WO2018235090A1

WO2018235090A1 - Systems and methods for executing selected interactive programs over a phone call

Info

Publication number: WO2018235090A1
Application number: PCT/IL2018/050693
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lior SHACHAM; Ofir Oron
Original assignee: Pick Up Mobile (2015) Ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-22
Filing date: 2018-06-24
Publication date: 2018-12-27

Abstract

A system and method for executing selected interactive program on a recipient's phone device over a phone call, comprising a selection component for selecting interactive program to be executed, a communication component for sending data between a Caller and recipient's device; an interactive program enabling interaction between recipient's device and Caller;an Execution Batch containing rules for executing the interactive program, wherein at least one rule is related to a phone call event, and a monitoring component for monitoring the fulfilment of said Execution Batch rules.

Description

Systems and Methods for Executing Selected Interactive Programs over a Phone Call

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a system and methods for executing interactive programs and more specifically, relates to methods for executing interactive programs over a phone call.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Phone calls are one of the largest means of long distance communications. Technically speaking, phone calls are transmissions of audio signals between at least 2 phone enabling devices via a telecommunication network.

Despite the emergence and evolution of the Internet as a potential medium for audio communication, the traditional telephone networks are in wide coverage around the globe for facilitating such audio communication. The telephone networks can facilitate low-latency and high-quality phone calls internationally providing a unique identifier (the phone number) to each and any phone device across the entire network.

Although telephony provides an effective means for audio communication, many day- to-day scenarios that involve phone calls, require other types of communication that are currently not available through the telephony.

Such communications can involve authorising purchases, confirm appointments, describing procedures, filling in forms, sharing written or visual information, sharing location data and many more. Performing such communications, which are in many cases a critical part of the communication, over a phone call with an audio channel only is complicated and inefficient. Such kind of audio only communication is also prone to mistakes and misunderstandings and involves wastage of resources. Therefore, communicating in such scenarios through an interactive visual user interface, or digital channel is highly preferential.

While it's possible to generate parallel visual channel through the use of a link, sent by a caller to a recipient via an email or a text message, this method has several deficiencies: For accessing the interactive visual or digital interface via a link, the client is required to actively interact with the link. This action is prone to failure due to various reasons such as lack of trust in the sender, technical difficulties, complication, and more. Thus, a different approach is sought that will overcome the deficiencies in the field and that shall effectively provide a user with access to a selected visual or digital interaction option over an event of a phone call.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A system for executing selected interactive program on a recipient's phone device over a phone call, comprising:

a. A selection component for selecting interactive program to be executed. b. A communication component for sending data between a Caller and recipient's device.

c. An interactive program enabling interaction between recipient's device and Caller. d. An Execution Batch containing rules for executing the interactive program, wherein at least one rule is related to a phone call event.

e. A monitoring component for monitoring the fulfilment of said Execution Batch rules.

Wherein on, or after, fulfilling said rules in said Execution Batch that is on said recipient's phone device, triggering the execution of said interactive program on said recipient's phone device; interacting between a user of said recipient's phone device and said caller through said interactive program, with the option to maintain said phone call concurrently. A method for executing selected interactive program on a recipient's phone device over a phone call, comprising the steps of:

a. Selecting interactive program to be executed on a recipient's phone device b. Sending said interactive program to said phone device.

c. Sending Execution Batch containing rules for executing the interactive program, wherein at least one rule is related to a phone call event at the recipient's device.

d. Monitoring the fulfilment of said Execution Batch rules.

e. Executing said selected interactive program over a phone call.

Wherein on, or after, fulfilling said rules in said Execution Batch that is on said recipient's phone device, triggering the execution of said interactive program on said recipient's phone device; interacting between a user of said recipient's phone device and said caller through said interactive program, with the option to maintain said phone call concurrently.

As the astute reader shall understand, performing the system and methods disclosed above, and any additional system and methods disclosed herein, would allow to overcome the above described deficiencies in the field.

It is within the provision of the invention that either before, in the begging, during, or immediately after the phone call the caller sends an additional interactive program and Execution Batch; wherein, the additional Execution Batch contains instructions to terminate any running interactive program and execute a given interactive program. It is within the provision of the invention that the step of initiating a phone call is performed by said caller, such that the caller initiates a phone call barring a phone number, or a phone id to said recipient's phone device; wherein the Execution Batch in the step of providing an Execution Batch, contains a rule that involves the phone number of said caller, such that the recipient's phone device identifies the phone number of an incoming phone call, and further upon fulfilling said rules in said Execution Batch, triggers the execution of said interactive program.

It is within the provision of the invention that the step of initiating a phone call is performed by said recipient's phone device, such that said recipient's phone device initiates a phone call to a phone number connected to said caller; wherein the 85 Execution Batch in the step of providing an Execution Batch, contains a rule that involves the phone number connected to said caller, such that the recipient's phone device identifies said phone number an outgoing phone call, and further upon fulfilling said rules in said Execution Batch, triggers the execution of said interactive program.

90 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system for performing the methods of the present invention.

95 FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting software modules for use in conjunction of methods of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting an exemplary method for a script for the Execution Batch.

100 FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting an exemplary method for a script for the Execution Batch.

FIG. 6 is a wireframe diagram depicting a user interface of an exemplary interactive program.

FIG. 7 is a wireframe diagram depicting a user interface of an exemplary interactive 105 program.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates the system in one embodiment. 110 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, and so on, are not described in detail.

115 Referring initially to Fig. 1. The system depicted in this figure includes a caller 100 and a recipient's phone device 130. The arrows 105 represent transmittal of an interactive program and an Execution Batch from the caller 100 to the recipient's phone device 130 through the internet, or any other communication channel 110. The arrows 115 represent a phone call initiated by the caller 100 to the recipient's phone

120 device 130 through a telephone network, PTSN, a cellular network, a local area network (LAN), a voice over IP protocol (VOIP), a rich communication service protocol (RCS) or a video telephony protocol. 120.

It should be mentioned that in some embodiments of the present invention, the functionality of the invention is performed by initiating a phone call by said recipient's 125 phone device to a caller or a destination connected to said caller.

An Execution Batch is a file containing a script or an algorithm that describes the rules for executing the interactive program.

The interactive program is preferably a file containing a set of instructions to be executed by an application installed on the recipient phone device.

130 The term "interactive" refers both to interactions between the program and the user through a user interface, and to interactions between the program, or recipient's device and the caller 100. This feature can be achieved by opening a connection between the running interactive program and the caller 100.

The caller 100 is a computer capable of performing standard computations, transmittal 135 of information via a communication channel, and initiating phone calls via a phone network. The caller 100 may be a dedicated computer physically located on the premises of the party performing the phone calls. The caller 100 may be also configured virtually on computers of distant cloud service providers. It is within the provision of the present invention that the caller is a computer running a CRM or any

140 other software solution systems paired to an IP-PBX telephony system, and any of the following: a short message service (SMS), an email, an API, a multi-media service (MMS), an instant messaging (EVI), a cellular network, a local area network (LAN), an Internet protocol (IP), a voice over IP protocol (VOIP), a rich communication service protocol (RCS) or a video telephony protocol, capable of initiating and receiving

145 phone calls and connected to the internet or a communication channel for transmitting information, such as interactive programs and Execution Batches in use with the present invention.

In this regard, the term "a destination connected to the caller " means a phone number that is connected to the caller by a telephony call router such as an IP-PBX telephony 150 system. Such that a phone call from a recipient's phone device is collected by the call router and registered by the caller.

The recipient's phone device 130 is a computerized device capable of receiving phone calls from a phone network, performing standard computations, transmittal of information via the internet, or other communication channel and capable of 155 interaction with its user via a user interface.

It should be mentioned that any technology names mentioned in the present disclosure (e.g., VOIP, RCS, etc) are used for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. It should be understood that the present invention is intended to work with existing technologies and with future equivalent 160 technologies.

Referring to Fig. 2. The figure depicts a recipient's phone device 200 having at least one program installed comprising the following modules: a. The push file receiving module 210 identifies packages of information that are received and that conform to predefined conventions. The packages are 165 received via at least one of the following: telephone network (PSTN), a short message service (SMS), an email, an API, a multi media service (MMS), an instant messaging (EVI), a cellular network, a local area network (LAN), an Internet protocol (IP), a voice over IP protocol (VOIP), a rich communication service protocol (RCS) or a video telephony protocol.

The push file receiving module then, indexes the conforming packages of information, extracts the Execution Batch and loads it to the monitoring module 220.

For example, the push file receiving module maintains an open connection to the caller listening and identifying received files. b. The monitoring module 220 loads Execution Batches and monitors various data feeds in the recipient's phone device 200 (e.g., feeds from the phone call module 240) against rules written in said Execution Batches. When the rules listed in any loaded Execution Batch are fulfilled, the monitoring module loads the interactive program that corresponds to the fulfilled Execution Batch, into the executing module. c. The executing module 230 loads an interactive program and executes it. The executing module 230 has various interfaces and permissions with the operating system of the recipient's phone device 200 so as to enable proper function of the interactive program.

In some embodiments, the executing module also contains visual assets and elements (e.g., text boxes, input fields, actionable buttons, etc) for assembling any user interface, such that the interactive program contains only a set of instructions expressed in a compatible scripting language and any unique assets and texts that are relevant to the specific phone call. d. The phone call module 240 may be a standard native phone call application for handling phone calls via the PSTN or a module for use in a dedicated application that bundles the push file receiving module 210 and the monitoring module 220.

The depicted program may be software downloaded and installed by a user of said recipient's phone device, may be part of the operating system of said recipient's phone device, or part of firmware in a component of said recipient's phone device. The programs configure the processing circuitry of the device to perform various methods and actions as described above and below in the present inventon.

Referring to Fig. 3. Depicted is a method for executing interactive programs on a 200 recipient's phone device during a phone call with a destination connected to a caller comprising the following steps: a. Providing at least one interactive program 301.

This step may be performed by such methods as selecting an interactive program from a database containing a plurality of such interactive programs, and as 205 assembling an interactive program from an assortment of instructions and modules located in a dedicated database. b. Providing an Execution Batch containing rules for executing said at least one interactive program, wherein at least one rule involves a phone number of a caller in an incoming phone call 302.

210 This step may be performed by such methods as selecting an Execution Batch from a database containing a plurality of such Execution Batches, and as assembling an Execution Batch from an assortment of instructions located in a dedicated database. c. Transmitting said at least one interactive program and said Execution Batch to a 215 recipient's phone device 303.

This step is performed by said caller and may be performed through various known networks and network protocols capable of file transfer. The transmittal of said at least one interactive program and said Execution Batch is preferably performed by utilizing push technology but it should be noted that other 220 equivalent means are also within the scope of the present invention, such as, pulling from caller, through updating the client software installed on the recipient phone device, and through installing updates to the operating system.

In another example, an interactive program and an Execution Batch may be sent by SMS or another form of messaging. Embodiments of the present invention that employ transmittal of files as SMS attachments, utilize a push file receiving module 210 that monitors incoming SMS messages for files conforming to predefined conventions.

It is within the provision of the invention that this step is performed at any time near the event of initiating a phone call to the client phone device. It is within the provision of the invention that this step is performed during the event of initiating a phone call to the client phone device.

It is within the provision of the invention that this step is performed concurrently with initially providing the client phone device with a software client comprising modules such as the monitoring module 220 and the executing module 230. It is within the provision of the invention that said interactive program and said Execution Batch may be downloaded in a bundle with the software including the software modules in a bundle or pushed in any time after the download of the software to client phone device.

Monitoring the client phone device for fulfillment of said rules in said Execution Batch 304.

This step may be performed using a software module as the monitoring module 220.

Initiating a phone call bearing said calling phone number to said client phone device via a phone network 305.

This step may be performed by such means as a CRM or any other software solutions systems paired with an IP-PBX or other telephony system.

Wherein, on fulfilling said rules in said Execution Batch that is on said client phone device, triggering the execution of said interactive program on said client phone device 306.

This step may be performed using a software module as the executing module 230.

Interacting between a user of said client phone device and said caller through said interactive program and through said phone call concurrently 307.

Interaction between said user and the caller may be performed in various 255 scenarios. In one such scenario, the user interacts with a human service representative by both a phone call and with a computerized interface between the phone device and the caller. In another scenario, there is no human service representative involved, and the caller doubles both as means for performing the previous steps in the method and as means for interacting with said user using 260 pre-programmed actions and methods.

The above method opens a dual channel of communication between client phone device and caller: human language via the phone call; computer interaction via the interactive program.

Referring to Fig. 4. Depicted is an exemplary method for triggering execution of an 265 interactive program. In some embodiments of the invention, this method is expressed in a chosen scripting language readable by the software installed on a recipient phone device as part of the present invention.

The method comprises the steps of:

1. Initiating a countdown timer having a given time frame 401. 270 In some embodiments a time frame

2. While countdown timer did not run out, monitoring client phone device for an incoming phone call bearing a caller number that is at least similar to a given phone number 402.

This step may be implemented by a method that reads the last several digits of 275 an incoming phone number and compares them in an orderly fashion to an array containing same number of last digits of a given phone number. This implementation allows for identifying international phone calls having different area pre-fixes.

3. If an incoming phone call was identified as bearing a caller number that is at 280 least similar to a given phone number, executing an interactive program with a given name 404 and terminating process 405; else, if the countdown timer run out, deleting an interactive program with a given name 404 and terminating process 405.

It should be noted that in the script of this embodiment, the step of executing is 285 performed by signaling the executing module 230 to load and execute an interactive program with a given name.

The above method enables to execute a correct interactive application that is relevant to the subject of the incoming call.

Referring to Fig. 5. Depicted is an exemplary method for triggering execution of an 290 interactive program. In some embodiments of the invention, this method is expressed in a chosen scripting language readable by the software installed on a client phone device as part of the present invention.

The method comprises the steps of:

1. Monitoring a client phone device for receipt of a notification indicating an 295 identifier of a certain Execution Batch 501.

Preferably, the notification may be sent to the client phone device utilizing any kind of push technology. In some embodiments the notification may be sent using instant messaging (e.g., SMS messages).

2. With receipt of said notification, executing an Execution Batch with a name 300 identical to the name indicated in said notification 502.

3. initiating a countdown timer having a given short time frame 503.

The term "Short" in this step describes a time frame that is short enough to minimize mistakes that might occur from incoming unidentified phone calls from other unintended sources, while still being long enough for accounting of 305 delays in initiating phone calls from the caller. In some embodiments, a time frame of 30 seconds is suitable for achieving the aforementioned purpose.

4. While countdown timer did not run out, monitoring client phone device for an incoming phone call with an unidentified phone number 504. 5. If an incoming phone call was identified as having an unidentified phone 310 number, executing an interactive program with a given name 505 and terminating process 506; else, if the countdown timer run out, deleting an interactive program with a given name 505 and terminating process 506.

The above method enables to execute a correct interactive application that is relevant 315 to the subject of an expected incoming call.

It should be noted that during an ongoing phone call different interactive programs may be run in sequence one after another. Therefore, Execution Batches that trigger a second interactive application after a first interactive application was terminated, are also within the provision of the invention.

320 Referring to Fig. 6. Depicted is a wireframe of a user interface 600 of an exemplary interactive program that contains: a logo 610 of the organization performing the call; a textual communication 620 instructing a user to take action; and a plurality of actionable buttons 630.

After the user of the client phone device presses one of the actionable buttons, the 325 interactive program shall transmit the action to the caller which in turn, shall instruct the telephone exchange that initiated the phone call to switch the recipient's phone call to the chosen destination.

Referring to Fig. 7. Depicted is a wireframe of a user interface 700 of an exemplary interactive program that contains: a textual communication 710 instructing a user to 330 take action; a textual information 720; a free-form input field 730, and an action button 740.

As can be seen, some embodiments of the present invention allow initiating a process of ordering various products and services via a visual user interface upon the receipt of an incoming phone call to a client phone device.

335 Any information gathered through the user interface of the interactive program is uploaded to server and may be categorized and indexed in a database for further use.

The upload of the gathered information may be after the interactive program ended or by actively streaming the information in real-time.

It should be mentioned that some embodiments of the present invention enable the 340 caller to control the run-time of the interactive program through the active data connection between the caller and the client phone device.

The practical use of the above feature is apparent through the following example: after entering a signature and pressing send, the client asks vocally the operator on the other side of the phone call to review again the terms of the loan, the operator orders the 345 caller through his interface to bring up the previous stage of the interactive program; the caller instructs the interactive program to go to the previous stage.

Referring to Fig. 8. Depicted is a method for executing interactive programs on a client phone device during a phone call with a destination connected to a caller comprising the following steps:

350 a. Providing at least one interactive program 801.

b. Providing an Execution Batch containing rules for executing said at least one interactive program, wherein at least one rule involves initiating a phone call to a phone number connected to said caller 802. c. Transmitting said at least one interactive program and said Execution Batch to a 355 client phone device 803. d. Monitoring the client phone channels for fulfillment of said rules in said Execution Batch 804. e. Initiating a phone call to a phone number connected to said caller via a PSTN

805.

360 f. Wherein, on or after fulfilling said rules in said Execution Batch that is on said client phone device, triggering the execution of said interactive program on said client phone device 806. g. Interacting between a user of said client phone device and said caller through said interactive program and through said phone call concurrently 807. 365 Referring to Fig. 9. The system in one embodiment which is depicted in this figure includes a selection component 930 for selecting interactive program to be executed, a communication component 950 for sending data between a Caller 940 and recipient's device 980 that can communicate over a phone network 960; an interactive program 910 enabling interaction between recipient's device and Caller; an Execution Batch

370 920 containing rules for executing the interactive program, wherein at least one rule is related to a phone call event, and a monitoring component 970 for monitoring the fulfilment of said Execution Batch rules and leading to executing of the interactive program after said rules fulfillment.

It should be noted that in one embodiment of the invention, a single caller 375 computerized device runs the components 930, 931, 932. In another embodiment of the invention, the components 930, 931, 932 are run upon a distant computerized device (e.g., server) that connects caller and recipient devices.

A user interface 931 and an API 932, both connected to the selection component, are enabling manual or logical rule-based selection of interactive programs and execution 380 batches to be executed over the call.

In one embodiment of the invention the selection leads to the sending of selected element, or to the execution of a selected element, already at the receiving device, by means of communicating the selection by a communication or telephone channel.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has 385 been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

390

Claims

1. A system for executing selected interactive program on a recipient phone device over a phone call, comprising a. a recipient phone device having processing circuitry configured to: identify a package of information that is received and that conforms to predefined conventions; monitor various data feeds in the recipient phone device for fulfillment of rules written in an Execution Batch received that was received in said package of information; when said rules in said Execution Batch are fulfilled, execute an interactive program that corresponds to said fulfilled Execution Batch; interact between said recipient phone device and a caller device through said interactive program and through a phone call concurrently; b. a computerized device having processing circuitry configured to: provide at least one interactive program; provide an Execution Batch containing rules for executing said at least one interactive program, wherein at least one rule involves a phone number of a caller in an incoming phone call; transmit said at least one interactive program and said Execution Batch to a recipient phone device; initiate a phone call bearing said calling phone number to said recipient phone device.

2. A system for executing selected interactive program on a recipient's phone device over a phone call, comprising: a. a selection component for selecting interactive program to be executed;

b. a communication component for sending data between Caller and recipient's device; c. an interactive program enabling interaction between recipient's device and Caller; d. an Execution Batch containing rules for executing the interactive program, wherein at least one rule is related to a phone call event at the recipient's device, e. a monitoring component for monitoring the fulfilment of said Execution Batch rules.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the selection component is connected to a user interface that enables the caller to select an interactive program.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the selection component is connected to an API that enables the selection of an interactive program according to logical rules.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the interactive program is a code specifying interactive actions to be performed by a computer program on the recipient's device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the Caller is a server, a phone device, a phone system, a phone channel or a phone API.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication component is connected to at least one of the following: a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a short message service (SMS), an email, an API, a multi media service (MMS), an instant messaging (EVI), a cellular network, a local area network (LAN), an Internet protocol (IP), a voice over IP protocol (VOIP), a rich communication service protocol (RCS) or a video telephony protocol.

8. The Execution Batch of claim 1 wherein the unique identifier is a unique identifier of the Interactive program, the recipient, the recipient's device, or the timing to be executed.

9. The interactive program of claim 1 wherein the interactive program consists transmission of data provided by recipient's device or caller system, such as device sensors data, data stored on the device, or data accessible by the device, or system.

10. A method for executing selected interactive program on a recipient's phone device over a phone call, comprising: a. selecting interactive program to be executed on a recipient's phone device b. sending said interactive program to said phone device; c. sending Execution Batch containing rules for executing the interactive program, wherein at least one rule is related to a phone call event at the recipient's device; d. monitoring the fulfilment of said Execution Batch rules e. Executing said selected interactive program over a phone call.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the interactive program is executed at the event of the call entering the recipient's device, during the call, or shortly after the call terminates.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the interaction between recipient' s device and Caller is done by one or more of the calling parties, and/ or by the devices of the calling parties.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the interaction between recipient' s device and Caller is a done by a graphic or a voice interface presented over the device's native graphic or voice interface or embedded into the device's native interface, either in the begging, during, or immediately after the phone call.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein a unique identifier enables a selection of a specific Interactive program to be executed for a specific call, or a specific set of calls.

15. The method claim 14 wherein the unique identifier is relating to a phone call event at the recipient's device, such as a phone call of specific phone numbers, phone extension, phone Id's and contact id's.

16. The method of of claim 14 wherein the unique identifier is a unique identifier of the Interactive program, the recipient, the recipient's device, or the timing to be executed.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the unique identifier is communicated to the device by the system prior to the execution of the Interactive program.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the interaction consists of transmission of data provided by recipient's device or caller system, such as device sensors data , data stored on the device, or data accessible by the device, or system.