DE19939410A1 - Interactive/ bi-directional communications system and method for controlling it operates terminals in a communications system automatically directly interconnected with active user control after registering with a network. - Google Patents

Abstract

Communications terminals in a communications system are automatically directly interconnected. Active control by a user can also be applied after registering with a network station for a set time. First and second communications terminals serve together as a data source. On entering a first operating state for a first communication device set in advance, a second operating state is produced by a user automatically and/or after active and/or passive action.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling interactive Communication systems, preferably to control the ready Provision, reception and / or billing of information offers, for example of advertising in interactive commu nication systems.

Interactive communication systems in the sense of the present Er are all communication systems where we at least one external data source and at least one commu nikationsendgerät be at least one bidirectional connection stands. Internet, video and / or multimedia networks, intranets in Companies and public institutions are important examples  for this, but also telecommunications systems with TV systems Interaction options for the participant, e.g. B. Pay TV Sy systems, pay-per-view and / or video-on-demand systems and / or Telephone and / or fax connections.

Communication terminals are all facilities that the Ver binding mainly for reception and / or storage, Use processing and / or output of data. Examples for this are computers with modems and / or network cards and / or all ge for processing wirelessly transmitted data suitable interfaces, interfaces and / or converters, telephone and / or fax machines and / or TV sets with inter-communicative Interfaces such as set-top boxes and / or the so-called "d-box".

External data sources are all facilities that the association Use mainly to distribute data. Examples for this are computers with modems or network cards, servers, Telephone and / or fax machines and / or transmitters.

Bidirectional connections are all facilities, arrangement conditions and / or procedures for the transmission of data to a commu nikationsendgerät, by using the Communication terminal a way to control the Connection and / or the external data source and / or the About data is collected. Examples of this are telecommunications cations connections via satellite, cable and / or radio - e.g. B. with the "busy" signal as control of the external data source - Internet connections via cable and / or radio and / or TV connections - e.g. B. with confirmation from the receiving device via reception time and / or retrieval of programs as a control the external data source and / or the data transmission.

In communication systems where the user is a pure takes on a passive, receptive role (e.g. radio, TV, etc.) the linear flow of one-sided communication by the Be  As a rule, users at least perceive advertising as annoying glare interrupted. In interactive communication systems the user takes an active role and therefore feels Advertisements that help him pursue his goal hinder or delay its activities, than so major disruption. In particular, use fees mandatory connections for interactive communication systems such as telecommunications and / or Internet connections is the half the placement of advertising according to the existing ones Procedures, banner advertising, etc., for all parties involved, providers, Advertisers and users to a great extent ineffective and inconsistent peaceful.

Time, duration and content of the advertising in interactive communication nication systems tend to be counterproductive and not tailored to the needs of the user. The user em Find the breaker and / or disruptive acquisition in double Senses as a loss of time in his activity.

The desired target group is for the advertising industry the recipes are not exactly attainable for the advertised products tion situation with the user is negatively listed, the recipe willingness to work low. Beyond that, the deed Real reception of the placed advertising cannot be checked and controllable and the settlement of the costs all-inclusive and losge detaches from the degree of success of advertising.

For the providers in interactive communication systems stands the chance of a (partial) financing of your offer by who exercise the risk of acceptance through this advertising reduction in their service to the user and by ei a decrease in the number of users and / or useful life losing advantage again or even in an after some traffic.  

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantages to overcome the previously known methods.

The above object is achieved by the invention Wanted method according to claim 1 solved by the occurrence a predefined and / or definable first Operating state a automatically and / or after active and / or passive initiation by the user of a second company state b is established.

The invention is based, inter alia, on the object Times when a communication terminal in an interactive ven communication system is not used for transmission and / or output of data, preferably information, particularly prefers to use advertising.

Another object of this invention is the transmission and / or interrupt advertising once again as soon as that Communication terminal is used again.

Another object of the invention is to automate any Processable information related to the User, use and / or interruption of use and / or advertising placement arise in order to win intelligent control of data billing network and / or telephone network use and / or the grant of advantage tion / remuneration to the user, the advertising placement and / or the calculation of costs to the client of the advertising plan adornment.

The independent claims can also be used to solve this task che serve; advantageous embodiments of the fiction The procedure is defined in the subclaims. The  The following is an exemplary list of possible designs Men of the method according to the invention is not restrictive rather, the invention can be advantageous for all users Use purposes where control procedures in inter active communication systems.

Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention can be in interactive and / or bidirectional communication application systems, preferably in telecommunications systems systems, telephone and / or fax systems, paging and / or Radio data systems and / or mobile phone systems, preferably in interactive TV systems, Pay TV, Pay Per View and / or Vi deodorant on demand systems, particularly preferred in computer networks interactive video and / or multimedia networks and / or on the Internet.

In a suitable method according to the invention, the occur a predefined and / or any definable first operating state a automatically and / or after active and / or passive prompting by the user a second Operating state b established; the first operating state is a here a previously defined and / or any definable Use of the communication terminal and / or a part of the communication terminal for a predefined one and / or any definable period / time and / or read a predefined and / or definable send, not and / or less varied use and / or Define an interruption of use for / to a person in advance ten and / or any definable period / time preferably the easing, the decrease in variation and / or the Interruption of reception, broadcast and / or output external data and / or human sensory organs perceptible representations of an existing connection  extension of the communication terminal to an external data source and / or a further communication terminal, preferably that Decrease, the decrease in variation and / or the interruption an input, processing, storage and / or output process in / of the communication terminal, particularly preferred the easing, the decrease in variation and / or the interruption action and / or user interaction with / the communication terminal; particularly preferred first loading Driving states a are user interactions and / or reading send, not and / or less varied and / or interrupted user interactions with the communication terminal for / to a / m predefined and / or freely definable Period / time via remote control, keyboard, mouse, joy stick, pen, trackball, patchfield, touchscreen, audiovisual Recording and / or playback media and / or interfaces therefor; a suitable second operating state b is the we at least one-off construction and / or maintenance of one Communication link between the communication terminal and an external data source and / or the at least once lige, preferably permanent transmission of external and / or data not actively selected by the user and / or the little at least one-time storage, processing and / or output sol external data in / on / by the communication terminal for a predefined and / or arbitrarily definable time space, such a communication link, transmission, Storage, processing and / or output new and / or to and / or in addition to an existing communication connection and / or transmission, storage, Processing and / or output is built up and / or instead det; for example, via an interactive heel temp gear with an operating mode in which the viewer often hurts fig using the remote control between different cameras selected perspectives, e.g. B. in Formula 1 transmissions in digi  tal television, automatically and / or after reconfirmation by the viewer, an advertisement, e.g. B. also on one Part of the screen when the viewer chooses the camera for a certain time no longer varies; on fax machines that are in a certain period of time and / or in frequent intervals len were used, an advertising fax can be sent, so soon a certain time passed after such use chen is; on computers that are not on for a certain amount of time an internet connection is established automatically provided, advertising pages and / or spots transmitted and on the picture screen issued. Likewise, can not and / or little used Parts of the computer, such as speakers and / or parts the screen is used to place advertising online become.

In a preferred embodiment, when a predefined and / or definable third Be drive state c after the start of the second operation level b automatically and / or after active and / or passive Initiation by the user of a fourth operating state d manufactured, the third operating state c a de in advance Finished and / or any definable interruption of use, Use and / or reuse of the communication terminal and / or a part of the communication terminal for / to egg NEN / m predefined and / or arbitrarily definable time space / time, an increase in use and / or a Define increasingly varying usage for / to a / m ten and / or any definable period / time in addition to receiving, sending and / or issuing external data and / or their from human senses perceptible representations over an existing connection of the communication terminal to an external data source and / or a further communication terminal and / or the  Establishing such a connection, preferably an input, ver processing, storage and / or output process in / of the com Communication terminal, it is particularly preferred for an action and / or user interaction with / on the communication terminal. Particularly preferred third operating states c are user interactions and / or increasing and / or increasing varying user interactions with the communication terminal for / to a / m predefined and / or any de definable period / time via remote control, keyboard, Mouse, joystick, pen, trackball, patchfield, touchscreen, audio visual recording and / or playback media and / or editing pose for this. Preferred third operating states c are also first operating states a and / or second operating states b in Dependency of a / on / from predefined and / or belie big definable periods of time and / or time / s and / or depending on / from previously defined and / or any definable types, compositions and / or amounts of transmitted, processed, stored and / or issued external data and / or that of human sensory organs noticeable representations. A suitable fourth Be Drive state d is the termination and / or the interruption of the second operating state b for a predefined one and / or any definable period, preferably the Be termination and / or interruption of the communication link between the communication terminal and external data source and / or termination and / or interruption of the transfer determination, storage, processing and / or output of the external data in / on / by the communication terminal and / or the Switch to and / or rebuild one before reaching it Most operating state a existed communication server binding, the change to a predefined and / or belie big definable further communication connection, the change sel to the operating state before reaching the first operation  standes a, the change to a predefined and / or be arbitrarily definable further operating state and / or a predefined and / or arbitrarily definable action of the comm communication terminal and / or interaction with other commu nikationsendgeräte and / or external data sources. After for a certain time, for example ten minutes no assets connection is done automatically on the computer who are interrupted. The computer can be switched off automatically switches and / or into stand-by mode and / or into an image screen saver mode and / or in the initial state (e.g. text processing or any application programs). It a signal (e.g. acoustic) can also be output or the user is asked. When used again The control element on the computer can do the connection if automatically interrupted and / or in the exit state can be switched.

In a further embodiment of the method, the first Operating state a, the operating state before reaching the first Operating state a, the second operating state b, the third Operating state c and / or the fourth operating state d and / or the associated time periods, time points s and / or species, composition / s and / or quantity / s the data automatically recognized, measured, processed, statio stored när and / or non-stationary and / or to one and / or several participants of the communication system, preferred to external data sources and / or providers in the communica tion system s transmitted and / or the detection, measurement, ver processing, storage and / or transmission before entry and / or access of the user is secured.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a qualification, quantification, categorization and / or weighting of the operating state (s) a, b, c and / or d and / or the associated time periods, time points / s and / or types , Compositions and / or amount (s) of the data and / or by predefined and / or any definable external data, preferably queried by the user, sociodemographic data such as gender, age, place of residence, profession and / or income, preferably user behavior data, data about Hobbies, travel, shopping behavior and / or music and / or media consumption, particularly preferably psychographic user data, predefined and / or arbitrarily definable value units and / or tax codes formed and / or assigned, whereby by the value units, tax codes and / or predefined and / or arbitrarily definable combinations of such value units and / or control codes

• - the operating state (s) a, b, c and / or d
• - and / or the related period (s) and / or time / s
• - and / or the types, compositions and / or amount (s) the external data
• - and / or the amount and / or type of possible fees for the Users, fee reductions, no fees, Ge fee credits, refunds and / or equivalents, preferably money, property and / or services
• - and / or the amount and / or type of possible fees and / or Equivalents for third parties, preferably suppliers and / or Initiators of the transmitted external data

is controlled and / or billed automatically.

For example, a qualitative / quantitative Co the times of Internet use outside the procedure proper operating status b (e.g. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. = A, 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. = B) and the content of the retrieved Pages (erotic = X, rest = Y) a control code for the type of  transmitted data in the procedural second operation stand b are formed or assigned. Example: If the An part of the previous internet usage with the usage code BX is more than 50% of the total usage time, are in the Be drive condition b Beate Uhse commercials transmitted when the Proportion is less than 50%, standard advertising films are also transmitted telt. The assignment could also depend on Time of establishment of the operational operation stand b take place. Example: If the proportion of the previous Internet use with the usage code BX at least 25% of the Total usage time and the operating state b in the Time from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. drive condition b Beate Uhse commercials transmitted. Others if standard advertising films are transmitted. With similar co dierungsverfahren all other sizes of Ver automated driving in any combination. So The operating status b can be in the period from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Clock after ten minutes of interruption of use according to the procedure ak can be activated and after a further ten minutes the Computer in operating mode d (e.g. stand-by mode) selen. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. state b activated after two minutes of inactivity and after another 20 minutes the Compu switch to operating mode d (e.g. switch off). in the second case, the user could incentivize five free minutes additional usage time, ten in the first case.

In another suitable method, the current len and / or via a fixed and / or arbitrary value period and / or tax codes and / or the effects and / or values controlled thereby, preferably as monetary values and / or current values on the communicati onsender and / or after active and / or passive  Initiation by the user and / or by a specified and / or any definable use of the communication end device changed, stationary and / or non-stationary storage chert and / or to one and / or more participants in the commu nication systems, preferably to external data sources and / or to provider transmitted in / of the communication system.

For example, the user can during the operating state b the display of the already collected free minutes, e.g. B. ten Free minutes, see and get at any time the offer to press a particular key now at five to get more free minutes. Is the entry actually made? Lich, this is saved - protected by user access, e.g. B. on a chip card, or directly online to the provider transfer. For the data or commercials, which during the loading drive state b in the time preceding this entry have been transmitted to the relevant advertising partners increased switching costs, as they are charged for advertising Recipients have been shown to attract attention.

In one embodiment, the output type is frequency and / or intensity of the transmitted external data and / or defi their representations on the communication terminal in advance ned, freely definable, is / are recognized automatically, processed before the user entered and / or accessed stored, stationary and / or non-stationary and / or to one and / or several participants in the communication system, preferably to external data sources and / or providers in / the Kom communication system s transmitted. A television or monitor can be delivered with a window (split screen) be equipped or the size of an output window or the Volume for advertising can be detected and serve as the basis for the price code, for example.

Claims (12)

1. A method for controlling interactive communication systems, preferably for controlling the provision of information, preferably advertising in interactive communication systems, characterized in that when a previously defined and / or any definable first operating state a occurs automatically and / or after active and / or passive prompting by the user a second operating state b is established, this second operating state b the at least one-time establishment and / or the maintenance of a communication link between the communication terminal and an external data source and / or the at least one-time, preferably permanent transmission of external and / or data not actively selected by the user and / or the at least one-off storage, processing and / or output of such external data in / on / by the communication end device for a predefined and / or arbitrarily defined b aren period, whereby such a communication connection, transmission, storage, processing and / or edition is newly established and / or instead of and / or in addition to an existing communication connection and / or transmission, storage, processing and / or edition taking place and / or takes place. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that that when a pre-defined and / or arbitrary occurs definable third operating state c after the previously occurred second operating state b automatically and / or after active and / or passive instigation by the user zer a fourth operating state d is established.   3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized featured, that the first operating state a defines a previously and / or any definable use of the communication terminal and / or part of the communication terminal tes for / to a / m predefined and / or as defined definable period / time and / or a previously defined nated and / or any definable declining, not and / or less varied usage and / or a sub break the usage for a pre-defined one and / or any definable period / time, preferred show the easing, the decrease in variation and / or the Un Interruption of receipt, broadcast and / or output external data and / or human sensory data tangible representations of an existing one Connection of the communication terminal to an external one Data source and / or a further communication terminal, prefers the easing, the decrease in variation and / or the Interruption of an input, processing, storage and / or output process in / of the communication terminal, particularly preferred the easing, the decrease in variation and / or the interruption of an action and / or interaction the user with / on the communication terminal; especially their preferred first operating states a are users actions and / or end of estate, no and / or less vari Ending and / or interrupted user interactions with the Communication terminal for a predefined one and / or any definable period / time via Remote control, keyboard, mouse, joystick, pen, trackball, Patchfield, touchscreen, audiovisual recording and / or Playback media and / or interfaces therefor.   4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized featured, that the third operating state c a previously defined and / or any definable interruption of use, Be use and / or reuse of the communication terminal tes and / or a part of the communication terminal for / for a / m predefined and / or freely defined period, an increase in use and / or an increasingly varied use for / to one / m predefined and / or arbitrarily definable time space / time, preferably of receipt, of the broadcast and / or the output of external data and / or their representations perceptible to human senses via an existing connection of the communication terminal to an external data source and / or another commu nikationsendgerät and / or the structure of such a connection tion, preferably an input, processing, spoke and / or output process in the communication end advises it, particularly preferably an action and / or Interak tion of the user with / on the communication terminal; esp particularly preferred third operating states c are user interactions and / or increasing and / or increasing va user interaction with the communication endge advises for / to a / defined in advance and / or any adjustable period / time via remote control, keyboard, Mouse, joystick, pen, trackball, patchfield, touchscreen, au diovisual recording and / or playback media and / or Interfaces for this; preferred third operating states c are also first operating states a and / or second operating states b depending on a / of a previously defined and / or any definable time periods and / or time point (s) and / or depending on a / from previously defined ten and / or any definable types, composition  tongue / s and / or quantities of the transmitted, processed, stored and / or outputted external data and / or their representations perceivable by human senses stations. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized featured, that the fourth operating state d the termination and / or the Interruption of the second operating state b for one predefined and / or arbitrarily definable period is, preferably the termination and / or interruption of the Communication link between the communication terminal and an external data source and / or termination and / or interruption of transmission, storage, processing Processing and / or output of external data in / on / by the Communication terminal and / or the switch to and / or he again build one before reaching the first operating state of the existing communication link, the change sel to a predefined and / or arbitrarily definable ren further communication connection, the change to Be operating state before reaching the first operating state a, the change to a predefined and / or any de definable further operating state and / or a de Finished and / or freely definable action of the commune kationsendgerätes and / or interaction with other Kommuni cation terminals and / or external data sources. 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized featured, that the first operating state a, the operating state before Er range of the first operating state a, the second operating state b, the third operating state c and / or the fourth Operating state d and / or the related / n  Periods, time and / or types, composition tongue / s and / or quantities of data are automatically recognized, measured, processed, stationary and / or non-stationary saved and / or to one and / or more participants of the communication system, preferably to external data sources and / or provider in / of the communication system will become. 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized featured, that the detection, measurement, processing, storage and / or transmission before the access and / or access of the Be user is secured. 8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized featured, that through qualification, quantification, categorization determination and / or weighting of the operating state (s) a, b, c and / or d and / or the related Periods, time and / or types, composition tongue / s and / or amounts of data and / or by advance de Finished and / or freely definable external, preferred previously requested data defined by the user and / or arbitrarily definable value units and / or tax ercodes are formed and / or assigned. 9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in
that through the value units, control codes and / or predefined and / or arbitrarily definable combinations of such value units and / or control codes

• - the operating state (s) a, b, c and / or d
• - and / or the related time period (s) and / or time point (s)
• - and / or the types, compositions and / or amount (s) of external data
• - And / or the amount and / or type of possible fees for the user, fee reductions, discontinued fees, fee credits, reimbursements and / or equivalents, preferably money, goods and / or services
• - and / or the amount and / or type of possible fees and / or equivalents for third parties, preferably suppliers and / or initiators of the external data transmitted

is controlled and / or billed automatically. 10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized featured, that the current and / or via a fixed and / or value units recorded in any period and / or control codes and / or the we controlled thereby kungen and / or values, preferably as monetary value (s) and / or time values are output on the communication terminal will / will and / or after active and / or passive event approval by the user and / or by a specified and / or any definable use of the communication terminal is / are changed, stationary and / or not stored stationary and / or to one and / or more Participants in the communication system, preferably to external parties Data sources and / or providers in the communication system / s is / will be transmitted. 11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized featured,  that the type, frequency and / or intensity of the transmitted external data and / or their representations is / are defined in advance on the communication terminal is / are definable, automatically recognized, processed, secured against user access and / or access, sta stationary and / or non-stationary and / or to an egg nen and / or several participants of the communication system, preferably to external data sources and / or providers in / Communication system is / are transmitted. 12. Application of the method according to one of the preceding An sayings for interactive and / or bidirectional communication on systems, preferably telecommunication systems, telephone and / or fax systems, paging and / or radio data systems and / or mobile phones, preferably for interactive TV systems systems, pay-TV, pay-per-view and / or video-on-demand systems, particularly preferred for computer networks, interac tive video and / or multimedia networks and / or for that Internet and / or for mixed forms of such communication systems steme.