FR2952267A1 - Method for warning driver about proximity of e.g. road danger zone, involves transmitting telephone call to telephone set by selecting call number corresponding to message when nearest point of interest is considered close to user - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves configuring a telephone set of a user by storing ring tones, recorded call numbers and contacts in the set, where each ring tone contains a cognitive message comprising information on a point of interest. Location of the set is compared with a database containing positions of the points of interest. Distance from the nearest point of interest is deduced. A telephone call is generated and transmitted to the set by selecting a call number that corresponds to a message to be delivered, in the database when the nearest point of interest is considered close to the user.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of warning a user of the proximity of a point of interest. Such a method is for example used to warn a driver of approaching a road event (radar, accident, or other).

There is known software that can alert the user of a "smart" phone, that is to say a mobile phone coupled with a personal digital assistant (PDA) (commonly called "smartphone"), or a device integrating a GPS and a mobile phone. Such software is for example the software known under the trade names WIKANGO and COYOTE. A disadvantage of these software is that they can only be used by smartphone users or telephone devices incorporating a GPS. Most people have only "simple" phones.

The Eklaireur® application of the iPhone® is also known, which makes it possible to display on the screen of the iPhone® information relating to a road event. A disadvantage of this system is that the user, who is often the driver, is obliged to read the message while driving, which constitutes a violation of road legislation, exposes the driver to penalties, and may cause accidents . The object of the present invention is to propose a method of warning a user of the proximity of a point of interest, which avoids at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks, which makes it possible to warn a user in a cost-effective manner and without posing a problem. security problem, and that can be used by a large number of users.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a method for warning a user of the proximity of a point of interest, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (a) configuring a telephone device of the user, by memorizing 5 in said telephone apparatus: - a set of ringtones, each ring containing a cognitive message including information on a point of interest, and - a set of call numbers recorded as contacts in said telephone apparatus, said ringtones being respectively connected to said contacts in a predetermined order, (b) locating said telephone apparatus, (c) comparing the location of said telephone apparatus with a database containing the positions of the points of interest, and deriving therefrom the distance to the nearest point of interest, and, when the nearest point of interest is considered close to the user, (d) generating and emitting a telephone call to the telephone device, by selecting, in said database, the number corresponding to the message to be delivered. According to one embodiment of the invention, the geographical location of the telephone device is achieved by geolocation, via a service of the telephone operator to which the user of the telephone device has subscribed. According to another embodiment of the invention, the geographical location of the telephone apparatus is achieved by direct supply of its position by the telephone device, by means of an onboard module of the GPS or A-GPS type. According to one embodiment of the invention, the method is executed during a period of service determined in advance by a schedule previously fixed by the user. According to another embodiment of the invention, the method is executed on demand, in response to an instruction from the user. Advantageously, the database contains a division of the territory into thin cells, each cell being marked active or inactive depending on whether or not it contains a point of interest, the database also containing, for each cell, information enabling the selection of a calling number. Preferably, the database is updated periodically. The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed explanatory description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the attached schematic drawing. In this drawing: FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the steps of the method of warning a user of the proximity of a point of interest, according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 shows the steps of the method of warning a user of the proximity of a point of interest. A point of interest may be, for example, a commercial zone, a road hazard zone or a radar control zone. In step 1, a user wishing to use the warning service connects to the service provider's website and subscribes. For this, the user identifies himself and chooses his subscription formula. The identification includes the transmission of information relating to a telephone device of the user. The subscription can be paid. In step 2, the user gives his explicit agreement for the geographical location of his telephone device. To comply with the regulations (CNIL), the localization of the telephone device can only be carried out by the supplier during periods of service decided by the user, and the supplier undertakes not to keep the data from location.

The periods of service may be systematic, that is to say, determined in advance by a schedule previously set by the user, or on demand, that is to say determined immediately in response to receiving an instruction from the user. The agreement between the user and the provider is validated by an authentication of the holder of the telephone line. For this, the user enters on his phone a code displayed on the screen of the computer connected to the website, and sends this code to the server by SMS, a number that the server also communicates on the screen. Receipt of this code by the server validates the agreement of the user for the server to be authorized to locate the telephone.

Step 2 also comprises a substep of configuration of the telephone device, which includes the storage, for example by downloading, in the telephone device, a set of ringtones transmitted by the server. The ringtones are sound files, for example of type .wav, .mp3 or other. Each ring contains a cognitive message with information about a point of interest, including information about the distance from the point of interest. A message may be, for example, "presence of a radar at 100m" or "speed control 50km / h at 200m". Alternatively, these sound files can be created by using the sound recording function of the telephone. The configuration sub-step also comprises the storage, for example by downloading, in the telephone apparatus, a set of call numbers, which the user records respectively as contacts in the telephone set. A contact is a recording in the telephone device files containing mainly the code of a correspondent and his telephone number. The ringtones are respectively connected to the contacts in a predetermined order. Note that, for the implementation of the method, the telephone device of the user must allow to customize a "contact" by associating a particular ringtone. The configuration sub-step can be performed in whole or in part by generating configuration SMS. A verification sub-step may be performed to verify that the links between the contacts and the ringtones have been created in the telephone apparatus.

Alternatively, the substep configuration can be performed manually by the user, from instructions presented on the website of the provider of the subscription. When step 2 is completed, if the user has chosen the use of 5 systematic service periods, the process goes to step 3. Otherwise, the process goes to step 4. In step 3, the user defines his service request schedule, by selecting the time slots of his choice, on the website, and possibly providing the approximate route of his journey 10 (starting position, arrival position). When step 3 is completed, the process proceeds to step 6. The purpose of step 4 is to initiate a service period at the request of the user. This step is therefore performed when the user wishes to use the service. In step 4, the server receives from the user 15 an instruction specifying the desired duration of service, for example in minutes, for an immediate start of the service. The instruction is for example transmitted via an SMS. This SMS is an explicit agreement for the location of the telephone device during the service period. In response to the receipt of the instruction, the method proceeds to step 5. In step 5, the service is activated and the process proceeds to step 7. Step 6 consists, when the user has selected a calendar, to automatically activate the service at the predetermined time. The method then proceeds to step 7. In step 7, the server locates the telephone apparatus, i.e., determines the geographic position of the telephone apparatus. The geographical position of the telephone device can be obtained by geolocation, via a service of the telephone operator to which the service provider has subscribed. As a variant, the geographical position of the telephone apparatus can be obtained by directly supplying its position by the telephone device by means of an on-board GPS or A-GPS module capable of contacting the server by means of the telephone line of the telephone to communicate his position. In step 8, the server compares the location of the telephone device with a database of the server containing the positions of the points of interest, and deduces the distance to the nearest point of interest. The database is previously stored in a server of the service provider. The database contains a division of the territory into thin cells, each cell being marked active or inactive depending on whether or not it contains a point of interest. The database also contains, for each cell, information allowing, if necessary, the selection of the calling number, as will be described in detail below. The database is periodically updated, for example daily, or in real time (for example for removable road radars).

In step 9, the method determines the time of the next location of the telephone. The time interval between two successive locations depends for example on the time elapsed since a previous warning of the user and / or the distance between the user and the nearest point of interest.

Step 10 is executed at the moment determined in step 9. In step 10, the method realizes a new location of the telephone apparatus, and, if necessary, stores the heading and speed of the telephone. user of the telephone. Then, the method again determines the distance to the nearest point of interest, similar to what has been described previously.

The method deduces from this whether the nearest point of interest of the user of the telephone device is to be considered "near" or "remote". If the method considers the nearest point of interest as "close", that is, if the proximity of this point of interest makes it necessary to warn the user, the process proceeds to step 14.

Otherwise, the process proceeds to step 11. In step 11, the method determines that the nearest point of interest should be considered "far" and goes to step 12. In step 12, the method determines the instant of the next location of the telephone apparatus. As for step 9, the time interval between two successive locations depends for example on the time elapsed since a previous warning of the user and / or the distance between the user and the most important point of interest. close. In step 13, the method tests an elapsed service period condition. If the condition is satisfied, i.e., the service period has elapsed, the process terminates, otherwise the process returns to step 10. In step 14, the method determines that the point d closest interest should be considered "close" to the user and go to step 15.

In step 15, the method generates a call to the telephone apparatus. For this, the method analyzes the characteristics of the point of interest and the telephone operator of the user, which are stored in the database, and selects accordingly, in the database, the call number to use. The method then controls the transmission by the server of a telephone call to the telephone apparatus, the call being sent by the line of the server assigned to the message to be delivered. This has the effect of triggering a suitable ringing of the telephone. In other words, the method selects the telephone line to be used so that the associated ringing, in the telephone device, to this telephone line, thus to this contact, delivers the desired message. In case of failure, the server starts a call attempt periodically, for example every 20 seconds. Thus, the user receives a warning in the form of a voice message indicating for example the type of point of interest and the distance. A first advantage is that the user does not need to pick up his phone or read a written message, which increases security, especially when the user is driving. A second advantage is that the provider does not send a message but generates a free call to the extent that the user does not pick up, which is economical for the provider. When the user picks up, he falls on a voice mailbox delivering the same message. In this case, it may be provided by contract that the call is billed to the user. When step 15 is completed, the process proceeds to step 12. Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is quite obvious that it is in no way limited and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS1) A method of warning a user of the proximity of a point of interest, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (a) configuring a telephone device of the user, by memorizing in said apparatus telephone: - a set of ringtones, each ring containing a cognitive message containing information on a point of interest, and - a set of call numbers recorded as contacts in said telephone device, said ringtones being respectively connected to said contacts in a predetermined order, (b) locating said telephone apparatus, (c) comparing the location of said telephone apparatus with a database containing the positions of the points of interest, and deriving the distance from the nearest point of interest, and, when the nearest point of interest is considered close to the user, (d) generating and making a phone call to destination of the telephone device, by selecting, in said database, the number corresponding to the message to be delivered. 10 25 2) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the geographical location of the telephone device is achieved by geolocation, via a service of the telephone operator with whom the user of the telephone device has subscribed. 3) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the geographical location of the telephone device is achieved by direct supply of its position by the telephone, by means of an embedded module type GPS or A-GPS. 4) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is executed during a period of service determined in advance by a schedule previously fixed by the user. 5) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is executed on demand, in response to an instruction of the user. 6) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the database contains a division of the territory into thin cells, each cell being marked active or inactive depending on whether or not it contains a point of interest , the database also containing, for each cell, information allowing selection of a calling number. 7) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the database is updated periodically.