WO2008108571A1

WO2008108571A1 - Providing method of information service to mobile device

Info

Publication number: WO2008108571A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/001216
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jun Ho Kim
Original assignee: Hannet Telecom Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-03-03
Filing date: 2008-03-03
Publication date: 2008-09-12
Also published as: KR100775052B1

Abstract

A method of providing a guidance service to mobile devices is disclosed. When a mobile device connects a call to a guidance system, which is connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and provides guidance announcements in voice form, guidance data corresponding to the guidance announcements and the guidance announcements are multiplexed. Guidance information, in which the guidance announcements and the guidance data are multiplexed, is provided to the mobile device through a mobile communication system. The guidance data is included in and transmitted through a voice call channel established between the guidance system and the mobile device, and is displayed in the form of menu item, including numbers, on the mobile device.

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[invention Title]

PROVIDING METHOD OF INFORMATION SERVICE TO MOBILE DEVICE

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates, in general, to a method of providing a guidance service using mobile devices, and, more particularly, to a method of providing a guidance service using mobile devices, which provides a guidance service, such as an Automatic Response Service (ARS) or telephone banking, in the form in which voice, text, and images are selectively combined, by multiplexing and simultaneously transmitting voice information and data through the voice communication channel of a mobile device, thereby maximizing the convenience of use of the guidance service .

[Background Art]

Currently, mobile devices (for example, mobile phones) do not only have the basic function of two-way voice communication, but are also used widely for telephone banking, shopping, the sale (booking) of air tickets, the advance purchase of movie tickets, and various types of ARS guidance services while operating in conjunction with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) . The interfacing with a public network is based on the fact that each mobile device includes separate modules for separately processing voice signals and data, so that a communication method for access to the PSTN or a communication method for access to a base transceiver system can be selected. This will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation of the transmission unit of the internal elements of a mobile device.

As shown in this drawing, the mobile device performs a negotiation procedure for service options first at the request of the mobile device or a mobile communication network, and selects one of voice communication and data communication based on the results of the negotiation. In the drawing, a data processing unit 11 processes packet- based data communication, and a voice coder (vocoder) 12 processes voice communication. The data processing unit 11 and the vocoder 12 are selectively driven based on the results of the negotiation for the service options, and the remaining one is not driven. Therefore, when voice communication is performed using a mobile device, the Internet cannot be accessed, and vice versa. Therefore, when an ARS guidance service, telephone banking, or the advance purchase of various types of tickets, which is provided through an existing PSTN, is attempted to be processed using a mobile device, the mobile device must access the base transceiver system of a wireless communication service provider first, access the PSTN, and then receive the corresponding service. In this case, the user of the mobile device receives the guidance service through a process identical to a service process using a wired telephone based on the PSTN. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (f) .

FIGS. 2 (a) to (f) show an example of an interface screen that is displayed on a mobile device when a conventional method of processing telephone banking is applied to the mobile device.

The shown interface screen shows a process of receiving a money transfer service using a mobile device, and the process will be described in sequence as follows:

1) FIG. 2 (a) shows an interface screen for a process of accessing a bank call center using a mobile device. In this drawing, the user of the mobile device attempts to call the number "1588-5000", and the call center provides a guidance announcement, used to select one of the services (account inquiry, money transfer, and payment) provided by a bank, to the mobile device. Here, the user must listen to the guidance announcement until a service item desired by the user is heard. 2) FIG. 2 (b) shows a process of guiding the user through the input of a resident registration number for authentication after the user has accessed a selected service item.

3) FIG. 2 (c) shows a process of guiding the user through the input of the password of a bankbook after the user has entered the resident registration number.

4) FIG. 2 (d) shows a process of guiding the user through the input of a secret code set between the user and the bank.

5) FIG. 2 (e) shows a process of guiding the user through the selection of the type of money transfer

(current deposit transfer or account transfer) after the input of the secret code has been completed. The user must listen to the guidance announcement until a service item desired by the user is heard. 6) FIG. 2(f) shows a process of guiding the user through a payment account in which money will be deposited using the money transfer method selected by the user.

According to the above-described 1) to 6) processes, the user of the mobile device performs the money transfer from his/her bankbook to another account. Of course, in order to transfer a predetermined amount of money, the user must listen to guidance announcements for respective processes for the input of a deposit account, the input of the amount of money to be deposited, and the confirmation of the deposit account and the amount of money to be deposited, and then select desired service numbers. In order to perform a money transfer, most users must listen attentively to guidance announcements provided by the call center, even though some guidance announcements are not service announcements desired by the user. After each guidance announcement is completed, the user must remember a service number corresponding to a service item desired by the user. Otherwise, the user must conduct the annoying work of listening to the guidance announcement again, and thus this annoying work is one of the reasons why the frequency of the use of telephone banking and an automatic ARS service is low compared to the number of mobile device users.

[Disclosure] [Technical Problem] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to propose a method of providing a guidance service using mobile devices, which inserts packet-based data into voice information through the voice communication channel of a mobile device, thereby enabling a mobile guidance service to be conveniently used. Another object of the present invention is to propose a method of providing a guidance service, which provides a guidance screen in the form of a Graphic User Interface (GUI) for a mobile guidance service. Here, the guidance screen and a guidance announcement can be processed in an asynchronous manner, and the user is allowed to use one of the guidance announcement and the guidance screen that is easy to use, thereby minimizing the time taken to use the guidance service.

[Technical Solution] The above objects are accomplished by a method of providing a guidance service to mobile devices according to the present invention, the method including, when a mobile device connects a call to a guidance system, which is connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and provides guidance announcements in voice form, multiplexing guidance data corresponding to the guidance announcements and the guidance announcements; and providing guidance information, in which the guidance announcements and the guidance data are multiplexed, to the mobile device through a mobile communication system.

It is preferable that the guidance data is included in and transmitted through a voice call channel established between the guidance system and the mobile device, and is displayed in the form of menu item, including numbers, on the mobile device.

It is preferable that, with regard to the guidance information, both the guidance announcements and the guidance data are provided to the mobile device through the mobile communication system, and the playback of the guidance announcements is performed independently of the playback of the guidance data .

It is preferable that the guidance data is at least one of text, still images, and a moving image, which are associated with the guidance announcements. The above objects are accomplished by a method of providing a guidance service to mobile devices connected through a mobile communication system according to the present invention, the method including receiving a request for a guidance service from a mobile device through the mobile communication system; generating guidance data in which data and voice signals corresponding to the requested guidance service are multiplexed, and providing the guidance data through a voice communication channel established between the mobile communication system and the mobile device; and providing the guidance data to the mobile device through the mobile communication system.

It is preferable that the data corresponding to the guidance service is at least one of text, still images, and a moving image. It is preferable that, with regard to the guidance data, the data corresponding to the guidance service is inserted into and transmitted through a voice call channel established between the mobile communication system and a guidance service provider, and is displayed in the form of menu item, including numbers, on the mobile device.

It is preferable that, with regard to the guidance information, both the voice signals and the guidance data are provided to the mobile device, and the playback of the voice signals is performed independently of the playback of the guidance data.

[Advantageous Effects]

The present invention provides various types of guidance services provided to a mobile device through voice communication in the form of services including text, still images, and a moving image, so that the user of the mobile device can easily receive the guidance services.

[Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation of the transmission unit of the internal elements of a mobile device; FIGS. 2 (a) to (f) are views showing an example of an interface screen displayed on a mobile device when a conventional method of processing telephone banking is applied to the mobile device;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view showing a method of providing a guidance service to the mobile device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual block diagram showing an example of a guidance service provision system for providing a guidance service to the mobile device; FIG. 5 is a conceptual view showing the data type transmitted through a voice call channel;

FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing a data type, into which multimedia information is inserted, transmitted through the voice call channel;

FIGS. 7 (a) to (f) are views showing an example of performing telephone banking among a plurality of examples in which guidance information is provided using a mobile device; and FIG. 8 is an internal block conceptual diagram of a multiplexing device shown in FIG. 4.

[Mode for Invention]

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 3 is a conceptual view showing a method of providing a guidance service to the mobile device according to the present invention.

As shown in this drawing, when a cellular phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) , or another kind of mobile device 50, capable of performing wireless communication and having a display device, accesses a guidance service center for providing an Automatic Response Service (ARS) or a guidance service based on telephone banking, the present invention enables the mobile device 50 to receive multimedia information, including voice, text, still images, and a moving image, from the guidance service center. The guidance service center generally includes wired telephone numbers (for example, 1588-XXXX) connected to a PSTN, and can process only voice information. The present invention uses a multiplexing device 100 for multiplexing one or more selected from among menu information, including voice information and numbers, still image information, and video information, between the mobile device 50 and the guidance service center, thereby including and transmitting menu information, including numbers, still image information, or multimedia information, through a voice call channel established between the mobile device 50 and the guidance service center, and then providing the corresponding information to the mobile device 50. Here, when selection information for one of the numbers included in the menu information is obtained (in the case in which a user presses the corresponding number on his or her mobile device or in the case in which the user presses menu information items in the case of a touch screen) , the obtained number selection information can be processed as in a process of obtaining a number in a general ARS system.

Therefore, the present invention includes characteristics corresponding to the following numbers: 1) Multimedia information can be provided to a mobile device through a voice call channel established between the mobile device and a guidance service center.

2) The multimedia information provided to the mobile device may be one of text, still images, and a moving image, and can be provided to the mobile device together with existing voice information.

3) Therefore, when a user receives a guidance service using the mobile device, the user of the mobile device can view all menu items provided by the guidance service center through a display device provided on the mobile device, and can process the ARS and the telephone banking by directly selecting one of menu items displayed on the display device.

Moreover, in addition to the ARS and telephone banking, the present invention can be applied to existing guidance services provided based on voice, for example, the publicization of a new product, guidance for subscription to Internet communication, loan consultation, debt collection, advance purchase of air tickets, and other various types of voice services, which are provided based on voice after an employee of a call center has connected a call to a mobile device.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual block diagram showing an example of a guidance service provision system for providing a guidance service to a mobile device. The shown guidance service provision system includes a plurality of mobile devices 50a to 5On, a mobile communication system 200, a multiplexing device 100, and a guidance service center (a Computer Telephony Integration

(CTI) server, a call center, and a Database (DB) ) . The mobile communication system 200 includes a plurality of Base Transceiver Systems (BTSs) 201a to 201n, a Base

Station Controller (BSC) , a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) , and a Home Location Register (HLR) .

When one of the mobile devices 50a to 5On requests a call connection from a call center from which it is desired to receive a guidance service through the mobile communication system 200, the mobile communication system 200 establishes a voice call channel between the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On and the call center, and causes a PSTN, which is a wired communication network, to be operated in conjunction with a mobile communication network, which is a wireless digital communication network, through the established voice call channel. Here, the BTSs 201a to 201n, the BSC 202, the MSC 204, and the HLR 203, which construct the mobile communication system, will be described in brief. Each of the BTSs 201a to 201n is provided in every cell which constructs a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, and is configured to perform wireless communication with the mobile device. The BSC 202 performs control on the plurality of BTSs such that access paths to various types of wired networks are provided. The MSC 204 processes circuit-switching, handoff, roaming, and data relay between mobile communication network subscribers. The HLR 203 includes the positioning information of a mobile device which has subscribed to the mobile communication network, and checks the positioning information of the mobile device received through the BTS even when the mobile device is not making a telephone call. After the voice call channel has been established between the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On and the call center by the mobile communication system 200, the multiplexing device 100 inserts and transmits multimedia information, including one or more of text, still images, and a moving image, through the voice call channel. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, FIG. 5 shows the data type transmitted through the voice call channel established between the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On and the call center. As shown in the drawing, in the case in which the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On performs voice communication with the call center through the mediation of the mobile communication system 200, only part of the voice call channel (the region indicated by the oblique line), transmitted and received by the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On and the call center, is filled with voice data, and the remaining part is not used. FIG. 6 conceptually shows the data type, in which multimedia data is included in the region that is not used in FIG. 5. The multiplexing device 100 further includes multimedia information transmitted between the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On and the call center through the voice call channel, so that guidance information can be displayed on the display device provided in the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On. FIGS. 7 (a) to

(f) show an example of performing telephone banking among a plurality of examples in which guidance information is provided using the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On.

The present invention will be easily understood with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 7 (a) , in the case in which the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On requests call connection from the mobile communication system 200 using a call center connection number (for example, 1588-5000) and the mobile communication system 200 establishes a voice call channel between the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On and the call center (a) , the call center transmits guidance announcements stored in a DB to the mobile device

50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On. The drawing shows that the guidance announcement, such as "XX bank CMS call center. Please press # for a quick service, number 1 for account inquiry...", is provided to the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On. Thereafter, menu items in the form of a GUI, as shown in FIG. 7 (b) , are displayed on the display device of the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On. Messages corresponding to the guidance announcements provided by the call center (for example, "#. quick service, 1. account inquiry, 2. money transfer/payment, 3. incident inquiry") are displayed in FIG. 7 (b) , and the user of the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On can select one of displayed menu items using numeric keys, direction keys, and menu keys (selection and cancel keys) provided in the mobile device. If the user selects a menu item (for example, 2. money transfer/payment) in FIG. 7 (b) , menu items, as shown in FIG. 7 (c) , are displayed on the display device, and the user enters his/her resident registration number and conducts telephone banking. Here, the process of converting the menu items from FIG. 7 (b) to 7(c) may be faster than guidance announcements. That is, although the user can select one of the menu items of a GUI environment while listening to the guidance announcements provided by the call center, the user can directly select one of the menu items displayed on the display device, and can convert between menu items (for example, the menus items of FIG. 7 (b) ) and menu items (for example, the menu items of FIG. 7 (c) ) without listening to the entire guidance announcements . The menu items can be displayed by selectively inserting into and transmitting text, still images, and a moving image through the voice call channel, as shown in FIG. 6, and providing it to the mobile device, and the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On must be capable of processing multimedia information included in and transmitted through the voice channel in addition to existing voice data. For this purpose, the mobile device requires that hardware or software be changed using the following methods : 4) A method of including a separate hardware module for processing data included in a voice call channel.

5) A method of extracting data included in the voice call channel by upgrading the firmware of a modem or decoder for decoding voice signals in the voice call channel and displaying the resulting data in the display device .

FIGS. 7 (d) to 7(f) respectively show steps of inputting a password, selecting a payment account, and entering the password of a bankbook. Since the process can be easily understood by most adults, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, although telephone banking using the mobile device 50a, ..., 5On-I, or 5On has been illustrated and described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) to (f), the above description pertains to an extremely small portion of the range to which the present invention can be applied. When After-Sales Service for an electric home appliance, a cellular phone, or a computer is processed by an ARS, the present invention can be applied in the same manner. Further, a moving image or still images may be displayed on a display device, together with a guidance announcement, so as to publicize a new product. Of course, the present invention can apply to the introduction of various types of products and guidance information processed based on voice communication. FIG. 8 is an internal block conceptual diagram showing the multiplexing device shown in FIG. 4.

In the internal block conceptual diagram showing the multiplexing device shown in FIG. 4, the multiplexing device 100 includes a main control unit 101 configured to control and manage an entire system, and to perform call control and call processing, a wireless modem unit 102 wirelessly interfaced with a mobile communication system 200, and configured to provide voice or wireless service data or simultaneously provide voice and wireless service data, a digital switch unit 103 interfaced with a PSTN and a wireless modem unit 102, and configured to selectively switch a communication channel using the PSTN or the wireless modem unit 102, and a data interfacing unit 104 interfaced with a CTI server 301, configured to simultaneously provide voice and wireless service data, or match data input from an external device for providing wireless service data. The main control unit 101 controls and manages the whole mobile concentration device of the present invention, and handles the call control and call processing of a system. Further, when a call setting is requested, the main control unit 101 performs a control function of setting up an optimized call. The wireless modem unit 102 is formed by a group of a plurality of wireless modems, and the function of each of the wireless modems is the same as the function of a mobile device. However, since the wireless modem unit 102 is not directly carried by a user but is installed in the multiplexing device 100 as a module, it is preferable that the wireless modem unit 102 be constructed without a function of a User Interface (UI), including a screen display function. The wireless modem unit 102, constructed as described above, includes wireless modems, the number of which corresponds to the capacity of the wireless modem unit 102, and the wireless modem unit 102 is interfaced with the digital switch unit 103 for voice communication. Here, when the wireless modem unit 102 and the mobile communication system are wirelessly interfaced with each other, in order to avoid affecting the wireless network environment of the mobile communication system, the base transceiver system antenna matching unit of the mobile communication system 200 and the antenna matching unit of the wireless modem unit 102 are directly connected by a coaxial cable, so that they does not affect the environment of a wireless network which is being operated. The digital switch unit 103 performs functions of setting up and controlling a call channel, such as interfacing with the wireless modem unit 102 so as to set up a call channel to the mobile communication system 200, and interfacing so as to set up a call channel to the PSTN, which is a wired network. That is, under the control of the main control unit 101, in the case in which a called subscriber is a wired subscriber, the digital switch unit 103 is interfaced with the PSTN, and a call channel to the PSTN is set up. In the case in which the called subscribed is a wireless subscriber, the digital switch unit 103 is interfaced with the wireless modem unit 102, and a call channel to the mobile communication system 200 is set up, so that voice or wireless service data is provided, or voice and wireless service data are simultaneously provided to the wireless subscriber.

The data interfacing unit 104 is interfaced with a CTI server, and simultaneously provides voice and non-voice data (multimedia data) . In the case in which only non-voice data service is provided, the data interfacing unit 104 performs a function of interfacing with data input from an external device. Therefore, the multiplexing device 100 determines whether to set up a call channel to the PSTN, which is a wired network, or to set up a call channel to the mobile communication system 200, which is a wireless network, depending on the telephone number of a called subscriber, to which call connection is requested by an extension subscriber connected to the multiplexing device 100.

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim l]

A method of providing a guidance service to mobile devices, comprising: when a mobile device connects a call to a guidance system, which is connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and provides guidance announcements in voice form, multiplexing guidance data corresponding to the guidance announcements and the guidance announcements; and providing guidance information, in which the guidance announcements and the guidance data are multiplexed, to the mobile device through a mobile communication system; wherein the guidance data is included in and transmitted through a voice call channel established between the guidance system and the mobile device, and is displayed in menu item form, including numbers, on the mobile device.

[Claim 2]

The method according to claim 1, wherein, with regard to the guidance information, both the guidance announcements and the guidance data are provided to the mobile device through the mobile communication system, and playback of the guidance announcements is perfoπned independently of playback of the guidance data.

[Claim 3]

The method according to claim 1, wherein the guidance data is at least one of text, still images, and a moving image, which are associated with the guidance announcements .

[Claim 4]

A method of providing a guidance service to mobile devices connected through a mobile communication system, comprising: receiving a request for a guidance service from a mobile device through the mobile communication system; generating guidance data in which data and voice signals corresponding to the requested guidance service are multiplexed, and providing the guidance data through a voice communication channel established between the mobile communication system and the mobile device; and providing the guidance data to the mobile device through the mobile communication system; wherein, with regard to the guidance data, the data corresponding to the guidance service is inserted into and transmitted through a voice call channel established between the mobile communication system and a guidance service provider, and is displayed in menu item form, including numbers, on the mobile device.

2L

[Claim 5]

The method according to claim 4, wherein the data corresponding to the guidance service is at least one of text, still images, and a moving image.

[Claim 6]

The method according to claim 1, wherein, with regard to the guidance information, both the voice signals and the guidance data are provided to the mobile device, and playback of the voice signals is performed independently of playback of the guidance data.