WO2019119285A1

WO2019119285A1 - Method for inserting a web address in a message on a terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2019119285A1
Application number: PCT/CN2017/117389
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nan Ye; Jie Wan; Meng SUO
Original assignee: Orange SA
Current assignee: Orange SA
Priority date: 2017-12-20
Filing date: 2017-12-20
Publication date: 2019-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-20
Also published as: WO2019123006A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for inserting a web address in a message being inputted on a terminal (1), the method comprising the following steps, performed by a processing unit (11) of the terminal (1) : analyzing (a) the message so as to detect a reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address in the message; retrieving (b) a set of at least one web address stored in the terminal (1); and inserting (d), in the message, a web address from the retrieved set of at least one web address.

Description

Method for inserting a web address in a message on a terminal

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of message inputting on terminals. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for sharing web addresses when inputting a message on a terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recent terminals, more especially mobile terminals such as smartphones, are able to browse the internet, and the users often want to share web addresses, i.e. addresses of pages they have encountered, under the form of the URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) of these pages, generally called “links” , for instance https: //boutique. orange. fr/nouveautes/nouvel-iphone/.

Yet, input methods used for drafting messages such as SMS or e-mails on a terminal are adapted for natural language, i.e. words separated by spaces, and absolutely not for URLs which have a complex and unusual structure.

When typing the message using a keyboard (physical or virtual) , the user needs to input most of the characters of the address one by one, at least the non-alphanumerical characters (symbols such as “/” , “. ” ) .

When typing the message using voice recognition, this even becomes worse: The user has to speak out each character in the web address first, and if voice recognizer could not recognize all of them correctly, each character has to be checked in the web address from the start to correct the wrong ones.

In some cases, some websites or applications implement “sharing” buttons causing the URL to be copied in the clipboard, which enables the user to paste it in the message. In the absence of such a button, the user can also manually highlight the address and copy it in the clipboard.

However, in both cases, while the web address insertion efficiency is somehow improved, such methods remain unpractical as the user has to switch applications twice, and maybe needs to perform an additional manual highlight. Furthermore, such methods are not compatible with voice input for a text message.

There is consequently a need for an improved method for sharing web addresses, which can be more user-friendly and less time consuming for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For these purposes, the present invention provides a method for inserting a web address in a message on a terminal, the method comprising the following steps, performed by a processing unit of the terminal:

analyzing the message so as to detect a reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address in the message; retrieving a set of at least one web address stored in the terminal; and

inserting, in the message, a web address from the retrieved set of at least one web address.

As it will be shown, this allows directly providing the user with candidate web addresses among which he just has to choose. There no need for cumbersome typing/voicing of the address, or for multiple switching of applications up to retrieve the web address to be shared.

Preferred but non limiting features of the present invention are as follow:

· The method further comprises displaying, on a screen of the terminal the retrieved set of at least one web address for selection by a user, the inserted web address being the web address selected by the user;

· the set of at least one web address stored in the terminal comprises at least one web address used in an opened tab of at least one web browser installed on the terminal;

· the set of at least one web address stored in the terminal comprises at least one web address included in a history file of at least one web browser installed on the terminal;

· the set of at least one web address stored in the terminal comprises at least one web address included in the clipboard of the terminal;

· analyzing the message comprises comparing the message with each of a predetermined list of reference wordings representative of an intent of inserting a web address;

· the analyzing step comprises inputting the message, the message being dynamically analyzed;

· the message is typed or voice inputted;

· the terminal is a mobile terminal, in particular a smartphone.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a terminal comprising a processing unit being configured to:

- analyze a message being inputted on the terminal so as to detect a reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address;

- retrieve a set of at least one web address stored in the terminal; and

- insert, in the message, a web address from the retrieved set of at least one web address.

Preferred but non limiting features of the present invention are as follow:

· the terminal further comprises a screen, the processing unit being configured to instruct the screen to display the retrieved set of at least one web address for selection by the user, the inserted web address being a web address selected by the user;

· the terminal is a mobile terminal.

According to a third and a fourth aspects, the invention provides a computer program product, comprising code instructions for executing a method according to the first aspect for inserting a web address in a message on a mobile terminal, when executed by a processing unit of a mobile terminal; and a computer-readable medium, on which is stored a computer program product comprising code instructions for inserting a web address in a message on a mobile terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

- figure 1 illustrates an example of architecture in which the method according to the invention is performed; and

- figures 2 and 3 illustrate two embodiments of a method for inserting a web address in a message according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Architecture

The present invention relates to a method for operating a terminal as represented by figure 1.

More precisely, the present method is for drafting a text message, in particular for inserting a web address in a message on such a terminal. As explained, the web addresses are addresses of web pages, generally under the form of URLs, but also other URIs (Uniform Resources Identifiers) such as URNs (Uniform Resource Names) , or possibly direct IP addresses of web servers.

The terminal 1 is a device comprising a processing unit 11, i.e. a CPU (one or more processors) , a memory 12 (for example flash memory) , and a screen 13 (preferably touch sensitive) for user interface. The memory 12 is in particular for storing applications, which can be of various types, as well as data.

The terminal 1 also typically comprises a battery, in particular a rechargeable battery (for instance lithium polymer) , for powering the processing unit 11 and other units.

The terminal 1 may further comprise other units such as a location unit for providing location data representative of the position of the terminal 1 (using for example GPS, network triangulation, etc. ) , a communication unit for connecting (in particular wirelessly) the terminal 1 to a network 20 (for example WiFi, Bluetooth, and preferably a mobile network, in particular a GSM/UMTS/LTE network, see below) , etc.

Indeed, the terminal 1 is typically a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop, etc. In the following description the example of a smartphone will be used.

For the sake of simplicity, a mobile terminal 1 is illustrated in figure 1, and discussed in the following part of the description. However, the present invention can be applied to any other type of terminals, on which a message can be inputted, such as a PC, a TV or a car display with some input interface, for instance.

Message input

Referring now to figures 2 and 3, which illustrate two embodiments of the method according to the present invention, the present method is typically performed by the processing unit 11 of the terminal 1, and may be implemented either by a messaging application of the terminal (a SMS client, an e-mail client, chat application, Whatsapp, etc. ) or directly by the operating system. As it will be explained, the present method allows inserting a web address within a message without exiting the messaging application.

By “message” , it is meant any text intended to be sent to another user, so as to share (among others) one or more web addresses. The example of SMS will be described in the present application, but the invention is not limited to this sole kind of message.

When the user wants to draft a message on the terminal 1, (s) he may either type this message (using a physical keyboard or preferably a virtual keyboard, i.e. a “soft keyboard” provided on the screen 13) , or voice input it (using a microphone and software for voice recognition) , the present invention applying indifferently for both cases.

Intent to insert a web address

The present method may thus be triggered when a user starts to input a message on terminal 1, be it through a typing input or a voice input for instance. However, the present invention is not limited to these specific ways of inputting messages and can apply to other ways of inputting messages (for instance using hand or arm movement) .

This message is first analyzed (step a) , typically by the processing unit 11, so as to detect, in this message, a reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address in the message.

This analysis may be performed dynamically as the message is inputted. In other words, the message can be dynamically analyzed every time a certain number of words, a word or even a character, is inputted to be added to the message which is under preparation, so as to detect a reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address in this message.

By “reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address” , it is meant one or more words and/or a pattern, i.e. keywords, indicating that a web address is likely to be further inserted. In other words, after having typed this reference wording, the user is expected to type an address.

For instance, “the link is” , “the page is” , “look at this link” , “here is the link” , “see this website” , etc. are reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address. More generically, patterns such as “ [this/there/here] +is+the+ [link/page/website] ” , “ [see/look at/check] + [the/this] + [link/page/website] ” are also reference wordings.

In a preferred embodiment, there is a list of predetermined reference wordings representative of an intent to insert a web address (such a list being for instance stored in the memory 12) . These references words are searched for within the text already inputted. Such a list may be updated for instance by the user, or from a server 10 of the network 20.

Alternatively, to avoid any risk of confusion, in particular in case of voice input, the reference wording can be a unique clear phrase for voluntarily insert a web address, like “Please now insert a link” .

Address selection

When the result of the message analysis is positive (in other words when a reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address is detected during such a message analysis) , the retrieving (step b) of a set of at least one web address stored in the terminal 1 is triggered. This retrieving is typically performed by the processing unit 11. In case of voice input, step (b) may also pause the voice recognition.

This set of at least one web address stored in the terminal 1 (typically in its memory 12) is preferably a set of web addresses the user has already come across when using his terminal 1.

Indeed, it may be assumed that the user knows the content of the web page which the user wishes to share the address. In other words, the user has already accessed to this page, so that the address has already been “come across” by the user and is somehow stored in the terminal 1.

This set of web addresses advantageously comprises one or more of:

- one or more (preferably all) web addresses of opened tabs of at least one web browser installed on the terminal 1;

- one or more web addresses included in a history file of at least one web browser installed on the mobile terminal (i.e. at least a part of the list of pages recently visited as recorded by the web browser) , for instance the last hour history;

- one or more web addresses included in the clipboard (i.e. copied by the user) .

Other sources of addresses are possible, such as web addresses present in other messages received by the user (i.e. shared with him) , like SMS or e-mails. This kind of information may also be collected from any application which may be most likely to contain URLs, like a News application.

It is to be noted that the processing unit 11 may search for stored web addresses when detecting the reference wording (i.e. generate the set of web addresses by searching for such stored web addresses) or dynamically manage (in the memory 12) a list thereof for efficiently performing the retrieving step (b) (which is thus only accessing the list) .

If for instance a single web address is retrieved (i.e. the set contains only one web address) , as illustrated in figure 2, this unique web address may be directly inserted (i.e. pasted) in the message (step d) . Inputting the message may be then resumed (for instance voice recognition is on again) .

Alternatively, as represented by figure 3, the method further comprises displaying (step c) , on the screen 13 of the terminal 1, the retrieved set of at least one web address stored in the terminal 1 for selection by a user.

The web address to insert (in step d) can then be selected by the user among the displayed at least one web address. In other words, the processing unit 11 inserts in the message the web address selected by the user from the displayed web addresses.

To this end, a dialog pop up window may be popped out, displaying the retrieved set of web addresses, to let the user choose.

If only one web address has been retrieved, and thus is displayed alone, this selection corresponds to a user validation to insert this unique web address in the message. That is to say, at this stage, the user can still change his mind and refuse selecting this address (for instance by using a “Cancel” button displayed next to the web address) . The web address insertion is then cancelled and the message input can be resumed.

For helping the user, thumbnails may be displayed for each web address. Alternatively, or in addition, more information can be added in the set, like at least one image or some brief txt of the related webpage. It is to be noted that such enhancement of the presentation of the set, for helping distinguishing the links, may be triggered when the retrieved set of web addresses comprises more than a predetermined number of web addresses (for instance five) .

The combination of a detection of an intent to insert a web address and the retrieval of stored web addresses (i.e. candidate web addresses) avoids the cumbersome need for spelling the address or searching it in browsers.

Example

A user wants to share the link http: //wallpapersafari. com/w/9lAJtx/ with a friend. Let’s assume that there are three opened tabs in a browser of his terminal, opened on the following web addresses:

· https: //google. com/

· http: //wallpapersafari. com/w/9lAJtx/

· https: //boutique. orange. fr/mobile

Let’s also assume that the user has also copied the following text from a news application in clipboard:

· “Google Maps now lets you explore more planets and their moons. You can visit detailed website https: //www. androidauthority. com/google-maps-explore-space-807702/”

The user opens a messaging application and selects a dedicated contact to start chatting. He clicks a “Microphone” button to trigger voice input: “Hello, I have an interesting picture to show you, here is the link” .

During the message analysis (step a) , the keyword “the link” is detected in the speech. The processing unit 11 then starts searching for valid URLs, and retrieves (step b) the following set of web addresses:

· https: //boutique. orange. fr/mobile

· https: //google. com/

· http: //wallpapersafari. com/w/9lAJtx/

· https: //www. androidauthority. com/google-maps-explore-space-807702/

The processing unit 11 displays then (step c) a dialog pop up window on the screen 13 containing this set.

The user then picks the third item, which is really meant to be shared, from this pop up window. As a consequence, the first web address is inserted in the text being inputted (step d) and a final text appears in the input window. “Hello, I have an interesting picture to show you, here is the link http: //wallpapersafari. com/w/9lAJtx/”

Terminal and computer program

The present invention also proposes a terminal 1 comprising a processing unit 11 and advantageously a screen 13 (preferably a touchscreen) for performing the aforementioned method. This terminal 1 may also comprise a memory 12.

The aforementioned processing unit 11 is in particular configured to, preferably when being requested to input a message:

- analyze a message being inputted on the terminal 1, so as to detect a reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address in this message;

- retrieve a set of at least one web address stored in the terminal 1; and

- insert, in the message, a web address from the retrieved at least one web address.

In an embodiment, when the terminal 1 comprises a screen 13, the processing unit is further configured to instruct the screen 13 to display the retrieved set of at least one web address, for selection by the user. In such a case, the web address inserted in the message is a web address selected by the user among the displayed web addresses.

The invention further proposes a computer program product, comprising code instructions for executing (in particular with a processing unit 11 of the terminal 1) the previously described method, as well as a computer-readable medium (in particular a memory 12 of the terminal 1) , on which is stored a computer program product comprising code instructions for executing this method. In particular, this computer program product may correspond to the operating system of the terminal 1, and/or a messaging application.

Although the invention has been previously described with reference to certain specific embodiments, it is to be understood that various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A method for inserting a web address in a message being inputted on a terminal (1) , the method comprising the following steps, performed by a processing unit (11) of the terminal (1) :

analyzing (a) said message so as to detect a reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address in said message;

retrieving (b) a set of at least one web address stored in the terminal (1) ; and

inserting (d) , in said message, a web address from the retrieved set of at least one web address.
A method according to claim 1, further comprising: displaying (c) , on a screen (13) of the terminal (1) , the retrieved set of at least one web address for selection by a user, the inserted web address being the web address selected by the user.
A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set of at least one web address stored in the terminal (1) comprises at least one web address used in an opened tab of at least one web browser installed on said terminal (1) .
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the set of at least one web address stored in the terminal (1) comprises at least one web address included in a history file of at least one web browser installed on said terminal (1) .
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the set of at least one web address stored in the terminal (1) comprises at least one web address included in the clipboard of said terminal (1) .
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the step of analyzing (a) said message comprises comparing the message with each of a predetermined list of reference wordings representative of an intent of inserting a web address in a message.
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the step of analyzing (a) said message comprises inputting the message, the message being dynamically analyzed.
A method according to claim 7, wherein the message is typed or voice inputted.
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the terminal (1) is a mobile terminal, in particular a smartphone.
A terminal (1) comprising a processing unit (11) being configured to:

- analyze a message being inputted on the terminal (1) , so as to detect a reference wording representative of an intent to insert a web address;

- retrieve a set of at least one web address stored in the terminal (1) ; and

- insert, in said message, a web address from the retrieved set of at least one web address.
A terminal (1) according to claim 10, further comprising a screen (13) , the processing unit (11) being configured to instruct the screen (13) to display the retrieved set of at least one web address for selection by the user, the inserted web address being a web address selected by the user.
A terminal (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said terminal is a mobile terminal.
A computer program product, comprising code instructions for executing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for inserting a web address in a message on a terminal (1) , when executed by a processing unit of a terminal.
A computer-readable medium, on which is stored a computer program product comprising code instructions for executing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for inserting a web address in a message on a terminal (1) .