WO2005026949A1

WO2005026949A1 - Method for accessing to a service-providing program

Info

Publication number: WO2005026949A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/051716
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Schlichte
Original assignee: Benq Mobile Gmbh & Co. Ohg; Benq Corporation
Priority date: 2003-09-11
Filing date: 2004-08-04
Publication date: 2005-03-24
Also published as: EP1665036A1

Abstract

The inventive method consists in predetermining a list of available service programs (14, 16). During data recording (60), said list of available service programs (14, 16) is automatically limited according to the content of the generated record (60), thereby enabling a user to carry out several entries in order to access to the service program (16).

Description

description

Method of accessing a service provider program

The invention relates to a method for accessing a service delivery program, in which at least two service delivery programs, but usually a large number of service delivery programs, are defined, which can be used by a user without additional adjustment steps of the method. Based on the input from the user, a data record is generated that contains several data fields, for example data fields in which location information or time information is stored.

The service delivery program is, for example, a program on a computer of the user or else a program on a service delivery computer that is used by several users in a data transmission network.

For example, from the US patent application 2002 / -

0019835 AI known a method for scheduling and an associated organizer. The data records each contain a date, a time, a purpose and a location. The service provision program is a module coupled to a GPS receiver (Global Position System), with the help of which it can be determined whether the user can still keep his appointments in time. However, the relationship between a record and the service delivery program is rigidly predetermined.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple method for accessing a service provider program, in particular a service provider program that is executed by a service provider computer in a data transmission network. In particular, the method is intended to reduce the number of user inputs. An associated unit should also be specified. The object related to the method is achieved by a method with the method steps specified in claim 1. Further training is specified in the subclaims.

The invention is based on the consideration that, on the basis of the data that is successively entered when a data record is generated, the service provider programs that can be used to process the data can be quickly restricted. Therefore, in the method according to the invention: depending on the content of the data record generated, a restriction of the defined service provision programs which are suitable for processing the data record is carried out automatically.

As a result of this measure, the user does not have to make any input for the selection of a service provision program if it is automatically restricted to only one service provision program in question. Even if only a pre-selection is made automatically, the operating effort for the user is reduced since he only has to choose from a restricted list. For example, so-called "scrolling" through a list that is only partially displayed is no longer necessary or simplified.

In a development of the method according to the invention, several data records are stored in a storage unit. Depending on the content of at least one stored data record, the defined service provider programs are restricted. The further training is based on the consideration that a preselection is also possible on the basis of already stored data records. The number of service delivery programs in question can be reduced more quickly to one service delivery program in question if several pre-selection criteria are used. In a next development, therefore, at least one stored data record is determined which contains at least one data field of the same type as the data record generated and which contains the same content in the data field as in the same data field of the data record last created. A stored data record which is as similar as possible to the data record just generated is thus determined. This procedure increases the likelihood that the automatically restricted list of the defined service delivery programs actually contains the service delivery program that the user is currently in need of. This takes advantage of the fact that each user often uses only a small number of service delivery programs that can be determined using only a few input data, for example a flight booking program based on a starting point and an ending point.

In a next development, at least one data field is used in the determined stored data record which does not yet exist in the generated data record or which has not yet been assigned content, in particular not content which deviates from a standard content. By default, a data field contains e.g. the value 0. On the basis of the content of this data field in the data record that has been stored for a long time, the restriction can be made before the next input by the user.

In a next development, at least one stored data record contains a data field in which a service provision program is noted. The restriction is made based on the content of this data field. For example, the service provider program is noted by a so-called link to a service provider computer in a data transmission network. If, for example, a high degree of correspondence is established by comparing the data of the last data record entered with the data of a stored data record, and is in the stored data record For example, if the flight booking program is noted, the flight booking program can be called up without further user input via the note or link.

In a second aspect, the invention also relates to a method for accessing a service provision program which is closely related to the method according to the first aspect. In the method according to the second aspect, too, the number of user inputs required is considerably restricted. In the method according to the second aspect, the following method steps are carried out without being restricted by the sequence specified:

- save multiple records,

Generating a data record with several data fields, selecting a service provider program for processing the data of the data record, and automatically determining data for the service provider program from the stored data records, and processing the data of the data record and the determined data by the service provider program.

The automatically determined data for the service provision program does not have to be re-entered by the user or does not have to be re-entered, so that the number of user entries is considerably reduced.

In the case of a next further training, the selection of the service provision program is carried out with the method according to the first aspect or with a further development of this method. This reduces the number of user entries required in two places. Compared to previous methods, considerably fewer user entries are required.

In a next development, at least one stored data record is determined that contains at least one data field that is the same as the data record generated and that is stored in the data record. field contains the same date as the same data field of the last data record created. This is based on the consideration that, for example, if the same flight booking program is frequently used by the user, the same entries are also desired, for example the user always wants to fly only business class or only economy class. Likewise, the payment method requested by the user remains the same.

In a next development, at least one date of the determined data record is transmitted to the service provider program, preferably together with a key which specifies the type of data field from which the date originates. For example, in a flight booking program, the required class or the desired payment method is automatically transmitted. By sending the key, for example the key "class" or "payment method", service providers are also able to use the data which, for example, do not know the structure of the data records and in particular have not generated the data records.

In a further development applicable to both aspects, each data record contains at least one data field for storing a time, in particular a data field for storing a start time and a data field for storing an end time or a time period. A time specification contains, for example, a date and a time.

Alternatively or additionally, each data record contains at least one data field for storing a location, in particular a data field for storing a starting location and a data field for storing a destination. Additional data fields supplement the data records if necessary.

In a next development for both aspects, the automatic restriction according to the first aspect or the automatic determination according to the second aspect is carried out in a terminal device. Nes data transmission network performed. The service provider program is stored on a service provider computer of the data transmission network.

In a next development for both aspects, the service provider program generates data which are then stored in the data record last created. This measure allows the data stored in the data records to be expanded step by step without a user having to enter data repeatedly.

In a further development, the method is carried out according to the first aspect or according to the second aspect when operating a calendar program. With a calendar program, there is a data record for each appointment that contains a location and a time. In the course of further training, the location and / or the time are entered without having to be entered again for access to the service provider program, i.e. used a different program than the calendar program. It is also used to select a service provider program without additional input. Calendar programs are very frequently required programs that are also available from a large number of manufacturers. Small improvements in the operation of a calendar program are therefore of great importance.

The invention also relates to access units, during the operation of which a method according to the invention is carried out in particular. The access units can be implemented using a microprocessor and a program, but also by an electronic circuit that does not contain a microprocessor that processes a program.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In it show:

1 shows the selection of a service provider computer when using a calendar program, 2 shows data records used in the selection of the service provider computer and data records used in determining data for the service provider computer, and FIG. 3 shows a unit for carrying out a method for selecting a service provider computer and a method for automatically determining data for the service provider computer.

Figure 1 shows a data transmission network 10, e.g. the Internet, on which several service provision computers 12 to 16 and a so-called pocket computer 18 are operated. In another exemplary embodiment, a personal computer, a notebook or another computer is used instead of the pocket computer 18.

The service provider computer 12 contains, for example, websites that provide information about the cinema program of a week. One of the service provision computers 14 indicated by dots contains, for example, the website of a restaurant, via which seats can be reserved. The service provider computer 18 is operated, for example, by an airline and is used for the automatic booking of flights.

When you buy a movie ticket online or book one online

Restaurant space or when booking a flight online, programs are carried out on the service provider computer 12, 14 or 16 or on computers included by these computers, which carry out the booking.

The pocket computer 18 contains a processor and a memory. A calendar program is stored in the memory, and when it is processed by the processor, a calendar 20 is displayed on a display unit of the pocket computer 18, not shown. The calendar 20 contains columns 22, 24, 26 etc. for the weekdays Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc. The weekdays are shown in a header 30. The Calendar 20 also includes several lines 32, 34, 36, which are assigned in this order to the times, 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., etc. The relevant time is shown in a time column 40 to the left of calendar 20. Due to the row and column assignment, appointment fields 50 to 60 are created, which can be selected with the aid of an input device, for example a computer mouse or with the aid of an input pen. By selecting an appointment field 50 to 60, a day of the week of a specific date and time are then defined. For example, if the appointment field 60 is selected, the weekday Wednesday of a specific date and the time 10 am are fixed. Thus, a data record assigned to the appointment field 60 contains very precise times without additional user input. Based on this time specification, a restriction can already be made, for example, when a local user menu 62 is called up. For example, the user has specified through options that cinema and restaurant visits should only be entered at noon and in the evening. Thus, when the appointment field 60 is selected, the user menu 62 receives only one menu item 64 for selecting the

Service computer activated. Menu items 66 and 68 for selecting the service provider computer 12 (cinema) or the service provider computer 14 (restaurant), on the other hand, are blocked or are not displayed in the user menu 62. The user menu 62 optionally contains further menu items 70.

In a next exemplary embodiment, additional data that have been entered in the appointment field 60, for example a start location and a destination location, are also used to restrict the menu items of the user menu 62. This is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

If the user decides to book a flight for the date defined by the appointment field 60, he activates menu item 64. A data transmission connection 80 is then established over the Internet 10 between the pocket computers 18 and the service provider computer 16. A module linked to menu item 64 in pocket computer 18 prompts the user for data that the service provider computer 16 requires, or the module generates this data from data records of the calendar that were previously generated. This

The process is also explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2. The data determined in this way are then transmitted from the module to the service provider computer 16, see arrow 82. The service provider computer 16 processes the transmitted data and books a flight. If the booking is successful, a booking confirmation 84 is sent back to the pocket computer 18. The booking confirmation 84 contains, for example, a flight number and further data. The flight number is assigned to the data record belonging to the appointment field 60 and optionally displayed in the appointment field 60. The other from

Service provider computer 16 is stored in the data record belonging to the appointment field 60.

If the user then calls up a weather service on the Internet 10 for the data field 60 via the user menu 62, the weather forecast for the starting location at the starting time and for the destination can be determined and displayed in the appointment field 60 or assigned to the data record of the appointment field 60 ,

The Internet addresses of the service provider computers used for the data field 60 are also stored in the data record of the appointment field 60. Alternatively, a reference date is saved that refers to the Internet address. The next time you book a flight, the weather can already be determined automatically on the basis of the service provider computer noted.

FIG. 2 shows data records TL1 to TLn which can be arranged in a time-related sequence TL. The time sequence TL is also referred to as the timeline. Each record TLl to TLn contains at least one data field with a time and at least one data field with a location.

The data record TL1 contains: in a start time data field 102 the date 28.02.03 and the time 9 a.m., in an end time data field 104 the date 28.02.03, 10 a.m.,

the place name "Berlin" in a start location data field 106, - the place name "Munich" in a destination location data field 108,

- In a data field 110 the note of a flight number "L 174", in a data field 112 a data key "customer number", abbreviated by no. and the associated date "1188" indicating the customer number, and

- In a data field 114, the Internet address of the service provider computer 16, namely "www.luft.de".

The data record TL2 contains: in a data field 120 the date 01.03.03 and the time 8 o'clock, in a data field 122 the standard value 0, and

- In a data field 124 the location "company", which can be determined in more detail via an address database of the calendar program.

The data record TLn is assigned to the appointment field 60, for example, and contains: in a start time data field 130 the date 28.07.03 and the time 10 a.m., in an end time data field 132 the date 28.07.03, 11 a.m., in a start location data field 134 the place name "Berlin", and - in a destination data field 136 the place name "Munich". The calendar program uses the data already entered in the data set TLn to determine the data set TLl as the most similar data set in the time line TL, because the data set TLl contains the same location names in the third data field and in the fourth data field. On the basis of the data field 114 in the data record TL1, an internet connection to the service provider computer 16 is automatically established, which can be reached at the Internet address "www.luft .de", see arrows 140 and 142. The service provider computer 16 also automatically receives the content of the data field 112, ie Key "customer number" and the customer number "1188", and the data of the data record TLn transmitted, see arrows 150 and 152. The service provider computer 16 then performs its service, namely the booking of a flight for the customer number "1188" to those specified in the data record TLn information. The service provider computer generates a response data record 160, which is transmitted back to the pocket computer 18 as confirmation 82. The response data record 160 contains, for example, the booked flight number “L 486” in a data field 162. Additional data may be stored in further data fields 164, 166 of the response data record 160. The data of the response data record 160 are automatically added to the data record TLn by the calendar program. A data field corresponding to data field 114 is also added to data record TLn.

FIG. 3 shows a unit 200 which contains a data memory 202 for storing the data records TL1 to TLn. In addition, the unit 200 contains a generation unit 204, with the aid of which the data records TL1 to TLn can be generated, a determination unit 206, with the aid of which the service provider computers required in connection with the calendar program can be determined, and a selection unit 208, with the aid of which the available standing service provider computers are automatically restricted or with the help of which data are selected which are to be transmitted to the service provider computer, and a connection unit 210, with the aid of which connections to the Internet 10 can be established automatically.

Further units 212 are indicated by dots and fulfill functions that are required when performing one of the method steps explained above.

In a first alternative, unit 200 does not contain a processor that executes a program. Units 204 through 212 are implemented by circuits that are hard-wired. In an alternative variant, however, the functions of the units 204 to 212 are performed by a processor 220 when a program stored in the memory 202 is processed. In the exemplary embodiments, all units 204 to 212 access memory 202 in order to perform their functions.

In summary, the procedures explained can be used to access remote services automatically or semi-automatically. Previous approaches for such accesses, e.g. with a web browser, require a manual and extensive specification of the service to be used. This requirement is somewhat weakened by the use of so-called "cookies", which are stored on the user's side. However, cookies are not a completely satisfactory solution since the information stored in them is mostly only used to identify the user and cannot be used by other services. This means that other services cannot take advantage of the contextual data of a cookie. In addition, the relevant data has so far been stored on the service provider computer side.

By using the data records TL1 to TLn of a so-called time line TL, which have been explained in more detail above, the service user can use these data structures in order to reduce the amount of additional information to be entered. gladly if he uses the service of a service provider computer. Since the timeline is a general data structure, new users of a service not previously used can use the data that is stored in the time line TL in order to access suitable service provision computers. The data records TL1 to TLn are namely stored in the end device of the user and not in the service provider computer.

The timeline data structure is a container for data entries. Each data entry, i.e. Each data record TL1 to TLn, for example, has a start time, a time period, a resulting end time, a start location, an end location and, if appropriate, an implicit or explicit time-dependent function for determining a location. For example, stopovers can also be determined based on the starting point and destination of a trip and the time lapse. Optionally, each data record can contain a number of other data, for example temperatures, room numbers, etc. The timeline data structure allows the data records to be viewed in descending, in ascending order, or in an unordered order, for example depending on their starting or ending locations access. Optionally, other access criteria can also be used.

The timeline data structure is therefore a general data structure for client applications, with the aid of which remote network resources are accessed. When accessing the remote resources, data is used that is stored in the timeline data structure. Applications are assigned to users depending on the type of entries in the timeline data structure. The results of the service access are again stored in data records of the timeline data structure. The timeline data structure is used to automatically local or remote Call programs. This results in a reduction in interaction with the user.

For example, in one embodiment, the user enters a data record of the timeline data structure. Depending on the type of data in the entry, various remote service access modules are selected. A general appointment in a calendar is linked, for example, to a service user module, which can be used to reserve a place in a restaurant or a cinema, for example, depending on the location and time.

In one embodiment, the following steps are carried out: a) the user enters a new entry in his calendar, specifying a start time and an end time; b) the start and / or the end location for the entry is derived, for example, from the contradiction-free conditions of the timeline data structure. Alternatively, the location information comes from a location-dependent service or is entered manually; c) the user selects the new entry and, depending on the data, ie depending on the time values, the location values, etc., a list of options for service user applications is displayed, from which the user can select an application. An application would be, for example, a weather report module that determines the weather for the relevant data record; d) the selected application uses the stored data in the selected timeline data structure data record or else the entire content of the timeline data structure in order to establish a remote data transmission connection to the service provider. In the weather report example, the weather service user application calls the associated weather report service provider, the starting time, the duration, the starting location of the timeline Data record are transmitted in order to obtain the required information; the result of the remote service access is displayed to the user and / or it is noted in the properties of the timeline data records. For example, the temperature is stored in a temperature data field of the data record, so that this information is very quickly available when the data record is accessed later. In addition, this new information can be passed on to other data structures of the timeline data structure in order to derive the temperature for entries that are "close" in time or space.

Claims

claims

1. A method for accessing a service provision program (16), in which the following method steps are carried out without being restricted by the specified sequence: determining at least two service provision programs (14, 16),

Generating a data record (TLn) with several data fields (130 to 136), depending on the content of the generated data record (TLn), automatically restricting the defined service provider programs (14, 16) for processing the data record (TLn).

2nd The method of claim 1, g e k e n n z e i c h n e t d u r c the steps:

Saving several data records (TLl to TL3), depending on the content of the stored data records (TLl to TL3). Limiting the defined service provider programs (14, 16) for processing the data record (TLn).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the following steps are carried out: determining at least one stored data record (TLl) which contains at least one same data field (106, 108) as the generated data record (TLn) and in which Data field (106, 108) contains the same date as the data record (TLn) generated.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one data field (114) of the determined stored data record (TL1) is used, which does not or does not yet exist in the generated data record or is not occupied with content.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one stored data record (TLl) contains a data field (114) in which a service provision program (16) is noted, and that the defined service provision programs (14, 16) on this service provision program (16) can be restricted.

6. A method for accessing a service provider program (16), in which the following method steps are carried out without being restricted by the specified sequence: storing several data records (TL1 to TL3), generating a data record (TLn) with several data fields (130 to 136),

Selection of a service provider program (16) for processing the data of the data record (TLn) generated, automatic determination of data (112) for the service provider program (16) from the stored data records (TL1 to TL3),

Processing the data of the data record (TLn) and the determined data (112) by the service provider program (16).

7. A method according to claim 6, which also means that the selection is carried out using a method according to one of claims 1 to 5.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that at least one stored data record (TLl) is determined that contains at least one data field (106, 108) that is the same as the generated data record (TLn) and that in the Data field (106, 108) contains the same date as the data record (TLn) generated.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one date (112) of the first th data record (TLl) is transmitted to the service provider program (16), preferably with a key that specifies the type of data field (112) from which the date originates.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each data record (TL1 to TLn) contains at least one data field (130, 132) for storing a time, preferably a data field (130) for storing a start time and / or a data field (132) for storing an end time or a time period, and / or that each data record (TL1 to TLn) contains at least one data field (106, 108) for storing a location, preferably a data field (134) for storing a start location and / or a data field (136) for storing a destination.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a - by ge kenn i chnet that the automatic

Restrict or the automatic determination is carried out in a terminal (18) of a data transmission network (10), and that the service delivery programs (14, 16) are stored on service delivery computers (14, 16) of the data transmission network (10).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the service provider program (16) generates data, that the generated data in the generated data record (TLn) and / or in at least one stored data record (TL1 to TL3) can be saved.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the is executed when a calendar program is operated, and / or that data of a stored data record (TL1) are transmitted to a service provider program (14) which contains data which have been generated in connection with the access to another service provider program (16).

14. Access unit (200), in particular for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, with a definition unit (206) with which at least two service provision programs (14, 16) are defined, with a generation unit (204) that contains a data record (TLn ) which contains several data fields (130 to 136), and with a restriction unit which, depending on the content of the data record (TLn) generated, automatically restricts the defined service provider programs (14, 16) for processing the data record (TLn).

15. Access unit (200), in particular for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, with a storage unit (202) in which a plurality of data records (TL1 to TL3) are stored, with a generation unit (204) that contains a data record (TLn) generated with a plurality of data fields (130 to 136), with a selection unit (208) which selects a service provider program (16) for processing the data of the generated data record (TLn), and with a determination unit which automatically selects data for the service provider program (16) the stored data records (TLl to TL3) determined.