KR100797373B1 - Method and system for providing visual guide service during visual communication, and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for providing an image guide service during a video call connection, a system thereof, and an apparatus therefor are provided to enhance usage rate of a mobile communication service by allowing a subscriber to enjoy additional services produced by other subscriber. A system for providing an image guide service during a video call connection includes an additional service server(170) and an image data output server(160). The additional service server(170) provides an additional service via a video call connection path. The image data output server(160) searches for image data which consists of service menus set by a callee, outputs the searched image data to a caller if receiving a vide call, routed by an MSC(Mobile Switching Center,140), from the caller and requests a service, selected among the service menus by the caller, to the additional service server(170).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING VISUAL GUIDE SERVICE DURING VISUAL COMMUNICATION, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR}

1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of an image guide service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an image guide service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a functional configuration diagram of a multimedia video transmission server for providing a video guide service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of video guide data set by a called party provided to a caller according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

140: Exchange 150: Home Location Register

160: multimedia video transmission server 170: additional service providing server

The present invention relates to a video call technology, and more particularly, to a system and method for providing video guidance in a video call connection process and an apparatus therefor.

Currently, the mobile communication service has been developed and provided with a video call service capable of making a call while viewing the appearance of the other party from a simple voice call. Such a video call service is equipped with a camera separately or internally to the mobile communication terminal to take a picture showing the appearance of the caller and the caller in real time and transmit it to both terminals in a call connection state by looking at each other's face to talk Will be.

However, in such a video call method, since the user can carry the mobile communication terminal and move anywhere, there may be a situation where it is difficult to record and transmit the current location or the shape of the user at the time of incoming and outgoing calls. Can avoid the video call itself, which may cause a decrease in the video call usage rate.

Recently, an alternative video service has been developed, in which an alternative video to replace the user's appearance is separately set and transmitted to the call counterpart, instead of transmitting the image of the user taken during the video call to the call counterpart in real time. However, these alternative video services are not intended to simply provide their own appearance to the call counterpart, but an additional service applying the same has not been developed and provided.

Furthermore, because video call charges are expensive compared to regular voice calls, the video call service is not activated. There is a need to develop various additional services that can activate a video call service.

In addition, in recent years, a new revenue business using user created contents (UCC) has been activated. However, additional services provided by the mobile communication service are still dependent on the mobile carrier, and thus, new services such as the UCC described above. The content service needs are not met.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and provides a video guide service system, a method and an apparatus therefor for guiding a video so that a caller can selectively access a service provided by a called party in a video call connection process. There is this.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. Also, it will be readily appreciated that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a method for providing a video guide service in a video call connection process in a video call system, the method comprising: receiving a video call originating call from a caller; Determining whether the called party subscribes to the video guide service; When the called party subscribes to the video guide service, retrieving video data set by the called party having a service menu and transmitting the same to the caller; Receiving selection information on any one of a service menu configured in the video data from the caller; And providing a service according to the received menu selection information to the caller.

In addition, according to a second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a system for providing a video guide service in the video call connection process, the additional service server for providing an additional service through the video call path; And when receiving a video call call of a caller routed at the exchange, connected to an exchange, retrieves and transmits the video data including the service menu set by the called party to the caller, and the service menu of the caller configured in the video data. Selecting one, the image data transmission server for requesting the service according to the additional service server; characterized in that it comprises a.

In addition, according to a third aspect of the present invention, a system for providing a video guidance service in a video call connection process, according to the third aspect of the present invention, when a video call call is attempted from the calling party to the called party, the destination location information request from the calling exchange. A home location register for determining whether the called party subscribes to the video guide service and transmitting another called location information response to the calling exchange; A video data transmission server for retrieving video data including a service menu set by the called party and transmitting the same to the caller when the called party is a video guide service subscriber; And an additional service server for receiving a corresponding service request from the video data transmission server as the caller selects any one of the service menus configured in the video data, and providing the service to the caller accordingly. do.

In addition, the apparatus for providing a video guidance service in the video call connection process between the caller and the called party according to the fourth aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, receives a video call originating call to set up a video call path with the caller Receiving means; Video management means for retrieving video data including a service menu based on called party identification information included in the video call originating call and transmitting the video data to the caller through the video call path; And menu processing means for requesting an additional service server for a service according to the selected menu information when the caller selects one of the service menus configured in the image data.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereby those skilled in the art may easily implement the technical idea of the present invention. There will be. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of an image guide service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image guide service system according to the present invention includes a base station (BTS / NodeB) 120 performing wireless section communication with a mobile communication terminal 110, and a base station controller controlling the base station 120. BSC / RNC) 130, an exchange (MSC) 140 connected to the base station controller 130 to perform a call exchange, and a home connected to the exchange 140 to store and process subscriber information and additional service information. Location register (HLR) 150, the multimedia image transmission server 160 is connected to the switch 140 and transmits the personal image set by the subscriber, providing the additional service according to the menu set on the personal image It is configured to include a server (170).

Here, the mobile communication terminal 110 is a terminal that supports a video call, and is a terminal having a video decoder capable of decoding not only encoded speech but also encoded images. The mobile communication terminal 110 may be applied without limitation as long as the terminal supports a video call.

The base station 120 performs radio signal transmission and reception, radio channel encoding and decoding, baseband signal processing, diversity (space), radio resource management, and self maintenance. The base station controller 130 performs functions such as matching with the base station 120, inter-cell handover processing, call control, and the like, and one base station controller 130 controls several base stations 120.

The exchange 140 provides an interface function with the base station controller 130, and provides an exchange function (interworking function) between mobile communication subscribers and a fixed network subscriber such as PSTN and ISDN.

The home location register 150 stores and manages subscriber information and additional service information. In particular, the mobile communication subscriber stores and manages the video guide service subscription information according to the present invention. When the location register 150 receives the location information request for the called subscriber from the switch 140, the location register 150 determines whether the called party is a video guide service subscriber, and if the subscriber is a service subscriber, routing information to the multimedia video transmitting server 160 is exchanged. To send).

At this time, the mobile communication subscriber may subscribe to the video guide service according to the present invention through ARS or wired or wireless Internet. In the case of ARS, the ARS server receives the service subscription request from the mobile subscriber and registers the service subscription information in the home location register 150. In the case of subscription using the wired or wireless Internet, the wired / wireless server (WEB, WAP / ME) is the mobile subscriber. The service subscription request is received from the service registration information registered in the home location register 150.

On the other hand, the multimedia image transmission server 160 stores the image data setting information of the image guide service subscriber and the image data set by the subscriber. The image data may be a still image or a video such as an avatar or an animation, or a still image or a video such as an advertisement of a company. At this time, the video data is configured with a guide menu set by the subscriber. For example: 1. Video call, 2. Discount coupon, 3. View location. When the outgoing call incoming to the video guide service subscriber is introduced, the multimedia video transmission server 160 searches for video data set by the video guide service subscriber who is the called party and transmits the searched video data to the caller who has sent the outgoing call.

The video guide service subscriber may set the video data for which the guide menu is configured through the wired or wireless Internet. Preferably, when subscribing to the personalized video guide service, it is desirable to be able to set the video data for which the guide menu is configured at the same time as the subscription. That is, the wired / wireless web server (not shown) collects and subscribes to a video guidance service subscription application for a mobile communication subscriber, and simultaneously selects a video data to be provided to the caller and a menu to configure the video data. Provide the page to the subscriber. The wired / wireless web server registers subscription information in the home location register 150, and the image data including the guide menu set by the subscriber is registered in the multimedia image transmission server 160.

On the other hand, the caller who receives the video data transmitted from the multimedia video transmission server 160 sees a guide menu configured in the video data and selects a desired menu. Menu selection may be achieved by pressing a key button of the terminal or by pressing a touch screen. As such, the menu information selected by the user is transmitted from the sender's terminal to the multimedia video transmitting server 160, and the multimedia video transmitting server 160 sends a service request according to the menu selection information to the additional service providing server 170. send.

The additional service providing server 170 provides a corresponding service to the caller's terminal according to the service request transmitted from the multimedia image transmitting server 160. To this end, the additional service providing server 170 stores service contents according to a menu set by the video guide service subscriber. Therefore, the additional service providing server 170 may be separately constructed according to the service type (at this time, it may use a pre-built service server), or may be built as one integrated server. Preferably, it is preferably built separately according to the type of service. For example, a service server providing a video blog, a service server providing a video mailbox service, a service server providing a location information service, and the like are separately constructed, and a video guide service subscriber accesses a video blog service server to provide an individual blog. You can also decorate, and also access the video mailbox service server to view the video left to you.

In other words, the additional service providing server 170, upon receiving the menu information selected by the caller from the multimedia image transmission server 160, provides the service for the corresponding menu to the caller's terminal. When the video blog is selected, the additional service providing server 170 provides the caller's blog to the caller, or in the case of the video mailbox, the additional service providing server 170 receives and stores the video message to be left to the called party from the sender. Alternatively, in the case of the location information service, the additional service providing server 170 provides the caller with the location information of the called party.

As described above, in the video guide service system according to the present invention, when a caller attempts a video call to a video guide service subscriber, the video guide service subscriber is set to the caller without establishing a call path between the caller and the video guide service subscriber. The video data is sent out. The caller selects one of menus configured in the image data, and the video guide service system according to the present invention receives the caller's menu selection information and provides the caller with the corresponding service.

In the present embodiment, a mobile communication network is described as an example, but it is clarified that the present invention can be applied to any network capable of video call service (for example, Voice over IP). A method of providing an image guide service in the image guide service system will be described in detail.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an image guide service in an image guide service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, when a caller makes a call using a terminal capable of making a video call, the originated call is transmitted to the originating exchange 140 through a wireless network (S201). Then, the calling side exchange 140 transmits the incoming location information request message to the home location register 150 (S203).

The home location register 150 stores the subscriber's video guide service subscription information and, upon request of the called party's location information from the calling side exchange 140, whether the called party subscribes to the video guide service based on the video guide service subscription information. Determine whether or not.

If the called party subscribes to the video guidance service, the home location register 150 transmits the called location information response including the called party location information and routing information to the multimedia video transmitting server 160 to the calling exchange 140. (S205). When the called party does not subscribe to the video guide service, the home location register 150 transmits the called location information response including only the called party location information to the calling side exchange 140 to enable a general video call between the calling party and the called party.

As described above, the calling party exchange 140 that has received the called location information response including the called party location information and the routing information to the multimedia video transmitting server 160 receives the multimedia according to the routing information to the multimedia video transmitting server 160. The call is connected to the video transmission server 160 (S207). At this time, the calling side exchange 140 transmits the called party location information, the calling party telephone number, the called party telephone number, etc. to the multimedia video transmitting server 160. Accordingly, the caller terminal and the multimedia video transmission server 160 form an image channel.

Subsequently, the multimedia video transmission server 160 searches for the video data set by the called party based on the called party's telephone number according to the call connection of the calling exchange 140 (S209). Here, the video data set by the called party includes a service menu to be provided to callers calling the calling party. For example: 1. Video calls, 2. Video blogs, 3. Video mailboxes.

The multimedia image transmission server 160 which retrieves the image data set by the called party transmits the corresponding image data to the calling terminal through the formed image channel (S211). The caller sees the video data of the called party displayed on the calling terminal, selects one of the service menus configured on the video data while viewing the video data (S213). The selection of the service menu can be accomplished by pressing a key button or by selecting the relevant menu on the screen in a touch screen manner.

As such, the menu information selected by the caller is transmitted from the calling terminal to the multimedia video transmitting server 160 (S215), and the multimedia video transmitting server 160 receiving the menu information from the calling terminal provides a service according to the menu selection information. The request is made to the additional service providing server 170 (S217). For example, when a caller selects a video blog from a menu configured in personal video data, the multimedia video transmission server 160 requests a service from a video blog server that provides a video blog of the called party. At this time, the multimedia image transmission server 160 transmits caller and called party information together.

If the caller selects a video call menu from among menus configured on the called party's video data, although not shown in the drawing, the multimedia video transmitting server 160 is based on the called party's location information transmitted from the calling side exchange 140. After establishing a video call path, the video call between the caller and the called party is possible by mixing with the call path with the caller terminal.

On the other hand, the additional service providing server 170 receiving the service request from the multimedia video transmission server 160 provides the additional service to the calling terminal (S219). For example, when the caller selects a video blog, the video blog server provides the called party's video blog to the calling terminal in response to a request of the multimedia video transmitting server 160, thereby allowing the caller to display the video uploaded to the called party's blog. Make it available for viewing, or allow the sender to upload a specific video to the recipient's blog. Alternatively, the sender can leave a guestbook or the like on the called party's blog.

In addition, when the caller selects a video mailbox among menus configured on the called party's video data, the multimedia video transmitting server 160 requests the video mailbox service server for service, and the video mailbox service server sends the caller a video message to the called party. Provide related services to leave.

3 is a functional configuration diagram of a multimedia video transmission server for providing a video guide service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the multimedia image transmitting server 160 of FIG. 1 includes a transceiver 301, a personal image managing unit 303, a menu processing unit 305, a personal image database 307, and a channel mixing unit ( 309).

The transceiver 301 receives an outgoing call from the exchange 140 in cooperation with the exchange 140 and the additional service providing server 170 of the mobile communication network, and the menu processing unit 305 of the menu processing unit 305 as the additional service providing server 170. The service request signal is transmitted according to the control.

More specifically, when the caller sends a video call call to the video guide service subscriber using the video call terminal, the transceiver 301 receives the call from the switch 140 of the mobile communication network. The transceiver 301 receiving the outgoing call establishes a video call path with the calling party's terminal, extracts the caller identification information from the outgoing call, and delivers the identification to the personal video manager 303.

The personal video management unit 303 retrieves the video data set by the called party in the personal video DB 307 based on the called party identification information transmitted from the transmitting and receiving unit 301. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the personal video DB 307 is provided with an additional service server 170 that provides video data in caller identification information (for example, a phone number) and menus configured in the video data. Correspondingly stores IP address information. The personal video DB 307 also stores video data set by the called party.

The personal video manager 303 provides the video data of the called party searched by the personal video DB 307, specifically, the video data including a service menu to be provided to the caller by the called party through the transceiver 301. do.

The caller selects any one of the service menus configured in the image data displayed on the calling terminal, and the selected menu information is transmitted from the calling terminal to the transmitting and receiving unit 301. The caller's service menu selection may be achieved by pressing a key button. In this case, a DTMF (Dual Tone MultiFrequency) signal is received by the transceiver 301. The transceiver 301 transmits the menu selection information transmitted from the calling terminal to the menu processor 305.

The menu processor 305 retrieves the address information of the additional service server 170 that provides a service of the corresponding menu from the personal image DB 307 based on the sender's menu selection information transmitted from the transceiver 301. The menu processor 305 requests the service to the additional service server 170 of the corresponding address through the transceiver 301. In this case, the additional service server 170 may transmit caller identification information and caller identification information. The additional service server 170 provides a related service to a calling terminal in response to a service request of the multimedia video transmitting server 160.

On the other hand, the caller may select a video call connection menu of the service menu configured in the video data of the called party. In this case, the menu processor 305 receives the video call connection menu selection information through the transceiver 301 and, accordingly, requests the channel mixer 309 to make a video call connection between the caller and the called party. The channel mixing unit 309 establishes a video call path with the called terminal according to the called location information transmitted from the exchanger 140, and then mixes with the video call path with the calling terminal to relay the call between the caller and the called party. do.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of video guide data set by a called party provided to a caller according to the present invention.

4 (a) is personal video guide data set by a general person, who sets a video to be sent to a caller who attempts a video call to him and configures a service menu to be provided to the caller. In Figure 4 (a), the general individual is a service menu to be provided to the caller, 1. Video call, 2. Video blog, 3. Video mailbox. The general individual sets the image data and a service menu configured on the image data to the multimedia image transmission server 160 through the wired or wireless Internet, and the multimedia image transmission server 160 provides the caller with the image data set by the general individual. Then, the additional service providing server 170 requests the additional service according to the service menu selected by the caller. The caller can use the additional service provided by the additional service providing server 170 using the terminal capable of making a video call, that is, the additional service set by the called party. Here, when the caller selects "video call" in the service menu, the multimedia video transmission server 160 connects the video call path between the caller and the called party.

FIG. 4 (b) is personal video guide data set by a personal operator, not a general individual. In FIG. 4 (b), a personal operator provides a service to a caller (where a caller may be an unspecified mobile subscriber). With menu, 1. Video call, 2. Receive discount coupon, 3. Location view. The caller selects any one service menu while viewing the video as shown in FIG. 4B transmitted from the multimedia video transmission server 160. The selected menu information is transmitted to the multimedia image transmission server 160, and the multimedia image transmission server 160 requests the related service to the additional service providing server 170 according to the selection menu. The caller can use the additional service provided by the additional service providing server 170 using the terminal capable of making a video call, that is, the additional service set by the called party. Here, when the caller selects "video call" in the service menu, the multimedia video transmission server 160 connects a video call path between the caller and the called party, that is, an individual operator (for example, an agent).

As described above, the method of the present invention may be implemented as a program and stored in a recording medium (CD-ROM, RAM, ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.) in a computer-readable form. Since this process can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art will not be described in more detail.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited by the drawings.

The present invention as described above has the effect that the mobile communication subscriber can enjoy the additional service produced by the subscriber itself, away from enjoying the additional service dependent on the mobile communication company, thereby increasing the utilization rate of the mobile communication service. In particular, there is an effect that can increase the video call utilization rate by extending the personalized service of the wired and wireless Internet to the video call service.

Claims (12)

A method for providing a video guidance service in a video call connection process in a video call system, (a) receiving a video call origination call from the caller; (b) determining whether the called party subscribes to the video guide service; (c) when the called party subscribes to the video guide service, retrieving the video data set by the called party having a service menu and transmitting the same to the caller; (d) receiving selection information on any one of a service menu configured in the image data from the caller; And and (e) providing a service according to the received menu selection information to the caller. The method of claim 1, If the called party does not subscribe to the video guide service, connecting a video call between the caller and the called party. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The menu selection information, A video guidance service method in a video call, characterized in that the DTMF (Dual Tone MultiFrequency) signal. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The service menu, A video call service method of a video call, comprising any one of a video call, a video blog, and a voice mail. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The video data, The video guidance service method of a video call, characterized in that the still image or video including one or more of the avatar, animation, corporate advertising. A system for providing a video guidance service in the video call connection process, An additional service server that provides an additional service through a video call path; And When connected with an exchange and receiving a video call call of the caller routed by the exchange, the service menu set by the called party retrieves the video data composed of the called party and transmits the video data to the caller, and any one of the service menus configured by the caller in the video data is received. If selected, the video data transmission server for requesting the corresponding service to the additional service server; video guide service system comprising a. The method of claim 6, The video data transmission server, And a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signal as a caller's service menu selection information. The method according to claim 6 or 7, The video data transmission server, And when the caller selects a video call service menu, connects a video call between the caller and the called party. A system for providing a video guidance service in the video call connection process, When a video call call is attempted from the calling party to the called party, when the receiving location information request is received from the calling exchange, the home location register determines whether the called party is subscribed to the video guide service and transmits another called location information response to the calling exchange. ; A video data transmission server for retrieving video data including a service menu set by the called party and transmitting the same to the caller when the called party is a video guide service subscriber; And And an additional service server for receiving a corresponding service request from the video data transmission server according to the caller selecting one of the service menus configured in the video data, and providing the corresponding service to the caller. . The method of claim 9, The home location register, And when the called party is not a video announcement service subscriber, a called location information response including routing information to a called party exchange is transmitted to the calling party exchange. A device for providing a video guidance service in a video call connection process between a caller and a called party. Receiving means for receiving a video call originating call and establishing a video call path with the caller; Video management means for retrieving video data including a service menu based on called party identification information included in the video call originating call and transmitting the video data to the caller through the video call path; And And a menu processing unit for requesting a service according to the selected menu information to an additional service server when the caller selects any one of the service menus configured in the video data. The method of claim 11, When the caller selects the video call service menu, mixing means for setting the video call path with the called party and mixing the video call path with the caller to connect to the call; video guide service in a video call system Provision device.

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