KR101013284B1 - System and method for providing video ars service - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a video ARS system and a video ARS service providing method utilizing a conventional voice ARS equipment and to providing a video ARS service, and to an automatic video answering service between a video call terminal and an audio answering center according to the present invention. An image answering system for providing a video includes: storage means for storing an image for providing an image answering service; Call processing means for establishing a video call channel with the video call terminal, establishing a voice call channel with the voice answering center, and transmitting the guide voice received from the voice answering center to the video call terminal; And video providing means for extracting a video corresponding to the guide voice transmitted from the call processing means to the video call terminal from the storage means and transmitting the video to the video call terminal through the call processing means. . According to the present invention, by utilizing the existing voice ARS equipment as it is to provide a video ARS service to reduce the cost required to build a new video ARS equipment.

ARS, Video ARS, Voice ARS, Mobile Communication

Description

Video answering system and video answering service provision method {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIDEO ARS SERVICE}

The present invention relates to an automatic response system (ARS), and more particularly, to a video ARS system and a video ARS service providing method.

ARS (Automatic Response System) is a system that stores various information by voice and tells the user how to search for necessary information by voice when the user connects to the system by phone. .

On the other hand, with the development of mobile communication technology, people can carry a mobile terminal and use a voice call while moving regardless of place. Recently, a video call service that provides a call away from a voice call and looking at the other party's face has been provided.

As such, the communication service is evolving from a voice call to a video call, but as described above, the ARS still provides a voice service and thus does not contribute to the activation of the video call service. Efforts have been made to develop video ARS equipment to improve this problem, but it is difficult to develop new video ARS equipment because of the high cost.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a video ARS system and a video ARS service providing method that can provide a video ARS service by utilizing existing voice ARS equipment.

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 video answering system for providing a video answering service between the video call terminal and the voice answering center, to store the video for providing video answering service; Storage means; Call processing means for establishing a video call channel with the video call terminal, establishing a voice call channel with the voice answering center, and transmitting the guide voice received from the voice answering center to the video call terminal; And video providing means for extracting a video corresponding to the guide voice transmitted from the call processing means to the video call terminal from the storage means and transmitting the video to the video call terminal through the call processing means. .

 In addition, according to a second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a method for providing a video answering service in a video answering system established between a video call terminal and a voice answering center, the video of the video call terminal Setting up a video call channel with the video call terminal according to a call connection; Establishing a voice call channel with the voice answering center by connecting a voice call to the voice answering center; Receiving a guide voice from the voice answering center through the voice call channel; Retrieving from the storage means an image visually configured with a voice guidance menu corresponding to the received guide voice; And transmitting the searched video and the received guide voice to the video call terminal through the video call channel.

The present invention as described above, by utilizing the existing voice ARS equipment to provide a video ARS service it is possible to reduce the cost required to develop a new video ARS equipment. In addition, by providing the video ARS service, the user can check the entire menu at a glance, reducing the connection to the agent, thereby reducing the agent manpower operation cost or line cost.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 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, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a video ARS service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system according to the present embodiment includes a mobile terminal 110, a video call network 130, an ARS intro server 150, and an ARS center 190. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 110 and the ARS intro server 150 are connected to a video call network, and the ARS intro server 150 and the ARS center 190 are connected to a voice call network 170. .

The mobile terminal 110 is a terminal that supports voice and video calls while moving. The mobile terminal 110 includes a camera for a video call to transmit a video of a user photographed by the camera to a call counterpart and to display a video received from the call counterpart on a screen to enable a video call. In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 110 is described as an example, but a wired terminal capable of a video call may be applied to the present invention.

The video call network 130 is a network including a base station NodeB, a base station controller RNC, a switch, a home location register, and the like. The video call network 130 supports video calls between the mobile terminal 110 and the ARS intro server 150. When the user attempts to make a call by pressing the ARS access number and the video call button in the mobile terminal 110, the video call network 130 routes the ARS access video call origination call to the ARS intro server 150. In addition, the video call network 130 receives a visualized image of the ARS menu item from the ARS intro server 150 and transmits the image to the mobile terminal 130.

The ARS intro server 150 is connected to the mobile terminal 110 through the video call network 120 and the ARS center 190 is connected to the general voice call network 170. The ARS intro server 150 receives a video call origination call of the mobile terminal 110 sent toward the ARS center 190 in the middle and provides a visualized image of an auto answer menu provided by the ARS center 190 as a voice. Provided to the mobile terminal 110.

When the ARS intro server 150 receives a video call call from the mobile terminal 110, the ARS intro server 150 transmits a call connection request signal including the identification number of the mobile terminal 110 to the ARS center 190 and provides a guide voice accordingly. Receives and provides to the mobile terminal (110). That is, when the mobile terminal 110 is connected, the ARS intro server 150 searches for a visualization image of the auto answer menu provided by the ARS center 190 as a voice in its own database and provides the mobile terminal 110 to the mobile terminal 110. On the other hand, the guide voice of the answering machine menu is received from the ARS center 190 and provided to the mobile terminal 110. In this case, the ARS intro server 150 searches for a bar image of a bar form to be displayed on the top or bottom of the visualized image of the answering machine menu in its own database and the mobile terminal 110 together with the visualized image of the answering machine menu. ) Can be sent. Preferably, the ARS intro server 150 selects and transmits a bar image of advertising under the control of the ARS center 190.

When the ARS intro server 150 receives a DTMF signal or a touch pad input signal, which is a selection signal of a service menu included in the corresponding image, from the mobile terminal 110 receiving the visualization image of the auto answer menu, the ARS intro server 150 corresponds to the signal. The visualization image of the sub-menu is searched in its own database and transmitted to the mobile terminal 110. In addition, the ARS intro server 150 transmits the DTMF signal or the touch pad input signal to the ARS center 190 and receives the guidance voice of the corresponding submenu from the ARS center 190 to the mobile terminal 110. send.

Alternatively, when the ARS intro server 150 receives a DTMF signal or a touch pad input signal, which is a signal for selecting a service menu included in the corresponding image, from the mobile terminal 110 receiving the visualization image of the answering machine menu, the signal is received. Based on the request, predetermined data is requested to an additional service server (eg, a billing server of a telecommunication company, an account information management server of a financial institution, etc.). When the ARS intro server 150 receives data from the additional service server, the ARS intro server 150 generates an information providing image by combining the received data with a template image corresponding to the received data stored in its own database, and then the mobile terminal 110. To provide.

For example, when the ARS intro server 150 is built in a financial institution and the mobile terminal 110 selects an account balance inquiry menu, the ARS intro server 150 sends the mobile terminal 110 to an account information management server of the financial institution. Requests the account balance data of the user and accordingly generates the account balance image by combining the received account balance data with the account balance data providing template image stored in its own database and provides it to the mobile terminal 110.

In addition, the ARS intro server 150 provides a specific image to the mobile terminal 110 under the control of the ARS center 190. When the user selects the agent connection, the ARS intro server 150 mediates the voice call connection between the mobile terminal 110 and the agent terminal of the ARS center 190 and controls the agent of the ARS center 190. Accordingly, the specific image is extracted from the internal DB and provided to the mobile terminal 110. Accordingly, the user of the mobile terminal 110 recognizes that the user is provided with the actual video ARS service by listening to the counselor's voice in real time and receiving an image related thereto.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the ARS intro system of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ARS intro system 150 includes a gateway 210, an application server 230, a database server 250, and an image providing server 270.

The gateway 210 is connected to an exchange of the video call network 130 and is also connected to the ARS center 190 via a voice call network 170 such as a public network, and thus a gateway of the ARS intro system 150 to an external network. Play a role. The gateway 210 transmits a signal received from an external network to the application server 230.

The application server 230 mediates a call between the mobile terminal 110 and the ARS center 190 as call processing means. When the application server 230 receives the video call origination call transmitted from the mobile terminal 110 through the gateway 210, the application server 230 connects to the ARS center 190 through the gateway 210. The application server 230 transmits the guidance voice received from the ARS center 190 to the mobile terminal 110, and also transmits the image selected by the image providing server 270 to the mobile terminal 110.

In addition, when the application server 230 receives user selection information on any one of the service menus configured in the image provided to the mobile terminal 110 from the mobile terminal 110, the ARS center according to the received user selection information. The user selection signal is transmitted to the user interface 190, or the user selection signal is transmitted to an additional service server (eg, a billing server of a telecommunication company, an account information management server of a financial institution, etc.) to receive predetermined data.

The database server 250 stores and manages contents such as a visualization image of an ARS menu, an advertisement image, and a template image to carry various data to be provided to the mobile terminal 110. In detail, a visualization image of a service-specific menu provided by the ARS center 190, an advertisement image to be provided when the mobile terminal 110 is connected to an agent, a moving avatar, a video such as a flash, and the like are provided to the mobile terminal 110. The template image to be provided in combination with the text data is stored and managed.

The image providing server 270 selects an image to be provided to the connected mobile terminal 110 from the database server 250 and provides the image to the mobile terminal 110. When the mobile terminal 110 is connected for the first time, the visualization image of the initial voice guidance menu is selected by the database server 250 and provided to the mobile terminal 110, and the corresponding sub-menu image is displayed as the user selects the sub-menu. Selected by the server 250 to provide to the mobile terminal (110).

The image providing server 270 searches a database server 250 for an advertisement image having a bar shape to be displayed at the top or the bottom of the visualization image of the answering machine menu, and adds the image to the visualization image of the voice guidance menu. 110). The image providing server 270 may select an advertisement image having a bar shape according to a control signal received from the ARS center 190, and transmit it in addition to the visualization image of the voice guidance menu.

In addition, when the application server 230 receives predetermined data from the additional service server, the image providing server 270 selects a template image corresponding to the received data to the database server 250 and then selects the selected template. The video and the received data are processed to make an information providing video and then provided to the mobile terminal 110 through a video call channel.

In addition, when the mobile terminal 110 is connected to an agent of the ARS center 190, the image providing server 270 selects an image from the database server 250 and provides the image to the mobile terminal 110 according to the agent's selection signal. do. For example, an advertisement image or an avatar to replace an agent's face image is selected and provided to the mobile terminal 110.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a video answering service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a user who wants to use a video ARS service inputs a phone number of the ARS center 190 to a mobile terminal 110 capable of video calling and attempts a video call by pressing a video call button (S301). The video call origination call is transmitted to the ARS intro system 150 through the video call network 130 (S303).

The ARS intro system 150 forms a video call channel with the mobile terminal 110 according to the reception of the video call origination call (S305). In addition, the ARS intro system 150 connects to the ARS center 190 to form a voice call channel (S307). Specifically, the application server 210 sends a call to the ARS center 190 as it receives a video call origination call sent from the mobile terminal 110. The application server 210 transmits a call response to the mobile terminal 110 when receiving the call response from the ARS center 190. Accordingly, a video call channel is formed between the mobile terminal 110 and the ARS intro system 150, and a voice call channel is formed between the ARS intro system 150 and the ARS center 190.

The ARS intro system 150 searches the database server 250 for a visualized image of the initial voice guidance menu provided by the ARS center 190 and transmits the image to the mobile terminal 110 through the video call channel ( S309, S311). In addition, the ARS intro system 150 transmits the initial guide voice received from the ARS center 190 to the mobile terminal 110 through the video call channel (S313). Therefore, the mobile terminal 110 listens to the initial access guide voice transmitted from the ARS center 190 and receives a visualized image of a menu that can be selected during initial access and displays it on the screen (S315).

The user selects a desired service menu while listening to the video displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 110 and the ARS guide voice output through the speaker (S317). The user presses a key button or inputs a touch pad in the mobile terminal 110. The user selection signal input in this way is transmitted to the ARS intro system 150 (S319).

The ARS intro system 150 extracts the image of the submenu from the database server 250 based on the user selection signal, and transmits the video to the mobile terminal 110 through the video call channel (S323, S325). 150 transmits the user selection signal to the ARS center 190 and receives the guide voice corresponding thereto and transmits it to the mobile terminal 110 (S321 and S327).

As another embodiment, the ARS intro system 150 may provide an additional service server that provides corresponding information when the user selection signal received in step S319 is for checking predetermined information (eg, account balance inquiry). Request user data. Prior to requesting data, the ARS intro system 150 requests authentication information (password or social security number) to the mobile terminal 110 and transmits the received user authentication information to the authentication server accordingly. Can be received. When the ARS intro system 150 receives the user data from the additional service server, the ARS intro system 150 selects a template image corresponding to the corresponding user data from the database, processes the combined image with the received user data, and generates an information providing image to establish a video call channel. Transmit to mobile terminal 110 through.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a video answering service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As described with reference to FIG. 3, in the process of providing a video ARS service to the mobile terminal 110, the ARS intro system 150 receives a user signal related to an agent connection from the mobile terminal 110 (S401).

The ARS intro system 150 transmits a user signal related to the agent connection to the ARS center 190 (S403), and the ARS intro system 150 receives a guide voice related to the agent connection received from the ARS center 190, for example, ' Please wait a moment 'and receive the guidance voice and transmits to the mobile terminal (110) (S405). In addition, the ARS intro system 150 searches for the image to be provided to the mobile terminal 110 to the mobile terminal 110 during the waiting time for the counselor is connected and transmits the image to the mobile terminal 110 (S407 and S409). In this case, the image to be provided during the agent connection waiting time is preferably an advertisement image.

Subsequently, when an agent is connected, the ARS intro system 150 searches for an image indicating that the agent connection is completed in the database server 250, for example, an agent avatar, and transmits the same to the mobile terminal 110 (S411 and S413). . In addition, the ARS intro system 150 receives the voice of the counselor of the ARS center 190 and transmits it to the mobile terminal 110 (S415).

In the consulting process, the ARS intro system 150 receives, for example, an input signal of a key button input by the counselor to the terminal under the control of the counselor (S417). The ARS intro system 150 retrieves an image from the database server 250 and transmits the image to the mobile terminal 110 according to the input signal of the received key button (S419, S421). Therefore, after the agent connection, the screen controlled by the agent's control is displayed on the mobile terminal 110.

According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to utilize the existing ARS system as it is, to provide a video ARS service, to reduce the cost of establishing a new video ARS center, and also by providing a video ARS service, By minimizing agent connections, you can reduce the cost of hiring agents. In case of providing ARS service by voice only, service users attempt to connect to the agent unconditionally before listening to the service menu guide voice, but when the video screen is provided, all menu items can be seen at a glance to minimize agent connection. .

While this specification contains many features, such features should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention or the claims. Also, the features described in the individual embodiments herein can be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in a single embodiment herein can be implemented individually in various embodiments or in combination as appropriate.

Although the operations are described in a particular order in the drawings, they should not be understood as being performed in a particular order as shown, or in a sequence of successive orders, or all described actions being performed to obtain a desired result. . In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. In addition, it should be understood that the division of various system components in the above-described embodiments does not require such division in all embodiments. The above-described program components and systems can generally be implemented as a single software product or as a package in multiple software products.

The method of the present invention as described above 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.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a video ARS service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the ARS intro system of FIG. 1.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a video answering service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a video answering service according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A video answering system providing a video answering service between a video call terminal and a voice answering center. Storage means for storing an image for providing an image answering service; Guide voice received through the voice call channel from the voice answering center by establishing a video call channel through the video call terminal and the video call network, and opening a voice call channel through the voice answering center and the voice call network. Call processing means for transmitting to the video call terminal through the video call channel; And And video providing means for extracting a video corresponding to the guide voice transmitted from the call processing means to the video call terminal from the storage means and transmitting the video to the video call terminal through the call processing means. The method of claim 1, The call processing means, Receiving selection information on any one of the service menus configured in the video from the video call terminal, transmitting the selected information to the voice answering center, and transmitting guide voice according to the video call terminal; The image providing means, And a video corresponding to the selection information is extracted from the storage means and transmitted to the video call terminal through the call processing means. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The call processing means, Transmitting the agent connection selection information received from the video call terminal to the voice answering center to mediate the voice call between the video call terminal and an agent; The image providing means, And the video corresponding to the control signal of the counselor received through the call processing means is extracted from the storage means and transmitted to the video call terminal. The method of claim 3, wherein The image providing means, During the call connection wait time between the video call terminal and the counselor, an advertising video is extracted from the storage means and transmitted to the video call terminal through the call processing means. The method of claim 1, The call processing means, Receiving selection information on any one of the service menus configured in the video from the video call terminal, requesting and receiving user data from the additional service server based on the selection information, and The image providing means, And an image corresponding to the received user data is extracted from the storage means to generate an information providing image, and then transmitted to the video call terminal through the call processing means. A method of providing a video answering service in a video answering system constructed between a video call terminal and a voice answering center, Setting a video call channel with the video call terminal according to a video call connection of the video call terminal through a video call network; Establishing a voice call channel with the voice answering center by accessing a voice call to the voice answering center through a voice call network; Receiving a guide voice from the voice answering center through the voice call channel; Retrieving from the storage means an image visually configured with a voice guidance menu corresponding to the received guide voice; And And transmitting the retrieved video and the received guide voice to the video call terminal through the video call channel. The method of claim 6, Receiving selection information on any one of a service menu configured in the video from the video call terminal; Transmitting the received selection information to the voice answering center through the voice call channel and receiving a submenu guide voice accordingly; Searching the storage means for an image corresponding to the received sub-menu guide voice; And transmitting the retrieved image and the received sub-menu guide voice to the video call terminal through the video call channel. 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, Receiving counselor connection selection information from the video call terminal through the video call channel; Transmitting the agent connection selection information to the voice answering center through the voice call channel; Receiving a voice of a counselor through the voice call channel and transmitting the voice of a counselor to the video call terminal through the video call channel; Receiving a control signal of the counselor through the voice call channel and extracting an image corresponding to the control signal from the storage means; And And transmitting the extracted video to the video call terminal through the video call channel. The method of claim 8, During the call connection wait time between the video call terminal and the counselor, extracting an advertisement image from the storage means and transmitting the advertisement video to the video call terminal through the video call channel. How to Provide. The method of claim 6, Receiving selection information on any one of a service menu configured in the video from the video call terminal; Requesting and receiving user data from the additional service server based on the received selection information; Extracting from the storage means an image corresponding to the received user data to generate an information providing image; And transmitting the generated information providing image to the video calling terminal through the video calling channel.

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