Data messaging during telephony calls
View Patent ↗Calls made using the session initiation protocol (SIP) are augmented by exchanging data in the form of messages between terminals where the message content is defined by items of information expressed as uniform resource indicators (URIs). The receiving terminal can extract and process such information based on the semantic information in URI format.
1. A method of exchanging data between first and second telephony terminals during a telephony call, comprising the steps of:
(a) initiating said call between said terminals using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);
(b) said first terminal generating information to be exchanged, wherein said information is generated in a format in which each item of information is defined as resources, referenced using uniform resource indicators (URIs); and
(c) said information being transmitted from said first terminal to said second terminal as a message using SIP;
wherein said first telephony terminal is a telephony interface of an automated telephony application and said second telephony terminal is a telephony interface of a user in communication with said automated telephony application;
wherein said information to be exchanged describes a process of said automated telephony application comprising a model of a workflow or of a menu structure available to a user of said second telephony terminal during said call and the method further comprising the steps of:
(d) providing a representation of said model to said user of said second terminal;
(e) receiving from said user an input indicating an interaction with said model;
(f) generating from said input an instruction to said first terminal, wherein said instruction is generated in a format in which said input is defined as resources referenced using uniform resource indicators (URIs); and
(g) transmitting said instruction from said second terminal to said first terminal as a message using SIP;
whereby said user of said second terminal can interact with and control said telephony application according to said instruction.
2. A method of exchanging data as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps, carried out by said second terminal, of:
(a) extracting said information from said message; and
(b) generating a response thereto, wherein said response is generated in a format in which each item of information is defined as resources referenced using uniform resource indicators (URIs);
said response being transmitted from said second terminal to said first terminal as a message using SIP.
3. A method of exchanging data as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said step of generating a response is conducted automatically by said second terminal based on processing said information in accordance with programmed rules.
4. A method of exchanging data as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said step of generating a response is conducted by said second terminal in accordance with an input to said second terminal following said presentation of some or all of said information to a user of said second terminal.
5. A method of exchanging data as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said model of a workflow or of a menu structure includes an indication of said current position of said user within said model.
6. A telephony terminal comprising:
(a) a session initiation protocol (SIP) user agent for transmitting and receiving SIP messages to and from a network with which said terminal is in communication;
(b) a processor programmed to generate information in a format in which each item of information is defined as resources, referenced using uniform resource indicators (URIs;
(c) a message generator for receiving said information from said processor and for generating therefrom a message including said information, said message being suitable for transmission to a remote terminal via said network using SIP;
wherein said telephony terminal is a telephony interface of an automated telephony application and said remote terminal is a telephony interface of a user in communication with said automated telephony application;
wherein said information to be exchanged describes a process of said automated telephony application comprising a model of a workflow or of a menu structure available to a user of said remote telephony terminal during said call and wherein said remote terminal is arranged to:
(d) provide a representation of said model to said user of said remote terminal:
(e) receive from said user an input indicating an interaction with said model:
(f) generate from said input an instruction to said telephony terminal, wherein said instruction is generated in a format in which said input is defined as resources referenced using uniform resource indicators (URIs); and
(g) transmit said instruction from said remote terminal to said telephony terminal as a message using SIP;
whereby said user of said remote terminal can interact with and control said telephony application according to said instruction.
7. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with computer executed instructions, which when executed in a first telephony terminal during a telephony call to a second telephony terminal, are effective to cause said first telephony terminal to:
(a) participate in said initiation of said call between said terminals using said session initiation protocol (SIP);
(b) generate information to be exchanged with said second telephony terminal, wherein said information is generated in a format in which each item of information is defined in terms of resources, referenced using uniform resource indicators (URIs); and
(c) transmit said information to said second terminal as a message using SIP;
wherein said first telephony terminal is a telephony interface of an automated telephony application and said second telephony terminal is a telephony interface of a user in communication with said automated telephony application;
wherein said information to be exchanged describes a process of said automated telephony application comprising a model of a workflow or of a menu structure available to a user of said second telephony terminal during said call; and
wherein said non-transitory computer readable medium is further encoded with computer executed instructions which when executed in said second telephony terminal are effective to cause said second telephony terminal to:
(d) provide a representation of said model to said user of said second terminal;
(e) receive from said user an input indicating an interaction with said model;
(f) generate from said input an instruction to said first terminal, wherein said instruction is generated in a format in which said input is defined as resources referenced using uniform resource indicators (URIs); and
(g) transmit said instruction from said second terminal to said first terminal as a message using SIP;
whereby said user of said second terminal can interact with and control said telephony application according to said instruction.
8. A method of exchanging data as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said information is generated in the format of the Resource Description Framework.