FR3023114A1 - CONNECTING TWO USERS VIA A TELEPHONE NETWORK - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention makes use of the logs (DB1) of communications established via a telephony network as well as a directory (DB) of subscribing telephone line users, storing information associated with the various subscribing users. Following a request to put in contact with a subscribing user (UB1, UB2) answering at least one search criterion formulated by a first user (UA) relative to information associated with this subscriber user, a server (SRV) identifies in the directory at least one subscriber user responding to said at least one search criterion and which is identified in a said communication history of at least a second user (UC), himself identified in a said first user's communication history . Matching data with an identified subscriber user is provided to the first user.

Description

The invention relates to the field of telecommunications, and in particular a technique for connecting two users via a telecommunications network, in particular via a telephony network.

Directories are essential tools for searching contact information or data relating to a user subscriber of a telephone line, for example to search for a professional such as doctor or dentist. These directories are available in paper form or in electronic form via the Internet for example. There are many: classic directories, such as "yellow pages" (directory of professionals) or "white pages" (directory of individuals) in France, directories of hotels, directories of specialized doctors, directories of traders in this or that area, etc. These directories are often enriched by recommendations features. These make it possible, for example, to make recommendations to the user who searches in different ways. Subscribers who are the subject of a recommendation may be professionals "sponsored" by the directory. In practice, they are professionals who have paid for this purpose the owner of the directory to appear prominently in the directory: inset, bold, particular mentions, etc. Subscribing users who are the subject of a recommendation may also be the professionals most contacted by the users of the directory during a given period (the last month, for example). In concrete terms, this could be, for example, the names of the professionals on which the users clicked the most during the given period in the case of an online directory accessible via the Internet. Sponsored subscribers who are the subject of a recommendation may also be the professionals who have received the best ratings / reviews from directory users when it is an online directory accessible via the Internet. This type of recommendation may, however, be unreliable because of companies that specialize in the production of fictitious user reviews or simply users who give fictitious opinions in order to derive any benefit from it. The European patent application published under the number EP 2 458 545 for example describes a search technique of coordinates of a professional from the social network web of the user who requested the search, considering the declarations of interest made by a user who is part of this social network web, for example declarations of interest "I like", of the type of those proposed by the social network web "Facebook" ®. Indeed, for a user who seeks contact details of a professional, the most relevant recommendation comes from his relatives and not strangers. However, in the aforementioned patent application, the difficulty lies in the fact that a user's social web network may consist of people that this user knows little, if at all, if not through a same point of interest and / or the same profession or in the context of a simple conversation established via the web. Moreover, the real identity of the persons forming part of the social network of a user is not necessarily known to this user, especially in the case where this social network uses pseudonyms to connect users between them. There is thus a problem of reliability and security or confidence in the answers that can be provided by the aforementioned method. Moreover, such a recommendation will only be relevant if a majority of people are thinking of registering declarations of interest online and actually registering them. In the absence of such an express statement of interest, the recommendations may not include the professionals most appreciated by the users of the user's social network. And even in the presence of such a declaration of interest, this statement remains purely binary information, which may obscure any possible nuances or gradations in the declaration of interest. Finally, the user who does the research has no way of checking whether the recommendations provided are still relevant or obsolete: the words "I like" can be obsolete, they can come from people with whom user has no relationship or social connection for months or years, etc. Thus, the relevance of the recommendations provided by this method may be insufficient because the user has no way of quantifying or objectively assessing the value or possible obsolescence of the recommendations provided. One of the aims of the invention is to remedy problems, disadvantages or shortcomings of the state of the art and / or to make improvements thereto. The invention relates to a method for connecting two users via at least one telephony network, the method being implemented by at least one server capable of interrogating - at least one database storing, for each user of a plurality of users, at least one history of communications established via said at least one telephony network with this user and - at least one directory of subscribing users of at least one telephone line, storing information associated with the different subscribing users, the method comprising: a step of receiving a connection request with a subscriber user answering at least one search criterion formulated by a first user relative to information associated with this subscriber user in said directory, a step identification in said directory of at least one subscriber user, responding to said at least one search criterion and which is identified in a said communication history of at least a second user, himself identified in a said communication history of the first user; a step of providing the first user of connection data, via said at least one telephony network, of the first user with at least one identified subscriber user.

The invention makes it possible to provide recommendations for contacting an underwriter user, that is, connection data, from the communication histories established through at least one telephony network. It is thus possible to identify subscribing users who have already been in actual contact - that is to say in communication via the telephone network - with persons close to or known to the person who makes the request for connection. . So we no longer use a social network web but a network of people with whom we have already been in communication, including with whom we have already spoken. This improves the confidence and therefore potentially the relevance of the response provided to the matching request.

In contrast to the aforementioned patent application, it is no longer necessary to have an express declaration of interest to be able to provide such a recommendation, nor to collect them by calling on various social web networks. No declaration of interest or special intervention of the users is necessary: the linking method can be implemented on the basis of the communication history available and managed by the operators of telephone networks. The communication histories that are already constituted by the operators of telephone networks, for billing reasons in particular, are thus reusable for other purposes.

In one embodiment, the linking method comprises a step of providing the first user with an identifier of the second user and / or data relating the first user to the second user. Thus the user can contact the second user, with whom he has already communicated, for example by phone or SMS / MMS, for example to ask him for his opinion on the subscriber user who has been identified and / or to have more information about it. In one embodiment, the linking method comprises a step of providing the first user with at least one indicator representative of the strength of the social link between the first user and said identified subscribing user, this indicator being determined by from quantitative data on one or more established communications: between the second user and the identified subscribing user (s), and / or between the second user and the first user.

The indicator can be defined relative to a scale of values, continuous or discontinuous. This indicator is for example a numerical value of a scale of numerical values ranging from 0 to 3. It is also possible to use a scale of values whose each level is constituted by a qualifier, for example: "null", "weak", " medium "," strong "are the four steps of such a scale of values.

Thus, the first user has, by this indicator, qualitative information on the social link existing between the second user and the identified subscriber user and / or between the second user and the first user. This indicator represents a degree of relevance of the response provided to its linking request. Indeed, the closer the second user is to the first user and the more the first user's trust in the relationship between the second user and the identified subscribing user will be good. In practice, when a person close to your family maintains a close relationship with another person, especially with a professional such as a doctor or dentist, the probability that you enjoy this professional is high. Indeed, a social proximity between the first and the second user is often an indication of proximity in the perception and appreciation of people, especially professionals. In concrete terms, if a user UB1 has called a subscriber user UC1 (for example, a dentist) regularly and / or for ten years or so, the corresponding indicator may correspond to a high value on the scale of values used. Conversely, if another user UB2 has called a subscriber user UC2 (for example, another dentist) only once and / or several years ago, the corresponding indicator may correspond to a low value on a scale of values the scale of values used. The quantitative data on the established communication or calls are calculated for example from the number and / or the frequency and / or the duration and / or the date of the communications established between the second user and the subscribed user identified and / or between the second user and the first user. Thus this method allows the first user to quantify the relevance of each recommendation provided and / or the possible obsolescence of the recommendations provided.

According to one embodiment, the linking method furthermore comprises, when several subscribing users have been identified, a step of determining a said indicator for each identified subscribing user and a step of making the first user available. a ranking of the subscribing users identified in order of relevance according to said indicators. Unlike a declaration of interest which is only binary, such an indicator also makes it possible to rank the identified subscriber users, and thus to make distinctions between the identified subscriber users, or even a ranking of these users. According to one embodiment of the linking method, the method of determining an indicator is configured or customized for the calling user. Thus the calling user can obtain indicators based on personal criteria, taking into account for example his communication habits. For example, it may decide to increase the weight of an indicator for all users with whom it has established long-term communications, because this criterion is the most relevant, based on its communication habits, to determine the degree of proximity / strength of the social connection he has with these users.

According to one embodiment of the linking method, said provisioning step is performed conditionally to obtain authorization from the second user for said provisioning. Thus the second user has means of control over the use which is fiat of its communication history and may in particular decide not to communicate on certain subscribing users with whom he has been in contact. According to one implementation, the different steps of the linking method are implemented by a software or computer program.

The invention thus relates to a software or program that can be executed by a computer or a data processor, this software / program comprising instructions for controlling the execution of the steps of a linking method. These instructions are intended to be stored in a memory of a computing device, loaded and then executed by a processor of this computing device.

This software / program can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any form what other form is desirable. The computing device can be implemented by one or more physically distinct machines and generally presents the architecture of a computer, including components of such an architecture: data memory (s), processor (s), communication bus hardware interface (s) for connecting this computing device to a network or other equipment, user interface (s), etc. The invention also relates to an information carrier readable by a data processor, and comprising instructions of a program as mentioned above. The information carrier may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a server for connecting two users via at least one telephony network, said server being adapted to interrogate at least one database storing, for each user of a plurality of users at least one history of communications established via said at least one telephony network with this user and at least one directory of subscribing users of at least one telephone line, storing information associated with the different subscribing users, the server comprising: an interface for receiving a connection request with a subscriber user answering at least one search criterion formulated by a first user with regard to information associated with this subscriber user, - a search engine for identifying in said directory directory at least one subscribing user, responding to said at least one criterion of e research and which is identified in a said communication history of at least a second user, himself identified in a said communication history of the first user; an interface for making available to the first user connection data, via said at least one telephony network, of the first user with at least one identified subscriber user.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a terminal of a first user adapted to communicate with a server for connecting two users via at least one telephony network, said server being adapted to interrogate at least one database. storing, for each user of a plurality of users, at least one history of calls established via said at least one telephony network with this user and at least one directory of subscribing users of at least one telephone line, storing information associated with the different subscribing users, the terminal comprising: a user interface for a formulation by the first user of a connection request with a subscriber user answering at least one search criterion formulated with respect to information associated with this subscribing user in said directory, - a user interface for r making available to the first user connection data, via said at least one telephony network, of the first user with at least one subscriber user identified in response to said search request by said connection server, at least an identified subscribing user being a user responding to said at least one search criterion and who is identified in a said communication history of at least a second user, himself identified in a said first user's communication history. The advantages stated for the linking method according to the invention can be directly transposed to the server and to the terminal according to the invention. Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, given solely by way of nonlimiting example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 schematically represents a linking system according to the invention; FIG. 2 represents a flowchart of one embodiment of the method according to the invention.

The linking system is intended to be implemented on behalf of a telecommunication network operator, supervising at least one telecommunications network RS1, RS2. For example, the telecommunication network RS1 is a fixed telephony network and the network RS2 is a mobile telephone network for sending short messages of the SMS (Short Message Service) / MMS (Multimedia Message Service) type or SMTP message (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). The system comprises: - a first DB1 database, for storing communication histories established via at least one telecommunications network RS1, RS2; a second database DB2, for storing a telephone directory comprising user numbers that can be reached via at least one RS1 telecommunication network, RS2 local network and information on these users: call number, address postal, activity, including professional activity, website, e-mail address, geographical location, etc .; an application server SRV, called a connection server, for implementing the connection method; terminals TA, TB1, TB2, TC respectively associated with the users UA, UB1, UB2, UC.

The application server SRV comprises: storage means, in particular a memory, for storing program instructions designed to control the execution of the steps of a linking method according to the invention; data processing means, in particular a data processor, able to execute the stored program instructions in order to implement the steps of a linking method. This connection server further comprises means for implementing the steps of the linking method described in this document. These means are software modules (software) and / or hardware (hardware). In this context, the term "module" corresponds in this document to a software component, to a hardware component or to a set of hardware and / or software components, able to implement a function or a set of functions, according to what which is described below for the module concerned. The SRV application server is a network entity, located in a network infrastructure of a network operator. It is designed to communicate with user terminals through at least the telecommunication network: Internet network, telephone network, etc.

DB1 communication history The DB1 database includes, for each user of a plurality of users, a communication history of this user UA. Such communication history is used in a known manner by telecommunication network operators for the purpose of billing communications established by the concerned UA user. The concept of user here corresponds to a subscriber user of one or more telephone lines, regardless of the number of natural persons actually using this or these telephone lines, whether subscriptions with or without subscription. The subscriber user may be a legal entity (a company) with one or more telephone lines or a natural person (individual or professional) with one or more telephone lines. Such a history of communications usually concerns so-called "outgoing" communications, that is to say having been initiated by a user UA as a calling user. Such a communication history may also include so-called "incoming" communications, that is, initiated by a user other than the UA user to join the UA user as the recipient user. The communications listed in a communications history can be telephone, videophone and / or message sending (SMS, MMS, instant messaging, internet messaging, email, etc.). In known manner, for each communication listed in a communication history in the database DB1 is stored an identifier of the user (recipient or caller) UB with which the user UA has established a communication (incoming or outgoing) via the or the telecommunication networks RS1, RS2. This identifier is usually the telephone number of the user UB or his email address. The application server SRV comprises a search engine (for example a software interface) for sending query queries from the database DB1 and receiving replies in return: it is designed to send at least one query query of this DB1 database to obtain in return at least one list of users present in a communication history of a given user UA or to determine if a given user UB is present or not in a user's communication history UA given.

Telecom social graph The application server SRV further comprises a calculator for determining a telecom social graph (called "telco social graph" in the English terminology) from the communication histories established through the telecommunications network RS1 or RS2, stored in the DB1 database. The data defining the social links constituting the telecom social graph are stored by the application server SRV in a TSG database. Such a social telecom graph is constituted by all the direct social links between two users. In the context of this document, a user UC is said to be in direct social contact with the user UA if this user UC is identified either in a list of contacts of this user UA, or in a communication history of the user UA . Such a direct social link is called first-level social link. This user UC can also be in indirect social link (social link of second level or more) with the user UA if this user UC is in direct social connection with a user UD which is itself in direct social link with the user AU. And so on, recursively, it is possible to define levels of social link according to the number of users through which two users are socially related to each other. Thus, two users will be in social connection through such a social telecom graph if they are interconnected in this graph through one or more direct social links, through or not one or more other users. DB2 Subscribers User Directory The DB2 database is a directory of subscribing users. It comprises for each user of a plurality of subscribing users, information on this subscriber user: a name, a number or an email address, a postal address, and, optionally, an activity, etc.

The DB2 database comprises in particular a subset corresponding to a so-called "professional" directory, listing the so-called "professional" subscribing users, that is to say those for which at least one so-called "professional" activity is indicated: doctor, dentist, lawyer, shoe sales, etc. Today, such directories are numerous, accessible via the Internet: they allow such research professionals, for example the directory of professionals of the Orange Group, the "118702" (www.118712.fr). It can also be directories specialized in a given field of activity, for example a directory of hotels or hotel service, directory of cottages, etc. The application server SRV comprises a search engine for sending query requests to the DB2 database and receiving replies back: it is designed to send at least one query query of this database DB2 to obtain in return a list of users meeting a search criterion formulated with respect to the information contained on the users referenced in this DB2 database, in particular to a search criterion on a given activity and / or on a postal address and / or on a name and / or geographical location. The two databases DB1 and / or DB2 and / or TSG can be grouped into a single database DBG or constitute two parts of the same database DBG, to facilitate the interrogation by the application server SRV or allow more complex query requests that combine information from DB1 and / or DB2 and / or TSG. The method of connecting two users via a telephony network will now be described. It comprises steps 200 to 230. These steps are performed for each connection request.

Step 200 - Receipt of the connection request The application server SRV comprises a communication interface for receiving a connection request formulated by a user UA, called the calling user UA. Several embodiments are possible for this communication interface.

According to a first embodiment, the application server SRV comprises a Web server, implementing a communication interface using a Web protocol such as the HTTP protocol ("hypertext transfer protocol"). In this case, the connection request comes from a telecommunication terminal of the user UA, integrating a web browser communicating with the application server SRV by HTTP request. According to a second embodiment, the application server SRV comprises a voice server and a communication interface in the form of a voice command interface, for receiving a request formally connected vocally and / or sending DTMF codes (Dual Tone Frequency modulation). According to a third embodiment, the application server SRV comprises a server, implementing a communication interface using a message communication mode compliant with a given telecommunication protocol. In this case, the connection request comes from a specific application, executed by a telecommunication terminal of the user UA and communicating with the application server SRV messages conforming to this telecommunication protocol. The linking request formulated by a calling user UA comprises at least one search criterion on a subscriber user UB1, UB2 with which the calling user UA wishes to be connected. This or these search criteria are defined relative to information stored in the DB2 database for the various users listed in this directory, including mailing address and / or activity (professional), geographical location.

For example, the calling user UA may request to search for a dentist or a general practitioner located in a given geographical area. In known manner, the geographical area can be defined in relation to a district of a city, a department, a region, a country etc. It can also be defined using at least one postal code.

Step 210 - Searching for a response to the connection request The application server SRV comprises a processing module of the connection request. This processing module includes a search engine for searching and identifying at least one UB1, UB2 subscriber user, potential recipient, meeting the search criteria formulated. This search is carried out by searching in priority for a subscriber user UB1, UB2 meeting the search criteria formulated among the users identified in a communication history of at least one UC user, said intermediate user, himself identified in a history of calls from the calling user UA.

In other words, this search is carried out by searching in priority for a subscriber user UB1, UB2 who is in social connection - direct or indirect - with a user UC, who is himself in social connection - direct or indirect - with the calling user UA.

In one embodiment, particularly when the invention is applied to the search of a subscriber user UB1, IB2 who is a professional (dentist, doctor, etc.) only the communication history of the UC users who are contacts personal (ie, usually friends or family members, not professionals or companies) of the calling user UA are analyzed in the search phase to find a user subscriber UB1, IB2 who is a professional. This distinction is possible in that the telephone directories comprise a subset corresponding to a directory of individuals and another subset corresponding to a directory of professionals (service "yellow pages" in France for example). It is thus possible to search professionals who are in the communication history of individuals who have been in contact with the calling user via the telephony network. The communication histories used for this search can be complete histories, or histories of which only a part, for example the most recent part is used: for example, only communications established in the last 6 months, or the last 12 months will be taken into account when processing the connection request. This measure avoids the use of communications established too long ago, which, therefore, may no longer be relevant from the point of view of the calling user or the intermediate user: a subscribing user UB1 with whom the UC user would no longer be in contact for more than a year could be an indicator that the social link between subscribing user UB1 and user UC would have been broken, because it is not satisfactory or for another reason.

When no subscribing user UB1, UB2 meeting the formulated search criteria is identified in a communication history of a UA user in social connection with the calling user UA, this search is carried out in the DB2 directory of a subscribing user UB1, UB2 meeting the search criteria formulated, but without doing any additional search in the communication history (absence of intermediate user UC). Step 220 - content of the response to the connection request The processing module of the application server SRV then prepares the response to be provided to the user UA. This response includes an identifier of the subscribing user (s) UB1, UB2 identified during the search phase and data relating to each of these subscribing users UB1, UB2. By identifier of a user here means for example a name and / or first name if it is a natural person or a pseudonym extracted from a list of contacts of the user UA or name of the company s' it is a legal person. By data connection, here means a telephone number for a telephone connection or SMS / MMS, or an email address.

In one embodiment, the response further comprises - an identifier of an intermediate user UC in social connection with the user UA when at least one of the subscribing users UB1, UB2 has been found in a communication history of this user UC and / or - data relating to the intermediate user UC.

In the case where the social link between the user UA and the user UC is an indirect link, the response further comprises - an identifier of each of the intermediate users UC1, UC2 through which the UA and UC users are connected , and / or - data relating to intermediate users UC1, UC2.

In one embodiment, when there is a social link between the user UA and the founding user (s) UB1, UB2 through at least one intermediate user UC, the response further comprises at least one indicator a degree of proximity calculated between two users. An indicator can thus be calculated - between the user UA and the subscribing user (s) found UB1, UB2 and / or - between the intermediate user (s) UC and the identified subscribing user (s) UB1, UB2 and / or - between the the intermediate users UC and the calling user UA. Such an indicator is representative of the nature and / or strength and / or age of the social link existing between the two users concerned by this indicator. It then allows the UA user who receives it to assess the relevance or interest of the response provided. Such an indicator is calculated by the application server SRV from quantitative data on one or more communications established between the two users concerned. This indicator is thus an indicator of a degree of proximity between the two users concerned, this proximity which can be qualified as "social proximity" being quantifiable / measurable from digital or statistical data such as the number and / or the frequency and / or the duration and / or date of the communications considered. These quantitative data are for example calculated from numerical or statistical data such as the number and / or the frequency and / or the duration and / or the date of the communications considered. The calculation formula used for this indicator may be identical and / or automatically defined for all UA calling users to whom this indicator will be transmitted or personalized and / or configured by this calling user according to the wishes and / or communication habits of the one calling user. -this. A scale of indicator values can thus be defined for this indicator, based on the number and / or frequency and / or duration and / or date of communications established over a given period between two users. This scale of values can be a scale of numeric values or a scale of qualifiers, using terms such as "strong", "average", "weak" etc., to identify the different degrees / steps of this scale.

For example, a first indicator, representative of the strength of the social link between an intermediate user UC and a subscriber user UB1, is calculated from quantitative data for communications between these two users based on the average number of calls per year. The method of calculating this first indicator can be used, for example, to describe the relationship between an individual and a professional.

A numerical scale of 0 to 3 is for example defined for this first indicator. An indicator at 0 means the absence of a social link in the telecom social graph. An indicator at 1 means a weak social link, for example when the frequency of the calls established is of the order of 1 or 2 communications per year on average between these two users. An indicator at 2 is representative of an average social link, for example when the frequency of established calls is more than 2 communications per year on average, but less than 10 annual communications between these two users. An indicator at 3 is representative of a strong social link, for example when the frequency of established communications is greater than 10 communications per year on average between these two users.

In addition, a second indicator, representative of the strength of the social link between this intermediate user UC and the calling user UA, is calculated from quantitative data for the communications between these two users on the basis of the duration and / or the date of the established communications. The method of calculating this second indicator can be used, for example, to describe the social link between two individuals, that is to say two users have a social link that is a priori "private". Indeed, the length of the calls established is a factor that reveals the degree of proximity between two people with a social link of "private" nature. A scale of 0 to 3 is for example defined for the indicator representative of the strength of the social link between these two users. An indicator at 0 means the absence of a social link in the telecom social graph. An indicator at 1 means a weak social link, for example if the duration of the calls is always less than 3 minutes and / or the average number of calls per month less than 2. An indicator at 3 is representative of a strong social link, for example when the frequency of the communications of duration greater than 5 minutes is greater than 10 communications per month on average between these two users. An indicator at 2 will then be representative of an average social link in the other cases.

A third indicator representative of the strength of the social link between the calling user UA and a subscribing user UB1 can also be calculated by the application server SRV, for example by performing a weighted average (arithmetic, geometric or arithmetic or other) between the first indicator representative of the strength of the social link between an intermediate user UC and the subscriber user UB1 and the second indicator, representative of the strength of the social link between the intermediate user UC and the calling user UA. Any other method of determining an indicator is usable. The calculation method can be chosen / configured by the calling user according to criteria of interest.

When several subscribing users have been identified during the search phase, the application server SRV calculates at least one indicator for each identified subscribing user and makes available to the calling user UA a ranking of the subscribing users identified in order of relevance according to these different indicators.

Step 230 - Providing the response to the connection request The processing module of the application server SRV then makes available to the user UA the prepared response, that is to say the connection data via the telephony network of the calling user UA with the identified subscriber user (s) UB1, UB2. According to a first embodiment, when the application server SRV comprises a web server, the response to the connection request is sent to a telecommunications terminal TA of the calling user UA as a Web page to be displayed in a browser. the web of this terminal, this page containing for example the name and contact data of each UB1 subscriber user, UB2 identified. In this first embodiment, it may be provided that hypertext links are associated with the linking data displayed in the web page, so that by clicking on such a hypertext link a telephone connection is initiated: a telephone call (step 240) with an identified subscriber user, sending an SMS message to an identified subscriber user, sending an email to an identified subscribing user, etc. The content of the message or the email can be for example entered in a web page by the calling user UA.

According to a second embodiment, when the application server SRV comprises a voice server and a communication interface in the form of a voice command interface, the response to the connection request is transmitted as a voice stream containing, for example, the voice command. name and contact data of each subscriber user UB1, UB2 identified.

In this second embodiment, it can be provided that a voice menu with several options is proposed, so that by pressing a given key of its terminal TA or pronouncing a particular word, a telephone connection is initiated establishing a telephone call (step 240) with an identified subscribing user, sending an SMS message to an identified subscribing user, sending an email to an identified subscribing user, etc. The content of the message or the e-mail may for example be dictated by the calling user UA and then transcoded as text to be inserted in the SMS or e-mail to be sent. According to a third embodiment, the application server SRV sends to a software application of a telecommunication terminal TA of the calling user UA a response message containing, for example, the name and the contact data of each subscribing user UB1, UB2. identified. In this third embodiment, it can be provided that hypertext links are associated with the linking data displayed in the response message, so that by clicking on such a hypertext link a telephone connection is initiated: establishment a telephone communication (step 240) with an identified subscriber user, sending an SMS message to an identified subscriber user, sending an email to an identified subscribing user, etc. The content of the message or the email can be for example entered in a user interface of the software application having received the response message.

In one embodiment, the provision of the response to the connection request is performed conditionally to obtain authorization from the intermediate user UB. This authorization can be given by the intermediate user UB in response to a sending of interrogation message (for example by SMS) from the intermediate user UB of the application server SRV prior to this provision. As an alternative, this authorization may be given prior to the request for linking the calling user, for example in a user account or user profile whose option corresponding to this authorization would have been configured by the intermediate user UB (box to check "yes" or "no", for example).

According to the embodiment chosen, the intermediate user (s) identified during the processing phase of the connection request may or may not remain anonymous. In other words, it may be decided to hide / not to give information on the UC intermediate user (s) identified during the provision of the response. In this case, the contact data with the identified UC intermediate user (s) will not be made available to the calling user UA.

The linking method is applicable to any connection request. It is particularly suitable for requests to put in contact with a professional or a company. It makes it possible to appeal to the relatives of the person who makes the request to put in relation and to make known automatically to this person the network of known professionals of his close relations.

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS1. Method for connecting two users via at least one telephony network, the method being implemented by at least one server (SRV) capable of interrogating - at least one database (DB1) storing, for each user of a plurality of users, at least one communication history established via said at least one telephony network with this user and - at least one directory (DB2) of subscribing users of at least one telephone line, storing information associated with the different subscribing users, the method comprising: a step of receiving a request for connection with a subscribing user (UB1, UB2) responding to at least one search criterion formulated by a first user (UA) relative to information associated with this subscriber user (UB1, UB2) in said directory, - an identification step in said directory of at least one subscriber user (UB1, UB2), responding to said at least one search criterion and which is identified in a said communication history of at least a second user (UC), itself identified in a said communication history of the first user; a step of providing the first user of connection data, via said at least one telephony network, of the first user (UA) with at least one subscriber user (UB1, UB2) identified. 2. Method according to claim 1, comprising a step of placing in telephone connection via said at least one telephony network, the first user (UA) with at least one user subscriber (UB1, UB2) identified and: or with the second user (UC). 3. Method according to claim 1, comprising a step of providing the first user (UA) with a second user identifier (UC) and / or data relating the first user to the second user. 4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a step of providing the first user of at least one indicator (IAB) representative of the strength of the social link between the first user (UA) and said subscribing user (UB1, UB2) identified, said indicator being determined from quantitative data on one or more communications established between the second user (UC) and said at least one subscriber user (UB1, UB2) identified and / or between the second user (UC) and the first user (UA). 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a step of providing the first user of at least one indicator (IAC) representative of the strength of the social link between the first user (UA) and said second user (UC), said indicator being determined from quantitative data on one or more communications established between the second user (UC) and the first user (UA). 6. Method according to claim 3 or 4, comprising, when several subscribing users have been identified, a step of determining a said indicator for each identified subscribing user and a step of making the first user available a user ranking. subscribers identified in order of relevance according to said indicators. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said quantitative data on the established call (s) are computed from the number and / or frequency and / or duration and / or date of the calls. communications established between the second user and the identified subscriber user and / or between the second user and the first user. The method of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the method of determining an indicator is configured or customized for the calling user. The method of claim 1, wherein said provisioning step is performed conditionally to obtain permission from the second user for said provisioning. 10. Server for connecting two users via at least one telephony network, said server being adapted to interrogate at least one database storing, for each user of a plurality of users, at least one established communication history via said at least one telephony network with this user and at least one directory of subscribing users of at least one telephone line, storing information associated with the different subscribing users, the server comprising: a reception interface of a request of putting into relation with a subscribing user (UB1, UB2) answering at least one search criterion formulated by a first user (UA) relative to information associated with this subscribing user (UB1, UB2), - a search engine for identifying in said directory at least one subscribing user (UB1, UB2), responding to said at least one search criterion he and who is identified in a said communication history of at least a second user (UC), himself identified in a said communication history of the first user; an interface for making available to the first user connection data, via said at least one telephony network, of the first user (UA) with at least one subscriber user (UB1, UB2) identified. 11. Terminal of a first user, adapted to communicate with a server for connecting two users via at least one telephony network, said server being adapted to interrogate at least one database storing, for each user of a plurality of users, at least one history of communications established via said at least one telephony network with this user and at least one directory of subscribing users of at least one telephone line, storing information associated with the different subscribing users, the terminal comprising: - a user interface for a formulation by the first user (UA) of a request for connection with a subscribing user (UB1, UB2) responding to at least one search criterion formulated with respect to information associated with this subscribing user (UB1, UB2) in said directory, - a user interface to make available the first user of the connection data, via said at least one telephony network, of the first user (UA) with at least one subscriber user (UB1, UB2) identified in response to said search request by said bet server; in relation, at least one user subscriber (UB1, UB2) identified being a user responding to said at least one search criterion and which is identified in a said communication history of at least a second user (UC), itself identified in a said communications history of the first user. A computer program comprising program code instructions for performing the steps of a method according to one of claims 1 to 9.