KR20070032782A - Communication terminal and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The communication terminal 22 includes an input port 24 for connecting to the portable device 18, an output connection 26 for connecting to the network 30, and a processor 28. The processor is arranged to automatically connect to a predetermined remote destination when received at the input port 24; 34, and also automatically uploads information from the portable device 18; 10 and automatically uploads the information to the portable device. Is arranged to download.

Description

COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND METHOD}

The present invention relates to a communication terminal and a method.

It is known to access voicemail from a remote location. Typically, a user of such a system dials a known telephone number, enters a dedicated security code, and causes the voicemail to be played back to him. Many disadvantages of this system are that it relies on the user to remember the phone number and its own security code. This also not only allows the user to save the message being played to the user but also prevents the user from receiving the message again through this system.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to improve on the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a communication terminal is provided, the communication terminal having an input port for connecting to a portable device, an output connection for connecting to a network, and a predetermined remote when the portable device is received at an input port. And a processor arranged to automatically connect to a destination, the processor arranged to automatically upload information to and download information from the portable device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication method comprising the steps of: receiving a portable device, automatically connecting to a predetermined remote destination, automatically uploading information from the portable device, and Downloading the information to the portable device.

Due to the present invention, the user can automatically access the voicemail from a remote location and allow the user to store the voicemail. The user can also upload voicemail at the same time. The present invention also uses a public telephone network for content refreshing and profile modification.

Advantageously, the input port is a slot and the portable device is a data card or handset. Alternatively, the input port is a USB connection and the portable device is a handset and a USB cable. Preferably, the terminal comprises part of a public telephone kiosk.

In a preferred embodiment, the information downloaded to the portable device depends on the location of the portable device. This allows relevant local information to be delivered to the portable device.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system.

2 is a schematic diagram of a communication terminal.

3 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a communication terminal;

4 is a block diagram of a gateway configuration.

5 is a block diagram of a billing mechanism.

1 illustrates a communication system that provides content and personal communication in an asynchronous manner. The program of content downloaded to the portable device 10 is determined by a user profile initially determined by user demographics. The user profile can be changed using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) application from any telephone on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Moreover, subscribers can access and play interactive content via standard telephones. Refreshing the content of the device (uploading of voicemail and program responses to be delivered, as well as downloading new received voicemail and new programming) can also be performed via the PSTN. The PSTN operator's billing system used to collect micropayments can be used to bill users for use of these services.

In the system, the portable device 10 has a facility for receiving a structured audio program and storing it in memory for later playback. This offline playback is interactive and the user's response is stored on the device and subsequently uploaded to the content or service provider. Content is exchanged between the network and the handset 10 in a periodic wire docking process. The public telephone network is used as a means for organizing programs and downloaded content.

When various content providers (governmental organizations, job agencies, health centers, NGOs, radio stations) make new content available, they are marked up (in Markup Language VIMF: Voice Interactive Media Format) and are marked with Regional Content Centers (RCC). (12) initially gives editorial control and for distributing to various groups of interest.

The RCC 12 is then responsible for obtaining new content from the distribution center, which is the Internet Tele-Center (ITC) 14 and the Data Card Refresh Service (DCRS) 16. The DCRS is optionally also responsible for data card generation. The ITC is an Internet access point and may be in the form of a tele-center, telephone box, suitably configured ATM, post office or dedicated DCRS. By caching content at these centers, the burden of distributing a lot of content over a limited bandwidth is much reduced. The proposed synchronous process for the handset 10 uses two routes, namely the docking of the handset (or card only) at the ITC 14, or the data card 18 (the handset 10 itself) at the DCRS 16. Can be refreshed.

When docked in ITC 14, the user ID will be checked, and the user will have the opportunity to revise their configuration online and modify the sense information such as security code. At the same time, general information exchange can occur. In general, this exchange of information takes the form of:

1. A voice message (“voice mail”) from a user waiting for delivery is uploaded.

2. The user's previous response to the program is uploaded.

3. Unnecessary programming and data on the card are deleted.

4. The new voicemail for the user is downloaded.

5. The new program is downloaded.

If the user is docked at the DCRS, the data card owner will probably not exist, and the card 18 will simply be "docked" and refreshed before being issued for return to the owner. The refresh process is, of course, the same as above except that the user authenticates the refresh or talks to any service (e.g., profile modifications, etc.).

The handset 10 has a USB 2.0 data connection providing up to 480 Mbit / s data rate. The data card 18 used in the handset 10 may have between 32MB and 256MB of on-board flash memory, which the ITC 14 or DCRS 16 has capacity for uploading and downloading. Assuming you have pre-caching content ready for refreshing, you will need a few minutes at most to refresh.

Communication with device 10 via ITC 14 takes place via gateway 20. ITC 14 is in most cases connected to gateway 20 via the telephone network PSTN.

PSTN is configured to adapt to micropayment management and there are many mechanisms available for receiving payments from PSTN users. For example, the IVR call card mechanism may utilize a Remote Authentication, Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server that provides Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA).

Current Internet kiosks provided in public places are serious limitations in that they require computer skills, are not available by illiterate people, are expensive to maintain, vulnerable to vandalism, and need to be used online. Suffers. While users have the opportunity to use personal computers and modems connected to the PSTN to access the RCC 12 to refresh content and download vmail, this approach has its own limitations with relatively low bandwidth (40-50 kb / s). This results in very long calls (and high costs) for downloading and uploading large amounts of audio, and suitable PCs and modems will be costly to individuals and will not be available to many target user groups.

In many countries there is a dissemination network of public telephone kiosks that are used too little due to the high proliferation of mobile phones. The use of this kiosk to access vmail provides an access point for the user as well as a benefit for the telephone operator. The use of public telephone infrastructure to improve digital inclusion is a priority for many countries.

Various PSTN terminals can be used as front-ends for access to services and content refreshes. Moreover, there is a range of options for delivering access to content and services to the PSTN. These are described in the following subparagraphs.

Access to the service from a private or public phone

The first option is a means by which the use of a personal telephone (on the PSTN) makes use of services available over the network. This provides the user with a gateway to the network that checks for authentication, and services (such as profile modifications and new program selections) to communicate with using a standard telephone interface (using interactive voice-responsive services). It includes mechanisms for doing so.

By enabling access to the service from any telephone on the PSTN, the subscriber can access the program and vmail even if the subscriber is unable to use his or her handset, or the data card subscription to the service can be transferred to the handset or data card. It is possible without the need. By having the user configure the profile using the PSTN, the user can gain online access to the latest information about the available channels and immediately subscribe to the program or service. Subscribers will access more through personal and mobile phones as well as thousands of available public phones.

If the user wants to update his profile, etc., the user does not have to wait for synchronous updates in the ITC (with the potential movement and queuing it entails) or in the long two-stage process required when the user uses DSRS. . The user can pay for the service using a standard call-payment mechanism. Moreover, enabling access to services from the PSTN allows PSTN users to gain access to other services as if these services were native PSTN-based IVR applications. This opens up PSTN subscriber bases (and additional revenue streams) to application providers, further increasing the integration of new infrastructure (systems targeted at poor communities) with existing public telephone networks.

Access to services from an extended public telephone kiosk

The foregoing action may be extended to include access from the public telephone kiosk to the service so that the user calls the gateway and the user talks to a service that includes a service that is modifying its own profile. The user can enter a data card into such a kiosk and the user can update the content on that card. The user achieves the high speed data download made possible by the ADSL modem in the kiosk. The user may pay for content and services via telephone bill, cash, or telephone card (currency card or smart card).

By allowing users to use a public kiosk in the same way as ITC, the network can be expanded very quickly and greatly. Telephone kiosks have a friendly interface that is safe against intentional destruction, and is very powerful and easy to use. Moreover, if the telephone kiosk has the facility to receive content and record it to a data card, the user can complete the synchronization process immediately, further reducing the burden on ITC / DCRS and the distribution burden by RCC.

Enhancing kiosks with local memory storage to enable fast uploads and downloads of content as well as broadband data connections to the Internet (ADSL or similar technologies) will further enhance the efficiency of kiosks as content access and refresh points. A further advantage is the potential to use known locations of public kiosks to tailor the content provided to the user. For example, the direction to the employment agency may take into account the user's current location, reducing complexity and greatly improving its relevance.

Access to services from low-cost refresh device-infochargers

2 shows a first embodiment of the communication terminal 22. The device 22, ie the "infocharger", has an input port 24 for receiving a data card 18 and is plugged into a standard telephone socket via an output connection 26. Such a device 22 includes a processor 28 that automatically dials into the network 30 (with a pre-configured free-call number, using a pre-configured handshake protocol), and a program for the user (or users). And sync vmail automatically. Infocharger 22 shows the progress for the use of one or two LEDs 32.

By providing the slot 24 for the data card 18 and the connector 26 for a standard telephone socket to the low cost simple modem 22, the user can use any available socket (private or public) and Take the minimum refresh you need (i.e. vmail exchange, and upload important responses and download programs) at the time you need. The simplicity of device 22 will be available by multiple target populations.

Low-cost docking device-access to services from infocharger # 2

A second embodiment of the communication terminal is used, which is shown in FIG. This device 36 allows the handset 10 to connect to a service from a PSTN connection and a mechanism is provided to enable conversation with the application from the docked device. This enables the use of the handset user interface for the conversation with the service, allows the user to modify their own profile and programming choices, and to update the content onto the data card 18. Input port 34 is a USB connection. As before, the communication terminal 36 includes a processor 28, which is arranged to automatically connect to a predetermined remote destination when the portable device is received at the input port 34 and is portable. Arranged to automatically upload information from the device 10 and automatically download the information to the portable device 10.

It is also possible to provide a mechanism for more efficient download to handset 10 via infochargers 22 and 36. Each infocharger 22, 36 has a small amount of embedded software and memory. Infochargers 22 and 36 may be personalized into groups of people (possibly 15-20 individuals) at the same distance. When the infochargers 22, 36 are personalized, an entry in the RCC 12 is created at that particular user of the infochargers 22, 36. Each time a person sends a mail, the RCC 12 sends the mail to each infocharger 22, 36 registered by the recipient. The advantage of this is that the download of the mail occurs faster because the voicemail already exists in the infochargers 22 and 36. The infochargers 22, 36 themselves make it very easy for the user to access when located relatively close to the end recipient's residence. In fact, such a system of downloading to infochargers 22 and 36 can also be applied to program downloads and vmail.

Inexpensive docking devices result in the advantages of an infocharger, but also enable subscribers to talk to the service through a familiar handset interface. The user may initiate tasks such as account configuration and profile update as if the user were at ITC. Unlike the infocharger, the user will be able to enter the security code needed for some services. Unlike ITC, the conversation will be over a normal telephone line, so data exchange is slow, but this will be good for subscribers exchanging small amounts of content.

There is a need for a mechanism to notify the user via the PSTN network how many specific transactions will be paid before they are activated. You also need a mechanism to check credit before completing a transaction. The mechanism for billing the user for the use of the service uses, for example, a PSTN billing structure to bill a home-telephone subscription, bill for a calling card (network-based credit), and a calling card. Can be made by a number of means by billing for, billing as cash, billing a credit card (or bank account).

The mechanism may provide a mechanism for billing a user for a content service using the same billing mechanism used to pay for the call. Mechanisms for claiming variable-rate may be provided. Some content may be free (for example, notices about health or social issues), some may be at a fixed rate (for example vmail is a fixed cost per minute), or some may be at a variable rate (E.g. downloading music MP3), the cost is related to the quality and quality of the music portion itself. Note that some users of the network result in credit and debit for the user, for example, the completion of queries and listening to advertisements.

Billing is one of the biggest benefits of enabling the use of the PSTN infrastructure to access services and refresh handsets / data cards. Telephone operators and public telephone bill payment networks are geared towards extracting many millions of micropayments from large numbers of users. The billing infrastructure is secure and linked to banking and other financial systems or databases.

Providing access to the network is accomplished by providing a gateway to a dedicated infrastructure. Gateway options are described in more detail below.

In essence, the PSTN phone number (access number) connects the caller to the PSTN gateway of the network, and the caller will be greeted by an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system to represent the available options. For the subscriber, there is an option to enter a unique address and then enter a security code to prove its identity. When using the handset, this is also necessary to enter the security code. The subscriber then listens to the option to listen to new content available to him. Subscribers can also listen to recent "broadcasts" of received programs and indexes of their vmails, respond as required to select vmails or content for online playback via the PSTN, listen to new programming, Subscribe to new channels, access (and modify) their profiles, trigger data downloads of new programs or vmails to the refreshing system, and remotely refresh requests for those downloads to be attached or made locally to the PSTN terminal. Submit in points. (Note that on a terminal one user nominates, or refers to another user or group of users to receive subsequent downloads of a particular program or redirection vmail).

The application is provided to the user by radio stations, health centers, NGOs, etc. in the VIMF description language and is made available to the user primarily through the infrastructure for offline use. There are a number of ways in which this application can be made available to PSTN users.

One way in which these services can be enabled for any PSTN user is to transcode the VIMF program into the IVR format used by the PSTN and provide the VIMF to the PSTN user in the same way that other PSTN-based IVR services are provided. To provide a program. VIMF is an XML-compliant language developed with the VoiceXML feature. This simplifies the mapping of VIMF programs to VoiceXML IVR applications because of the correspondence between the two mark-up languages.

VIMF applications need to provide robust error handling and error recovery, because conversations with service providers can occur over a period of days or weeks. Once such an application is available to a PSTN user, many error detections and corrections can begin with a real-time dialog, eliminating the need for such strong error resilience. Other improvements that optimize the IVR version can be added by the IVR application programmer.

VIMF applications can result in responses needed to return to agencies such as health centers and job agencies, which are processed offline via the Internet on the schedules defined by these agencies (which results in efficient use of resources and low service costs). ). In general, IVR applications result in completed transactions within one telephone-call. When a VIMF application is rendered as an IVR, this application may need to maintain the above elements of the VIMF service model in order to maintain the control that the service providing agency must process the response.

When a user talks to a VIMF program, the response is collected on a data card for subsequent return to the content or service provider, or its recipient, via the Internet. When the IVR version of the application is run by a PSTN user, the IVR program may output similar response file (s) in the same defined format for returning to the content or service provider or its recipients. One other addition, the customer's PSTN telephone number, is needed to enable further contact between the customer and the service provider. The PSTN phone number will be provided to the content provider in the same way that user unique addresses are provided for service use in the address space.

Public kiosks can simply be retrofitted with facilities for reading / writing data cards used in handsets. Moreover, without the need for cabling, by the inclusion of a suitable modem, the kiosk can be enabled for high bandwidth data exchange (ie ADSL), thus taking advantage of many of the Internet-enabled telephone kiosks seen today. to provide. Of course, fiber-optic data cables, WiFi <802.11> wireless links, and 3G wireless connections can transform telephone kiosks into higher bandwidth networks. In this way, kiosks now provide a close matching function in ITC.

To use this kiosk, the user will dial to the gateway via the PSTN access number and talk to the IVR as described above. Moreover, the user can put his data card into an additional data card slot in the kiosk, and upon proper security code authentication, the user can refresh the data card and download the new programming selected during the phone call. Since the telephony kiosk accesses the Internet through the PSTN, a secure connection to the appropriate interface (ie, web-server) can be made to access content and services for the user (caller in the kiosk). IVR exchange is used to open a synchronous session. Because broadband technologies such as ADSL are in use, data connections can be used in parallel with voice calls (and IVR conversations), which will well determine the content to be downloaded.

At this end of the family of possible terminals, it is the "infocharger" that will be used for access. The device has no interface for the user to talk to and also supports card refreshing. This device is essentially the smallest piece of hardware that provides a card slot for a modem (with a telephone socket connector) and a data card. The device has a small battery and includes a minimum amount of flash memory to maintain a pre-configured dialing number and handshake protocol for the gateway modem. The device has only one or two LEDs to indicate the current state. The device is deliberately kept simple to keep it low cost.

In order to use the device, the user must first have a dialing number and protocol stored on the data card (the dialing number can be a freephone or toll-free number that enables use from all telephone lines without being charged, or It can be a number of flat rates}. The user takes a data card from the handset and puts it in the infocharger. As soon as you plug the infocharger into the telephone socket, it automatically dials the supplied modem number with the selected modem configuration and, once connected, provides a gateway modem (user's unique address, etc.) to obtain the right to refresh the data card. Will automatically begin handshaking with). Once authorized, data refresh will begin almost as if the data card was refreshed in DSRS. The data rate is at a level available on the line and at a level supported by the modem, uploading and downloading content can be time consuming (perhaps several hours).

A further revision of the device is the inclusion of enough memory to allow the infocharger to extract data from the card so that it can operate to continue uploading data to the system once the download is complete and the card is removed. This may divide the amount of time the card occupies and will allow the user to proceed and talk with new content.

The revision of the infocharger is a dock that allows the user to talk to the service as much as the user is used offline (normal mode). Instead of a slot for a data card, the device includes a USB connection suitable for connecting to a handset. When the handset is docked with this device and connected to the network, online user-conversation, such as changing the profile, is possible through the handset itself.

Much like the infocharger, the device dials the gateway when connecting to the telephone line, prompting the user for a telephone number if necessary. Moreover, the user will be asked for a security code to access the service. The link will be data, and the conversation will take place via the VIMF program. The advantage in this situation is that the user can talk to these programs in real time as long as the connection speed is allowed. Note that during this process, some data packets destined for the handset are for addition to the data card, while at the same time other packets can be transferred to the handset user-interface for online control commands and responses.

In the above description, the smallest possible range of PSTN docking points is described. The office user will have a central data card refreshing point in the office, for example, still controlling this point from the office phone. In some cases, user conversations will be supported via PSTN keypad or voice-control in others via the handset's own interface.

There are a number of possible changes to the configuration of the gateway between the PSTN and the dedicated network. One such configuration is shown in FIG. 4. The gateway on the dedicated side accesses the IVR access mechanism (user authentication and authorization) and opens access to dedicated services such as profile changes, new programming, vmail, and the like. Through details of the IP address of the user's PSTN terminal, such a gateway can open the data connection to enable content refresh on the user's data card.

Some access control and routing of data on the PSTN side may be necessary, requiring the provision of one PSTN to the dedicated gateway of the original PSTN. If such a PSTN-resident plays a large role in providing a dedicated service to the PSTN terminal, it may reduce the burden on the dedicated gateway and increase the capacity for end users.

There are a number of mechanisms available for billing (or in some circumstances, crediting) the user for all situations where a public telephone is used for instant playback or download as a means of talking to a dedicated service and downloading content. have. First, the user needs to be informed of the intended billing. If the user requests it, this may be accomplished by using a Text To Speech (TTS) module at the gateway to speak the charge calculated by the billing manager. When a user proceeds to a transaction, the user bills for a calling card (network-based credit), bills for a calling card (card-based credit), and charges in cash (long distance) (As made for the currency), or to charge for a credit card or bank account. Any one of these methods is being used to pay for an ongoing voice call and can also be easily used to pay for dedicated content. The dedicated billing system sends the details of the required billing to the PSTN network (in the case of the currency card or visa card used) and ultimately charges from the phone card or cash credit. You will need to find a payment method to send to the kiosk. One example of a billing system is shown in FIG. 5.

Some of the billing made for the dedicated service may go to the PSTN (to include the cost to provide the service), some may go to the dedicated system administrator, and some may be routed appropriately to the appropriate service provider. For the revenue chain, standard mechanisms will be needed to ensure the security and integrity of payment data and the accompanying network.

The method and system described above are focused on extracting values for subscribers by the use of pervasive public telephone networks. However, the method and system also represent the benefits, content and services of a dedicated system for any PSTN subscriber.

As described above, the present invention is used in that the user can automatically access the voicemail from a remote location, allow the user to store the voicemail, and the user can also upload the voicemail at the same time.

Claims (15)

As communication terminal (22; 36), input port (24; 34) for connecting to portable device (18; 10), output connection (26) for connecting to network, and portable device (18; 10) are described above. Arranged to automatically connect to a predetermined remote destination when received at an input port 24; 34, and to automatically upload information from the portable device 18; 10 and automatically download information to the portable device. And a processor (28). A communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the input port (24) is a slot (24) and the portable device (18) is a data card (18). The communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the input port is a slot and the portable device is a handset. A communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the input port (34) is a USB connection (34) and the portable device (10) is a handset (10) and a USB cable. The communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the terminal comprises a part of a public telephone kiosk. The communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the information comprises a data file. The communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the information comprises a voice mail. The communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information downloaded to the portable device depends on the location of the portable device. As a communication method, Receiving a portable device, Automatically connecting to a predetermined remote destination, Automatically uploading information from the portable device and automatically downloading information to the portable device. Comprising; a communication method. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the portable device is a data card. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the portable device is a handset. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the input port is a USB connection and the portable device is a handset and a USB cable. 13. The method of any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the information comprises a data file. 14. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein said information comprises voicemail. The communication method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the information downloaded to the portable device depends on the location of the portable device.

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