FR3086094A1 - ASSISTANCE PROCESS FOR THE USE OF COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT BY DISPLAYING A LIST OF FREQUENTLY REQUIRED ACTIONS AND / OR MAY BE REQUIRED - Google Patents

Abstract

A method supports the use of communication equipment comprising a touch screen and displaying text messages, and at least one computer triggering actions performed by applications and required by a user. This process includes: - a first step (10-30) in which, when the user uses the communication equipment at a time and in a place, the computer triggers the display of a list of actions performed by the applications and frequently required and / or having probabilities higher than a threshold to be required by the user in a time interval containing this instant and / or in an area containing this place, and - a second step (40-50) in which, if the user selects one of the actions from the displayed list, the computer triggers this selected action.

Description

METHOD FOR ASSISTING THE USE OF COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT BY DISPLAYING A LIST OF FREQUENTLY REQUIRED AND / OR MAY BE REQUIRED ACTIONS

The invention relates to communication equipment which is used by users, and more specifically assistance in the use of this communication equipment by their users.

Certain communication equipment, such as for example smart mobile phones (or “smartphones”) or communicating electronic tablets or even vehicle telematics equipment, include a touch screen and capable of displaying text messages, applications, and at least a computer responsible for triggering actions which are provided by these applications and required by their user.

The word "action" must be understood here in its broadest definition since it relates to a request for an answer to a question provided by the user to his communication equipment, as well as access to an application or execution a function by an application. For example, a question may be "where is my vehicle?" "Or" where is the nearest metro station (or bus stop)? "Or" what will the weather be like today? " Also, for example, the user may request access to a telematic application, such as a telephone service, or telephone voice mail, or electronic messaging (emails (or "e-mails") or short messages (or SMS / MMS)), or even a social network, or an electronic diary, or a website for booking a means of transport, or a game, or any other Internet service.

Most users of the communication equipment defined above (very) often use one or more applications of the latter or often ask one or more same questions. If access to a frequently used application is direct when its access icon is displayed on the home page of the communication equipment, it is not the same for obtaining a response to a question since this requires that the user has previously entered this question, or access to a particular function of an application since this may require navigation in one or more submenus of this application.

There are certainly applications, installed in certain communication equipment, which are capable of completing the first words of a question which is being entered by the user by means of the man / machine interface (or HMI), in function of a reduced context. However, this type of application, which is described in particular in patent document US 2012/0265528, has a high error rate and therefore often requires new actions by the user on ΙΊΗΜ, and requires that the user access the question entry application of its communication equipment, which is time consuming and tedious, in particular when the entries are frequent. In addition, this type of application does not provide user assistance for anything related to accessing a particular function of an application.

The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation.

It proposes in particular for this purpose an assistance method intended to assist the use of communication equipment comprising a touch screen and displaying text messages, and at least one computer triggering actions performed by applications installed in the communication equipment and required by a user.

This assistance process is characterized by the fact that it includes:

a first step in which, when the user uses the communication equipment at a time and in a place, the computer triggers the display on the screen of a list of actions represented by text messages, provided by applications and frequently required and / or having probabilities higher than a threshold to be required by the user in a time interval containing this instant and / or in an area containing this place, and

- a second step in which, if the user selects one of the actions from the displayed list, the computer triggers the action that has been selected.

Thanks to the invention, the user is automatically offered a list of actions that he is used to performing and / or that he has a high probability of performing, taking into account the context defined by his current position. and / or the current instant, without him having to do anything (if it is not decided to use his communication equipment), then, if the user wishes, he no longer has only choose one of the actions from this list, so that it is automatically performed.

The assistance method according to the invention may include other characteristics which can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- in its first step, the calculator can trigger the display on the screen of a list of actions in which the actions are ordered according to the number of times they were respectively required by the user and the probabilities of be respectively required by the user in the time interval and / or the zone. In this case, the action associated with the largest number can be displayed at the top of the list of actions, immediately followed by the action associated with the greatest probability, and so on until the associated action. to the smallest number then the action associated with the smallest probability;

- in a first variant, in its first step, the computer can trigger the display on the screen of an action list in which the actions are ordered according to the number of times they have been respectively requested by the user and probabilities of being respectively required by the user in the time interval and / or the zone. In this case, the action associated with the number and probability with the highest average value can be displayed at the top of the list of actions, immediately followed by the action associated with the number and probability with the value mean comes right after the largest mean value, and so on until the action associated with the number and probability with the smallest mean value;

- in a second variant, in its first step, the computer can trigger the display on the screen of an action list in which the actions are ordered according to the number of times they have been respectively requested by the user and probabilities of being respectively required by the user in the time interval and / or the zone. In this case, the action associated with the largest number can be displayed at the top of the action list, immediately followed by the action associated with the number coming immediately after the largest, and so on until action associated with the smallest number, followed by the action associated with the greatest probability, immediately followed by the action associated with the probability coming immediately after the greatest, and so on until the action associated with the lowest probability;

- in its first step, the calculator can update the list of actions before triggering its display on the screen.

The invention also provides a computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by processing means, is capable of implementing an assistance method of the type presented above for assist the use of communication equipment comprising a touch screen and displaying text messages, and at least one computer triggering actions performed by applications installed in this communication equipment and required by a user.

The invention also provides communication equipment comprising a touch screen and displaying text messages, and at least one computer triggering actions performed by applications installed in this communication equipment and required by a user.

This communication equipment is characterized by the fact that its computer:

- triggers, when the user uses it at a time and in a place, the display by the screen of a list of actions represented by text messages, provided by the applications and frequently required and / or having probabilities greater than a threshold of being required by the user in a time interval containing this instant and / or in an area containing this place, and

- if the user selects one of the actions from the displayed list, triggers this selected action.

For example, this communication equipment can be chosen from a smart mobile phone (or smartphone), a communicating electronic tablet, and telematic equipment equipping a vehicle.

The invention also provides a vehicle, possibly of the automotive type, and comprising communication equipment of the type presented above.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically and functionally illustrates a vehicle equipped with an exemplary embodiment of communication equipment according to the invention, constituting telematic equipment,

FIG. 2 schematically and functionally illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a communication equipment according to the invention, constituting a smart mobile phone,

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an example of displaying a list of actions on the screen of a communication device according to the invention, and

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of an algorithm implementing an assistance method according to the invention.

The object of the invention is in particular to propose an assistance method intended to assist the use of EC communication equipment by its user, depending on the context of his current position and / or the current moment.

In order for the invention to be implemented, the EC communication equipment must include a touch screen EA and arranged so as to display text messages, AP applications, and at least one CA computer arranged so to trigger actions provided by these applications and required by the user. It is more important that the EC communication equipment knows the current time and its current position. The latter is for example known at all times by the communication equipment EC because it comprises (or is coupled to (in particular in the case of a vehicle V)) a localization application (or a device) (possibly by satellites).

Schematically shown in Figure 1 an example of a motor vehicle V comprising such EC communication equipment. The latter (EC) here constitutes a telematics equipment permanently embedded in the motor vehicle V, being installed in or on the dashboard and possibly coupled to a wireless communication module (or by waves) when he does not understand it himself. Note that this telematics equipment can equip any type of vehicle, whether land, sea (or river) or air.

Another example of mobile EC communication equipment is also shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2. The latter (EC) here constitutes a smart mobile phone (or smartphone). But it could also constitute a communicating electronic tablet, for example.

For example, the applications that are installed in EC communication equipment can be telematic (telephone service, telephone voice mail, electronic messaging (emails (or emails) or short messages (or SMS / MMS))) , or relating to a social network or to an electronic agenda or to the remote control of a vehicle or to a reservation site for means of transport or to games or to any other Internet service.

As mentioned above, the invention proposes in particular an assistance method intended to assist the use of EC communication equipment by its user. This assistance process can be at least partially implemented by the CA computer which equips this EC communication equipment. For example, this CA computer can include at least one digital signal processor (or DSP ("Digital Signal Processor")), possibly associated with at least one memory.

The assistance process according to the invention comprises first 1030 and second 40-50 steps.

The first step 10-30 begins when it is detected that a user of an EC communication equipment uses the latter (EC) at a time t and in a location I. In this case, the computer CA triggers the display by the screen EA of this communication equipment EC of a list of actions which are represented by text messages, provided by the latter's AP applications (EC), and frequently required by this user and / or which have probabilities greater than a threshold of being required by this user in a time interval it which contains this instant t and / or in a zone z which contains this place I.

For example, the detection of the user can result from the fact that he has just moved the communication equipment EC or touched the screen EA with one of his fingers while it was off in standby mode, or possibly that he said a dedicated word or a dedicated expression.

The CA computer records each message representing an action and supplied by the user, and when a message supplied is similar to a previously supplied message, the CA computer increments the number associated with this previously supplied message by one.

The second step 40-50 begins when the user selects one of the actions from the displayed list. In this case, the CA computer triggers this selected action.

Thus, without the user having anything to do (if it is not decided to use his EC communication equipment), he is automatically offered a list of actions that he is used to performing and / or that he has a high probability of achieving, taking into account the context defined by his current position (I) and / or the current instant (t). Therefore, if the user wishes, he only has to choose one of the actions from this list, so that it is automatically performed.

Note that for the context we can consider the current time and / or the day (possibly taking into account the fact that it is working or resting or even a holiday).

It should also be noted that the probability threshold can be predefined (and therefore fixed) or variable (and therefore chosen by the user via the man / machine interface of the EC communication equipment). When the probability threshold is predefined, it can, for example, be between 30% and 50%.

It will also be noted that the time interval it which contains the instant t can have a predefined duration (and therefore fixed) or else variable (and therefore chosen by the user via the man / machine interface of the communication equipment EC). When this duration is predefined, it can, for example, be between one second and a few days.

It will also be noted that the zone z which contains this location I can have predefined dimensions (and therefore fixed) or else variable (and therefore chosen by the user via the man / machine interface of the communication equipment EC). When these dimensions are predefined, they can, for example, be defined by a circle diameter of between 1 meter and 5 kilometers.

The probability that the user requires an action at a time t and in a place I can be determined as a function of the redundancy of positioning in the place I and of the actions or activities carried out.

It will also be noted that the user preferentially chooses one of the actions from the list by pressing with one of his fingers on the area of the EA screen which includes the text message representing this action. But in a variant the user could choose one of the actions from the list by reading aloud the text message representing this action.

It should also be noted that the actions in a list can possibly take into account at least one preference previously provided by the user by means of the man / machine interface of the communication equipment EC).

At least three different implementations of the method can be envisaged.

In these three implementations, the computer CA triggers in the first step 10-30 the display by the screen EA of a list of actions in which the actions are ordered according to the numbers of times they have been respectively requested by the user and the probabilities of being respectively required by this user in the time interval it and / or the zone z.

In the first implementation (corresponding to a first arrangement of the CA calculator), the action associated with the largest number can be displayed at the top of the list of actions, and can be immediately followed by the action associated with the greatest probability, and so on until the action associated with the smallest number then the action associated with the smallest probability. We alternate the most frequent action and the most likely action, by decreasing values.

In the second implementation (corresponding to a second arrangement of the CA calculator), the action associated with the number and the probability with the highest average value can be displayed at the top of the list of actions, immediately followed by the action associated with the number and the probability whose mean value comes just after the largest mean value, and so on until the action associated with the number and the probability whose mean value is the smallest. A list is thus obtained in which the successive actions are associated with decreasing mean values of their respective frequency and probability.

In the third implementation (corresponding to a third arrangement of the CA calculator), the action associated with the largest number can be displayed at the top of the list of actions, immediately followed by the action associated with the number coming just after the greatest, and so on until the action associated with the smallest number, followed by the action associated with the greatest probability, immediately followed by the action associated with the probability coming just after the greatest , and so on until the action associated with the most probability. We thus obtain a list in which successive actions are associated with decreasing frequencies, then with decreasing probabilities.

It will also be noted that in the first step 10-30 the CA computer can possibly update the list of actions before triggering its display by the screen EA. However, this update can also be done periodically, for example every month or quarterly, or each time the application is launched.

In FIG. 3 is schematically illustrated an example of displaying an action list on the screen EA of an EC communication equipment of the type of that illustrated in FIG. 2 (namely a smart mobile phone).

This list includes:

- a first action consisting in asking an AP location application to determine the position of a car relative to the current location I ("where is my car?"),

- a second action consisting in asking an AP application for remote control of a car to unlock the latter ("unlock my car"),

- a third action consisting in asking an AP mobile phone application to call a person ("call X"),

- a fourth action consisting in asking an AP meteorological application for the weather outside ("what is the weather like?"),

a fifth action consisting in asking an electronic messaging application AP to supply the list of short SMS messages received (“access to my received SMS”), and

- a sixth action consisting in asking another electronic mail AP application to provide the list of emails (or emails or emails) received ("access to my emails received").

There is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4 an example of an algorithm implementing the first 10-30 and second 40-50 steps of the assistance method described above.

In a first sub-step 10 of the first step, one (the computer CA) detects that a user of an EC communication equipment uses the latter (EC) at an instant t and in a location I.

In a second sub-step 20 of the first step, one (the computer CA) triggers the display by the screen EA of the communication equipment EC of a list of actions provided by the latter's applications AP ( EC) and frequently required by its user and / or which have probabilities greater than a threshold of being required by its user in a time interval it which contains this instant t and / or in a zone z which contains this place I.

In a third substep 30 of the first step, the EA screen displays the text messages which represent the actions in the action list provided by the CA calculator, in an orderly fashion.

In a fourth sub-step 40 of the second step, one (the computer CA) detects that the user has selected one of the actions from the displayed list.

In a fifth sub-step 50 of the second step, we (the CA calculator) trigger the action selected during the fourth sub-step 40.

It will also be noted that the invention also proposes a computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by processing means of the electronic circuits (or hardware) type, such as for example the computer AC, is suitable for implementing the assistance method described above to assist the use of EC communication equipment by its user.

It will also be noted that in FIGS. 1 and 2 the processing (or calculation) and control means of the EC communication equipment are very schematically and functionally illustrated by the only computer CA. This CA computer can include at least one digital signal processor (or DSP (Digital Signal Processor)), possibly associated with a random access memory to store instructions for the implementation by this processor of at least part of the process of assistance. Furthermore, the processing (or calculation) and control means of the EC communication equipment may possibly include a box comprising integrated (or printed) circuits, connected by wired or non-wired connections. The term integrated circuit (or printed circuit) means any type of device capable of performing at least one electrical or electronic operation. In addition, this EC communication equipment can optionally include a plurality of processors, at least a mass memory, an input interface, in particular for receiving the selections of the user in each list of actions displayed (which he will then possibly formatting and / or demodulating and / or amplifying in a manner known per se), and an output interface, in particular for the transmission to the screen EA of each list of actions to be displayed.

One or more substeps of at least one of the steps of the assistance process can be carried out by different components. Thus, the assistance method can be implemented by a plurality of processors, random access memory, mass memory, input interface, output interface and / or digital signal processor.

Claims (10)

1. Method for assisting in the use of communication equipment (EC) comprising a touch screen (EA) and displaying text messages, and at least one computer (CA) triggering actions performed by installed applications in said communication equipment (EC) and required by a user, characterized in that it comprises i) a first step (10-30) in which, when said user uses said communication equipment (EC) at a time and in a place, said computer (CA) triggers the display by said screen (EA) of a list of actions represented by text messages, provided by said applications and frequently required and / or having probabilities greater than a threshold of be required by said user in a time interval containing said instant and / or in an area containing said location, and ii) a second step (40-50) in which, in the event of selection by said user of the one of said actions from the displayed list, said computer (CA) triggers said selected action. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in said first step (10-30) said computer (CA) triggers the display by said screen (EA) of a list of actions in which said actions are ordered in based on the number of times they were respectively requested by said user and the probabilities of being respectively required by said user in said time interval and / or said zone, the action associated with the largest number being displayed at the top of said list of actions, immediately followed by the action associated with the greatest probability, and so on until the action associated with the smallest number then the action associated with the smallest probability. 3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in said first step (10-30) said computer (CA) triggers the display by said screen (EA) of a list of actions in which said actions are ordered in function of the number of times they were respectively required by said user and the probabilities of being respectively required by said user in said time interval and / or said area, the action associated with the number and the probability of which the average value is the largest being displayed at the top of said list of actions, immediately followed by the action associated with the number and the probability of which the average value comes just after the largest average value, and so on until l action associated with the number and probability with the smallest mean value. 4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in said first step (10-30) said computer (CA) triggers the display by said screen (EA) of a list of actions in which said actions are ordered in function of the number of times they were respectively requested by said user and the probabilities of being respectively required by said user in said time interval and / or said zone, the action associated with the largest number being displayed at the top of said action list, immediately followed by the action associated with the number coming just after the largest, and so on until the action associated with the smallest number, followed by the action associated with the highest probability large, immediately followed by the action associated with the probability coming just after the largest, and so on until the action associated with the smallest probability. 5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in said first step (10-30) said computer (CA) updates said list of actions before triggering its display by said screen (EA) . 6. A computer program product comprising a set of instructions which, when executed by processing means, is capable of implementing the assistance method according to one of the preceding claims to assist the use of '' communication equipment (EC) comprising a touch screen (EA) and displaying text messages, and at least one computer (CA) triggering actions ensured by applications installed in said communication equipment (EC) and required by a user. 7. Communication equipment (EC) comprising a touch screen (EA) and displaying text messages, and at least one computer (CA) triggering actions performed by applications installed in said communication equipment (EC) and required by a user, characterized in that said computer (CA) i) triggers, when said user uses said communication equipment (EC) at a time and in a place, the display by said screen (EA) of a list of actions represented by text messages, provided by said applications and frequently required and / or having probabilities greater than a threshold of being required by said user in a time interval containing said instant and / or in an area containing said location, and ii) in the event that said user selects one of said actions from the displayed list, triggers said selected action. 8. Communication equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that it is chosen from a smart mobile phone, a tablet 10 communicating electronics, and telematic equipment equipping a vehicle (V). 9. Vehicle (V), characterized in that it comprises communication equipment (EC) according to claim 7 or 8. 10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.