WO2011114185A1

WO2011114185A1 - Method and system for implementation of user interface for video call based services

Info

Publication number: WO2011114185A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/002645
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sunil Mahajan; Dhiren Mehta
Original assignee: Comviva Technologies Limited
Priority date: 2010-03-15
Filing date: 2010-10-16
Publication date: 2011-09-22

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication system and method for providing one or more application to UE over a network and to provide navigation through one or more applications provided to the GUI of the User equipment for selection and access. According to the present invention, one or more images displaying plurality of applications is shown on the GUI of the user equipment. Such one or more images have various static and dynamic characteristics. One or more images are transmitted to the user equipment in a sequence based on the navigation trigger send by the user. Since, the static and dynamic characteristics of one or more interface are different, the sequential display of the plurality of images on the GUI of the user equipment creates navigation effect and enhances the user experience of navigation through various options and menu. The present invention further provides an application server implemented over the network for providing such navigating images on the GUI of the user equipment.

Description

Method and System for Implementation of User Interface, for

Video Call Based Services

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention, in general, relates to the field of telecommunications and particularly, to the field of providing services over a network in a communication system.

Description of the Related Art

[0002] User Equipments (UE) are increasingly becoming more sophisticated both in terms of their processing and memory availability and also in terms of features and components that they support. Besides providing basic communication applications, the user equipment are also treated as one of the channels or media, helping users to entertain themselves by providing the access to multimedia content such as music content, videos and games and hence, is becoming very popular amongst many users.

[0003] Generally, a network allows users to access the multimedia/video contents through two different channels i.e., the packet switched connection and the circuit switched connection. The network providing such multimedia access may be a 3G networks, GPRS network etc.

[0004] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary conventional packet switched connection based system 100 for content consumption by the end user. In the packet switched connection, there are multiple ways in which a user 101 may access a video content. One such method employed to access video content is to use Internet browser on the user equipment 101 to access a wap/web site 103, which could be either hosted by the mobile operators themselves or could be owned by the content providers. The user may navigate through the contents on the wap/web pages and may select a particular content. The wap/web site 103 will start streaming the contents to the user equipment 101 using a data connection (IP connection) and using a streaming protocols such as RTSP/RTP etc, which are supported by the site 103, as well as by the user equipment 101. The user equipment 101 typically carries the capability to display such content on the device screen for the end user to enjoy. Other method includes a software client based approach, where the client is either bundled by operator or manufacturer on the device or can be downloaded by the end user. Figure 2 illustrate the client software based system 200 for video content consumption by the end user 201. In the illustrated system, when the user 201 starts a client application, the client establishes an IP (data) connection with a server 203 that hosts the content. On establishing the connection the server 203 may present various options to the end user. Once the end user navigates through various options and selects a particular content, server 203 would start streaming content to the client using IP or streaming protocols (such as RTSP RTP). The client in turn may display the content on the user equipment 201 for the end user consumption.

[0005] In both the methods, the content is streamed to the user equipment using the IP (or data protocols), which uses the packet switching technology of the network (such as GPRS for 3G networks). Additionally, in both the methods the user is able to navigate through various options presented to the user through the browser or client based interface using various keys on the mobile device. The mobile device may include a 4-way navigation key 301 , 302, 303, 304 to move up/down or left/right as illustrated in Figure 3, and may also have a selection key 305 to select various items presented or may navigate using specific keys assigned by the user equipment. However the packet switched connection on the networks may work on best effort delivery basis, which means the quality of the video content may vary based on what is the current availability of bandwidth in the network at that instance. Further, whenever the user access the content through wap/web site, the accessed page is first downloaded and then displayed on the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the user equipment. Further, the user equipment must be compatible and must have a compatibility software installed thereon to access such web page and navigation thereon.

[0006] Other method is to support the multimedia content over the network is circuit switched connection. The circuit switched channel is used for accessing an application server (also called P2A - person to application). Figure 4 illustrates a circuit switched connection based system 400 for supporting the video content streaming or sharing between the end user 401 and the application server 403 over a circuit switched channel 402. This particular application allows the user to call applications server 403 by dialing application numbers (also called short codes in some networks), which will establish a video call between the end user device 401 and the application server 403. This will make the end-user see the video sent by the application server 403. During a video call between the user device 401 and the application server 403, a static image having plurality of application linked thereon is displayed on the GUI of the user equipment 401 and such linked applications are tagged with a digit. The advantage of the P2A calling is that there is no requirement for downloading and installation of any additional software on the user equipment 401. Further this system does not require the user to open browser on the client device 401 to access the content. The content addresses are simplest to remember since the applications are addressed by the phone numbers and not by the wap/web addresses, hence the access is instant. The user may dial the number and reach content instantly without the need to open browser, write url, navigate pages and then select content. The circuit connection its always fixed size (64kbps) which implies consistent quality of user experience.

[0007] However, there are few limitations of supporting content access on circuit switched connection (also called video call based access between user device 401 and an application server 403). These limitations are more related to navigation support on the video call. The video call is a bi-direction call where both sides can send and receive image, voice and DTMF (dual-tone-multi-frequency) digits. However it cannot exchange navigation inputs other than these. End users who are used to navigating screens up and down or left and right and press select key to select a particular item on a packet switched based connection will not find same available on circuit switched connection based navigation.

[0008] Figure 5 illustrates the navigation through pages in the conventional circuit switched connection based system. Currently, the navigation is supported by presenting users with an image 501 , which carries multiple options and each option is tagged with a digit. When the user is interested in a particular option, the user has to press a digit on the mobile phone to reach that option. This option may relate to more options or content selection. If this results in more options, the user will again be shown another image 502 and the user repeats the process of selection by pressing a digit. Further if the number of options are more than screen length of mobile screen, one of the options become more items and also tagged with a digit. When user presses digit for more items, next image or screen 503 is presented. This method is the most common method available in existing technology for navigating on a video call between the user device 401 and the application server 403.

[0009] The limitations with the existing method of navigation is that since every primary options on the screen is tagged with a digit, sending the tagged digit carries out selection of one or more primary options. On sending the digit, further secondary options are displayed corresponding to the primary options. However, other primary options are not displayed simultaneously. To view such primary options, again the user have to send a digit tagged with secondary options such as "back" to retrieve the primary options. Hence, causing a discomfort and consume more time in viewing all the options at ease. Further, by selecting and sending a tagged digit of the primary options and receiving secondary options over the network consumes more time and hence, it becomes difficult for the user to navigate through plurality of options at ease.

[0010] The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[001 1 ] The present invention relates to a method for providing a Graphical User Interface on the User Equipment screen during a video call in a circuit switched network. According to the present invention, a video screen is provided with plurality of options, each option being linked to an application. Said video screen is implemented as a series of video screens wherein each of the video screens has atleast one highlighted option to indicated at least one selected application. Further, displaying the series of video screens on the UE screen, based on a user input, the transition of the series of the video screens enables a navigation through plurality of the options.

[0012] The present invention relates to a communication system for displaying one or more applications to a user equipment (UE) over a circuit switched network. The system comprising an user equipment having at least one key assigned as navigation key and at least one key assigned as selection key. The application server having one or more images The images being linked with each other by a predetermined sequence. The application server is configured to map the predetermined sequence against the one or more keys of the UE when the UE access the application server over the network.

[0013] The present invention further provides an application server for providing an application to one or more UE over a circuit'iswitched network. The server comprising a database having one or more applications stored therein and an image manager for providing one or more image having one or more application linked thereto. The image manager is configured to link one or more images in a predetermined sequence. The server further comprises a navigation controller configured to map the predetermined sequence of the images to one or more navigation keys of a UE in response to a request received from the UE to access an application.

[0014] The present invention further provides a method of providing navigation through one or more applications on a video application server. The application server is implemented at the network end. The method according to the present invention comprises, creating multiple images having different static and dynamic characteristics. Further, mapping each of the multiple images with one or more navigation key of user equipment (UE), when the UE access the application browser. The mapped multiple images are displayed sequentially on a GUI of the UE based on the navigation inputs provided by the UE such that the plurality of displayed images produces a navigation effect on the GUI of the user equipment.

[0015] Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. BRIEF DESRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a conventional web/wap browser based system;

Figure 2 illustrates a conventional client software based system;

Figure 3 illustrates a navigation keys and selection keys on a User Equipment;

Figure 4 illustrates a conventional Person to Application (P2A) architecture on a circuit switched system;

Figure 5 illustrates conventional method of navigation, employed to access an application over a circuit switched network;

Figure 6 illustrates a Person to Application (P2A) architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 illustrates a video application server according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 illustrates an exploded view of the application server according to an embodiment of present invention;

Figure 9 illustrates a plurality of applications linked on an image sent by the server and the navigation control thereof according to an embodiment of present invention; Figure 10 illustrates display characteristics while navigating through options according to an embodiment of present invention;

Figure 1 1 illustrates a page Implementation with different display characteristics according to an embodiment of present invention;

Figure 12 illustrates a browsing through options according to an embodiment of present invention; and

Figure 13 illustrates a browsing back from content according to an embodiment of present invention. DETAILED DESRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 6 illustrates a P2A (Person to Application) based communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication system 600 may have one or more user equipments 601 , an application server 602 and a wireless circuit switched network 603. According to an embodiment the network may be selected from plurality of available network such as 3G network, GPRS network, CDMA network etc. The network 603 may be in signal communication with the user equipment 601 and the application server 602 through a gateway 604. The application server 602 may further have a plurality of application stored thereon and is configured to provide one or more application to the user equipments 601. The stored applications may be an audio, video and/or multimedia files/contents etc. According to an embodiment, the user equipment 601 may be a general- purpose hand-held devices such as, but not limited to, PDA, mobile devices etc. According to another embodiment, the user equipment 601 may have atleast one navigation key and atleast one selection key. According to yet another embodiment, one or more conventional keys may be used as navigation keys and selection keys such as, keys assigned with numerals 2, 4, 6, 8 may be used as navigation key for navigating top, left, right and bottom respectively and 5, may be used as selection key. The user equipment may access a list of contents stored on the application server by dialing a predefined code.

[0018] When the user dials the predefined code, a video call is established between the user equipment 601 and the application server 602. During the video call one or more images are displayed on the GUI of the user equipment 601. Each image has a list of multiple applications and every application may further have multiple options linked thereto. The user may navigate through the list of the services displayed on the GUI of the user equipment 601 using the navigation keys and may select a particular application, so as to access the content of the selected application. According to an embodiment of the present invention, once the video call is established, the user may not be required to send any further request in the form of a code or may not be required to dial separate codes for accessing different applications. [0019] Figure 7 illustrates a block diagram of the application server 700 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The application server 700 comprises a database 701 , an Image manager 702 and a navigation controller 703. The database 701 may store one or more applications that may be access by the user. The image manager 702 may be configured to compile one or more lists of application stored in the database 701 and to create one or more images containing one or more list. The images may be displayed on the GUI of the user equipment 601 , when a video call is established. The navigation controller 703 may be configured to determine the sequence in which the plurality of images is displayed on the GUI of the user equipment 601. According to further embodiment, the image manager 702 may have a static screen creation tool 704 and a dynamic screen creation tool 705.

[0020] Now turning to figure 8 that illustrates the exploded view of the application server 700. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the application server 700 provides one or more applications to one or more user equipment 601 over a network 603. According to an embodiment, the static screen creation tool 704 generates multiple images for displaying one or more complied list of the applications. For every image, the static screen creation tool 704 assigns static characteristics to specific application such as but not limited to assigning different shades for different applications. According to yet another embodiment the plurality of static screen may be created in high-level language such as XML for every application. The static screen creation tool tags each image uniquely. Additionally, the static screen creation tool 704 generates an output file, which defines the flow of application from every image or other image by various navigation input from the user equipment 601.

[0021 ] According to a further embodiment, the dynamic screen creation tool 705 creates dynamic screens based on predefined parameters. The dynamic screen creation tool 705 assigns dynamic characteristics for computing the value of image/screen items. The dynamic screens also generate output file, which defines the flow of application from every image to other image by the various navigation inputs. [0022] According to yet another embodiment the image manager 702 communicates with the database 701 and is configured to create one or more images having one or more application linked thereto. Further, one or more image may be interlinked with each other in a predetermined sequence. Various images may have items, which are static, defined with the overall application flow and has static content. The image may also have dynamic content or items whose value or text is determined by run time predefined parameters such as cost of the content, user balance, etc.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the navigation controller 703 reads the output files generated by the static screen creation tool 704 and dynamic screen creation tools 705 and handles the application logic for each application. The navigation controller 703 creates and maintains a mapping of the plurality of images with the navigation keys of the user equipment 601. Based on the key pressed by the end user and the output file flow definition, the navigation controller 703 maps the predetermined sequence of the image and sends the same to the GUI of the user equipment 601.

[0024] The application server 700 is configured to map the predetermined sequence of images against one or more navigation keys of the user equipment 601 when the user equipment 601 access the application server 700 over the network and display the mapped image on the GUI of the user equipment 601. According to an embodiment, the application server 700 may be implemented on the network end. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user may not require to download any software or its installation to the user equipment. According to yet another embodiment, the application server 700 may also be implemented on a video gateway 604.

[0025] Figure 9-figure 13 illustrates exemplary embodiments to illustrate the mapping of the images and navigation through plurality of applications on the GUI of the user equipment 601. When a navigation key is pressed at the user end, the navigation controller 703 maps the corresponding image and sends the image to the end user equipment 601. The navigation keys are implemented using DTMF digits. As described above, the navigation controller 703 maintains a mapping of the plurality of the images or otherwise called as screen/page with the navigation keys of the user equipment 601. As an exemplary embodiment, a mappings is shown below, wherein the navigation keys/digits are mapped for various functions for the purpose of navigation on the image at the GUI of the user equipment displaying plurality of applications for selection and access.

Digit 2 - Go up

Digit 8 - Go down

Digit 4 - Go left

Digit 6 - Go right

Digit 5 - Selection key

Digit 0 - Go to home screen

Digit 9 - Go to previous screen

[0026] According to yet another embodiment, every implementation may define their own mapping. Additional controls for navigation may be set based on user preference.

[0027] Figure 9 illustrates the navigation on the GUI of the user equipment 601 using the user defined control keys, wherein every image/screen/page 801 , 802 shown to the user for navigation will allow the controls as illustrated above according to the mapping of the digits. When a navigation key is pressed from the user equipment 601 , a signal is transmitted to the video application server 700. Upon receipt of the signal by the video application server 700, the navigation controller 703 maps the corresponding image/screen/page generated by the static screen creation tool 704 and the dynamic screen creation tool 705 and the application server 700 transmits the mapped image or page 801, 802 to the user equipment 601. The transmitted image 801 , 802 is displayed on the GUI of the user equipment 601. According to an embodiment, when the user provides another control signal by pressing another navigation key, the video application server 700 instantaneously transmits the correspondingly mapped image to graphical user interface. On providing plurality of navigation inputs, the plurality of the mapped images are transmitted so instantaneously over the network, such that the user do not perceive the delay between the display of two or more image and the user virtually experience a browsing type environment experienced in a packet switched network.

[0028] Figure 10 illustrate movement though various application items on the display screen during the video call between the user and the application server 700. During the video call, an image 901 is sent by the application server 700 which may have plurality of applications such as item-1 to item 4 displayed thereon. According to an embodiment, when the image 901 is displayed on the GUI of the user equipment 601 , any one of the applications such as item-2 may be shown as selected or highlighted. When the user wishes to select the next application such as item-3, the user may triggers a navigation key on the user equipment 601. Upon, pressing the navigation key, the video application server 700 transmits the next corresponding mapped image 902 to the user equipment 601 , which shows the next application such as item-3 as selected or highlighted. Similarly, on every navigation key triggering, the applications on the screen may be highlighted or shown in a different color or shade in every subsequent image received to differentiate it from other non-selected application thereby enhancing user experience of browsing the menu or option over the GUI. Such a navigation effect on the GUI of the user equipment is illustrated in Figure 1 1. To implement this effect, every image/page 1001, 1002, 1003 is implemented as series of images where each image has exactly one item highlighted. When the user moves from one item to the other item within a page, the application server 700 send different images to the GUI of the user equipment 601.

[0029] In an embodiment, the screen on the graphical user interface (GUI) may carry more items than what can be shown on one screen length. In such a case the user may scroll up and down using navigation keys such as but not limited to keys 2 and 8 for navigating through items in vertical direction. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the screen may be shown horizontally with more items and the user may scroll left and right with navigation keys such as keys 4 and 6. On any screen, the user may select particular item when the user is on that item by pressing selection key such as key 5.

[0030] Figure 12 illustrates browsing though the pages according to an embodiment of the present invention. Each image 1 101 shows items, which could be text, image or video itself. Some of these items are representation of end content 1 103 and other items are links to more pages or screens 1 102. The user may be allowed to navigate within a page 1 101 using the navigation keys or allowed to move to content by selecting items which represent content (videos) 1 103 or may be allowed to move to next screen or page 1 102 by selecting particular item such as item-2 which links the current page/screen to next page.

[0031 ] Figure 13 illustrates the implementation of browsing back to content during video call. According to an embodiment, when the user selects an item such as item 2- 3, which is related to actual content 1202, the network server 700 shows the video of that content to the end user. When the video content 1202 is over, the user is shown the image 1201 where the user had selected that particular content.

Industrial applicability

[0032] The present invention makes the end user experience on a video call at par with the browser based experience, so that the user has the benefits of the video call based access. The present invention is implemented in the network end, so that the present invention can be implemented for any 3G enables device without altering its software.

[0033] It is to be appreciated that the subject matter of the following claims are not limited to the various examples and language used to recite the principle of the invention, and variants can be contemplated for implementing the claims without deviating from the scope. Rather, the embodiments of the invention encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof.

[0034] While certain present preferred embodiments of the invention and certain present preferred methods and circuits for practicing the same have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A communication system for displaying one or more applications on a user equipment (UE) over a circuit switched network, the system comprising:

an user equipment having at least one key assigned as navigation key and at least one key assigned as selection key; and

an application server having one or more images, the images being linked with each other by a predetermined sequence, wherein the application server is configured to map the predetermined sequence against the one or more keys of the UE when the UE access the application server over the circuit switched network.

2. The communication system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the user equipment (UE) accesses the application server through a gateway.

3. The communication system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image displays one or more applications for selection by the user.

4. The communication system as claimed in claim 3, wherein one or more applications on the image have one or more static characteristics and dynamic characteristics.

5. The communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the static characteristics indicate selection of one or more application on the image.

6. A communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein one or more application is streamed or accessed based on the dynamic characteristics.

7. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of images is displayed on the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the UE.

8. The communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein one or more images are displayed sequentially based on the one or more navigation inputs from the user equipment such that the sequential display of the images creates a navigating effect on the browser page.

9. The communication system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circuit switched network includes 3G networks.

10. An application server for providing an application to one or more UE over a circuit switched network, the server comprising:

a database having one or more applications stored therein;

an image manager for providing one or more image having one or more application linked thereto, the image manager being configured to link one or more images in a predetermined sequence; and

a navigation controller configured to map the predetermined sequence of the images to the navigation key of a UE in response to a request received from the UE to access an application.

1 1. The application server as claimed in claim 10, wherein the image manager comprises a static screen creation tool and dynamic screen creation tool.

12. The application server as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein the static screen creation tool is configured to create multiple images having one or more application linked thereto.

13. The application server as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein the static screen creation tool is further configured to assign the static characteristics to one or more applications on the images.

14. The application server as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein the dynamic screen creation tool is further configured to assign the dynamic characteristics to one or more application on the images.

15. The application server as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein the static screen creation tool and the dynamic screen creation tools is configured to generates an output file defining the flow of application from every images to other image based on the navigation key inputs.

16. The application server as claimed in claim 15, wherein navigation controller reads the output files generated by the static screen creation tool and dynamic screen creation tool and is configured to send the mapped image to the user equipment (UE) based output file flow definition.

17. A method of providing navigation through one or more applications on a video application server, the application server being implemented at the circuit switched network end, the method comprising:

creating multiple images, each of the multiple images having a different static characteristic;

mapping each of the multiple images with one or more navigation key of a user equipment (UE), when the UE access the application browser;

displaying the sequence of the images on a GUI of the UE based on the navigation inputs provided by the UE such that the plurality of displayed images produces a navigation effect on the GUI of the user equipment.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, comprising

displaying on the image, one or more applications for selection by the user.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, comprising

assigning static characteristics and dynamic characteristics for one or more applications on the images.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, comprising

assigning the static characteristic to one or more of applications indicating the selection of one or more applications.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19, comprising assigning dynamic characteristics to one or more of applications defining the permission to access the content of one or more applications.

22. The communication system as claimed in claim 17, comprising

displaying one or more images sequentially based on the one or more navigation inputs from the user equipment such that the sequential display of the images creates a navigating effect on the browser page.

23. A method for providing a Graphical User Interface on the User Equipment screen during a video call in a circuit switched network, the method comprising: providing a video screen having plurality of options, each option being linked to an application;

implementing said video screen as a series of video screens, wherein each of the video screens has atleast one highlighted option to indicated at least one selected application; and

displaying the series of video screens on the UE screen, based on a user input, the transition of the series of the video screens enables a navigation through plurality of the options.