FR2888694A1 - Claimant user and expert user stations e.g. telephone set, connecting system for e.g. audio interpersonal communication, has connecting unit that connects claimant user station and station of expert user whose coordinates are found - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a connecting server (SMR) comprising a receiving unit (RRQ) to receive a profile request (REQ) emanating from a station of a claimant user (Pr). The server has a searching unit (MRB) that searches, in a database (Bdp), coordinates of an expert user (Pe) corresponding to profile defined in the profile request, where profile of the user (Pe) is inscribed in the database. The server has a connecting unit (MMR) that connects the claimant user station and a station of the expert user whose coordinates are found in the database by the unit (MRB). Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for connecting a station of a claimant user and a station of an expert user through a telecommunication network (2) a software stored on a data medium comprising software instructions for executing claimant user and expert user stations connecting method.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and system for implementing

  relationship of a requesting user's station and an expert user's station via a telecommunications network.

  The field of application of the present invention is that of audio and / or video interpersonal communications utilizing both a circuit switched network and a packet switched network.

  We already know services accessible through the Internet that allow the connection of people who do not know each other and this, based on their competence and availability. In this respect, we can cite services commonly called forums or news groups.

  In particular, for a given theme or sub-theme, a forum accessible through the Internet allows you to consult the questions that have been asked of other participants of the forum and the answers they have already been given, to answer these questions. questions and to comment on the answers already given.

  The problems that these services pose and that the present invention seeks to solve are the following: they are accessible only through the Internet and require from their users computers that can connect to this network. There are needs for such linking services that use only a phone or videophone, - the forums cover only particular areas and it is therefore difficult to find at the time of ask a precise question the good forum or an active forum, - on the forums, the answer is not immediate because the mode is asynchronous. In addition, to obtain a precise answer, it may be necessary to do several question-answer cycles, which increases the waiting time for a valid answer. There is a need for such a connection service whose response to a question is fast, even immediate.

  The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problems with respect to forums accessible on the Internet.

  To achieve this goal, a system for connecting a station of a requesting user and a station of an expert user via a telecommunications network according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises: database in which are recorded, for each potential expert user, at least one profile and contact information for contacting him, - a connection server which comprises: - means for receiving a call from a a user's post requesting, - means for receiving a profile request from said station of the requesting user, said request defining a profile of an expert user to search, - search means in said database coordinates 10 of at least one expert user whose profile registered in said database corresponds to the profile defined in said request, - means for linking said station of the requesting user with the post of an expert user whose coordinates were delivered by said search means.

  Advantageously, said linking means call, before performing the linking of said post of the requesting user with said post of an expert user, the post of said expert user to ask the latter for his agreement for the implementation. relationship, and, if he agrees, make the connection, while if he refuses, they call the post of a new expert user.

  Advantageously, said system comprises registration means allowing a user to record his or her profiles and coordinates in said database. These registration means consist for example of a server accessible via said telecommunications network or via another network separate from said telecommunications network.

  Advantageously, said linking system comprises scoring means allowing a requesting user to assign at least one satisfaction criterion to the expert user with whom he has been put in contact, said or each satisfaction criterion being stored in said database with corresponding expert user data, said search means using said one or more satisfaction criteria for searching the coordinates of at least one expert user in said database. Similarly, it comprises evaluation means enabling an expert user to assign at least one evaluation criterion to the requesting user with whom he has been put in contact, said means for receiving a call using said each evaluation criterion related to a requesting user having already called to accept or not the call of a station of said requesting user.

  Advantageously, said linking system comprises billing means provided for: allocating a token to an expert user who has been put in contact with a requesting user, debiting a token to said requesting user, and periodically charging each user of the database, if it is justified, the chips he has spent overall since the last billing.

  Said connection server advantageously comprises means for establishing and transmitting a menu to said post of said requesting user so as to help the latter to formulate said profile request.

  The present invention also relates to a method of relating a station of a requesting user and a station of an expert user via a telecommunications network which is characterized in that it comprises the following steps implemented by a connection server: - receiving a call from a station of said requesting user, receiving said station from said user requesting a request defining a profile of an expert user to search, - searching a database coordinates of at least one expert user whose profile stored in said database corresponds to the profile defined in said profile request, - establishment of a communication between said user station and the station of an expert user whose coordinates have delivered by said search step to perform the connection between said requesting user and said expert user.

  Before the establishment of a communication between said user station and the workstation of an expert user, it comprises: a step of calling the workstation of said expert user to ask the latter to agree to the connection, a step of establishing a communication between said user station and the position of an expert user if the latter has given his consent to said previous step, otherwise said previous step is implemented with a new expert user.

  Advantageously, it includes a registration step to allow a user to record his or her profiles and coordinates in said database. This registration step is for example implemented by a server accessible via said telecommunications network or via another network separate from said telecommunications network.

  Said method advantageously comprises: a logging step enabling a requesting user to assign at least one satisfaction criterion to the expert user with whom he has been put in contact, a storage step of said or each satisfaction criterion in said database with the data of the corresponding expert user, said search step using said one or more satisfaction criteria for searching the coordinates of at least one expert user in said database.

  Similarly, it comprises: an evaluation step enabling an expert user to assign at least one evaluation criterion to the requesting user with whom he has been put in contact, said step of receiving a call using said or each satisfaction criterion related to a requesting user having already called to accept or not the call of a station of said requesting user.

  Advantageously, it comprises: a storage step of said or each satisfaction criterion, either in said database with the data of the corresponding requesting user, or in an exclusion list.

  Advantageously, it comprises the steps of: - allocation of a token to an expert user who has been put in contact with a requesting user, - debit of a token to said requesting user, and periodic billing to a user registered in the database of data, if it is justified, tokens that he has spent overall since the last billing.

  It also advantageously comprises a step of setting up and transmitting a menu to said post of said requesting user so as to help the latter to formulate said profile request.

  The present invention also relates to software stored on a data medium comprising software instructions for executing the method just described.

  The above-mentioned and other features of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a linking system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a connection server which is used in a system according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing, step by step, the object-linking method of the invention implemented by the linking system of FIG. 1, the exchanges that are performed between a post of a requesting user, a post of an expert user and a connection server, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the signals exchanged between a user station of a requesting user, an expert user station and a connection server in connection with the implementation of the method of the present invention using the SIP protocol.

  The linking system shown in FIG. 1 essentially comprises a telecommunications network R to which users can connect via appropriate stations (in Fig. 1, only three stations P1, P2 and P3 have been shown) and to which a connection server SMR is connected.

  The telecommunications network R is a network for establishing, maintaining, managing and releasing point-to-point communications, that is to say between two stations. It may therefore be a telephone network, for example, of the PSTN switched telephone network type, the stations then being either telephone sets or video telephone sets allowing not only phonic but also video communications intended to operate with a PSTN network. It may also be an Internet protocol telecommunications network associated with telephone means for establishing, maintaining, managing and releasing point-to-point communications, said communications passing through said Internet protocol network. This is so-called VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). As for the stations, these are telephone or videophone stations associated with specific means for these VoIP communications.

  The linking system further includes a database Bdp in which are listed, for each potential user of the system, at least one profile and coordinates to allow another user to enter into relationship with him.

  As for the connection server SMR, it comprises (see FIG. 2): means for receiving a call RAP from a station of a requesting user Pr, means for establishing and transmitting an MPM menu, - RRQ means for receiving a REQ profile request from a post of a requesting user Pr, - search means in the database MRB of the coordinates of at least one expert user whose a profile inscribed in said database MRB corresponds to the profile defined in said request, means MMR matching a station of a user requesting Pr and a station of an expert user Pe whose coordinates have was found in said database Bdp by said search means MRB following the request REQ received from the station of the requesting user Pr.

  We will describe the linking process implemented by the linking system object of Figs. 1 and 2. The references to the steps of the method E50 to E920 are relative to FIG. 3.

  When a user wishes to enter into contact with another user who has the same concerns as him (it will be said that they have a similar profile), he makes a call with the SMR connection server by dialing, by means of his station Pr, the call number of the SMR connection server and by identifying, for example by presenting a code number associated with its own telephone number or videophone.

  This call is received by the means for receiving a call RAP (step E 100) and the establishment and transmission means of a menu SMM of the connection server SMR transmit to the calling station Pr a menu (which can be a voice menu, the server SMR then being a voice server) or a video menu (the server is then a videophone server) to expose the user requesting different options, such as themes, sub-themes, domains etc. concerned with research (E200). The user selects the options that interest him by sending, via his station, commands, for example of the type DTMF (Dual Tone Modulation Frequency) if his position is a conventional telephone, or commands transmitted through a graphical user interface or voice commands if his position is a videophone. The set of commands thus issued makes it possible to establish a user profile to be searched and then forms a REQ profile request. This REQ profile request is thus received (E300) by the RRQ reception means of the SMR connection server.

  Steps E100, E200 and E300 are schematically represented in FIG. 1 by the line marked A. Following receipt of this REQ profile request, the search means MRB of the SMR connection server, on the one hand, search in the database Bdp a user whose or a profile corresponds to the one defined by the REQ profile request (E400) and, on the other hand, if a profile stored in the Bdp database matches the profile defined by the REQ profile request, the Cexp telephone or video telephone number of the user's Pe post to the desired profile (he will be referred to as the expert) (E500).

  These Cexp coordinates are provided to the SMR matchmaking server MMR matching means which then call the expert to obtain from him the agreement to communicate with the requesting user (E600) (see also arrow B of Fig. 1) and, once this agreement is reached, link the expert and the requesting user (E700) (see also arrow C of Fig. 1). To give his agreement, the expert emits, by means of his post, a particular order, for example of the DTMF type.

  Once in contact with each other, the requesting user and the expert can exchange any information they wish to exchange.

  By transmitting one or the other of a predetermined control signal, such as a particular DTMF signal, the communication is released (E800).

  When an expert user is not available or refuses, for whatever reason, the connection, another expert is called. An informational message may be transmitted to the requesting user to warn him that the first expert user is unavailable and that the search for a second competent expert user is in progress. In order to avoid having to make several identical searches in the database, the database can return a list of experts to contact in the preferable order of their call.

  The choice of an expert user from among several found in the database Bdp as responding to the REQ profile request formed by the requesting user or the ranking of these expert users in a list of expert users can rely on different mechanisms taken separately or in combination: - distribution of calls between all connected expert users, - according to the satisfaction criterion (see below), such as the average score, kept in the Bdp database of each expert, the highest rated eg being consulted first, etc. The system can also manage the status (no answer, already in communication, etc.) of the users whether they are applicants or experts, for example by registering in the database Bdp information relating to their respective statuses. From this status information, the system may be able to predict the waiting time before the availability of an expert user to contact.

  In the case where no expert user is available and the system does not expect a standby time or the waiting time exceeds a threshold set by the system, the system transmits a message to the requesting user. informing of the failure of his REQ profile request and retransmitting him the starting menu so that he can formulate a new profile request.

  Prior to use as an applicant or as an expert, a user must register (E50), which makes it possible to inform the database Bdp on the one hand, his contact information for the connections (including telephone or videophone numbers) and, on the other hand, his profile or profiles (this could be the case of a user with several hobbies, etc.). This registration phase is necessary for the constitution of the database Bdp.

  The registration could be manual, for example by means of an appropriate form that the user could fill. Coordinates and profile information could then be manually entered into the Bdp database.

  Registration could also be done by telephone or videophone with an online operator. As before, the coordinates and profile information could then be manually entered into the database Bdp.

  To make this registration, the linking system may include specific means allowing a user to register his or her profiles and coordinates in the database Bdp. It may for example be a suitable voice or videophone server which is accessible by the user via the telecommunications network R. It could be the SMR connection server itself. But it can also be a server accessible via a network separate from said telecommunications network R, such as a server offering a website. This registration via an appropriate server makes it possible to enter the coordinates and the profile (s) directly into the database.

  For example, the information related to a profile includes: -the skill domain, the skills themes and sub-themes and the estimated level in this area, - the hours of availability for the service as well as the number of calls 10 accepted in these time slots.

  After registration, the user is notified of a code that he must use for his identification during any call for a connection, as explained above.

  According to the present invention, a linking system can comprise means of notation MNT allowing the calling user to assign a satisfaction criterion to the answers he has obtained from the called expert user, for example a note of 1-5 (E910). This satisfaction criterion is stored in the Bdp database. In the case where the satisfaction criterion is translated in the form of a numerical value (such is the case when it is a note), the value stored in the database Bdp is for example an arithmetic mean values obtained for several connections.

  The satisfaction criteria are used by the search means to classify the registered users for the same domain in order of competence and also to reference some of them in exclusion lists.

  Similarly, VAM evaluation means may allow an expert user to assign an evaluation criterion to the requesting user who called him (E920). These means MEV can eliminate some users who are malicious claimants and would call for no reason or for purposes different from that of the service. The means for receiving a call RAP use said or each evaluation criterion linked to a user to accept or not the call that emanates from this user.

  The MNT and MRV rating means may become active when the communication is terminated (either user can note or evaluate the other when the communication is complete as shown in Fig. 3). or during communication (one or the other user can thus note or evaluate the other during communication).

  The satisfaction criteria and the evaluation criteria may be notes related to the competence and may thus concern the relevance of the questions asked in view of the field concerned, the proper conduct of the interview, etc. The satisfaction criteria and the evaluation criteria of the various users or the information concerning them obtained by means other than those just mentioned, make it possible to manage the users who are mentioned in the exclusion lists according to the three levels: level 1: sending a message by other means of telecommunication than those used by the commissioning system (e.mail, sms, etc.) or a voice message or message videophone at the moment when the user concerned connects to the service, - level 2: temporary deactivation of access to the service, - level 3: definitive deactivation of access to the service.

  The request for notation or evaluation may also be recalled to users during communication, for example with one of the following mechanisms: permanent display of information, if the user uses a videophone in audio mode, periodic display a specific message or a scrolling banner, if the user uses a videophone in video mode, - display on the screen of an audio telephone.

  It should be noted that the allocation by a user (caller or expert) of a criterion to another user (expert or caller) can be made retrospectively in the case where this user hangs up prematurely. It can be done then, including the use of a website or a voice server provided for this purpose, or by a request made by the system at its next access to the service.

  The linking system according to the present invention advantageously comprises MFT billing means operating by token. The database of profiles Bdp includes for this purpose, for each user, an area in which is indicated a value of an account giving the number of chips in the possession of this user. When an expert user agrees to answer a question from a requesting user, he obtains a token that is at the same time debited to the requesting user. Thus, at each connection between a requesting user and an expert user, a token is transferred from the requesting user's account to the account of the expert user. Billing is the periodic charging to each user, if it is justified, the tokens he has spent overall since the last billing.

  Each user can access the data related to his or her profiles to manage them, for example via an appropriate website. Thus, he can consult, modify his profile (s), obtain statistical data on the number of calls made and / or received, on the average values of the criteria which have been attributed to him by other users, on the value of his account for billing (number of tokens, ...), as well as any other information necessary for the operation of the service.

  It can also access information on the number of people available on the service at a given time, in general, classified by theme, as well as do searches to identify the time slots where its chances of finding an expert user are highest etc. It is shown in FIG. 4 the different messages that are exchanged between the station of the requesting user, the connection server SMR and the station of the expert user in the case where the sessions between them are created, modified and terminated at the application level by means of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). This protocol is the subject of the request for comments RFC 3261 of June 2002.

  In order to request the connection with the connection server, the requesting user's station sends the server an "INVITE" message to which the connection server SMR responds, either by a 2xx message, for example 200 (OK). , if it is available, if not by a message 3xx, 4xx, etc. to announce its unavailability.

  After acknowledgment, a Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP) connection is established. Through this connection, a greeting and a menu are transmitted from the SMR linking server to the requesting user's station. To choose an option, the requesting user controls the transmission of an appropriate DTMF message to the SMR matching server. This message is for example transmitted in the field INFO transported in the signaling of the SIP protocol. See RFC2976 for more details on this procedure. When it is received, the connection server SMR triggers the change of the media stream to be played and / or the consultation of the database Bdp in search of information on the expert users responding to the profile request formulated by the requesting user by transmission of different DTMF messages in response to the menu (s) presented.

  The DTMF message (s) can also be transported by the media stream, so that the information is then sent back to the server SMR by the server media.

  Once an expert user has been determined to respond to the profile request thus formulated by the requesting user, the connection server SMR, by transmission of an INVITE message, connects to the station of said expert user who responds, either by a message 2xx, eg 200 (OK), if available, otherwise 3xx, 4xx, etc. to make up for its unavailability. After acknowledgment, an RTP connection is established for transmission of a grant request message to which the expert user responds with an appropriate DTMF message to the SMR match server.

  If the expert user agrees, two re-INVITE messages are forwarded to the requesting user and the expert user respectively to establish a new direct RTP connection between the requesting user's station and the post of the expert user.

  At this point, the requesting user and the expert user can exchange information as they see fit.

  By transmitting an appropriate DTMF message, for example by the method of the INFO field already mentioned, the requesting user or the expert user (in this case the requesting user) can interrupt the communication. The SMR linking server then transmits re-INVITE messages to the one and the other station to create two new RTP connections by which the connection server SMR requests the requesting user and the user. expert user to evaluate his partner. The numerical value of the corresponding criterion assigned by each is given by transmission of an appropriate DTMF message (always transmitted for example by the method of the INFO field).

  Once these values are transmitted, a BYE message is transmitted by the user station of the requesting user and that of the expert user.

  Note that the present invention could also be implemented by the use, at the application level, of Recommendation H. 323 of the ITU (International Telecommunications Union).

Claims (10)

  1) System for connecting a station of a requesting user and an extension of an expert user via a telecommunications network, characterized in that it comprises: a database in which are recorded, for each potential expert user, at least one profile and contact information for contacting him / her, - a connection server which comprises: means for receiving a call from a station of a requesting user, means for receiving a profile request from said user requesting station, said request defining a profile of an expert user to be searched; means for searching said database of coordinates of at least one user; an expert user whose profile is registered in said data base corresponds to the profile defined in said request, - means for putting the said requesting user's station in relation with the post of an expert user whose coordinates are provided by said search means.   2) Linking system according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting means, before making the connection between said post of the requesting user with said post of an expert user, call the post said expert user to ask the latter to agree to the connection, and if he gives his consent, make the connection while if he refuses, they call the position of a new expert user.   3) Connecting system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises registration means for a user to record his or her profiles and coordinates in said database.   4) Connecting system according to claim 3, characterized in that said means of registration consist of a server accessible via said telecommunications network or via another network separate from said telecommunications network.   5) Linking system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises scoring means allowing a requesting user to assign at least one satisfaction criterion to the expert user with whom he was put in. relationship, said or each satisfaction criterion being stored in said database with the data of the corresponding expert user, said search means using said one or more satisfaction criteria for searching the coordinates of at least one expert user in said database.   6) Linking system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises evaluation means allowing an expert user to assign at least one evaluation criterion to the requesting user with whom he has been put in relation, said means for receiving a call using said or each evaluation criterion linked to a requesting user having already called to accept or not the call of a station of said requesting user.   7) Connecting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises billing means provided for: assign a token to an expert user who has been put in contact with a user requesting, - debit a token audit user user, and - periodically bill each user of the database, if this is justified, the tokens he has spent overall since the last billing.   8) Linking system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection server comprises means for establishing and transmitting a menu to said post of said requesting user so as to help the latter to formulate said profile request.   9) A method of relating a station of a requesting user and a station of an expert user via a telecommunications network, characterized in that it comprises the following steps implemented by a wagering server. in relation: - reception of a call from a station of said requesting user, - reception of said station of said user requesting a request defining a profile of an expert user to search, - search in a database of coordinates of at least one expert user whose profile stored in said database corresponds to the profile defined in said profile request, establishing a communication between said user station and the workstation of an expert user whose coordinates were delivered by said search step in order to make the connection between said requesting user and said expert user.   10) Software stored on a data carrier having software instructions for executing the method according to claim 9.