WO2008037682A1

WO2008037682A1 - Terminal and method for real-time communication

Info

Publication number: WO2008037682A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/060083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Hempel; Stefan Schoen
Original assignee: Siemens Home And Office Communication Devices Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2006-09-28
Filing date: 2007-09-24
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: DE102006045898A1

Abstract

The terminal and the method for real-time communication allow for the transmission of a message immediately before or during signaling of a call or while calling a second terminal. Thus, an incoming call can be marked with a reference line, or a computer file can be received and can be indicated automatically with the signaling of the call. Vice versa, it is also possible to receive and display a message before or during the call to a second terminal. This standardized communication solution is suitable for all input and output modalities. A media disruption is counteracted. It is immediately obvious that the message is associated with the call.

Description

description

MESSAGE TRANSMISSION DURING CONNECTION SETUP

Real-time communication, such as over the telephone, videophone, or video conferencing, is currently separate from asynchronous communication, such as e-mail, SMS, or other types of messages. However, often it is desirable to provide an interlocutor before the start of a call, additional information, which can, for example, the nature and content of the planned conversation Subject Author ^¬ fen. This is currently possible only through a media break, for example, by first sending an e-mail or SMS before the recipient is called. The disadvantage here is that the relationship between received message and phone call for the recipient is not immediately recognizable.

Even if a caller is planning a phone call, he does not know whether to call the office, or on vacation or in Bespre ^¬ chung forwarding has switched. For this reason, the caller is forced to make the call, even if this may interrupt a meeting because of a trivial request or incurred for the high roaming costs called, if it has switched to a forwarding on his mobile phone abroad. Frequently wol ^¬ len participants while also be accessible outside of business hours or abroad - but only in urgent cases. Here the caller would like to refrain from a call for a less urgent request.

In this case the callee also remains only the Mög ^¬ friendliness, potential by means of asynchronous communication ANRU ^¬ fer is located in advance, for example over its absence to precise information ^¬ ren. This information to the caller at the time of the call but not necessarily immediately before. Mobile phones allow both synchronous real-time communication (telephony) and asynchronous communication via messages (SMS / MMS). However, the problems described are not solved by this.

If the caller is from an address book of the mobile phone be ^¬ known, whose name is often shown on the display of the mobile phone during the signaling of the call. However, the urgency of the call remains unclear.

Thus, the object is to provide a terminal and method for real-time communication, which synchronize a synchronous real-time communication with asynchronous communication via messages.

This object is solved by the independent claims. Preferred developments emerge from the dependent claims.

Under a message is an individual or context-dependent created, to be issued to a user content understood that goes beyond the usual in telecommunications, for the connection technically required signals. Such technical signals relating to connection establishment include, for example, an identifier of the caller (such as his telephone number).

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a figure. It shows:

Figure 1 is a communication network.

The communication network shown in Figure 1 consists of a terminal 1 and a second terminal 2. It is any further number of terminals conceivable. Optionally, an adjacent device 3 is connected to the terminal 1 via an interface 4. Notwithstanding the representation shown in Figure 1, the adjacent device 3 to the second Terminal 2 may be connected. The terminals can be to landline phones, mobile phones, videophones, branch ^¬ make of telephone systems, voice-over-IP phones, personal ^¬ computer, notebooks or PDAs with means for Echtzeitkommu- communications. The real-time communication may be a voice communication, video telephony, a video conference, a net meeting session or the like.

The terminal 1 or the neighboring device 3 provide means for creating messages. The interface 4 optionally allows the connection of the adjacent device 3 for the transmission of messages. Furthermore, the terminal 1 or the adjacent unit 3 are received, and means for sending ^¬ gene messages.

The messages themselves may be textual, voice, video or video messages, for example, and may be output on a display or loudspeaker of the terminal 1 or the neighboring device 3. As a message format, for example, SMS, MMS, e-mail or audio format are suitable for a voice message.

Furthermore, the terminal 1 or the neighboring device 3 may allow the conversion of a message from an input modality to a different output modality. For example, a voice message in text can be converted or ^¬ versa.

Depending on the type of real-time communication or the message formats, the terminals and possibly the neighboring device 3 have corresponding input and output means, for example cameras, microphones, keyboards, screens, LCD displays or loudspeakers.

According to a first exemplary embodiment, a message received by the second terminal 2 is input before or during the signaling of one of the second terminal 2 Connection request for real-time communication on the terminal 1 or the adjacent device 3 output.

For example, a caller on the second terminal 2 can enter a short text message which characterizes the planned call as the subject line. The text message is transmitted to the terminal 1 and displayed simultaneously with the output of the ringtones for signaling the telephone call on ei ^¬ nem display of the terminal 1. This enables the loading user of the terminal 1 in a position to take before accepting the call, the subject line of the display shows the reason the call to ent ^¬. Based on this preliminary information, the user can answer or ignore the call.

In another variant, the message is off construed as email and displayed simultaneously automatic ^¬ table with the issuance of rings to signal the phone call on a display of Endge ^¬ rätes 1 or a display of the neighboring unit. 3 Even after the call has been answered, the e-mail can remain open so that the user can immediately access the information and any attachments during the call.

In another variant, a computer file is transmitted as a message. With the acceptance of the telephone call is automatically displayed on ei ^¬ nem display of the terminal 1 or the adjacent apparatus 3, such as a personal computer, the content of the transmitted computer file. The call serves ^¬ example as a discussion of a working result such DIE ses can be viewed directly by a user on the terminal 1 or the adjacent unit. 3

In a second exemplary embodiment, a message is used to inform the caller himself, in this case the user of the terminal 1, about the status of the person to be called, in this case the user of the second terminal 2. For this, the on ^¬ construction of real-time communication link is broken down into two steps. The caller first gives the telephone on the terminal 1 phone number of the second terminal 2 or selects this ü about a speed dial key or an address book entry. An ^¬ closing is automatically queried by the second terminal 2, a message. The message may for example be a text message that has deposited the callee on the second end ^¬ unit. 2 The message can also be obtained automatically from an appointment calendar of the person to be called or stored on a server of a network operator. The message is then output via the terminal 1 to the caller. This now receives the possibility, for example by ei ^¬ ne confirmation (or omission of an input) to actually initiate the call or cancel the call process. In the case of cancellation, the call on the second terminal 2 is not signaled. Disturbances due to telephone rings or costs due to a telephone connection are thus avoided.

In a first variant of the second embodiment, a current status of the callee is out of the diary of the subscriber to be called, which is stored for instance on a adjacent to the second terminal 2 personal computer, ermit ^¬ telt and in the form of a message such as "Your caller is in a meeting "," Your partner is on holiday until July 2 "," Your caller is available again from 4 pm "on the terminal 1 and transmitted there. The caller can decide on the basis of this information whether he wants to cancel the call process before the call is signaled on the second terminal 2. In this way, for example, the disruption of a meeting can be omitted because of an unimportant request.

In a second variant of the second embodiment determines a space monitoring system which is included in the second terminal 2, or attached to this, whether the caller is present, and transmits a corresponding message to the terminal 1, which it outputs to the ANRU ^¬ fer , The caller can decide on the basis of this information whether to terminate the call process by typing on the Terminate terminal 1 before the call is signaled on the second terminal 2.

In a third variant, the caller himself creates a text or voice message on the second terminal 2, which is transmitted to the terminal 1 in the course of dialing and output there. This could be something like "I am currently abroad, because of the roaming charges please call only in urgent cases".

In a fourth variant, the message is transmitted in the form of an SMS. In a fifth variant, the caller has the option of activating different messages for potential callers via short-dial keys on the second terminal 2. Such messages could be "I'm in a meeting right now" or "Do not disturb". The respective message can be issued to the caller in the form of a question, for example, "your interlocutor does not want to be disturbed, you still want to continue?"

The described embodiments can be combined to any variants. In particular, the real-time communication as well as the input and output of the messages can be done with any input and output modalities.

The implementation takes place in each case in hardware or software in the respective terminals or on the side of the network operator. Here, the available communication protocols are used and adapted by customary measures in order to implement the described functionality.

In summary, a message before or during at least one of the following operations ^¬ and conditional dependence is sent thereof, received or output: - selecting a user with the goal of building a real-time communication link ^¬,

- signaling a connection request to Echtzeitkommu ^¬ munication to a user. , Conditional dependence in this case means that the after ^¬ report only in the case sent, received or outputted, that the respective operation also takes place.

The functionality described here can be provided by the BETEI ^¬-favored terminals; However, they can also wholly or partly by adjusting the telecommunication ^¬ infrastructure to which the terminal devices are connected, are lementiert IMP.

In summary, the first embodiment describes a scenario in which, before or during the signaling of a call, a message is received and output to a user, here the called party, on the basis of which the user can decide whether to accept the call.

Among other things, this offers the advantage that the user can decide based on the message whether he wants to accept the call. A further advantage of the first embodiment is that the caller can transmit his request on the same information channel before the call.

Accordingly, the second embodiment describes a scenario in which a message is received before and during the dialing and output to a user, here the caller, on the basis of which the user can decide whether he actually wants to make the selection or cancel.

This results in the advantage that the user can decide based on the message whether he actually wants to make the selection or cancel. Another advantage of the second embodiment is that the Anzuru ^¬ Fende potential caller can advance information on current conditions.

Both embodiments enable a more uniform treatment of message-based and real-time Time communication, and thus a convergence of asynchronous and synchronous communication in one and the same communication solution. A media break is counteracted. The affiliation of message and real-time communication becomes immediately apparent.

Claims

claims

1st terminal for real-time communication

- with selection means for selecting a second terminal (2), - with output means for signaling a connection request from the second terminal (2) for real-time communication,

with communication means for maintaining a real-time communication connection, with input means for generating messages or with an interface 4 designed for retrieving messages from a neighboring device 3,

- With communication means for sending messages to the second terminal (2) and for receiving messages from the second terminal (2), and

- with output means for outputting messages or an interface (4), which is designed for the transmission of messages to the neighboring device (3), characterized in that - the terminal (1) comprises synchronization means, which for transmitting, receiving or outputting a message before or during at least one of the following operations and conditional dependencies thereof:

- selection of the second terminal (2) by the terminal (1) with the aim of building a real-time communication connection,

- Signaling a connection request for real-time communication from the second terminal (2) by the terminal (1).

2. Terminal according to claim 1, set up for telephony or video telephony or for performing a telephone conference, a video conference or a chat.

3. Terminal according to claim 1, adapted for telecommunications via landline, Internet or mobile.

4. Terminal according to claim 1, wherein the interface (4) to the adjacent device (3) is an interface to a personal computer, PDA, mobile phone or expansion module.

5. Terminal according to claim 1, designed as a landline phone, mobile phone, PDA, personal computer or notebook.

6. Terminal according to claim 1,

- where the messages are text / voice / picture or video messages, and

- where the output means are a display or speaker.

The terminal of claim 1, wherein the messages are SMS, MMS or e-mail messages.

8. A terminal according to claim 1, comprising means for converting a message from an input modality to a different output modality.

9. Terminal according to claim 8, comprising means for converting a voice message into a text message.

10. A method for real-time communication - in which a message is created, characterized in that

the message is sent, received or issued before or during at least one of the following operations and in a conditional dependency thereof: selecting a user for the purpose of establishing a real-time communication connection,

Signaling a connection request for real-time communication to a user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the message is created by an input of a user or automatically by a computer program.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein before or during the selection, a message is received and output to a user, based on which the user can decide whether he actually wants to make the selection or cancel.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein before or during the signaling, a message is received and output to a user, based on which the user can decide whether he wants to accept the call.