Telecommunications call augmentation system
The present invention relates to a method of augmenting a telecommunications call, the method comprising detecting a telecommunications call event at a user telecommunications device 10 ; selecting an item of media content 101 , the item of media content 101 being associated with a uniform resource identifier or URI; augmenting the call with the item of media content 101 ; detecting a user interaction with the item of media content 101 ; and on termination of the call, performing an action in dependence on the resource identified by the URI. The invention extends to a corresponding system and apparatus.
1. A method of augmenting a telecommunications call, comprising:
using a processor of a user telecommunications device for:
detecting a telecommunications call event;
selecting an item of media content, the item of media content being associated with a uniform resource identifier or URI;
modifying a presentation of a call screen presented on a display of the user telecommunications device in association with the telecommunications call event by augmenting said presentation with the item of media content, without obscuring information related to said telecommunication call and presented on said display, during said telecommunications call event;
detecting a user interaction with the augmented item of media content before termination of the call; and
responsive to detecting the user interaction, on termination of the call, performing an action in dependence on the resource identified by the URI.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the selection of the item of media content is in dependence on at least one of: an attribute of the call; an attribute of a party placing the call; an attribute of a party receiving the call; and an attribute of the user device.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the selection of the item of media content is in dependence on an attribute of the user.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the attribute is at least one of: the user's browsing history; the user's call history; and the user's text message data.
5. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the attribute is at least one of: an associated identity; an associated location; an associated date; and an associated time.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the item of media content comprises an image or video, and augmenting the call comprises displaying the media content to the user.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the item of media content comprises audio, and augmenting the call comprises playing the media content to the user.
8. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the call is augmented at one or more of the following times: during the time the call is being initiated and whilst the call is in progress.
9. A method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising receiving the item of media content from a remote server.
10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein a selection of the item of media content is performed at the remote server.
11. A method according to claim 9 , the method further comprising storing the item of media content in a local cache on the user device.
12. A method according to claim 9 , wherein items of media content are provided to the remote server by a media content provider.
13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a selection of the item of media content is performed at the user device.
14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the call event is an incoming call.
15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the call event is an outgoing call.
16. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the action performed in dependence on the resource identified by the URI comprises at least one of: accessing a network location, optionally accessing a web page; and initiating a further telecommunications call.
17. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the displayed media content is overlaid on a call screen of the device.
18. Apparatus for augmenting a telecommunications call in the form of a client device, the apparatus comprising:
a non-transitory memory storing instructions; and
one or more hardware processors coupled to the non-transitory memory and configured to execute the instructions from the non-transitory memory to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
detecting a telecommunications call event at a user telecommunications device;
selecting an item of media content, the item of media content being associated with a uniform resource identifier or URI;
modifying a presentation of a call screen presented on a display of the user telecommunications device in association with the telecommunications call event by augmenting said presentation with the item of media content, without obscuring information related to said telecommunication call and presented on said display, during said telecommunications call event;
detecting a user interaction with the augmented item of media content before termination of the call; and
responsive to detecting the user interaction, on termination of the call, performing an action in dependence on the resource identified by the URI.
19. A system for augmenting telecommunications calls, the system comprising:
apparatus according to claim 1 ; and
a remote server having stored thereon media content for augmenting communications between the apparatus and at least one further similar apparatus.