WO2004023828A2

WO2004023828A2 - Method and system for transmitting text data and subscriber device therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2004023828A2
Application number: PCT/AT2003/000252
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Grassberger
Original assignee: Telion Telematics Gmbh
Priority date: 2002-09-06
Filing date: 2003-09-03
Publication date: 2004-03-18
Also published as: AT7282U1; AU2003264153A1; WO2004023828A3; EP1535484A2

Abstract

In order to transmit text data (2) stored in a data bank system (3) via a mobile radio network (11) to at least one subscriber device (8) with a mobile radio receiver (12), said text data (2) is converted into voice information using voice synthesizer software and hardware known per se. Selection of the text data (2) to be transmitted and transmission to the subscriber device (8) during the functioning of said subscriber device (8) and the presence of a link from the data bank system (3) to the subscriber device (8)occurs automatically as a result of prior configuration of parameters (13) stored in a storage module (14).

Description

Method and system for the transmission of text data as well as

Participation facility for this

The invention relates to a method for transmitting text data stored in a database system via a mobile radio network to at least one subscriber device with a mobile radio receiving device, the text data being converted into speech information using speech synthesizer software and hardware.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a subscriber device for carrying out such a method, with a mobile radio receiving device to which a speech synthesizer unit is connected to a sound reproduction device in order to convert text data received from the mobile radio receiving device via a mobile radio network into spoken words.

The invention also relates to a system for managing text data and its transmission to subscribers, with a database system which has an interface to at least one text provider, a text data store and an interface to a mobile radio network, and with at least one subscriber device with a mobile radio receiving device , wherein one of the elements of the group consisting of database system and subscriber device has a speech synthesizer unit for converting the text data into speech information.

Currently, messages and other texts are distributed to mobile devices via radio stations, the selection of the messages can only be made by selecting the radio station and, moreover, the time at which the messages or texts are sent out cannot be influenced by the end customer.

On the other hand, there are services which bring selected messages as text using the public mobile radio network to mobile telephones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) or personal computers, the messages being retrieved by the action of the end customer.

A disadvantage of these techniques is that the end customer is forced to perceive messages and other texts on mobile devices only at certain times and with little individual selectability. Improved selection and free time allocation is only possible through active retrieval of texts via the Internet and WAP, which is however the case with many mobile activities. ten, for example when driving a car, is not applicable. The end customer is also forced to actively select messages and texts from a wide range of different suppliers.

In principle, these disadvantages also apply to the technique described in WO 02/49003 A for converting text into speech, where the transmission of short messages (SMS messages) as text data to mobile telephones is affected in detail; the text data transmitted in this way are converted into speech and reproduced acoustically in the mobile telephones, selected speech parameters being used in the speech synthesis in order to enable the text, such as SMS messages or e-mails, to be read out with the sender's voice. The texts to be listened to are actively retrieved by the participant in each individual case, and the feed of the text data cannot be influenced by the recipient with regard to the content of the text data.

On the other hand, navigation systems are disclosed in JP 2002/156231 A and JP 11-296 791 A, speech synthesis means being provided in the motor vehicle devices in order to acoustically inform the driver of the respective motor vehicle about the respective position etc.

From DE 195 08 017 A, finally, a communication device with a radio telephone and built-in translation computer is known in order to provide the recipient with an automatic translation of the sender's information into a desired language.

The invention is based on the object, a subscriber or end customer selected by him in advance messages or texts at the time when he his

Subscriber device activated to automatically perceive without further intervention on the part of the subscriber. The need to select different suppliers, i.e. Text providers, dropped. The texts are presented in the mobile area according to the perception of the participant - if desired.

To this end, the invention provides a method with the features of claim 1 and a system with the features of claim 13. Furthermore, the invention creates a particularly adapted subscriber device with the features of claim 12. Advantageous refinements and developments are described in the dependent current claims defined.

In accordance with a previous selection and configuration, in the present technology the respective text is automatically sent from the database system to the subscriber device when the corresponding subscriber device is active and there is a radio connection, and the speech data is converted into speech by speech synthesis so that the subscriber or end customer presented the text in the form of spoken words, ie "read aloud". As a result, he is not restricted in his activities, for example when driving a motor vehicle, and he is read the information - and only that information - that he wishes to receive. The conversion of the text data into spoken words is preferably carried out in the subscriber facility, since the transmission of the text data from the database system to the subscribers can then be carried out particularly easily using conventional standards or protocols. In itself, however, implementation in speech is already conceivable in the database system, in which case a sound transmission to the participants can take place, for example on the basis of MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). The texts to be transmitted are selected in the database system according to parameters that are specified in advance by the respective participant or end customer, i.e. configured and stored in a configuration parameter file, preferably in association with a respective personal customer identification code, which is automatically sent by the subscriber device to the database system when the connection is established.

With the present technology, it is also possible without problems that the text data coming from different text providers are fed into the database system. This text data from the various text providers is then stored centrally in the database system and, depending on the configuration parameters and according to the wishes of the participants, is selected and automatically transmitted to the latter. In order to carry out the individual transmissions in a simple manner, it is furthermore advantageous if language or data technology format conversions of the text data and related data are carried out automatically in accordance with the respective text provider, the respective operator of the mobile radio network and the (respective) subscriber equipment. In order to be able to provide the most cost-effective possible transmission of the texts in the case of mobile subscribers, it is also advantageous if components of the database system are distributed over several locations and, depending on the location of the subscriber device, one of several mobile radio networks is selected.

It is also advantageous if text data are selected and transmitted depending on the geographic position of the subscriber facility. Such a text transmission is useful, for example, if information (e.g. regarding weather, news, etc.) is to be conveyed about the respective geographic areas.

Similarly, it is advantageous if text data are selected and transmitted depending on the language, country and / or category defined in the configuration parameters.

Corresponding to the meaning of different texts, it can also be advantageously provided that text data with a higher priority level than text data with a lower priority level are processed in the subscriber device.

The texts are normally transmitted without intervention on the part of the subscriber, but it can be advantageous, for example in the case of follow-up texts, if the processing of the text data is influenced at the subscriber device.

In order to avoid unnecessary repetitions, it is also advantageously provided that the text data are only transmitted once to a specific subscriber device.

For reasons of space and in order to achieve appropriate comfort, the

Speech synthesizer unit can be combined with the mobile radio receiving device to form a uniform subscriber device. As such, the voice synthesizer unit could also be connected to the mobile radio receiving device via a wired interface, but also via a wireless interface.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, to which, however, it should not be restricted.

The single drawing figure schematically illustrates a system for storing, processing and transmitting texts to participants in the manner of a block diagram.

According to the representation in the drawing transmitted a Text providers 1 - or preferably transmit a plurality of text providers 1, l ¹ - text data 2 with, for example, at least the following features to a central database system 3 (ie a system with one or more computers which store the incoming texts 2 for further processing, the configuration data of the Manage end customers and control or control the selection and transfer of texts 2):

Text in machine readable format

identification code

text category

expiry date

priority

Language optional Connection to further text optional Country optional Area

Other features can be transferred in consultation.

The data is transferred in a standard format, e.g. in XML (XML-extensible Markup Language; standard for the exchange of machine-readable data). Text category and country are coded according to a common standard key. The transmission of the text data 2 - illustrated schematically in the drawing with the connection 4 - takes place via a wireless or wired communication medium, such as e.g. over the internet. The text data 2 are received by the central database system 3 via an interface 5, the format of the text data 2 - if necessary - being implemented via the interface 5. The text data 2 are then stored in a memory module 6, in a partial area of the central database system 3.

The text providers 1, 1 'are companies or persons who generate such texts 2.

The individual data elements mentioned above have the following meaning:

- Text: This is the text 2 to be transmitted to the subscriber 7 (end customer). The text 2 can be, for example, news, traffic reports, language courses or short stories or books. The respective text 2 lies in the wording and the language in which it is to be handed over to the respective participant (end customer) 7.

- Text identification code: This is a code which enables each text 2 to be uniquely identified, and consists of a part for identifying text provider 1 and a part for identifying text 2 within the text of the respective text provider 1. The text identification code consists, for example, of from numbers and letters.

- Text category: For the selection of the texts 2 for the participants (end customers) 7, a higher-level text category scheme is preferably available. Categories in this scheme can e.g. "Football", "Tennis", "Chemical Industry", "Finance", "Frankfurt Stock Exchange", "Fashion", "Company News", etc. Each text is assigned to exactly one category of this scheme.

- Expiry date: Each text 2 is preferably provided with an expiry date. After this expiry date, text 2 is no longer transmitted to a subscriber (end customer) 7.

- Priority: Texts 2 of high priority are identified with this indicator. The indicator can be set or not.

- Language: The language in which text 2 is written is specified in a code. The code comes from a higher-level language code scheme.

- Link to further text: The text identification code of another text 2 is optionally specified. Through the intervention of the subscriber (end customer) 7 on his subscriber device 8 (pressing a button or the like on a control device or input unit 9) during the reproduction of the text, the reproduction of the second text 2 defined by this text identification code is started.

- Country: The code of the country for which text 2 is intended is optionally given (e.g. for messages). The code comes from a higher-level country code scheme.

- Area: Optionally, the area can be specified in which the participant (end customer) 7 must be in order to receive the text 2. The area can be specified by coordinates (longitude and latitude) and radius or street name or city or state code according to a comprehensive code scheme. New subscribers or end customers 7 can be entered in the central database system 3 when purchasing a subscriber device 8 or an associated speech synthesizer unit 10, hereinafter referred to as the terminal, or independently thereof. ("Terminal" here means a mobile or stationary technical device which receives texts 2 via a mobile radio network 11, for example the public mobile radio network, by means of a mobile communication device 12 and processes and converts them into speech in accordance with the method described. The terminals 10 are Car radios, navigation systems, mobile phone devices and other portable and stationary radio devices.) The entry can be made, for example, via an Internet website, by telephone via a call center or by filling out a form. At least the following data or parameters 13 are expediently stored in a memory module 14 in the central database system 3:

- Customer identification code: The customer identification code enables unambiguous identification of each participant or end customer 7. The customer identification code exists e.g. from numbers and letters.

- Type of the terminal: The type of the terminal 10 is selected from a predetermined list. The type of the terminal 10 determines which technical standard must be selected for the transmission of the texts 2 to the terminal 10.

- Password: A word that can be selected by the subscriber or end customer 7 from any letters and numbers and which protects access to the configuration parameters 13 of the subscriber or end customer 7 by opening the configuration (see input arrow 15 in the drawing). after entering the customer identification code.

- Desired languages: According to the higher-level language code scheme, those languages can be selected in which the participant or end customer would like to receive 7 texts 2.

- Desired countries: According to the higher-level country code scheme, those countries can be selected for which the participant or end customer would like to receive 7 texts 2.

- Desired text categories: According to the higher-level text category scheme, those text categories are selected for which the participant or end customer would like to receive 7 texts 2. Some text categories, such as highest traffic announcements Priority, but can always be selected, ie they cannot be deselected in this case.

Except for the customer identification code, all data from the subscriber or end customer 7 can be changed at any time.

When the terminal 10 is in operation and a connection to the central database system 3 is possible, i.e. if a mobile communication device 12 is connected to the terminal 10 (wireless, for example via Bluetooth or IrDA, or wired via a cable) and the mobile radio network 11 is available, the terminal 10 sends the customer identification code (indicated in the drawing at 16) to the central database system 3. The standards available in the mobile radio network 11, for example GPRS or UMTS used. Components of the database system 3 can be located at different locations. The terminal 10 tries to establish the cheapest connection to a component of the database system 3.

The terminal 10 can send the customer identification code one or more times, e.g. each time the terminal 10 is switched on, as soon as a connection via the (public) mobile radio network 11 is possible. Interfaces 17 exist for the different operators of mobile radio networks and the different transmission standards used, which enable communication with the database system 3.

The mobile communication device 12 or generally the mobile radio receiving device is a technical (end) device for mobile data transmission via a mobile radio network, such as a mobile phone. The mobile communication device 12 can also be integrated in the terminal 10 or combined with it to form a unitary device 8 '. As (public) cellular network 11, e.g. a radio network for public use based on standards such as GSM (Global System for Mobile communication, standard for public mobile radio networks), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service, standard for data transmission on public mobile radio networks), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, Standard for public mobile radio networks), TETRA etc.

After receiving the customer identification code (at 16), the configuration data 13 assigned to the customer identification code is called up in the central database system 3 on the basis of the customer identification code. The central Database system 3 also stores that the identified subscriber or end customer 7 is "online", cf. also the schematically illustrated processor 18.

On the basis of the data or parameters (languages, countries, text categories) stored in the end customer configuration 13, the corresponding texts 2 are selected by the processor 18 (which thus forms a selection unit), as is schematically indicated at 19. Texts 2 correspond if their language corresponds to one of the languages defined in the end customer configuration 13, if their country corresponds to one of the countries defined for the end customer configuration 13, if their text category matches one of the text categories defined for the end customer configuration 13, if one applies to Text 2 specified area matches the area in which the terminal 10 is located and when its expiry date is in the future. In addition, only those texts 2 are selected that have not yet been sent to the terminal 10 of the respective subscriber or end customer 7. For this purpose, a corresponding entry in the central database system 3 is queried by the processor 18.

The position in which the terminal 10 is located can be determined in particular in two ways. If the terminal 10 has a position detection system, e.g. GPS (Global Positioning System - global positioning system), the first time the customer identification code is transmitted from the terminal 10 to the central database system 3, the position, e.g. as latitude and longitude. The position is then retransmitted at intervals. If the terminal 10 does not have a positioning mechanism, the position is queried by the operator of the public mobile radio network 11, provided that the latter has a mechanism (e.g. radio cell detection) that enables this. On the basis of the position, a comparison is carried out with the area optionally specified in the text 2, possibly via cartographic data material in the presence of a place, state or street name, in order to determine whether the text 2 should be transmitted to the terminal 10. The area assessment is to be seen as an option. The system can also work without this option.

The selected texts 2 are compared on the basis of the type of the terminal 10 defined in the end customer configuration 13. if necessary, technically implemented, ie that the data are brought into a format that was specified by the manufacturer of the terminal 10. The texts 2 are then transmitted via the interface 17 and via the mobile radio network 11 - as indicated at 20 - to the terminal 10 using the mobile communication device 12. The actual text data, the text identification code, a possibly existing connection to the further text and priority indicator as well as the name of the text provider 1 are transmitted.

If new texts 2 are added to the central database system 3, which correspond to the criteria of the end customer configuration 13, these texts 2 are likewise transmitted to the terminal device 10 in the manner described above.

If it is determined during a transmission that the terminal 10 can no longer be reached, the identifier "online" is deleted from the identified end customer data record. If the "online" indicator is not set, no further texts 2 are transmitted to this end customer 7.

All of these processes take place automatically, i.e. without the intervention of the end customer 7.

The texts 2 transmitted to the terminal 10 are converted into speech by means of a speech synthesizer software or hardware of the terminal 10, which is conventional per se, and are output via amplifiers and loudspeakers, generally a sound reproduction device 21. The text 2 is therefore “read out” by the terminal device 10. The texts 2 are generally read out in the order of transmission, provided that the end customer 7 does not intervene (via the control device 9). Texts 2, whose text identification code is entered for another text 2 as "Connection to further text", are not read out. These are read out only after the end customer 7 intervenes. Texts 2 with priority labels are read out first, in the order in which they are received, and texts 2 without priority labels are read out afterwards, even if text 2 with priority labels was received by terminal 10 after text 2 without priority labels.

Two different mechanisms can be used to identify transmitted texts 2 in the central database system 3:

- When a text 2 has been read aloud, the terminal device 10 a message is sent to the central database system 3 stating the text identification code. After receiving this message, the text 2 is marked as having already been transmitted to this terminal 10;

- After the transfer of the text 2 from the central database system 3 to the terminal 10, the text 2 is simply marked as transferred to this terminal 10.

The end customer 7 can intervene in the process via different control options (control device 9). The following options can be assumed as a basis:

- De / activation of the process: The entire process can be activated or deactivated by the end customer 7.

- Further text: When reading a text 2 with an existing text identification code of a further text 2, the further text 2 is read after the text 2 if the end customer 7 carries out a corresponding intervention. After reading out the further text 2, the text 2 which normally follows the first text 2 is continued.

- Previous / Next Text: By intervention of the end customer 7, the reading of a text 2 can be interrupted and - if present - the text 2 read before or the next to be read can be jumped to.

The end customer 7 intervenes through the control device 9 provided at the terminal 10, e.g. via push buttons, selection of menu items on a screen, etc.

Another possibility is that when new text data or messages arrive, if the end customer 7 so requests, an SMS message is sent in advance.

Claims

claims:

1. Method for the transmission of text data (2) stored in a database system (3) via a mobile radio network (11) to at least one subscriber device (8) with a mobile radio receiving device (12), the text data (2) being used using speech synthesizers. Software and hardware (10) are converted into voice information, characterized in that subscriber-specific configuration parameters relating to text data (2) to be selected are stored in a configuration parameter storage module (14) in the database system (3), and based on this previous configuration Text data (2) to be transmitted by parameters (13) when the subscriber device (8) is functioning and a connection from the database system (3) to the subscriber device (8) is present, is selected without the need for intervention by the subscriber (7) and to the subscriber device (8) can be transferred.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the configuration parameters (13) are stored in association with a customer identification code and the text data is selected after receipt of the customer identification code in the database system and transmitted to the subscriber device (8).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the text data (2) coming from different text providers (1) are fed into the database system (3).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that linguistic or technical format conversions of the text data (2) and related data automatically according to the respective text provider (1), the respective operator of the mobile network (11) and the (respective ) Participant device (8) are carried out.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that components of the database system (3) are distributed over several locations and depending on the location of the subscriber device (8) one of several mobile radio networks (11) is selected.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that text data (2) depending on the geographic position of the subscriber device (8) are selected and transmitted.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that text data (2) depending on language, country and / or category, defined in the configuration parameters (13), are selected and transmitted.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that text data (2) with a higher priority level before text data (2) with a lower priority level are processed in the subscriber device (8).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the text data (2) are only transmitted once to a specific subscriber device (8).

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that an expiration date is assigned to each text data (2).

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the processing of the text data (2) on the subscriber device (8) is influenced.

12. Subscriber device (8) for carrying out the method according to claim 11, with a mobile radio reception device (12), with which a speech synthesizer unit (10) with a sound reproduction device (21) is connected to the mobile radio reception device (12 ) converting text data (2) received via a mobile radio network (11) into spoken words, characterized in that the speech synthesizer unit (10) is assigned a control device (9) for influencing the processing of the received text data (2).

13. System for the management of text data and its transmission to participants, with a database system (3), which is an interface point (5) to at least one text provider (1), a text data memory (6) and an interface (17) to a mobile radio network (11), and with at least one subscriber device (8) with a mobile radio receiving device (12 ), one of the elements of the group consisting of database system (3) and subscriber device (8) having a speech synthesizer unit (10) for converting the text data (2) into voice information, characterized in that the database system (3) has a memory module (14 ) for storing subscriber-specific configuration parameters (13) for the selection and transmission of the text data (2).

14. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the memory module (14) is set up to store the configuration parameters (13) in association with a customer identification code.

15. System according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the database system (3) is assigned a selection unit (processor 18) for determining the text data to be transmitted on the basis of the respective participant-specific configuration parameters.

16. System according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the speech synthesizer unit (10) is assigned a control device (9) for influencing the processing of the received text data (2).

17. System according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the subscriber device (8) comprises the speech synthesizer unit (10).