WO2012072948A1

WO2012072948A1 - Interaction between a stationary telephone terminal of a local network and devices connected to the local network

Info

Publication number: WO2012072948A1
Application number: PCT/FR2011/052818
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jérôme AUGUI
Original assignee: France Telecom
Priority date: 2010-12-02
Filing date: 2011-11-29
Publication date: 2012-06-07
Also published as: FR2968498A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for reducing noise on a set of domestic connected devices when an event linked to a telephone call, such as the signaling of an incoming call, the picking up of the telephone handset, or the input of data from the telephone handset is carried out.

Description

Interaction between a fixed telephone terminal of a local network and

equipment connected to the local network

The present invention relates to the field of telephony and home automation.

It relates more particularly to the interactions between a fixed telephone terminal of a dwelling and equipment connected to the telephone terminal via a gateway between a local network of this home and a wide area network (for example the Internet).

When an incoming call occurs, the home fixed telephone terminal rings. However, external noises can prevent the phone ringing from ringing. For example, if the telephone terminal is positioned on one floor of a dwelling and a movie is viewed on a different floor, it is unlikely that the ringtone will be audible by a viewer of the movie.

In addition, even if the ring is heard, the user will have to reduce the sound of his television, possibly start a recording or pause the film, to finally pick up the phone. All of these actions delay the detachment and increase the probability that the caller hangs up finally without having his interlocutor.

The present invention improves the situation.

For this purpose, the present invention proposes to cause a sound reduction during particular events.

The present invention thus aims at a method of notifying an event in a local network via a gateway of the local network. Upon receipt of an event, the gateway advantageously transmits a sound volume reduction command to at least one network equipment connected to sound reproduction means. The event can be for example linked to a use of a telephone terminal connected to the local network and consist of an incoming telephone call or initiated from the telephone terminal (for example by taking line by the telephone terminal).

Thus, if for example a user watches a movie on a television and then a phone call occurs, the gateway can control the decrease of the volume of the station to notify the user of this call and / or make audible The ring.

Advantageously, the sound reproduction volume decrease control may include a command to reduce the amplitude of a digital audio stream to be rendered. Indeed, the equipment of the network may comprise means for processing a stream digital audio intended to be restored by the sound reproduction means (for example, a set top box decoder terminal (or STB) connected to a television set and receiving a stream of data from the gateway). Such equipment can thus be able to reduce the amplitude of the digital audio stream to be restored.

The decrease in the volume of sound reproduction can then be achieved by decreasing directly in a stream of data the amplitude of the sound to be restored without having to act on the sound reproduction equipment itself. For example, when viewing a TV program or an online video (or VOD for "Video On Demand" in English), the gateway can control a media player (such as the aforementioned decoder terminal) to process the video. flow to reduce the amplitude of the sound volume. Thus, the sound restored on the television set can be decreased without it being necessary for a user to directly control such a decrease in the sound reproduction volume at the television set. For example, the gateway may send a control signal to the set-top terminal, a decrease in volume, upon receipt of an incoming telephone call from the gateway, particularly in the context of IP telephony (or VoIP for "Voice"). over IP ").

Thus, in one embodiment, the network equipment may, for example, be a decoder terminal connected to a television set comprising sound reproduction means. The gateway can then issue a command for this terminal to modify the stream to reduce the amplitude of the sound volume, without sending direct control to the sound reproduction means.

In the case where the event is an incoming telephone call for a telephone terminal connected to the local gateway, the manipulation of the telephone terminal by a user to take the incoming call means that the user wishes to take the call.

Thus, in a particular embodiment, the event is an incoming telephone call intended for a telephone terminal connected to the local gateway, and at least one manipulation of the telephone terminal by a user to take the incoming call causes the transmission of a signal from the terminal and intended for the gateway. When receiving this signal, the gateway issues a second command intended for at least one piece of equipment on the network.

This second command may for example be intended for the aforementioned decoder terminal to start the recording of a television program in progress or to order a "pause" of the online video playback. Of course, the equipment receiving and executing this second command is, in principle, distinct from the telephone terminal itself. Thus, the signal can be sent to the gateway, which can then centrally control the recording of the television program or the pause of the playback of the video online, or the pause of other audio content in progress reading.

The manipulation may be a gripping sensed by a sensor that advantageously comprises the telephone terminal.

Thus, a sensor installed in the telephone terminal can detect the gripping of the terminal. This sensor may be, for example, a pressure sensor, or an acceleration sensor detecting a movement of the terminal due to its grip by a user.

As indicated above, the second command may be a recording order of a digital audio and / or digital video stream in a storage memory of the equipment. For this purpose, the network equipment may include (in addition to means for processing the digital audio and / or digital video stream) a storage memory.

Thus, the user can answer a phone call without worrying about the movie he is watching. The film can then be recorded, for example, on the terminal decoder of the house to be viewed later.

The second order may also consist of a confirmation of the first order. The first command may for example be subject to timing (for example the time of a conventional ring of the telephone terminal), while the second command can drive a sustainable decline in ambient sound volume.

In a variant that does not necessarily use sensors in the telephone terminal, a telephone line offset can be likened to a manipulation of the telephone terminal.

Thus, the second aforementioned command can be issued during an unambiguous action of the user such as the recess of the telephone line. Indeed, the detachment of the line involves, most often, a telephone conversation requiring a reasonable sound environment.

More generally, the signal transmitted by the telephone terminal (for example to take the line or simply because of its grip by the user) can be considered as an event in the network. The gateway can then issue the first aforementioned command to decrease sound volume to all or at least one of the sound reproduction equipment. The gateway, itself, is advantageous since it makes it possible to control the volume reduction with existing equipment when an event occurs in the network.

Thus, the present invention also aims at a gateway of a local area network comprising at least:

means for detecting an event in the network, and

means for transmitting, on detection of the event, a command for reducing the volume of sound reproduction for at least one piece of equipment of the local network connected to sound reproduction means.

This gateway may advantageously comprise, in addition, means for receiving a signal from a telephone terminal, and means for transmitting a second command of the aforementioned type. Thus, on receiving a signal from a telephone terminal, the gateway can trigger, for example, the recording of a movie on a set-top terminal.

The present invention also relates to an equipment (such as the aforementioned decoder terminal) comprising:

means of connection to sound reproduction means,

means for connection to a local network via a gateway of the local network.

The equipment further comprises means for receiving and interpreting a sound volume reduction command from the gateway.

The telephone terminal is, in itself, advantageous when it allows to interact with the gateway to apply the second command above in an incoming call (or the first command during a call to send) .

Thus, the present invention also relates to a telephone terminal including handling detection means of this telephone terminal, and means for transmitting a signal intended for a gateway of the local network (to initiate the first and / or second command from the gateway).

Finally, a computer program is, in itself, advantageous since it allows a pre-existing gateway to be able to detect an event and control, therefore, in particular a decrease in volume of sound reproduction of connected equipment. Thus, the present invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions for the implementation, for example on the gateway, of the method described above, when this program is executed by a processor.

For example, the steps illustrated in Figure 2 commented below can form the flowchart of the general algorithm of a computer program within the meaning of the invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description which follows. This is purely illustrative and should be read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of the networking of electronic equipment in a typical home;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a particular embodiment of the method for reducing the volume of sound on various equipment during the arrival of an incoming telephone call;

FIG. 3 shows a particular embodiment of a gateway according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a particular embodiment of a telephone handset according to the invention;

- Figure 5 shows a particular embodiment of a terminal type STB (for "Set Top Box" in English) according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of interconnections between different domestic equipment of a typical house 1 14, according to a particular non-limiting embodiment.

In this example, a gateway 107 is connected to a wide area network 102 (typically the Internet). It acts as a connection interface between the WAN 102 and a local network 103 specific to the dwelling 1 14.

This local area network 103 comprises several domestic equipments able to exchange data with the gateway 107. It may be, for example, a computer 1 13, a television set 1 10 directly connected to the gateway 107, d a television set 108 connected to the gateway 107 via a Set-Top-Box type terminal 109 (typically a tuner-descrambler commonly called a "TV decoder"), a 1 1 1 hi-fi or multi-channel device 5.1 (for "cinema at home", commonly called "home cinema" in English), a computer (PC type living room, or mobile type 1 13). Such devices then comprise means for sound reproduction of audio or audio-video contents.

Furthermore, the gateway 107 provides broadcast television data streams transmitted to the television set 108, via the decoder terminal 109 whose role is to receive and decode these streams. Nevertheless, a possible alternative consists, as shown for the television set 1 10, in receiving the television streams by a radio antenna 1 12 sensing electromagnetic signals, with nevertheless a connection to the gateway 107 (via a wireless link, for example). example of wifi type, or other) for a communication between the station 1 10 and the gateway 107.

In addition, a telephone terminal 106, fixed (or possibly wireless type DECT for "Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone"), is also connected to the gateway 107, allowing it to establish a communication with a remote telephone terminal 104 (for example via the network 102, in context of "Voice over IP", with "IP" for "Internet Protocol"). The gateway 107 thus provides a telephone interface to the fixed telephone 106. When an incoming call is sent from an external telephone terminal 104, the call passes through the network 102 before being transmitted to the telephone terminal 106 connected to the gateway 107 of the dwelling.

It should be noted that, in the case of a telephone call on the telephone terminal 106 or of receiving a television stream on the station 108, each of the data streams passes through the Internet gateway 107.

Other streams may, of course, pass through the gateway 107, for example, Internet radio streams, or video streams from "online sharing" sites or video content servers (for example "VOD" for "Video On Demand" in English).

FIG. 2 represents a particular embodiment of a reduction of the volume of sound reproduction, on the various domestic equipments presented above, this volume reduction being controlled by the bridge 107, upon the occurrence of an incoming telephone call. intended here to the telephone terminal 106 in the example described.

Upon receipt (step 201) of an incoming telephone call, the gateway 107 detects the call (step 202) and triggers at least one of the following actions:

the gateway 107 sends a first command (step 205) to the decoder terminal 109 to decrease (step 206), directly in the television stream being processed, the amplitude of the sound signal to be returned by the station 108, the gateway 107 transmits, for example also, a first command (step 203) to the television set 1 10 and / or to the computer 1 13 and / or to the hi-fi device 1 1 1, through the local network, to control a decrease in their sound reproduction volume (step 204).

Each of these devices 109, 1 13, 1 10, 1 1 1 is then adapted to receive, interpret and execute (steps 206, 204) this command so, on receipt of this command, lower the sound reproduction level.

For the playback of audio or audio-video streams by the computer 1 13, these streams can also pass through the gateway 107 to be then restored by the computer 1 13 (on a screen and speakers or speakers connected to the computer 1 13). The gateway 107 is, as in the case of a transmission of television streams to the decoder terminal 109, adapted to transmit to the computer 1 13 a so-called "first command" instruction (step 205) in order to reduce the amplitude of the signal playback sound directly into the stream being processed (step 206).

The stream returned (step 206) by the final equipment (a computer 13 or a television set 108) then has a reduced volume level.

Optionally, it is possible to modify this same stream to add visual or auditory information signaling the incoming call.

Meanwhile, a second command, recording a stream being read (step 207) can be issued by the gateway 107 on receipt of an incoming call. Thus, for example, upon receipt of the registration command 207, the set top terminal 109 may go into "pause" mode and record the received television stream until the user resumes reading of the recorded stream data.

However, here, the user may prefer to let ring the telephone terminal 106 recipient of the incoming call and continue reading the stream. Thus, in a particular embodiment, the recording of the data is controlled only on detection of a signal meaning that the user actually wants to take the incoming call. The following is described below with reference to FIG. 4 the telephone terminal 106 capable of transmitting such a signal to the gateway 107, according to one particular embodiment of the invention.

The telephone terminal 106, equipped with a telephone handset, can be equipped with at least one of the three organs:

a MVT motion sensor making it possible to detect a movement of the handset of the terminal when a user enters it; - PRS pressure sensor (or alternatively contact) for detecting a gripping of the handset by the hand of the user; and

- A DEC line detach button for detecting a decision of the line by a user to receive or initiate a call.

The telephone terminal 106 is further provided with a TEL3 telephone interface connected to a TEL telephone interface of the gateway 107 and allowing the transmission of an incoming or outgoing call.

A LAN2 network interface makes it possible to connect, for example via a wireless wireless link, the telephone terminal 106 to the gateway 107 so as to be able to transmit signals from the aforementioned sensors to the gateway 107 in particular.

Thus, in an incoming call situation, the gateway 107 already transmits the first sound volume reduction command to at least part of the aforementioned equipment. In parallel, if the user confirms that he wishes to take the incoming call:

- It enters the handset of the telephone terminal and the PRS sensor builds a signal for the gateway 107 and transmitted via the LAN2 interface to inform the gateway of the grip of the handset, and to trigger the recording of data audiovisuals being read,

it carries the handset to the face and the MVT sensor constructs a signal intended for the gateway 107 and transmitted via the LAN2 interface to inform the gateway 107 of a trigger to predict the recording of the audio-visual data being read, and

- It presses the DEC button of the terminal to take the line, which triggers the transmission of a signal indicating the line taken to the gateway 107, and the gateway 107 thus directly receives the line information via the interface TEL3.

Upon receipt of this signal transmitted by the telephone terminal 106, the gateway 107 can then issue the second command for recording the stream that was being read. It will be understood, however, that a possible embodiment for triggering the first volume reduction command may already consist in the detection of a line seizure by the telephone terminal 106 (or more generally by the manual seizure of the terminal 106). . As such, the "event" detected by the gateway, within the meaning of the invention, may consist of an incoming event (for example an incoming telephone call), but also an outgoing event (for example, the line tap for initiate a communication from the telephone terminal 106). Thus, already thanks to the PRS sensor and / or the MVT sensor, a simple manipulation, at least, of the telephone terminal 106 by a user to take a call (including an incoming call) causes the emission of a second command, such as a stream recording command, intended for a piece of equipment of the local area network other than the telephone terminal, for example at the decoder terminal 109. It will thus be understood that, as a first step, the incoming call causes the volume of the controlled volume to decrease by the gateway and, in a second step, if the user already simply enters the phone, a wifi signal emitted by the phone prevents the gateway 107 of this situation and the gateway 107 then sends a second command to record the flow from the terminal decoder 109. In a practical embodiment, it is preferred that the gripping of the phone (thus detected by at least one of the PRS and MVT sensors) already causes the ener flow record.

Moreover, in one embodiment, the telephone terminal picked up or entered to make a call can check an ambient sound level and possibly the nature of the sound flow in the room where it is located. For example, it is possible to prevent a user who wishes to make a call in a part of the habitat 1 14, to lower the volume of a television set in another room of the habitat. The telephone terminal can then be equipped for example with a microphone configured to compare the ambient sound level with a threshold before implementing a decrease in sound volume at the level of at least one of the equipment of the habitat. It can further be provided that the above microphone analyzes the ambient sound signals to distinguish the type of sound environment and decide whether to apply the volume reduction based on this analysis. For example, the microphone may be adapted to distinguish voice noises around the user, sound reproduction sounds of audio or audio-video content.

FIG. 3 shows a particular embodiment of the gateway 107. In this embodiment, the gateway 107 comprises a TEL2 interface for connection to the wide area network 102, as well as a TEL interface for connection to the telephone terminal 106. The gateway 107 also comprises, in the example shown, a LAN network interface capable of receiving / transmitting data to equipment of the local network of the home 1 14, in particular for example to receive a signal from the telephone terminal 106 and to transmit data. sound level reduction and / or recording commands. The gateway 107 also includes a DEC module for detecting and interpreting incoming / outgoing events and a command creation module PROC. The DEC module is adapted to detect and interpret an event such as a incoming phone call through the TEL2 phone line. The module PROC is adapted to, in case of detection of an event by the module DEC, generate a command to decrease the sound level and control the transmission of this command through the LAN network interface. The occurrence of an event thus has the effect of causing a decrease in the level of sound volume in dwelling 1 14. The module PROC is also adapted to generate and transmit to the decoder terminal 109 a data recording command.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device capable of receiving and interpreting a sound volume reduction control for restitution (and here of flow recording), this equipment being in the example described hereinafter the decoder terminal. 109. The terminal 109 has two interfaces:

on the one hand, a LAN3 interface connecting to the gateway 107 to receive a television data stream; and

on the other hand, a CMAN interface for connection to a television set 108 equipped with means for restoring audio and / or audio-video data, decoded.

In the particular example described here, the decoder terminal 109 also comprises a memory MEM (for example a hard disk) for storing audio and / or video data of a received data stream. The decoder terminal 109 furthermore comprises a processor PROC2, connected at least to the LAN3 interfaces (and possibly to the memory MEM) for receiving, interpreting and executing a command from the gateway 107, such as a command to reduce the sound level (and possibly a data flow record command, respectively).

Of course, the decoder terminal further comprises a digital audio and / or digital video stream processing module (referenced TFL in FIG. 5), specific to descrambling, for example, the received stream.

Here, upon receipt of a decreasing volume instruction ("first command" above) from the gateway 107 and received at the LAN3 interface, the module PROC2 interprets this instruction and controls the TFL processing module to apply a amplitude decrease to the digital audio data processed by the TFL module. Thus, when these data are transmitted via the CMAN interface to the television set 108, the sound reproduction level is decreased because of the amplitude reduction operated on the decoder terminal 107. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as examples; it extends to other variants.

Thus, as an alternative to the record command, and in the case of on-demand streams (or VOD streams) or locally, a pausing command may be constructed and sent to the different devices reading that stream.

At the end of the call, and in the case where a recording of a stream has been triggered during the call, a message may be, for example, displayed on the screen of the television set to propose to the user :

- the resumption of the flow at the very moment it was interrupted (in the case of a pause of a film VOD, for example), or

- playback of the recorded recording (in the case of recording a live TV program, for example).

Furthermore, it has been described above an event related to the taking of a telephone line following an incoming call or by use of the telephone terminal 106. This is actually an example embodiment and, in a variant when a communication is made on a PC computer implementing software of the Skype® type, a command may be provided for reducing the volume of sound for the equipment during playback of an audio stream.

Claims

1. Method for notifying an event in a local area network (103) via a gateway (107) of the local area network, characterized in that, on receipt of said event, the gateway (107) issues a command to at least one network equipment ( 109, 1 10, 1 1 1, 1 13) connected to means of sound reproduction (108), of reduction of sound reproduction volume (203, 205).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, the equipment of the network (107) comprising means for processing a digital audio stream to be restored by the sound reproduction means, the control of reduction of restitution volume sound includes a command to decrease the amplitude of the digital audio stream to be rendered (205).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the equipment of the network is a flow decoder terminal (107), connected to a television set (108) comprising said sound reproduction means.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the event is an incoming telephone call for a telephone terminal (106) connected to the local gateway (107),

in that at least one manipulation of the telephone terminal (106) by a user to take the incoming call causes the transmission of a signal from the terminal and intended for the gateway,

and in that the gateway (107), on receiving said signal, issues a second command for at least one network equipment (109) other than the telephone terminal.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said manipulation comprises a telephone line recess (DEC).

6. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said manipulation comprises a gripping sensed by a sensor (PRS, MVT) that includes the terminal (106).

7. Method according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, the network equipment (109) having a storage memory (MEM), the second command comprises a recording order of said stream in the memory of storage (207).

8. Gateway of a local area network (107) characterized in that it comprises:

means for detecting an event in the network (DEC), and

means for transmitting, on detection of the event, a command for decreasing the sound reproduction volume (PROC) intended for at least one piece of equipment of the local network connected to sound reproduction means.

9. Gateway of a local area network (107) according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises means (TEL) for receiving a signal from a telephone terminal, and transmission means ( LAN) of a second command for the implementation of the method according to one of claims 4 to 7.

10. Equipment (109) comprising:

connection means (CMAN) to sound reproduction means (108),

means for connection (LAN3) to a local network via a gateway (107) of the local network,

characterized in that it further comprises means (LAN3, PROC2) for receiving and interpreting a sound reduction volume reduction command, issued from the gateway.

1 1. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method on the gateway according to one of claims 1 to 7, when the program is executed by a processor.