WO2007013713A1

WO2007013713A1 - System and method for event notice

Info

Publication number: WO2007013713A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/003008
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyung-Nam Jang
Original assignee: Kyung-Nam Jang
Priority date: 2005-07-26
Filing date: 2005-09-13
Publication date: 2007-02-01
Also published as: KR100711810B1

Abstract

Provided are a system and a method for notifying an event such as disaster, etc. to an event receiving terminal in the form of voice or image. Event notification voice, video, image, etc. are played on the event receiving terminal in real time in response to the call access request from an event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal, without manual manipulation at the event receiving terminal. More than one event receiving terminals may be grouped under a specific condition, so that a particular event can be notified only to a particular group of terminals.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVENT NOTICE Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a system and a method for event notice, particularly to a system and a method for effectively notifying an event such as disaster by playing or displaying voice message, video, image, etc. that notifies the event on an event receiving terminal. Background Art

[2] At present, advertising events, disaster warnings, etc. are notified through various information media. Audiovisual notifications using TVs, the Internet, etc., audible notifications using radios, telephones, etc. and visual notifications using text messages sent by mobile phones, etc. are examples. The disaster warning system, which informs disasters such as flood, fire, war, etc. to specified or unspecified people over TVs, the Internet, radios, mobile phones, etc., is a typical example of such event notification systems.

[3] Disaster notification using TVs, the Internet, radios, etc. is limited in that timely notification is impossible if a person does not carry such media all the time. A mobile phone may be seen as the right medium for notifying disasters to specified or unspecified people anytime, under any situation. But, the currently available disaster notification using text messages sent by mobile phones becomes unhelpful if a person does not read the message. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[4] An object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for effectively notifying an event or a disaster in real time without manual manipulation of the recipient at any time or under any situation by sending out voice, alarm, etc. or displaying warning video, warning image, etc. on the recipient's mobile phone (event receiving terminal). In addition to disaster warning, such a system will be useful in notifying advertising events.

Technical Solution

[5] The present invention is characterized by an event notification system for providing event notification voice to an event receiving terminal through a communications network, which comprises: a voice storage means which stores the digital voice, or the digitized event notification voice; an information storage means which stores the information of an event transmitting terminal that notifies an event in connection with the digital voice; and a control means which, in response to call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal, searches the information storage means and transmits the signal corresponding to the digital voice through the communications network, wherein the signal corresponding to the digital voice is transmitted to the event receiving terminal through the communications network and is played as event notification voice, so that the event can be notified to the event receiving terminal in real time in response to the call access request, without having to store the digital voice in the event receiving terminal.

[6] The present invention is also characterized by an event notification method for providing event notification voice to an event receiving terminal through a communications network, which comprises the steps of: storing digitized event notification voice in a voice storage means as digital voice; transmitting a signal to a control means through the communications network in response to call access request from an event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal; searching an information storage means which stores the information of the event transmitting terminal in connection with the digital voice; transmitting the signal corresponding to the digital voice through the communications network; receiving the signal corresponding to the digital voice at the event receiving terminal; and playing the received signal at the event receiving terminal as event notification voice, by which the event can be notified to the event receiving terminal in real time in response to the call access request, without having to store the digital voice in the event receiving terminal.

[7] The present invention is characterized by an event notification system for providing event notification voice to an event receiving terminal through a communications network, which comprises: a voice storage means which stores the digital voice, or the digitized event notification voice; an information storage means which stores the information of an event transmitting terminal that notifies an event in connection with the digital voice; and a control means which, in response to call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal, searches the information storage means and transmits the signal corresponding to the digital voice through the communications network, wherein the signal corresponding to the digital voice is transmitted to the event receiving terminal through the communications network and is played as event notification voice, so that the event can be notified to the event receiving terminal in real time in response to the call access request by pushing or streaming.

[8] The present invention is also characterized by an event notification method for providing event notification voice to an event receiving terminal through a communications network, which comprises the steps of: storing digitized event notification voice in a voice storage means as digital voice; transmitting a signal to a control means through the communications network in response to call access request from an event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal; searching an information storage means which stores the information of the event transmitting terminal in connection with the digital voice; transmitting the signal corresponding to the digital voice through the communications network; receiving the signal corresponding to the digital voice at the event receiving terminal; and playing the received signal at the event receiving terminal as event notification voice, by which the event can be notified to the event receiving terminal in real time in response to the call access request by pushing or streaming.

[9] The present invention enables notification of various events in response to the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal.

[10] The term "event" as used herein means any event that needs to be notified to the recipients, including advertisement, disaster, etc. And, the "event notification voice" may be any sound adequate for notifying the event, including human voice and sound effects.

[11] The event transmitting terminal for notifying the event may be any means capable of requesting call access, including computer, PDA, telephone, mobile phone, etc. And, the event receiving terminal is preferably a mobile phone, but is not limited thereto.

[12] The signal received by the receiving terminal is not just the call signal commonly transmitted to notify that the receiving terminal is called in response to the call access request from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal, but includes the signal corresponding to the event notification voice. Accordingly, "transmitting of the signal corresponding to the digital voice" may be interpreted as transmission along with or replacing the call signal. Playing of the received signal may be similarly interpreted.

[13] And, in this description, the expressions "without having to storing", "by pushing" or "by streaming" mean that the event is notified without the manual manipulation of the recipient. Thus, any technical means is allowed as long as this requirement is satisfied. For example, the event notification voice may be transiently stored in the recipient's terminal and deleted immediately after being played. Detailed description of the delivery by pushing or streaming will be omitted, since it can be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

[14] The system and the method for event notification in accordance with the present invention are further characterized in that the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal occurs as the storage of the digital voice in the voice storage means is completed.

[15] The present invention enables efficient event notification, since the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal is attained automatically as the storage of the digitized event notification voice in the voice storage means is completed.

[16] The system and the method for event notification in accordance with the present invention are further characterized in that the digital voice is stored in the voice storage means as the event notification voice is digitized.

[17] Since the event notification voice is stored in the voice storage means simultaneously as it is input through a microphone, etc. and is digitized by an analog- to-digital converter, etc. and since the call access request occurs as such storage is completed, real-time notification becomes possible in emergencies, for example, by simply warning a disaster through a microphone.

[18] The present invention is further characterized by a system and a method for event notification, wherein more than one event receiving terminals are grouped under a specific condition and the call access request occurs only for the terminals of the group.

[19] That is, the event receiving terminals may be divided into one or more groups and event notification may be given to a specific group or to all the groups, as required. For example, a disaster that has occurred in a particular region may be notified to only the group of event receiving terminals in the region, while a war may be notified to all the people, thereby enabling more efficient and quick response.

[20] The present invention is further characterized by an event notification system for providing event notification data (event notification source) to an event receiving terminal in the form of voice or image through a communications network, which comprises: a data storage means which stores the digital data, or the digitized event notification data; an information storage means which stores the information of an event transmitting terminal that notifies an event in connection with the digital data; and a control means which, in response to call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal, searches the information storage means and transmits the signal corresponding to the digital data through the communications network, wherein the signal corresponding to the digital data is transmitted to the event receiving terminal through the communications network and is played as event notification data, so that the event can be notified to the event receiving terminal in real time in response to the call access request without having to store the digital in the event receiving terminal or by pushing or streaming.

[21] The present invention is also characterized by an event notification method for providing event notification data to an event receiving terminal in the form of voice or image through a communications network, which comprises the steps of: storing digitized event notification data in a data storage means as digital data; transmitting a signal to a control means through the communications network in response to call access request from an event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal; searching an information storage means which stores the information of the event transmitting terminal in connection with the digital data; transmitting the signal corresponding to the digital data through the communications network; receiving the signal corresponding to the digital data at the event receiving terminal; and playing the received signal at the event receiving terminal as event notification data, by which the event can be notified to the event receiving terminal in real time in response to the call access request without having to store the digital in the event receiving terminal or by pushing or streaming.

[22] In accordance with the present invention, various events can be notified to the event receiving terminal in the form of voice or image in response to the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal. The event notification data (event notification source) refers to voice, video, image, etc. that can be notified to the event transmitting terminal audibly or visually and can be in any form.

[23] The "event" as used herein means any event that needs to be notified to the recipients, including advertisement, disaster, etc. and the "voice" may be any sound adequate for notifying the event, including human voice and sound effects.

[24] The event transmitting terminal for notifying the event may be any means capable of requesting call access, including computer, PDA, telephone, mobile phone, etc. And, the event receiving terminal is preferably a mobile phone, but is not limited thereto.

[25] The signal received by the receiving terminal is not just the call signal commonly transmitted to notify that the receiving terminal is called in response to the call access request from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal, but includes the signal corresponding to the event notification data. Accordingly, "transmitting of the signal corresponding to the digital voice" may be interpreted as transmission along with or replacing the call signal. Playing of the received signal may be similarly interpreted.

[26] And, in this description, the expressions "without having to storing", "by pushing" or "by streaming" mean that the event is notified without the manual manipulation of the recipient. Thus, any technical means is allowed as long as this requirement is satisfied. For example, the digitized event notification data may be transiently stored in the recipient's terminal and deleted immediately after being played. Detailed d escription of the delivery by pushing or streaming will be omitted, since it can be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

[27] The system and the method for event notification in accordance with the present invention are further characterized in that the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal occurs as the storage of the digital data in the voice storage means is completed.

[28] The present invention enables efficient event notification, since the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal is attained automatically as the storage of the digitized event notification data in the data storage means is completed.

[29] The system and the method for event notification in accordance with the present invention are further characterized in that the digital data is stored in the data storage means as the event notification data is digitized.

[30] Since the event notification data is stored in the data storage means simultaneously as it is input through a video camera, etc. and is digitized by an analog-to-digital converter, etc. and since the call access request occurs as such storage is completed, real-time notification becomes possible in emergencies, for example, by simply showing disaster images using a video camera.

[31] The present invention is further characterized by a system and a method for event notification, wherein more than one event receiving terminals are grouped under a specific condition and the call access request occurs only for the terminals of the group.

[32] That is, the event receiving terminals may be divided into one or more groups and event notification may be given to a specific group or to all the groups, as required. For example, a disaster that has occurred in a particular region may be notified to only the group of event receiving terminals in the region, while a war may be notified to all the people, thereby enabling more efficient and quick response.

Advantageous Effects

[33] In accordance with the present invention, event notification voice, video, image, etc. are played in real time on the event receiving terminal in response to the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal, without manual manipulation at the event receiving terminal. Also, it is possible to group more than one event receiving terminals under a specific condition in order to notify a specific event to a particular group.

[34] Since the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal is attained automatically, for example, simply by notifying an event, e.g., disaster, with such input device as microphone, the event can be notified in real time by voice or image. Thus, the present invention can be very useful not only in disaster warning but also in advertising. Brief Description of the Drawings

[35] The aforementioned object and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[36] Fig. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the present invention; and [37] Fig. 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating the process of the present invention.

Mode for the Invention

[38] Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[39] In the following embodiment, mobile terminals are presented as examples of the event transmitting terminal and the event receiving terminal. But, they are non-limiting examples and any terminal can be used within the spirit and scope of the invention, for example, computer, PDA, telephone, etc. Variations or modifications arising from adopting a terminal other than a mobile terminal can be readily understood by those skilled in the art and, thus, the description thereof will be omitted.

[40] Also, in the following embodiment, the event notification data is an audible data, such as voice, and the event is notified to the event receiving terminal in the form of voice. However, the cases where the event notification data is image and is displayed on the event receiving terminal or the event notification data is video and is played or displayed on the event receiving terminal do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as long as the event is notified to the event receiving terminal without manual manipulation at the event receiving terminal. Detailed description of such cases will be omitted.

[41] Referring to the block diagram of Fig. 1, a mobile communications network (21) comprises a base transceiver station (BTS), a base station controller (BSC), a mobile switching center (MSC), a home location register (HLR), etc., although not illustrated in the figure.

[42] The base transceiver station locates an event transmitting terminal (22) and an event receiving terminal (23) and transmits voice and data signals to and from the mobile terminals (22,23). It receives a call request from the event transmitting terminal (22) to the event receiving terminal (23) through a traffic channel and transmits the received call request to the base station controller of the transmitting side.

[43] The base station controller controls the base transceiver station, supports processing of the signals received and transmitted by the base transceiver station, processes various signals including messages and transmits the call request received by the base transceiver station to the mobile switching center.

[44] The mobile switching center controls call processing and signal processing by generating speech paths between various communications terminals, including the mobile terminals (22,23), and transmits a voice signal to the event receiving terminal (23) in response to the call request from the event transmitting terminal (22).

[45] The home location register contains such subscriber information as additional service subscription data, etc. [46] The event notification system of the present invention further comprises a voice storage means (11; data storage means), an information storage means (12) and a control means (13).

[47] The voice storage means (11) stores digital voices for advertising events, disaster warning, etc. Analog voices which are input through a voice input means are digitized into digital voices, for example, by an analog-to-digital converter (not illustrated). The voice input means may be a microphone of a mobile phone, PDA, computer, telephone, etc. The analog-to-digital converter is built in the mobile phone, PDA, computer, telephone, etc. This configuration is a non-limiting example. The configuration may be selected adequately depending upon the particular terminal, etc. used in the event notification system. Also, the event transmitting terminal may be separately configured from the event receiving terminal.

[48] In case the voice is input through a microphone of a telephone, mobile phone, etc., converted into a digital form and is stored in the voice storage means (11), the event transmitting terminal (22), the control means (13), etc. can be communicated through a public switched telephone network (PSTN), etc. And, in case the voice is input through a microphone of a computer, mobile phone, PDA, etc., converted into a digital form and is stored in the voice storage means (11) through wired or wireless Internet, the event transmitting terminal (22), the control means (13), etc. can be communicated through an IP network.

[49] The information storage means (12) stores the information of the event transmitting terminal (22) such as mobile terminal number, etc. in connection with the digital voice.

[50] The control means (13) interrelates and controls the voice storage means (11) and the information storage means (12), transmits and receives various signals to and from the mobile communications network (21) and performs signal processing, including encoding and decoding.

[51] The event transmitting side may, for example, store various digital voices for event notification in the voice storage means (11) and notify the event to the event receiving terminal (23) as required. Also, more than one event receiving terminals (23) may be grouped, for example, based on region, age, etc. and specific event may be notified only to a particular group of event receiving terminals (23). It is also possible to notify an event to the event receiving terminal (23) in real time by making a call access request to the event receiving terminal (23) occur automatically as an analog voice input from the event transmitting terminal (22) is converted to a digital voice and stored in the voice storage means (11). The control means (13) participates in all of the aforementioned cases or combinations thereof.

[52] Now, the method and system for notifying an event in accordance with the present invention are described referring to Fig. 2. [53] The transmitting side who intends to notify an event including advertising event, disaster warning, etc. converts various analog voices, including event notification voice, sound, etc., to digital voices (Sl), so that they can be played at the event receiving terminal (23). The digital voice is transmitted through the communications network (21) and stored in the voice storage means (11) (S2).

[54] When the event transmitting terminal (22) requests for call access to the event receiving terminal (23) which is managed by the switching center at the recipient side, the switching center at the transmitting side requests for recipient location data to the home location register while reading the event notification setup data of the event transmitting terminal (22). If it is determined that the event transmitting terminal (22) wishes to notify an event, a signal including the number of the event transmitting terminal (22) is transmitted to the control means (13) (S3).

[55] In response to the received signal, the control means (13) searches the information storage means (12) (S4) and transmits the signal corresponding to the event notification voice stored in the voice storage means (11) by the event transmitting side (S5).

[56] Meanwhile, in response to the request for the recipient location data from the switching center at the transmitting side, the home location register requests routing data to the switching center at the recipient side. In response to the request for the routing data from the home location register, the switching center at the recipient side transmits the routing data (TLDN: temporary local directory number) to the home location register. Then, the home location register transmits the recipient location data to the switching center at the transmitting side, based on the received routing data.

[57] Subsequently, the switching center transmits the signal (corresponding to the event notification voice) received from the control means (13) to the event receiving terminal (23) along with or replacing a call signal (S6).

[58] The event receiving terminal (23) receives the signal corresponding to the event notification voice, processes it with the software and hardware equipped in the event receiving terminal (23) and plays it as voice (S7).

[59] If the switching center recognizes the response of the event receiving terminal (23), it transmits a signal to the control means (13). In response to the signal, the control means (13) stops the transmission of the signal responding to the event notification voice. Also, the playing of the event notification voice is stopped when the response of the event receiving terminal (23) is recognized.

[60] Consequently, the event notification voice wanted by the event transmitting side can be played at the event receiving terminal in real time.

[61] Suppose that the event transmitting side wants to notify an event message

"Attention please, the residents of xx street. A fire broke out. Please escape to a safe place, quickly." When the event transmitting side inputs the event voice, for example, using a microphone of the event transmitting terminal (22), the analog voice is converted to a digital voice and is transmitted to the voice storage means (11) and stored there. Then, when a call access to the event receiving terminal (23) is requested, the signal corresponding to the event notification voice is transmitted to the event receiving terminal (23) and the received voice "Attention please, the residents of xx street. A fire broke out. Please escape to a safe place, quickly." is played.

[62] The input means such as microphone, etc. through which the analog event notification voice is input needs not be necessarily constructed as incorporated in the event transmitting terminal (22). For example, the digital voice may be generated using an input means equipped at a computer and an analog-to-digital converter and may be stored in the voice storage means (11) using a computer. And, the event transmitting terminal (22) which requests for the call access may be a mobile phone. Of course, the reverse configuration is allowed.

[63] Also, more than one event receiving terminals (23) may be grouped, for example, by region (street), e.g., xx street, yy street, etc. In case a disaster has occurred in a particular region, it is preferable to notify the event only to the event receiving terminals (23) of the region. The information of the grouped event receiving terminals (23) is stored in the information storage means (12) or a separate storage means (not illustrated), enabling a group-specific call access from the event transmitting terminal (22). Of course, in case an event, e.g., war, needs to be notified to all the people or all the groups, it can be notified to all the people having the event receiving terminals (23).

[64] The most preferable configuration is as follows. A voice message "Attention please, the residents of xx street. A fire broke out. Please escape to a safe place, quickly." is input through an input means such as microphone, etc. of the event transmitting terminal (22). At the same time, the voice is converted to a digital voice by an analog- to-digital converter of the event transmitting terminal (22) and stored in the voice storage means (11) immediately. Then, a call access to the wanted event receiving terminals (23) is requested automatically. As a result, when a disaster, such as fire, occurs, the voice "Attention please, the residents of xx street. A fire broke out. Please escape to a safe place, quickly." is played at the event receiving terminals (23) automatically simply by inputting the event notification voice through a microphone, etc.

[65] In the foregoing example, the event notification system of the present invention has been used as disaster warning system. However, it can be used for advertising or customer management, too. For example, customers may be grouped by birthday and an event notification voice "Happy birthday to you." or a happy birthday song may be played on the mobile phone on a customer's birthday. [66] And, although not illustrated in the figure, the system and method for event notification in accordance with the present invention may further comprise a process in which the recipient can determine if he/she wants to receive the event notification voice provided by the event transmitting side with his/her event receiving terminals (23). This determination can be made either prior to or after receiving the event notification voice with his/her event receiving terminals (23). Of course, the determination can be changed as required.

[67] The embodiment described in this description can be varied and modified variously within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the storage of the digital voice for event notification in the voice storage means (11) needs not necessarily be done by the event transmitting side. Of course, the event notification voice can be generated and stored by an event notification voice provider or a contents creator.

[68] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept and specific embodiment disclosed in the foregoing description may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[69]

Claims

[1] An event notification system for providing event notification source to an event receiving terminal in the form of voice or image through a communications network, which comprises: a data storage means which stores the digital data, or the digitized event notification source; an information storage means which stores the information of an event transmitting terminal that notifies the event in connection with the digital data; and a control means which, in response to call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal, searches the information storage means and transmits the digital data through the communications network, wherein the digital data is transmitted to the event receiving terminal through the communications network and is played as event notification source at the event receiving terminal, so that the event can be notified to the event receiving terminal in real time in response to the call access request without manual manipulation at the event receiving terminal.

[2] The event notification system as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the digital data is transmitted to the event receiving terminal through the communications network and is played without being stored or by pushing or streaming.

[3] The event notification system as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the event notification source comprises voice, video and image.

[4] The event notification system as set forth in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal occurs as the storage of the digital data in the data storage means is completed.

[5] The event notification system as set forth in Claim 4, wherein the digital data is stored in the data storage means as the event notification source is converted into the digital form.

[6] The event notification system as set forth in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the event receiving terminal is more than one and the more than one event receiving terminals are grouped under a specific condition and the call access is requested only for a particular group of event receiving terminals.

[7] An event notification method for providing event notification source to an event receiving terminal in the form of voice or image through a communications network, which comprises the steps of: storing digitized event notification source in a data storage means as digital data; transmitting a signal to a control means through the communications network in response to call access request from an event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal; searching an information storage means which stores the information of the event transmitting terminal in connection with the digital data; transmitting the digital data to the event receiving terminal through the communications network; receiving the signal corresponding to the digital data at the event receiving terminal; and playing the received signal at the event receiving terminal as event notification source, by which the event can be notified to the event receiving terminal in real time in response to the call access request without manual manipulation at the event receiving terminal.

[8] The event notification method as set forth in Claim 7, wherein the digital data is transmitted to the event receiving terminal through the communications network and is played without being stored or by pushing or streaming.

[9] The event notification method as set forth in Claim 7, wherein the event notification source comprises voice, video and image.

[10] The event notification method as set forth in any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the call access request from the event transmitting terminal to the event receiving terminal occurs as the storage of the digital data in the data storage means is completed.

[11] The event notification method as set forth in Claim 10, wherein the digital data is stored in the data storage means as the event notification source is converted into the digital form.

[12] The event notification method as set forth in any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the event receiving terminal is more than one and the more than one event receiving terminals are grouped under a specific condition and the call access is requested only for a particular group of event receiving terminals.