WO2012080632A1

WO2012080632A1 - Method and system for aggregating collective and personal data on a terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2012080632A1
Application number: PCT/FR2011/052930
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Besombe; François Toutain
Original assignee: France Telecom
Priority date: 2010-12-17
Filing date: 2011-12-09
Publication date: 2012-06-21
Also published as: FR2969454A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method including a step of providing a user (100) of a first communication terminal (110) with access to a first electronic address book. According to the invention, such a method includes a step (140) of incorporating, in said first electronic address book, at least one identifier (130) of an entity in a second electronic address book included in at least one second communication terminal (120).

Description

Method and system for aggregating personal and collective data presented on a terminal

1. DOMAIN OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications, and in particular to the field of communication networks using the ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) communication standard, and in particular the IP communication networks ( from the English "Internet Protocol" IP for "Internet Protocol"), according to techniques grouped under the term "VoIP" (from the English "Voice over IP" for "Voice over IP").

More specifically, the invention relates to communication terminals, including PSTN or VoIP type telephony terminals, and access to data associated with these terminals, in particular data included in address books of these terminals.

2. PRIOR ART

The current state of the art allows a user of a communication terminal to store and / or consult data from this communication terminal, in particular in the form of an electronic address book for example, comprising a list of contacts or members. Each member of an electronic address book is associated with a plurality of data: on the one hand, at least one identifier making it possible to reach this member through a communication network (for example a telephone number, a fax number, an email address or IP), and in general a textual label allowing the user to identify this member ("Dupont").

In practice, a terminal offers its users facilities for communicating, from this terminal, with a member of an address book associated with this terminal. This may include the identification of incoming and / or outgoing calls, presentation features or data manipulation of the address book or the automatic dialing of a telephone number or email address or IP.

The data of an address book can be stored locally, in the memory of the terminal, or accessible remotely from this terminal, for example through an internet access. However, the data is generally attached to the terminal, even when the data is remotely accessible. Therefore, their access is only possible from this terminal.

Consequently, it is not possible for a user having several communication terminals, each having at least one address book, to access the data attached to a first terminal from a second terminal.

For example, this user consults the voice messages left on the messaging of a first terminal (for example a VoIP phone from his home). He discovers a message left by an interlocutor asking him to call back a third person, he will first look for this third person in the address book of the first terminal, then, failing that, in those of the other terminals at his disposal (in his own mobile phone for example), until he finds this person in an address book of a second terminal. If he wants to use the first terminal to establish a communication, for example for pecuniary reasons, he will still manually enter the coordinates of the person to join on the first terminal.

A user therefore has at a time only a partial view of all the data that he can legitimately have.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a solution to the general problem of access to data attached to different terminals.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention does not have the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above. Indeed, the invention relates to a communication method including a step of providing a first electronic address book to a user of a first communication terminal.

According to the invention, such a method comprises a step of incorporating, into the first electronic address book, at least one identifier of an entity appearing in a second electronic address book included in at least one second terminal. Communication.

The invention allows a user to have, on a first terminal, a particular address book that includes data initially contained in an address book of another terminal. Such data may in particular consist of identifiers such as to enable the user to communicate with an entity, for example a natural or legal person or a voice application, via a communication network. The invention thus enables the user to exploit this data as simply as if it were in the address book of the first terminal, in particular as regards the conventional functions of presentation of an address book (pagination, search, sorting options, composition etc.) or designating a correspondent for the establishment of a call.

The user can thus, from the first terminal, easily enter into contact with an entity listed in the address book of the second terminal.

When the two terminals are used by different users, the invention allows a user of the second terminal to share, at least partially and temporarily, his address book with users of the first terminal.

The address book made available to the first terminal can be constituted temporarily, so as to temporarily limit the possibility of access to the data of the second terminal.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the incorporation step is implemented dynamically at the initiative of the first terminal.

The invention may in particular be implemented transparently for a user of the first terminal, so as to anticipate its needs.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the step of incorporating comprises a step of adding in the first address book at least one piece of data contained in an address book specific to the first terminal. When an address book is already attached to the first terminal, the invention thus makes it possible not only to present data coming from the address book of the second terminal, but also to merge within the first address book the present data. in the address book of the first terminal with data from the address book of the second terminal.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the method further includes a step of identifying the second terminal from which the identifier embedded in the first electronic address book originates.

Thus, the invention enables a user of the first terminal to be able to know the terminal from which the identifiers present in the first address book originate. Especially when these identifiers come from address books specific to several terminals, the user can easily distinguish their origins from each other.

In addition, when several identifiers are associated with the same entity in the first address book, the user can select the identifier which seems to him the most adapted according to the context induced by the terminal from which it comes (for example, a professional telephone number should logically rather come from a professional terminal or a terminal used by an adult).

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the identification step is implemented when the second terminal is close to the first terminal.

The invention thus makes it possible to propose to a user having at the same time several terminals, located near this user, a complete or partial merging of the address books of these terminals. Thus, the user can choose to use a particular terminal to establish a communication, because this terminal allows him to benefit from lower communication costs or because he has a man / machine interface better adapted to his needs. The fact that the user has the identifier of the entity with which he wishes to establish a communication in the address book specific to this particular terminal, even if this identifier comes from another terminal, thus avoids dialing itself the identifier of the entity and offers him a significant advantage, in terms of simplicity, reliability and speed of use.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the step of identifying the second terminal is implemented using means of communication in the near field between the communication terminals.

The invention can thus be implemented transparently for the user of the first terminal.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the identification step includes a substep of acquisition of an identifier to be incorporated comprising obtaining, from a correspondence table, at least one identifier of said second associated terminal. to the identification information of the second terminal. Thus, the invention makes it possible to have an identifier of the second terminal, possibly different from the identification information obtained previously from the second terminal, making it possible to designate the second terminal in the communication network and thus the establishment of possible communication with this terminal.

The acquisition sub-step can in particular be implemented by an application for sharing address books. The use of a dedicated application offers the advantage of allowing manipulation on an address book of the second terminal, when the address book is not stored locally in the memory of the second terminal but accessible remotely.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the identification step includes a substep of acquisition of an identifier to be incorporated, comprising a verification of an access authorization to at least a part of the data of a user. address book of the second terminal.

Thus, the invention enables a user of a second terminal to preserve, if he wishes, the confidentiality of at least part of the data contained in an address book of the second terminal.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, during the execution of the verification of an access authorization, a dialogue is established with the second terminal.

The invention thus allows a user of the second terminal to specify whether or not he agrees to share data from an address book specific to his terminal, in particular according to the terminal for which they are intended, or the sensitive nature of the some data, and / or temporally limit this sharing, requesting the deletion of these data after a certain duration.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the verification of an access authorization comprises the consultation of a memorized authorization indication.

This memorized authorization indication may consist of a value configured by default for the second terminal or a response from a user of the second terminal, previously recorded by an address book sharing application, authorizing or refusing systematically the sharing data from the address book of the second terminal. This authorization indication may in particular depend on the first terminal. Thus, the invention offers the advantage to a user of the second terminal not to be interrogated by the application for authorization of incorporation.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the acquisition step comprises an access to at least one identifier of at least one member of at least one address book of the second terminal.

The acquisition step may in particular include storing in the first address book of the first terminal at least one embedded identifier. Thus, the invention offers the advantage of sustainably enriching the first address book of the first terminal. This storage may furthermore comprise the memorization of the identification information of the second terminal. The invention can then in particular make it possible to filter the identifiers of the first address book of the first terminal later so as to make them accessible only as a function of at least one criterion of proximity with the terminal from which they come.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a communication terminal comprising means for providing a first electronic address book to a user of the terminal. According to the invention, such a terminal comprises means for incorporating, into the first electronic address book, at least one identifier of an entity contained in a second electronic address book included in at least one other terminal. Communication.

According to yet another aspect, the invention relates to an equipment comprising means for executing an application for sharing address books. According to the invention, such equipment comprises:

means for receiving, from a first communication terminal, identification information of at least one second communication terminal;

means for incorporating, into a first electronic address book, at least one identifier of an entity appearing in a second electronic address book included in the second communication terminal;

transmission means to the first terminal of the first electronic address book. Finally, according to yet another aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for implementing a communication method according to the invention when this program is executed by a processor.

4. LIST OF FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a particular embodiment, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

Figure 1 shows a diagram of the general principle of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the dynamic operation of the method of the invention in a particular embodiment;

- Figure 3 describes an equipment of the communication network according to the invention.

5. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

5.1 General principle

The invention relates to a communication method, making it possible for a user of a first communication terminal to have access to at least one piece of data attached to a second terminal, in particular in an electronic address book registered locally on this terminal. second terminal or accessible remotely. A main object of the invention is to allow a user of a communication terminal to benefit from the fusion of multiple data sources, accessible from different terminals, to obtain more complete and personalized information from the same terminal.

Figure 1 shows the general principle of the invention.

The general principle of the invention consists in making available to a user 100 using the method of the invention, on a first terminal 110, an identifier 130 of a communication entity, recorded on an address book d A second terminal 120. For this, the method according to the invention comprises a step 140 of incorporation of the identifier 130 in an electronic address book made available to a user 100 of the first terminal 110.

The terminal 110 may include in particular a proximity detection module, for example a reader or scanner NFC (Near Field Communication). The terminal 110 may consist for example of a fixed conventional telephony terminal, type RTC (Switched Telephone Network) or VoIP, or a more complex terminal, consisting in particular of a set-top box or decoder (STB) according to the English terminology , connected to a television, and a remote control for the user's inputs 100.

Alternatively, the terminal 110 considered may be a computer and in particular a tablet. The terminal 120 may for example consist of a personal mobile terminal with a 3G or VoIP type mobile access to the communication network. The terminal 120 may further comprise means for its identification, for example an electronic tag, capable of being detected by the proximity detection means of the terminal 110. It may be for example an NFC chip.

According to the invention, the method comprises a step of incorporation 140 in the electronic address book of the terminal 110 of at least one identifier present in an electronic address book of at least one communication terminal 120.

According to particular modes of implementation of the invention, this step can be implemented periodically, and / or continuously, at the initiative of the first terminal, for example by means of proximity detection that comprises the terminal 110. , or in a particular context of the terminal 110. For example, in the case where the terminal 110 is a mobile terminal, this incorporation can be performed conditionally at a rate or at a threshold threshold of charge of the terminal battery, so to favor a limitation of the consumption of a battery whose charge becomes critical. It can also be done on demand and / or after confirmation by the user 100.

The invention therefore makes it possible to perform a data merge attached to the terminals 110 and 120, in order to provide easy access from the terminal 110 to the user 100. Thus, thanks to the invention, a user may for example have on a fixed terminal, for example the fixed telephone of his home, an address book merging the data of the address book of this phone and the data of the address book of his mobile phone.

Indeed, it may be that a user prefers, for cost reasons, establish a telephone call from an internet telephone terminal rather than from a mobile terminal.

5.2 Description of a particular embodiment

With reference to FIG. 2, a particular embodiment of the method according to the invention is presented in connection with a VoIP network accessible via ADSL type access (by a hardware device marketed under the name "Livebox"). by the applicant for example), between a communication terminal 110 using a VoIP protocol and a mobile terminal 120.

Figure 2 illustrates the dynamic operation of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the incorporation step 140 comprises a step of identifying 200 terminals to which are attached data to which will be the step of incorporating. For the sake of simplicity, these terminals are qualified as "target" terminals in the remainder of the description. In some embodiments, these terminals may be designated by the user 100, the user 100 then possibly providing identification information of these terminals.

In other embodiments, a selection of certain terminals near the terminal 110 may be made. Different selection criteria can be applied, for example a selection of the nearest target terminal, a limited number of target terminals, or all the detected terminals.

According to the embodiments of the invention, several proximity detection techniques can be implemented: for example, NFC, infrared, Bluetooth, or Wifi techniques.

The identification step 200 can in particular be implemented using means of communication in the near field between the communication terminals 110 and 120. Unlike other proximity detection techniques, an NFC type technique allows a terminal 120 equipped with a passive NFC chip, not to spend energy during its identification. Such a technique therefore offers the advantage of being usable in a repetitive or continuous manner, without harming the load of a mobile terminal.

The identification step 200 results in the provision to the terminal 110 of identification information of each target terminal.

In the embodiment presented, the method of the invention comprises, for at least one target terminal (the terminal 120 according to FIG. 2), an acquisition step 210 of at least one identifier of a member of a address book of the target terminal 120, to be incorporated in the address book of the terminal 110. This acquisition step 210 may in particular be implemented by an application 160 for pooling address books. Such an application 160 can execute at least partially on the terminal 110 or be located on a remote server 170, as shown in Figure 2. An embodiment in which the application is located on a remote server 170 offers the advantage of allowing compatibility with a larger number communication terminals of the market, since, in this case, it is not necessary that the terminal includes means for sharing address books. For example, a remote management of the address book mutualization may be better suited than a local management of the terminal, when the management of the address book of the terminal is relocated, by means of an address book server. for example.

In the case illustrated in FIG. 2, the acquisition step 210 thus comprises a transmission step 211, at the application 160 located on the server 170, of the identification information of each target terminal, obtained during the first time. identification step 200.

In some embodiments, the acquisition step 210 may include a step of checking an access authorization 212 to an address book attached to a target terminal. In fact, the data in this address book "belongs" to the users of the target terminal, whether it is a group of users, in the case of a shared terminal, or a single user, in the case of a more personal terminal such as a mobile phone for example. Since this data is of a private nature, it is therefore necessary to obtain authorization from the user or users of the target terminal to access this address book, for example by means of an interrogation message. transmitted to the target terminal.

It may be that the identification information of the terminal 120 is not sufficient to reach the terminal 120 through the communication network, for example when it is an NFC identifier. In this case, the step 212 for verifying an access authorization includes a substep 213 for obtaining an identifier of the target terminal 120 for the communication network (for example a telephone number, an IP address or internet), implemented by consulting a correspondence table. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the obtaining step 213 consists in consulting a database located on a server 180, matching the identification information obtained from the terminal 120 and the identifier in the network of this terminal. This may be for example a correspondence between an NFC identifier and a network identifier MSISDN (Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number), in the case where the target terminal 120 is a mobile phone.

Following the obtaining 213 of an identifier of the target terminal 120, for example by consulting a database, an interrogation message 214 is sent by the application 160, located according to FIG. 2 on the server 170, to the target terminal 120.

In some embodiments of the method of the invention, the terminal 120 may be configured, by default or by its user 150, to accept or refuse systematically or under certain conditions, access to an address book being attached. In other embodiments, more suited to a target terminal shared by several users, the method comprises a dialog step 215 between the application 160 located on the server 170 and a user 150 of the terminal 120, for example via messages communication network IP or 3G, when the terminal 120 is a mobile terminal.

It may be an exchange of messages of the "SMS" type, or of a connection with a voice server. This dialog allows the user 150 to specify whether he wishes to allow or deny access by a third party equipment to an address book of its terminal 120, permanently, or only for this access.

When the user 150 refuses or authorizes the access permanently, the method may include a memorization of the choice of the user. According to a particular embodiment, this storage can be performed at the terminal 120. According to another embodiment, the storage of the user's response 150 (refusal or permanent access) can be carried out additionally or alternatively by the application 160 on the server 170. The latter embodiment avoids having to obtain a subsequent authorization from the user 150, via the terminal 120, if it is again considered as a target terminal. In this case, the verification step of an access authorization 212 then comprises a step of consulting the stored information.

In the embodiment shown, the method then comprises a step 216 for accessing an address book of the target terminal 120.

It may be an address book stored in the terminal 120 or, as shown in FIG. 2, an address book stored on a server 190, responsible for managing address books, for example a server "NAB" (for Network Address Book).

Thus, in the example presented in FIG. 2, the application 160 queries the server 190 to obtain identifiers of members of the address book of the terminal 120.

The method then comprises a step of adding 218 data obtained from the different address books, in a single address book. This adding step 218 can notably include the addition of data from the address book of the first terminal 110.

In the particular case illustrated in FIG. 2, where the address book of the terminal 110 is also managed by the server 190, the method thus comprises a step 217 of accessing the address book of the terminal 110 by the application 160, to obtain at least one data contained in this address book, which will be added in step 218 to the single address book.

The adding step 218 may also include sorting all the members of the single address book, for example according to the alphabetical order of their label, and deleting the duplicates.

Finally, the method comprises a step 219 of making available to the terminal 110 of the unique address book. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, this provision is made by a transmission by the application 160 of the unique address book to the terminal 110. According to a particular embodiment, the single address book can be constituted temporarily, for example, during the duration of a session initiated by the user 100 on the terminal 110, or until the terminal 110 is rested on its charging base or is turned off, or until a predetermined action of the user 110 is executed.

The unique address book can also enrich the address book of the terminal 110 with the data of the target terminals. In this case, the method comprises a step of storing, in the address book of the terminal 110, data coming from the address books of the target terminals. It can be an addition of the data in an address book of the terminal 110, the user 100 then himself managing any conflicts. It may also be the replacement of an address book of the terminal 110 by the unique address book made available to the user 100, in particular when all the data present in the address book of the user. terminal 110 were added in step 217 to the single address book. This step 220 can be performed after a user validation action 100.

In some embodiments, to the data of the target terminals incorporated in the unique address book, may be added information identifying the target terminal to which these data are attached. It can in particular be the identification information obtained from the terminal 120 (step 200), an identifier obtained by consulting a correspondence table (step 213), a graphic marker associated with this information of identification and / or to this identifier, and / or a textual label, associated with the identifier of the terminal 120 if it is associated with a member of the address book of the terminal 110.

These embodiments thus enable the user to distinguish the embedded data as a function of the target terminals to which they are attached, such as to group them together, or filter them accordingly. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the user 100 may, for example, choose to display on his television the whole of the unique address book at his disposal or only the data attached to the terminal 120. The data filter provision of the user can also be made according to a proximity criterion of the target terminal.

In some embodiments of the method of the invention, a user 150 of a target terminal 120 may specify restrictions on access to data extracted from the address book of his terminal 120. For example, the user 150 can only allow certain specific terminals 110 (for example another terminal of which it has the use or a terminal used by a person in whom it has confidence), to access all the data of the address book or some data more sensitive. These restrictions can in particular be implemented when the management of the address book of the terminal 120, for example by the server 190 according to FIG. 2, makes it possible to mark data as sensitive and / or, alternatively or additionally, thanks to the information stored by the terminal 120 and / or the application 160, and access permissions, for example to deny access from certain terminals or to condition them to the provision of a password.

In some embodiments of the method of the invention, it can be specified a maximum duration of retention of a data item incorporated in the temporary address book made available and / or in the address book of the terminal 110, at the end of which, the data will be automatically erased. This duration can be configured in the access authorization information stored at the terminal 120 and / or by the application 160.

In some embodiments of the invention, the method allows incorporation into the address book of the terminal 110 of all the address book data of all the target terminals. In other embodiments, the method may allow selection of the data to be incorporated. This selection may for example limit the incorporation of the data to the identifiers of members already present in the address book of the terminal 110 (to "complete" the data already associated with this member), or to limit the number of data incorporated, for memory cost or speed constraints, for example.

The selection of the data to be incorporated can also be a function of the context of the terminal

110. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, when the user selects on his television a label (for example: "Dupont") in a text message received, he may request an incorporation of identifiers associated with this message. labeled in an address book of target terminals.

In an alternative embodiment, it may also be possible to incorporate identifiers attached to a target terminal but stored in an information source other than its address book, for example in the call log of the terminal. Neutral wording (eg "None

Name ") can then be attached to this identifier in the unique address book made available.

5.3 Structure of a communication equipment adapted to the implementation of the provisioning method, according to the invention

In connection with FIG. 3, the simplified structure of a communication equipment connectable to a communication network is presented.

Such equipment comprises a memory 41 comprising a buffer memory, a processing unit 42, equipped for example with a μΡ microprocessor, and driven by a computer program 43, the execution of which implements a communication method, according to the invention.

At initialization, the code instructions of the computer program 43 are for example loaded into a RAM before being executed by the processor of the processing unit

42.

The processing unit 42 receives as input a header of a data frame.

The microprocessor of the processing unit 42 implements the steps of the communication method described above, according to the instructions of the computer program 43. For this purpose, the communication equipment comprises, in addition to the buffer memory 41:

means for executing an application for sharing address books; means for receiving, from a first communication terminal 110, identification information of at least one second communication terminal 120; means for incorporating, into a first electronic address book, at least one identifier 130 of an entity appearing in a second electronic address book included in a second electronic address book of the second terminal 110;

means for transmitting to the first terminal 110 of the first electronic address book.

These means are controlled by the microprocessor of the processing unit 42.

Claims

A communication method including a step of providing a first electronic address book to a user (100) of a first communication terminal (110), said method being characterized in that it comprises a step incorporating (140), into said first electronic address book, at least one identifier (130) of an entity contained in a second electronic address book included in at least one second communication terminal (120) .

2. The communication method according to claim 1 characterized in that said step of incorporation (140) is implemented dynamically at the initiative of the first terminal (110).

3. Communication method according to claim 1 characterized in that said step of incorporation (140) comprises a step of adding (218) in said first address book, at least one data contained in a notebook of own addresses to said first terminal.

4. The communication method according to claim 1 characterized in that it further includes a step of identification (200) of the second terminal (120) which originates the identifier incorporated in the first electronic address book.

5. The communication method according to claim 4 characterized in that said identification step (200) is implemented when said second terminal (120) is in proximity to said first terminal (110).

6. The communication method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said step of identifying (200) said second terminal (120) is implemented using means of communication in the near field between said communication terminals (110, 120). .

7. The communication method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the identification step (140) includes a substep of acquisition (210) of an identifier to be incorporated (130) comprising obtaining, from a table correspondence, at least one identifier of said second terminal (120) associated with said identification information of said second terminal.

8. The communication method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the identification step (140) includes a substep of acquisition (210) of an identifier to be incorporated (130), comprising a verification of an authorization. accessing at least a portion of the data of an address book of said second terminal (120).

9. Communication method according to claim 8, characterized in that during the execution of said verification of an access authorization, a dialogue (215) is established with said second terminal (120).

10. The communication method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said verification of an access authorization comprises the consultation of a memorized authorization indication.

11. The communication method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said acquisition step comprises an access to at least one identifier of at least one member of at least one address book of said second terminal (120).

12. Communication terminal (110) comprising means for providing a first electronic address book to a user (100) of said terminal, said terminal (110) being characterized in that it comprises means for incorporating, in said first electronic address book, at least one identifier (130) of an entity contained in a second electronic address book included in at least one other communication terminal (120).

13. Equipment (170) comprising means for executing an address book sharing application (160), said equipment being characterized in that it comprises:

means for receiving, from a first communication terminal (110), identification information of at least one second communication terminal (120); means for incorporating, into a first electronic address book, at least one identifier (130) of an entity appearing in a second electronic address book included in said second communication terminal (120);

transmission means to said first terminal (110) of said first electronic address book.

14. Computer program characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for the implementation of a communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when the program is executed by a processor.