Method for managing access to a plurality of bots using an independent search channel, corresponding computer program product, storage medium, terminal and servers

1 . A method of managing access to a plurality of bots, wherein a bot search interface, executed on a first terminal available to the user, performs:

transmitting at least one search request to at least one bot search server, the transmission being made via a search channel independent of a plurality of communication channels with which one or more messaging clients are compatible, the one or more messaging clients being installed on a target mobile terminal and capable of conversing with the plurality of bots each using at least one of the communication channels, a same bot of the plurality of bots being able to be used with different communication channels among the plurality of communications channels, the target mobile terminal belonging to a group comprising the first terminal if it is of the mobile type and at least one second terminal of the mobile type and different from the first terminal;

receiving, via the search channel and from the at least one bot search server, a search result comprising at least two pairs comprising a same bot and two separate associated communication channels;

selecting, from the search result, a pair comprising both a bot and an associated communication channel; and

initiating an opening of a conversation between the target mobile terminal and the bot of the selected pair, using the communication channel of the selected pair.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first terminal executes a messaging client that natively integrates the bot search interface.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first terminal executes a messaging client that calls a browser executed by the first terminal to initiate the bot search interface.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein, if the target mobile terminal is the first terminal and if the communication channel of the selected pair is different from the communication channel with which the messaging client is compatible, the target mobile terminal uses in the conversation another messaging client that is compatible with the communication channel of the selected pair.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one search query belongs to a group comprising:

a search query by keyword(s);

a search query by category(ies); and

a request to start a conversation with a specific bot, known as a search bot, offering a search service for other bots.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the messaging client, or each messaging client, belongs to a group comprising:

an SMS messaging client;

an MMS messaging client;

an RCS messaging client; and

an instant messaging client.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein selecting a pair comprising a bot and an associated communication channel comprises receiving a choice information via a user interface.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the selection of a pair comprising a bot and an associated communication channel comprises an automatic choice made by the first terminal according to at least one choice criterion.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one choice criterion belongs to a group comprising:

choosing a pair comprising a communication channel with which a messaging client being used on the target mobile terminal is compatible; and

choosing a pair comprising a communication channel with which a default messaging client on the target mobile terminal is compatible.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the initiation of the opening of the conversation with the bot of the selected pair is performed using:

the communication channel of the selected pair, between the target mobile terminal and a mediation server; and

a substitution channel, between the mediation server and the bot of the selected pair, the mediation server performing an adaptation between the communication channel of the selected pair and the substitution channel.

11 . A processing circuit comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing program code instructions of a computer program that, when the computer program is executed by the processor comprised in a terminal, implements the method according to claim 1 .

12 . A computer-readable and non-transient storage medium, storing the computer program according to claim 11 .

13 . A first terminal on which at least one messaging client compatible with a communication channel is installed, wherein the first terminal comprises a computing machine configured to execute a bot search interface performing the following operations:

transmitting at least one search request to at least one bot search server, the transmission being made via a search channel independent of the communication channel with which the at least one messaging client is compatible, the at least one messaging client using the communication channel;

receiving, via the search channel and from the at least one bot search server, a search result comprising at least two pairs comprising a same bot and two separate associated communication channels;

selecting, from the search result, a pair comprising both a bot and an associated communication channel; and

initiating an opening of a conversation between a target mobile terminal and the bot of the selected pair, using the communication channel of the selected pair, the target mobile terminal belonging to a group comprising the first terminal if it is of the mobile type and at least one second terminal of the mobile type and different from the first terminal.

14 . A bot search server, wherein the bot search server comprises a computing machine configured to perform the following operations:

receiving at least one search request from a terminal, via a search channel independent of a communication channel with which at least a first messaging client installed on the terminal is compatible; and

transmitting, via the search channel and to the terminal, a search result comprising at least two pairs comprising a same bot and two separate associated communication channels.