supplied by the networks (2, 3 ) to which the user's communication means, and configuration information supplied by the user, - means (31 to 36) for receiving the information flows transmitted by the networks and intended for the users, - means (23) for determining an immediate or deferred mode of transmission of each flow of information received, to the user to whom the flow is intended, according to the current context of the user, - means (23) for select a way communication for each information flow to be retransmitted immediately, according to the current context of the user to whom the flow is intended, - means (26 to 30) of adaptation to adapt each information flow to be retransmitted by means communication medium, and transmission means (26 to 30) for transmitting the information flow to the user for whom the flow is intended by the selected communication means, and - storage means (22) for storing the information flow to retransmit deferred.   1 1. System according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises means (23) for assigning a priority level to each information flow received by applying rules for assigning a level of priority to the current context of the user for whom the flow is intended and to characteristics of the information flow, and of means (23) for determining as a function of the priority level assigned to each flow of information received and current context of the user for whom the flow is intended, if the flow of information must be retransmitted to the user immediately or deferred.   12. System according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it comprises means (21) for representing the means   (23) determining a mode of transmission, the stored information flows to be retransmitted, each time the current context of the user for whom the flow is intended is modified.   13. System according to one of claims 10 to 12,   characterized in that it comprises configuration means (37) for allowing the users to enter the configuration information and commands of the system.   14. System according to one of claims 10 to 13,   characterized in that each user has several means of communication belonging to the set comprising at least one electronic messaging system (6), an instant messaging system (4), a voice communication system, a warning system (7) the provision of information on a network, a short message exchange system (8) on a mobile network (3) and a presence management system (5) of users on a network (2, 3).   15. System according to one of claims 10 to 14,   characterized in that the networks are of the IP network (2), or mobile or fixed telecommunications network (3) type.   16. System according to one of claims 10 to 15,   characterized in that it is designed to transmit and receive information flows from a user terminal, belonging to the assembly comprising: a personal computer (9) connected to an IP network (2), an electronic assistant personal (10) connected to an IP network (2), a landline telephone (11) through the SIP protocol, a mobile telephone (13), and an assistant   communicating personal electronics (12).