WO2016189130A1

WO2016189130A1 - Method for establishing a telephone connection by means of a smartphone

Info

Publication number: WO2016189130A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/062000
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tim TRESCH; Klaus KUHLHÜSER
Original assignee: Mt App Factory Ug (Haftungsbeschränkt)
Priority date: 2015-05-27
Filing date: 2016-05-27
Publication date: 2016-12-01
Also published as: DE102015108348A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for establishing a telephone connection by means of a smartphone (10), wherein the telephone connection to a telephone line is established upon the input or selection of a line identifier by a user of the smartphone (10). The method is characterized in that a data connection to a server (22) is established by means of a data interface (18) of the smartphone (10), from which server audio data (24) are loaded into the data memory (12) of the smartphone (10), wherein the audio data (24) are played back and the establishment of the telephone connection is delayed until the playback of the audio data (24) has occurred completely or at least partially. The invention further relates to a smartphone (10) and to an application program (20).

Description

The invention relates to a method for establishing a telephone connection by means of a smartphone, wherein the telephone connection to a telephone connection is made on the input or selection of a connection identifier by a user of the smartphone.

When establishing a telephone connection, the time between the dialing of a connection identifier (telephone number) and the answering of the telephone call by the person called represents pure waiting time, ie lost time. During this time, the caller devotes his attention exclusively to making the connection via the telephone line transmitted dial tone, which can sometimes take several minutes. In principle, it would be desirable to make meaningful use of this period, eg for the acoustic transmission of information. Since the caller is waiting for a response from the called party, it can be assumed that the information or messages played during this period are carefully noted by the caller. From the prior art, it is already known, in the period of the connection establishment in place of the dial tone or parallel to the dial tone advertising. Listening to the advertisement may involve a charge / discount for the caller. The disadvantage here is that the advertising and fee reduction fee must be performed by the telecommunications provider. This is complicated and inflexible. The smartphone is today the most important telecommunications device. A smartphone is a mobile phone that simultaneously has the functionality and connectivity of a computer. Smartphones combine the functions of a PDA or tablet computer with the functionality of a mobile phone. In addition, the compact devices also include the function of a portable media player, a digital and video camera and a G PS navigation device. A key feature of modern smartphones is the touch-sensitive screen. Internet pages can be displayed via this. A fast Internet connection is made either by means of a mobile broadband connection via the mobile service provider or via WLAN. An important feature is also that the user can easily install application programs ("apps") via an Internet download portal (an "App Store") that is now available for a wide variety of uses. In principle, a smartphone can follow the technical development via its service life via software and operating system updates.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for establishing a telephone connection by means of a smartphone, a smartphone and an application program, with which a transmission of information, in particular advertising, prior to making a phone call can be easily and efficiently made possible without such a transfer is limited to certain users or telecommunications providers.

This object is achieved by a method with the features of claim 1 and a smartphone with the features of claim 8 and an application program with the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can also be combined with one another in any desired and technologically sensible manner and thus show further embodiments of the invention. The inventive method for establishing a telephone connection by means of a smartphone, wherein the telephone connection to a telephone connection to the input or selection of a connection identifier by A user of the smartphone is characterized, is characterized in that a data connection to the smartphone is made via a data interface to a server from which audio data are loaded into the data memory of the smartphone, the audio data is played back and the production of the telephone connection is delayed until playback of the audio data is complete or at least partial.

For the purposes of the invention, a telephone connection means any type of connection for voice communication (including combined voice / video communication), regardless of the technology of the communication network used. It can be e.g. to connect via a public analog telephone network, an ISDN network, a cellular network (the public cellular mobile services) or an IP telephone connection. Any type of voice communication connection via the Internet (e.g., via the provider Skype) also falls within the concept of telephone connection in the sense of the invention. A telephone connection is understood to mean any access to such a communication network provided with an individual identifier (telephone number, network address, etc.).

For the purposes of the invention, the reproduction of audio data is understood to mean in particular the acoustic reproduction of advertising. However, it is conceivable that instead of advertising messages or in addition to these messages, announcements about current or upcoming events or the like are transmitted. The audio data is not bound to a specific duration. They can be designed in any length.

The invention has the advantage over the prior art that the method can be carried out independently of the telecommunications or mobile service provider. To carry out the method, the user only needs a smartphone. The user may then, for example, download an application program that allows for connection to a server via the Internet holding the audio data using the corresponding data interfaces of the smartphone (eg 3G, LTE, WLAN). The charge preference may be, for example, that the user his bank details in the app or the provider of the service deposited and according to the use of the application program money transferred. It is also conceivable that the user participates in a bonus program of a known type (eg "payback") by using the method.To listen in on the audio data during the connection establishment, the user receives or collects points, which he can later on Redeem time for bonuses or vouchers.

The inventive delay of the connection structure ensures that the user listens as completely as possible to the audio data. In order to ensure complete listening to the audio data, it is advantageous if the telephone connection is made only after the playback of the complete audio data.

But it is also possible to establish the connection already during playback of the audio data. In this case, the telephone connection, for example, after a predetermined period of time, which can be determined by the advertiser is made. Then it is ensured that the audio data are at least partially intercepted. The audio data can advantageously be designed according to content.

To preclude the possibility that the caller does not hear the audio data, for example by holding the smartphone to his ear during the connection setup, the telephone connection is preferably made only after it has been determined by a sensor of the smartphone that the playback of the audio data from the user was listened to. If the user removes his smartphone from the ear, the sensor detects this and passes on this information. Then, for example, the connection can be interrupted. Alternatively, for example, bonus points are not credited. As a sensor, a proximity sensor or even a light sensor or darkening sensor of the smartphone can be used, which is already present in most smartphone types. This is usually used to deactivate the touch-sensitive screen of the smartphone when it is determined that the user holds the smartphone to his ear when making a call. In order to be able to ensure that the audio data are intercepted by the user, a signal which is to be answered by the user can be reproduced as an alternative or in addition to the previously described sensor interrogation during the reproduction or after the reproduction of the audio data. This can be done by the user having to press a specific key or area on the smartphone display. This approach is useful, for example, when the user of the smartphone uses a headset / headset to make a phone call.

Another possibility is to make the establishment of the telephone connection only under the condition that the user before or at the beginning of the playback of the audio data activates a speakerphone or the speaker of the smartphone.

In addition to the audio data, video or image data are preferably also downloaded from the server, which are then reproduced by means of the smartphone. By reproducing the data in both visual and acoustic form, the user is particularly aware of it.

The method is preferably designed such that after termination of the telephone connection, ie after the end of the call, the user is displayed on his smartphone display image and / or video data, which are in particular in connection with the previously reproduced audio data and further information about it contain. The image data may, for example, show the advertised product. The video data can be a commercial. Furthermore, the data shown may include a link that directs the user to an internet site (eg, to an online store through which the advertised product may be obtained). Preferably, the user can delete the reproduced on the smartphone screen image or video by a simple swipe across the screen. It is also possible that the user can save the data on his smartphone and so retrieve it at a later date. Preferably, the production of the data connection to the server and the loading of the audio data and the video or image data in the data memory of the Smartphones temporally independent of the production of the telephone connection. This means that loading the data from the server into the smartphone's data memory can be done in the background, without the user having to make a call. For example, a "supply" of audio data (and possibly also video data) can already be downloaded via the App Store when the corresponding app is installed on the smartphone.Playback of the audio data during or before the establishment of the telephone connection can also take place if At this point in time, a (sufficiently fast) data connection to the server, for example due to the lack of availability of a mobile data network, is not possible This refinement thus offers the advantage that the method can be carried out at any time, irrespective of whether there is a data connection at the time of establishing the telephone connection to the server or not.

Preferably, the method is designed so that when loading and / or during playback of the audio and optionally the video and / or image data, a selection in accordance with a pre-stored profile of the user takes place. For example, the user may provide information about their age, gender and / or interests. This embodiment has advantages for both the user and the advertiser. On the one hand, it ensures that the user automatically gets only data that is of interest to him. He is not bothered with things that do not interest him. On the other hand, it ensures that the advertising reaches the right or desired target group and thus has the desired success. If the user has downloaded an application program on his smartphone in order to carry out the method, then it is possible for him to store the details of his person and / or his interests directly in the application program, ie in the app. However, a pre-stored profile of the user also means such a profile that is created by the third party for the user, such as a profile that an operator of an online shop has for his customers (preferably automatically according to the purchase or "Customer's surfing behavior) in order to make targeted offers tailored to this customer and his interests and / or his shopping behavior. According to the invention, for example such profiles are accessed via the data connection to automatically select corresponding audio data for the user.

The invention further relates to a smartphone having a data memory, an input interface, a telephone interface and a data interface, wherein the smartphone is set up by an application program installed thereon to establish a telephone connection to a telephone connection upon the input or selection of a connection identifier by a user of the smartphone. According to the invention, the application program comprises instructions for carrying out the method according to the invention. It is thus a smartphone per se conventional type that is set up by installing a corresponding app for performing the method according to the invention.

Furthermore, the invention relates to an application program for a smartphone, with instructions for carrying out the method according to the invention. In particular, the application program is a mobile app that can be easily downloaded by the user from a central platform, such as the App Store (iOS), Google Play, or the Windows Phone Store.

The invention and the technical environment will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the figures show a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. In particular, the invention includes, as far as is technically feasible, any combination of the technical features that are listed in the claims or described in the description as being relevant to the invention.

Show it:

Representation of the method according to the invention in a configuration as a block diagram, Fig. 2 representation of the invention

Method in a further embodiment as a block diagram,

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a smartphone according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the method according to the invention as a block diagram in a possible embodiment. In a first step, the input or the selection of a connection identifier by the user of the smartphone. For this purpose, the user either enters the number to be called into his smartphone or selects it from his address book stored in the smartphone. In a next step, a data connection to a server via the Internet takes place via a data interface (for example LTE, WLAN) of the smartphone. In a next step, audio data (e.g., advertising) is loaded into a data memory of the smartphone. The audio data loaded into the data memory is then played back via the corresponding audio hardware of the smartphone, e.g. over the built-in speaker or earphone used when making a call. According to FIG. 1, the telephone connection is established only after the audio data has been completely reproduced. However, it is also possible according to the invention for the telephone connection to be produced during playback of the audio data. If the telephone connection has been terminated again, this can take place both actively and passively, image and / or video data are reproduced in the user's smartphone display. Ideally, these data relate to previously played audio data. The user can remove the video or image data by swiping the display again.

FIG. 2 shows a representation of a method according to the invention in a further embodiment. To carry out the method according to the invention, the production of the data connection to the server does not necessarily have to take place only after the entry of a connection identifier. The loading of the audio data can already be done at an earlier, arbitrary point in time, that is to say before the dialing of a telephone number, so that the audio data is already stored in the data memory of the smartphone when a connection identifier is entered are and after input of the connection identifier by the user can be played back directly. This embodiment has the advantage that at the time of the call a connection to a server does not necessarily have to exist. The preparation of a telephone connection takes place according to the figure 2 in part already during the playback of the audio data.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a smart phone 10 according to the invention in one possible embodiment. The smartphone 10 has a data memory 12, an input interface 14, in particular in the form of a touchscreen, a telephone interface 16 (for example GSM) and a data interface 18 (for example LTE, 3G, WLAN). Furthermore, an application program (an app) 20 is installed on the smartphone 10. The application program 20 is in particular designed such that it can access the data memory 12, the input interface 14, the telephone interface 16 and the data interface 18 of the smartphone 10, as a result of which the method according to the invention can be carried out. A data connection to a server 22 is established via the data interface 18. Among other things, the server 22 loads audio data 24 into the data memory 12 of the smartphone 10. When establishing a telephone connection according to the invention, the application program 20 delays the connection establishment, accesses the data memory 12 and further controls the reproduction of the audio data 24.

The smartphone 10 may have a sensor 26, with which it is possible to determine whether the user holds the smartphone 10 to his ear during connection setup and accordingly hears the audio data 24 completely. As a sensor 10, an already integrated in the smartphone 10 approach or darkening sensor is well. From the detection of the listening of the audio data 24 by means of the sensor 26 makes the application program 20 depends on whether, for example, the telephone connection is made at all. Possibly. The application program 20 does not start playback of the audio data 24 until the sensor 26 determines that the smartphone 10 is being held to the ear. Alternatively, by means of the application program 20, it can be made dependent on the recognition of the listening of the audio data 24 by means of the sensor 26, whether the user receives points within a bonus program or not.

- Claims -

Claims

claims

1 . A method for establishing a telephone connection by means of a smartphone (10), wherein the telephone connection to a telephone connection is made on the input or selection of a connection identifier by a user of the smartphone (10),

characterized in that via a data interface (18) of the smartphone (10) a data connection to a server (22) is produced from the audio data (24) in the data memory (12) of the smartphone (10) are loaded, wherein the audio data (24 ) and the production of the telephone connection is delayed until the reproduction of the audio data (24) has taken place completely or at least partially, wherein the reproduction of the audio data (24) occurs in part before the establishment of the telephone connection and partly during the production of the telephone connection, especially during a dial tone, whereby the playback is stopped as soon as the telephone connection is made.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the telephone connection is made only after it has been determined by means of a sensor (26) of the smartphone (10) that the playback of the audio data (24) has been intercepted by the user.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor (26) is a proximity sensor or a light sensor.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the production of the telephone connection under the Condition is that the user activates a handsfree function of the smartphone (10) before or at the beginning of playback of the audio data (24).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that from the server (22) at least one record is downloaded, comprising the audio data (24) and video and / or image data, wherein the video or image data during the existence of the telephone connection and / or after the termination of the telephone connection on a display of the smartphone (10) are displayed.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the preparation of the data connection to the server (22) and the loading of the audio data (24) in the data memory (12) of the smartphone (10) from the production of the telephone connection in time independently.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when loading and / or during playback of the audio (24) and possibly the video and / or image data is a selection in accordance with a pre-stored profile of the user ,

8. Smartphone (10) with a data memory (12), an input interface (14), a telephone interface (1 6) and a data interface (18), wherein the smartphone (10) is set up by an application program (20) installed thereon Establish a telephone connection to a telephone line upon input or selection of a line code by a user of the smartphone (10);

characterized in that the application program (20) comprises instructions for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

9. application program (20) for a smartphone (10), with instructions for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

- Summary -